“May her soul rest in peace,” she added quietly. “I have no doubt she’s smiling down right now—knowing her daughter has finally found her way home, surrounded by people who will never let her stand alone again.”
She gave Dahlia’s hands one last squeeze, a gesture both grounding and comforting. Then her gaze drifted—inevitably—to Damien, her expression shifting from empathy to fond affection.
“Damien,” Eleanor said softly, her features warming with unmistakable affection. “It’s so good to have you home, darling. It feels like ages since we’ve seen you.”
A playful glint sparked in her eyes as she added, “You haven’t been getting yourself into too much trouble, I hope?”
Damien stepped forward, a genuine smile softening his usually composed features as he wrapped his grandmother in a warm
