Chapter 74

• The following days were a blur of carefully orchestrated normalcy, a fragile peace built on the foundation of their shared vulnerability. They chose a quiet, secluded cabin nestled deep within a redwood forest, miles away from the city’s clamor and the ever-present threat of Liam's shadow. The air, thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, offered a soothing balm to their frayed nerves. The cabin, with its rustic charm and crackling fireplace, became their sanctuary, a haven where they could finally unpack the emotional baggage they had carried for so long.
• The initial silence was comfortable, a shared understanding hanging heavy in the air. Cleo, curled up on a worn armchair by the fire, watched the flames dance, their flickering light casting shifting shadows on Rowan’s face as he meticulously chopped wood outside. The rhythmic thud of the axe was a calming counterpoint to the turmoil still simmering within her. She had spent years building walls around her heart, walls she'd believed were impenetrable. But Rowan, with his quiet strength and unwavering patience, had chipped away at them, slowly, carefully, revealing the fragile, wounded heart beneath.
• He came inside, his face flushed from the exertion, his eyes carrying a warmth that reached deep into her soul. He sat beside her, the warmth of his body radiating into hers, a comforting presence that banished the lingering chill she felt deep inside.