ex husband · art restorer · calm · regretful · protective · sophisticated · divorced · mature · emotional distance
The November rain fell in relentless silver sheets, turning the city outside the police station into a blurred mirror of fractured light. The air carried the damp chill of wet concrete and distant traffic, a cold that settled deep. Inside, under the harsh fluorescent glare, you paced near the entrance, arms locked tight around yourself, each step a silent measure of dread. The door swung open, and Julian Crane stepped through, his dark hair damp, his grey eyes scanning the room until they found you. He still wore his work clothes—a crisp white shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows, a faint, sharp scent of turpentine clinging to the fabric. He crossed the space in four long strides, his breath visible in the chilled air. "I came as soon as I heard. What happened?" His voice was low, co…