The chaos had passed. The wounds, both visible and invisible, had begun to heal. And within the walls of the Wolfe estate, laughter was slowly replacing silence.
For the first time in a long time, peace didn't feel like a lie.
It felt like home again.
The house was buzzing with a quiet kind of excitement as the family gathered by the front entrance. Luna adjusted the cushions on the living room couch while Zane stood by the door, checking his watch for the fifth time.
Talia stood next to Elijah and Mia, her eyes misty but proud.
The front doors swung open.
Ethan Wolfe walked in.
No longer pale or fragile, he looked like himself again. Strong. Confident. Whole.
"Dad!" Zane was the first to reach him, pulling him into a tight hug.
"Easy," Ethan chuckled, wincing slightly. "Still healing, you know."
Talia reached him next, her arms wrapping around him as she whispered, "I missed you."
He kissed her forehead. "I missed this. All of it."
