119. Lost warmth
Aiden woke up feeling… different.
For the first time in three weeks, he wasn't terrified.
He wasn't choking on nightmares.
He wasn't trembling awake at 3 a.m.
He felt warm.
Light.
As if someone had taken the unbearable weight off his chest.
He didn't know when he fell asleep…
but he remembered the softness of her voice.
Marcelline.
Just her name made his heart soften.
When he walked down the stairs toward the breakfast table, everyone's eyes lifted—
—and froze.
Aiden looked… alive.
Not fully normal, not completely healed,
but his face wasn't pale with terror anymore.
His eyes had a faint spark.
His posture wasn't stiff.
There was even a tiny smile tugging at his lips.
Chloe almost dropped her spoon.
Uncle Adrian gasped softly.
Aunt Liana covered her mouth, eyes wet.
And Maximilian…
who had been staring blankly at his tea every morning…
looked up sharply, like he'd seen sunlight after months of darkness.
"Aiden…?" Max whispered.
His voice cracked.
Aiden sat down quietly, rubbing the back of his neck, a little shy under everyone's stunned eyes.
But the warmth he carried — borrowed unconsciously from Marcelline — spread into the air like soft morning sunshine.
The first warmth the house had felt in weeks.
Chloe hugged him instantly, voice trembling:
"Don't EVER disappear like that again… stupid brother…"
Aiden chuckled — actually chuckled — and pat her head.
Uncle Adrian laughed tearily.
Aunt Liana sniffled, smiling through tears.
Even the guards exchanged relieved glances.
Maximilian finally spoke, voice thick with emotion:
"You look… lighter today."
Aiden nodded, eyes gentle.
"I slept well for the first time," he admitted.
Everyone stared like he'd said a miracle.
Aiden hesitated, then added softly:
"And… someone deserves the credit for this."
Chloe blinked rapidly.
Max straightened a little.
"Who?" Maximilian asked carefully.
Aiden looked down, smiling shyly, warmth blooming across his cheeks.
"Marcelline."
The entire table went silent.
He continued gently:
"She… she called me. She didn't force me to speak. She just stayed… and waited… until I could breathe again."
"She talked to me like… like she understood everything without me needing to say anything."
His voice cracked with gratitude.
"She gave me peace when no one else could."
Every adult at the table softened.
Aunt Liana placed her hand over his.
"Aiden… if someone can heal your heart like that, keep them close," she said softly.
Uncle Adrian nodded warmly.
Chloe smiled through tears.
"She sounds like an angel," she whispered.
And Maximilian…
He didn't know what to feel.
Relief?
Curiosity?
A strange pull at the name "Marcelline"?
He looked at Aiden, who was now laughing quietly with Chloe, teasing her, stealing her toast.
Something he hadn't done in twenty-one days.
The entire breakfast table felt like it had been washed in sunlight.
Warm.
Alive.
Human again.
Maximilian exhaled shakily.
"Aiden," he murmured, "thank you… for bringing this warmth back."
Aiden smiled softly.
"Don't thank me," he said.
"Thank her."
Everyone chuckled warmly.
And just like that…
**For the first time in three weeks,
the Brooks Mansion wasn't a graveyard.
It was a home again.**
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