Chapter 6 - The Yellow Room
Late that evening, the Vale estate—a sprawling historic mansion surrounded by iron gates and manicured gardens on the outskirts of the city—was bathed in soft, warm light.
For eight months, this house had felt like a mausoleum. Every room echoed with memories of Evelyn, and every hallway felt cold and empty.
Now, the air was different.
Upstairs, down the long corridor where the master suites were located, a door had been freshly painted a bright, vibrant yellow.
Inside the room, a magnificent crib sat against the wall, draped in soft white cotton and surrounded by children's books and stuffed animals. A small gray rabbit rested on the pillow.
Grace Miller stood near the doorway, watching with a soft, watery smile as Adrian sat on the plush rug in the center of the room, building a shaky tower out of wooden blocks with his daughter.
Lily squealed with delight as the tower wobbled and crashed to the floor, clapping her tiny hands together.
“Again!” Lily babbled, grabbing another block and handing it to her father.
Adrian took the block, a gentle, genuine smile—the first true smile he had worn in years—touching his face. He gently tapped the block against her nose, making her giggle uncontrollably.
“Alright, little one, building skyscrapers is hard work,” Adrian said, scooping her up into his arms and lifting her high into the air, making her laugh with pure joy.
Grace stepped forward, wiping a stray tear from her cheek.
“I never thought I’d see you smile like that, Mr. Vale,” Grace said softly.
“Call me Adrian, Grace,” he replied, holding Lily securely against his shoulder as she began to yawn, her heavy eyelids fluttering closed after a long, eventful day. “After everything you’ve done to protect her, you’re more than staff. You’re family.”
Grace smiled warmly, nodding. “She has her mother’s eyes, you know. And her stubborn spirit.”
“I know,” Adrian whispered, looking down at his daughter as her breathing slowed into the steady, peaceful rhythm of sleep. “She has her mother’s strength, too.”
May you like
He carried Lily over to the crib, tucking her in gently beneath a soft blanket and placing the worn gray rabbit right beside her arm. He stood there for a long moment, brushing a stray curl from her forehead.
“Welcome home, Lily,” he whispered into the quiet room.
