CHAPTER 296

ARIA’S POV

The twilight wraps the garden in a shroud of tranquil hues, the sky shifting from deep indigo to a softer blend of violet and navy. Each stroke of the brush seems to echo the delicate balance between day and night, capturing a fleeting moment of serenity that has always eluded me. The cool air whispers through the leaves, and the distant hum of crickets adds a gentle rhythm to my creative process. In this ethereal light, the garden transforms into a sacred space where time seems to slow, allowing me to lose myself completely in the act of painting.

The garden has been my refuge, a sanctuary from the chaos that often swirled around me, both at Adam’s house and at work. During those dark days, when the world felt unbearably heavy, I would slip from my bed and seek solace beneath the open sky. The night’s embrace, with its veil of stars and moonlight, offered a respite from the incessant noise of my thoughts. I’d sit among the flowers and shrubs, the cool grass a soothing balm