The car purred quietly as it moved through the city streets, the windows slightly tinted against the morning sun. Eliana sat beside Damon, her fingers tracing the seam of her dress absentmindedly as she stared out the window.
Damon's gaze shifted from the passing scenery to her face, watching the subtle emotions flicker across her features.
"You're quiet," he murmured, his voice low and steady.
She glanced at him, offering a faint smile. "Just thinking."
"About?"
Her lips curled into something almost wistful. "About how much I've missed this place… and how much I've missed me."
Damon reached over, his fingers brushing lightly against hers, grounding her.
"You're still you, Eliana," he said softly.
She gave a small, uncertain laugh. "Sometimes it feels like I'm trying to catch up with a ghost."
The words hung between them, heavy with meaning.
Martins, the driver, kept his focus on the road ahead, but Damon's eyes never left her.
"We'll find every missing piece together," Damon promised.
Eliana's gaze softened, though the unease in her chest didn't completely fade.
Soon, the foundation came into view.
It was nestled between tall trees, its white-washed walls gleaming under the sunlight. The front garden was neatly trimmed, dotted with bright flowers. As the car came to a stop, Eliana's heart thudded harder in her chest.
Martins opened the door, and Damon stepped out first, extending his hand toward her.
"Ready?" he asked.
She hesitated for a heartbeat before slipping her hand into his.
"As I'll ever be," she murmured.
They walked up the steps together. The familiar scent of lavender and old books met her as soon as they entered the building.
"Eliana?" A staff member—Mrs. Collins—approached, her face lighting up with surprise and warmth. "Oh, we've missed you so much!"
Eliana's eyes shimmered as she smiled. "I've missed you, too."
Children peeked from behind corners, their laughter echoing faintly through the halls.
She wandered through the rooms slowly, trailing her fingers along the walls, memories stirring in her chest.
Damon kept a short distance, watching silently as she reconnected with the place.
In the art room, she paused before a wall of paintings. Her breath caught.
"These," she whispered, reaching toward a canvas, "I remember picking these out."
Her fingers trembled slightly as she traced the frame.
"You've always had a good eye," Damon said quietly, stepping closer.
Eliana looked up at him, her expression softening. "It's strange… I don't remember everything. But some things, they just… stay inside you."
He smiled faintly. "That's how the heart works sometimes."
Their footsteps echoed as they moved from room to room, and every turn seemed to awaken something within her. Familiar faces greeted her, offering hugs and warm words. Children's laughter rang out like music, softening the lingering tension in her chest.
A little girl with wide brown eyes and pigtails ran toward her, arms stretched wide.
"Miss Eliana! You're back!" she squealed.
Eliana knelt, gathering the child in her arms with a laugh that came from somewhere deep inside her.
"Hello, sweetheart," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
The girl looked up at her, smiling brightly. "Will you read to us today? You always tell the best stories."
Eliana blinked, touched by the child's words.
"I… I don't know if I remember the stories," she admitted softly.
The girl giggled. "That's okay. We can tell you the stories instead!"
Damon watched from a few feet away, his heart tightening as he saw the pure affection between Eliana and the children.
She spent some time in the playroom, sitting among the little ones as they eagerly showed her their drawings and toys. Her laughter filled the space, soft and genuine.
But even as she smiled, there was a shadow in her eyes.
Damon could see it.
As they prepared to leave, Eliana lingered near the doorway, looking back one last time.
"It feels like home here," she said softly.
"It is home," Damon replied, standing beside her.
She nodded, her gaze distant.
They walked back to the car in comfortable silence, though Eliana's thoughts seemed miles away.
The car ride back was quieter. Eliana rested her head against the window, her fingers gently tracing invisible shapes on the glass.
"Everything feels different," she said suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Damon turned to her, brows slightly furrowed. "Different how?"
"Like I'm seeing my life through a foggy window," she murmured. "I recognize things, but they feel just out of reach."
He reached for her hand again, squeezing gently.
"You're doing better than you think," he assured her.
Eliana smiled faintly, though her eyes remained distant.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Damon's phone buzzed suddenly, pulling him from the moment.
He glanced down, and his entire body tensed.
You can't protect her forever. Tick-tock.
The words sent a cold wave through him.
Eliana immediately noticed the shift in him.
"Damon?" she asked, concern lacing her tone.
He quickly locked his phone, forcing a calm expression.
"It's nothing," he said smoothly.
"Are you sure? You looked… upset."
He forced a soft smile, reaching for her hand again.
"I'm fine," he lied gently. "Just thinking about how strong you are. I'm proud of you."
Eliana studied him carefully, clearly unconvinced, but she didn't push further.
She let out a quiet sigh, leaning her head against his shoulder as they continued the drive.
Damon stared out the window, his mind racing.
Tick-tock.
The words echoed in his head.
He tightened his grip on her hand, holding her closer.
He wouldn't let anyone hurt her.
Not now.
Not ever.
When they arrived home, Martins opened the car door for them. Damon stepped out, his face unreadable, his posture tense.
As Eliana walked inside, Damon's expression hardened. He motioned discreetly to Bennett and Mr. Rufus, pulling them aside near the entrance.
His voice was low and sharp. "I want both of you to be extra vigilant. No unfamiliar faces near the gates. No exceptions."
Bennett's posture stiffened. "Understood, sir. We'll double-check every visitor and patrol the grounds regularly."
"Stay alert at all times. Report anything—anything—unusual immediately," Damon added, his gaze hard.
Mr. Rufus gave a respectful nod. "You can count on us, sir. We won't let anything slide."
Damon gave them both a brief, approving nod before heading inside.
Meanwhile, Eliana sat in the sitting room, still unsettled by Damon's mood.
She pulled out her phone and sent a message to Tilda.
Eliana: Hey, can we meet tomorrow instead? Today's been a little overwhelming.
Tilda's reply came quickly.
Tilda: Of course! Just let me know the time. Take care, Eliana.
Eliana set her phone down, her gaze still lingering toward the direction Damon had disappeared to.
In the privacy of his study, Damon locked the door and dialed Jimmy's number.
"Damon?" Jimmy answered quickly, his tone alert.
"Any updates on the investigation?" Damon asked, his voice low and clipped.
Jimmy let out a weary sigh. "Not yet. Whoever's behind this is covering their tracks well, but we're still digging. I won't stop until we have something solid."
Damon's jaw clenched. "I just got another message. This time, they said I can't protect her forever. Tick-tock."
"Damn it," Jimmy muttered. "This is escalating."
"I swear, Jimmy," Damon's voice darkened, filled with restrained fury. "If I find out who's behind this, they won't even have a chance to regret it."
"Calm down," Jimmy urged firmly. "I get it—you're angry, and you have every right to be. But we need to think smart, not fast."
Damon exhaled, the tension thick around him.
"We'll figure this out," Jimmy assured him. "Come by my office tomorrow. We'll go over everything in detail."
"Fine," Damon muttered. "But I'm not waiting forever."
"I know," Jimmy replied, his voice steady. "We'll get them, Damon. Just hold steady."
Damon ended the call, his gaze lingering on the darkened window, his heart heavy with a mixture of dread and quiet fury.
In the sitting room, Eliana remained seated, her worry for him growing deeper by the minute.
Somewhere deep inside her, she knew—this wasn't the end.
It was only the beginning.