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Chapter 37 – Whispers Beneath the Willow
Last Updated:
2025-04-13 15:26:10
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Love's Healing Touch Chapter 38 – The Road Home
The morning air was fresh with the scent of dew and wildflowers that clung to Elara's cloak as she emerged to saddle the old mare. Adrian stood in the doorway, his gaze scanning the horizon where the ridges of the mountains blended into the road that led off far out into the village.Years since he'd been in the city. Years since he'd drawn its air, walked its crowded streets, or spoken aloud the name of his family. But now, the thought of returning didn't make his stomach turn to acid. It made his heart beat faster—but not out of fear.With resolve.Elara shifted, brushing hair from her forehead. "She's ready."Adrian descended, shaking his coat around himself. "You are?"A faint smile quivered on her lips. "Only if you are."They mounted the horse and rode together, side by side, the little cottage they'd, over years, made something more than home. It was home—a haven. Beyond them, the wood became less dense, showing wider paths, open fields, and the muffled rumble of encroaching ci
Last Updated : 2025-04-14Love's Healing Touch Chapter 39 – A Place Between Two Worlds
Sunlight streamed through the Lancaster house velvet curtains, golden-filtered, tempering the cold beauty chill that pervaded the atmosphere. Elara awakened first, slowly opening lids as senses grappled with sheer newness—the light linen sheeting over her, the polish and lavender scent, the quiet which wasn't quite that country quiet but was so much more sophisticated.She propped herself up, shifting slowly so she would not wake Adrian. The air was warm, and the room was too clean, far too clean. There was no songbird scratching on a window sill there to be heard; no groan of old wood above. It was lovely—it was irrefutable as that—but it was not home.Other than her, Adrian shifted. His heavy lashes brushed over pale cheeks, and his eyes opening created a moment of disorientation in their depths. She touched him with a light kiss on the temple."You're safe," she whispered.His lips curled into a parched smile. "I know. But somehow it still feels as though I'm dreaming I was trying
Last Updated : 2025-04-14Love's Healing Touch Chapter 40 – Threads of the Familiar
The return trip to the village was in silence, not quiet, but in the peaceful way that it wrapped around you like a blanket. The thud of horse hooves on the earth road, the trill of birds out of sight flying over the cover above, and the wind's howl blowing through the leaves—everything mixed in a soothing symphony, showing the peace they both yearned for so desperately.Elara sat beside Adrian in the carriage, hands loosely locked in his. The city proper was now nothing more than a fantasied dream—the glittering corridors and aching memories enfolding them like a haze. What was left was the fleeting warmth of facing the past and clinging to the future.Adrian had spoken little since walking through the gates. He didn't need to. His silence wasn't choking, not anymore, when he'd walked in fear of being abandoned behind. His silence was more akin to thinking now. Gratitude. Healing.Elara's hold on his hand eased somewhat. "What do you think about?He stood in front of her, the corners
Last Updated : 2025-04-15Love's Healing Touch Chapter 1 – The Fall of Adrian Lancaster
Adrian Lancaster had everything a man could desire—wealth, power, and an undeniable charm that made people turn their heads the moment he entered a room. Women admired him, men envied him, and the world seemed to bend at his feet. Wherever he went, he was treated like a king, adored for his breathtaking beauty and the effortless confidence he carried.Tonight was no different. The grand ballroom of the Lancaster estate was alive with music and chatter, glittering under the golden chandeliers. His fiancée, Seraphina Vale, clung to his arm, dressed in a stunning sapphire gown that complemented her delicate features. “You truly are the most handsome man I’ve ever seen,” she whispered against his ear, her lips curling into a smile.Adrian smirked, reveling in the way her eyes glowed with admiration. “And you, my love, are the most exquisite woman in this room.”They were perfect together—at least, that’s what the world believed. People often spoke of them as the ideal couple, envying thei
Last Updated : 2025-03-10Love's Healing Touch Chapter 2 – Lost and Unwanted
The night stretched endlessly before him.Adrian trudged forward, his body battered by exhaustion, his legs barely holding him upright. His once-pristine clothing, tailored to perfection in a life that now seemed like a distant dream, hung off his frame in ragged pieces. Dirt clung to his boots, his breath came out in ragged gasps, and his skin burned with fever.But the worst part wasn’t the pain—it was the silence.The absence of voices that once called his name with love. The emptiness left by the people who should have stood by him but instead turned their backs the moment his body changed.He remembered the whispers that followed him through the grand halls of his estate, the way his father’s expression hardened when the first darkened veins appeared along his jaw."You have brought shame to this family, Adrian."His mother had been no better. She wouldn’t even look at him.But Seraphina—her betrayal cut the deepest.The woman he had once loved, the one he had planned to build a
Last Updated : 2025-03-10Love's Healing Touch Chapter 3 – A Fragile Beginning
Adrian’s eyes fluttered open, met with the dim glow of a single lantern hanging from the ceiling. The room was small, warm, and unfamiliar. A wooden shelf lined with old books and handmade trinkets rested against the far wall, and the scent of herbs and freshly cut wood lingered in the air. A soft blanket was draped over him, the fabric rough but comforting. For a moment, he panicked, his mind racing to remember where he was.Then it hit him—he had collapsed, and she had brought him here.His fingers curled into the blanket as he sat up, his body aching with resistance. He was still weak, the fever from his worsening condition making his limbs feel like lead. His gaze shifted toward the small window, where faint morning light streamed in. Outside, he saw her—the girl who had taken him in—moving about in the yard, tending to the animals. She didn’t glance his way, didn’t hover like others might have.He should leave. He needed to leave.But his body wasn’t ready.Adrian clenched his ja
Last Updated : 2025-03-10Love's Healing Touch Chapter 4 – The Walls Between Us
Adrian awoke to the faint sound of birds chirping outside. Sunlight filtered through the small window, casting a soft golden glow across the modest wooden room. The warmth of the morning was comforting, but as soon as Adrian shifted to sit up, a familiar unease settled over him.He was still here.His fingers curled into the blanket as his eyes wandered around the room. The small wooden shelves, the dried herbs hanging near the window, the neat stacks of books—everything about this place felt untouched by cruelty. Yet, that didn’t mean it was safe.For years, he had learned that kindness often came with a price. No one ever helped him out of pure goodwill. The moment people saw what he had become, they flinched, their pity twisting into revulsion. He had no reason to believe that she would be any different.Still, there was something unsettling about the way she treated him.He had expected fear. Expected distance.Instead, she had given him warmth. A bed. Food. Care.Adrian ran a han
Last Updated : 2025-03-10Love's Healing Touch Chapter 5 – Cracks in the Armor
The night was deep and quiet, the kind of silence that stretched endlessly, swallowing every sound. The faint crackling of the fire in the other room was the only noise Adrian could hear. Sleep refused to come, leaving him trapped in the hollow space between exhaustion and restless thought.He turned his head slightly, catching sight of the dim glow seeping through the doorway. His body still ached from weakness, but something in him stirred with curiosity.Slowly, he pushed the blanket aside and got up, careful not to make a sound. When he stepped into the small living area, he saw her sitting near the fire, her hands idly threading a piece of fabric. Her head was tilted downward, her expression peaceful as she worked, and from her lips, a soft hum carried through the air.It wasn’t a song he recognized, but there was something soothing about it. It reminded him of something distant—something warm.She must have sensed his presence because she looked up, her eyes meeting his. She did
Last Updated : 2025-03-10
Latest chapter
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 40 – Threads of the Familiar
The return trip to the village was in silence, not quiet, but in the peaceful way that it wrapped around you like a blanket. The thud of horse hooves on the earth road, the trill of birds out of sight flying over the cover above, and the wind's howl blowing through the leaves—everything mixed in a soothing symphony, showing the peace they both yearned for so desperately.Elara sat beside Adrian in the carriage, hands loosely locked in his. The city proper was now nothing more than a fantasied dream—the glittering corridors and aching memories enfolding them like a haze. What was left was the fleeting warmth of facing the past and clinging to the future.Adrian had spoken little since walking through the gates. He didn't need to. His silence wasn't choking, not anymore, when he'd walked in fear of being abandoned behind. His silence was more akin to thinking now. Gratitude. Healing.Elara's hold on his hand eased somewhat. "What do you think about?He stood in front of her, the corners
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 39 – A Place Between Two Worlds
Sunlight streamed through the Lancaster house velvet curtains, golden-filtered, tempering the cold beauty chill that pervaded the atmosphere. Elara awakened first, slowly opening lids as senses grappled with sheer newness—the light linen sheeting over her, the polish and lavender scent, the quiet which wasn't quite that country quiet but was so much more sophisticated.She propped herself up, shifting slowly so she would not wake Adrian. The air was warm, and the room was too clean, far too clean. There was no songbird scratching on a window sill there to be heard; no groan of old wood above. It was lovely—it was irrefutable as that—but it was not home.Other than her, Adrian shifted. His heavy lashes brushed over pale cheeks, and his eyes opening created a moment of disorientation in their depths. She touched him with a light kiss on the temple."You're safe," she whispered.His lips curled into a parched smile. "I know. But somehow it still feels as though I'm dreaming I was trying
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 38 – The Road Home
The morning air was fresh with the scent of dew and wildflowers that clung to Elara's cloak as she emerged to saddle the old mare. Adrian stood in the doorway, his gaze scanning the horizon where the ridges of the mountains blended into the road that led off far out into the village.Years since he'd been in the city. Years since he'd drawn its air, walked its crowded streets, or spoken aloud the name of his family. But now, the thought of returning didn't make his stomach turn to acid. It made his heart beat faster—but not out of fear.With resolve.Elara shifted, brushing hair from her forehead. "She's ready."Adrian descended, shaking his coat around himself. "You are?"A faint smile quivered on her lips. "Only if you are."They mounted the horse and rode together, side by side, the little cottage they'd, over years, made something more than home. It was home—a haven. Beyond them, the wood became less dense, showing wider paths, open fields, and the muffled rumble of encroaching ci
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 37 – Whispers Beneath the Willow
Morning broke in songbird trill—soft and entrancing, as if the woods themselves sang a living cradle song full of spring. Adrian slowly awakened, caught in the heat of Elara's blankets and the gentle cadence of her breathing against him. The light streamed through the lacy curtains, illuminating golden filigree on wooden walls. He didn't recall falling asleep. Only the stillness of her arms. The weight of her hand upon his heart.He rotated slowly, not wanting to disturb her. Elara was on her side, hair a matted halo around the pillow. Her face was serene, lips parted slightly, a tiny crease between her brows as though dreaming of something difficult.Adrian paused, then leaned in to smooth that crease out with his thumb. Her eyes flew wide at the touch. She blinked once, slowly, and smiled in a small, intimate manner."Morning," she whispered."Hey," he whispered. "You okay?"She nodded, stretching up like a cat. "Mmm. Just. a little sore."Adrian flushed, moving over to the window.
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 36 – Tangled in Quiet Things
The sun came up in the morning, rising quietly into the cottage, pushing softly between the curtains as a quiet guest. Its warmth brushed softly in gold upon the wood floorboards and rested upon the two forms that were curled up on the couch—Adrian's arm around Elara's shoulder, her head resting lightly upon his chest. The fire had died down by evening, but the heat between them was an unspoken promise that neither of them was yet courageous enough to voice.Adrian went first. He blinked up at the ceiling, stunned at the quiet emptiness in his chest. The familiar pull of fear, of regret, was somehow absent. All that lingered was the soft sound of Elara's breathing, and the faint scent of herbs and old books that clung to her like a second cloak.His arm locked around her a bit involuntarily, and Elara moved, her eyelashes flicking up as she looked up at him."Morning," she answered, voice still husky from sleep."Morning," he answered, his deep voice a bit gritty.They didn't budge.E
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 35 – The Unraveling
The following morning broke with a different radiance that neither Adrian nor Elara expected. The sky, washed bright by the rains of the previous days, burst into a stunning boundless expanse of pure blue. The light poured over fields and rooftops, turning raindrops left on branches into little stars. The forest sparkled like a phoenix.Elara leaned against the railing of her tiny garden, arms crossed over her chest, blowing back behind her on the wind. Adrian stood on the porch, watching as the sun fell over her hair and the rise and fall of her shoulders with each slow breath."Do you ever wonder what comes next?" he burst out suddenly, stepping off onto grass.Elara turned, eyebrows raised a little. "After what,Quiet. This place. Us."The word us fell between them, as gentle as dew. Elara waited before she said anything."I thought there was nothing after that. That this was all. All that was left. And then. now you appeared. And now I do not know. I think that is better."Adrian
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 34 – The Space Between Heartbeats
The next day dawned dark and quiet, the rain falling to a wispy mist that clung to cottage windows like a shroud. Elara was the first to awaken, waking to a squint through gray light as embers of the fire still flickered in the hearth. She strained to rise from the couch, the frayed blanket slithering down off of her shoulders, and gazed down at Adrian—out cold on the mat at her feet, his hand wedged under his head. She rose and regarded him for a very, very long time.He had slept younger. His angles softer. The peaks of his mourning, that he had worn hard, now softened themselves down to almost gentleness. Eyelashes on his cheekbones made a dark haven, and there was the rumpled tangled clump of black hair in this pillow on which his head lay last night.Elara moved quietly, not to wake him, when she moved quietly into the alcove kitchen and poured water from the kettle. The old stove creaked and spat with a patch of fire flame when Elara lit it. Raindrop and bird sang floated on bra
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 33 – A Gentle Storm
The sky was a dull grey when Adrian and Elara returned through the forest. Rain had not yet started to fall, but the wind was full of its scent—fresh, heavy, and unavoidable. There wasn't much to say on the way back. There wasn't any need for words. There was this growing sense of understanding between them, growing with every step they shared.Adrian walked a little closer now, not as guarded. His hand would occasionally brush against Elara's as they picked their way along the narrow trail between trees and roots. Every touch sent a shiver racing up her spine, but she said nothing, not wanting to break the spell of silence.It was raining by the time they reached the edge of Elara's cottage.“I’ll start a fire,” she said, pushing open the wooden door with her shoulder.Adrian hesitated for a second before stepping inside. Each time he entered this little home, it felt more like a place that belonged to him too. Not just her refuge—but theirs.Elara's pets woke up in the background, t
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 32 – The Pursuit Beneath Moonlight
The shadows wrapped around them like a cloak as Adrian and Elara fled from the narrow street of the village, hearts pounding and lungs aflame. The moon far above in the sky cast silver light upon the trees, turning every branch and leaf into something otherworldly.Adrian's grip around Elara's wrist was fierce, his body heat holding her in place as fear seemed to try and take root. Behind them, the soft footsteps echoed through the air, whoever had been following behind didn't want to be noticed but weren't novice. "Don't turn around," Adrian was barely audible. "Back away.".Elara did not need to be persuaded. She had managed to catch the danger still lingering near in the air, like threads of smoke clinging to flesh. Whoever the darkness was, it had not arrived with mercy.They ran until lungs burned on a hacking gasp of air and quivering legs buckled, until curving, twisted slate roofs of the village vanished behind trees and enfolding stillness of the forest spread out before the
