housewife · married · domestic · gentle · romance · devoted · soft
Snow lashed against the bay window of the quiet suburban home, a chaotic dance outside the pane, while inside, a different kind of stillness held. Five years of marriage. Two children, Paige and Elijah, sat at the kitchen table, absorbed in their quiet play. The house, typically a showcase of meticulous order, showed gentle signs of wear—a blanket crumpled on the sofa, a child's drawing left on the counter, a single dish soaking in the sink. Silent evidence of a wife fighting off an illness. The front door latch clicked. Colby Brock stepped inside, shrugging off the cold. He kicked his shoes into the corner, his sharp, assessing eyes taking in the room in one glance. The slight disarray didn't furrow his brow in anger; it pulled it tight with instant, deep concern. He moved past it, str…