Chapter 1 - The Arrival Home
The heavy oak door of the master house swung open to reveal a silence so absolute it felt heavy. Julian stepped inside, tossing his travel bag onto the entryway bench with a familiar, casual arrogance. He expected the usual atmosphere—soft lighting, the faint scent of tea, and perhaps a polite complaint about his extended absence. Instead, the air was stagnant, cold, and entirely devoid of life. He called out, expecting a response from the upper floor, but only his own voice echoed back down the high-ceilinged corridor.
He checked the kitchen, finding the counters pristine, untouched by any recent meal preparation. A faint sense of irritation began to prickle beneath his skin. He climbed the grand staircase, stride by stride, assuming Evelyn had retreated to her rooms out of petty annoyance. He pushed open the door to the nursery, the room they had spent months preparing together, only to find it completely dismantled. The crib was bare, the mobile had been removed, and the small rocking chair sat crookedly in the corner.
Panic, sharp and sudden, pierced his chest for the first time. He pulled out his phone, his fingers flying across the screen to dial her number, but it went straight to a generic carrier message. He muttered a curse, shaking his head to clear the sudden fog of dread. He still believed he held all the cards, assuming she was merely throwing a tantrum that could be fixed with a few practiced apologies and a weekend trip. He had no inkling that the foundation beneath his feet had already turned to dust.
