CHAPTER 20
The breeze from the ocean drifted in through the open balcony doors, carrying with it the salty tang of the sea. The waves outside crashed against the rocks with a steady rhythm, like the world itself had decided to sing a lullaby just for us.
I leaned back in the lounge chair, my bare feet propped against the rail, a soft linen robe draped around me. For the first time in what felt like forever, my body wasn’t tense, waiting for the next blow. I was simply… at peace.
Asher walked out onto the balcony, sleeves rolled up, hair slightly mussed from the wind. He set down a tray on the little table between us: two glasses, one bottle of deep red wine, and a plate of olives and cheese.
“You look like you could fall asleep right here,” he teased, sinking into the chair across from me.
“I might,” I admitted, my lips tugging up in a lazy smile. “Isn’t that the point of all this?”
“Maybe,” he said, studying me with that quiet intensity that always made me feel like the only person in the world. “But you haven’t been this relaxed since…” He trailed off, and I knew what he meant. Since before everything went wrong.
I reached for his hand across the table. “That’s the past, Asher. We don’t have to say it out louc anymore. It doesn’t get to live here with us.”
His thumb brushed over my knuckles, a slow, tender stroke. “No, it doesn’t.”
We sat like that for a while, the silence was comfortable, broken only by the ocean and the occasional clink of glass as Asher poured himself wine. He slid the second glass toward me, but I shook my head.
“Not tonight,” I said softly.
He raised a brow. “You’re refusing wine? Should I be worried?”
I smirked, feigning nonchalance. “Maybe you should.”
His eyes narrowed, and I could see suspicion flickering. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “Jada.”
I gave him a long look, one that made him lean even closer. Then, unable to hold it in any longer, I let the smile break across my face. “Because someone else is in there that doesn’t like alcohol
now.
His brows drew together for a heartbeat, then his entire expression shifted. The wine glass in his hand went still, his lips parted slightly as realization hit him.
“You mean…” His voice was a whisper, almost reverent.
I nodded, letting a little laugh bubble out of me. “Yes. You’re going to be a father.”
For a second, he didn’t move. He just stared at me like he had to burn the image of this moment into his memory forever. Then he was out of his chair and kneeling in front of me, his hands cupping my face.
“You’re serious?” he asked, eyes searching mine like he couldn’t trust his own ears.
“Asher,” I said, touching his cheek, “I wouldn’t joke about this.”
A laugh broken from him rough and incredulous followed by another until ha una laughing into CHAPTER 20.
12:19 pm &
A laugh broke from him, rough and incredulous, followed by another, until he was laughing into my shoulder, his arms wrapped around me so tight I could barely breathe.
“I swear to God, Jada, you’ve given me everything I never thought I’d have,” he murmured into my hair. “You. This life. And now… a child.”
I blinked back tears. “We’re going to be a family. A real one. Not the kind built on lies or greed.
Just… us.”
He pulled back, eyes wet but smiling, and pressed his forehead against mine. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear that.”
I kissed him then, soft and lingering, and for once there was no urgency, no desperation. Just love. Pure, steady love.
When we broke apart, he stood and tugged me gently to my feet. “Come on.”
“Where?” I asked, laughing as he led me through the villa.
He pushed open the doors to a room I hadn’t seen before. It was wide and airy, the walls were painted a soft ivory, and sunlight was spilling in through the high windows. But what caught my breath was the center of the room: a single wooden cradle, polished and new, was waiting quietly as though it had been expecting us.
My hand flew to my mouth. “Asher…”
“I had it made,” he admitted, watching me carefully. “Not because I knew. I didn’t. But because wanted to hope. And now…” He smiled, a boyish, unguarded smile I’d rarely seen. “Now it won’ have to stay empty.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them. I turned and hugged him fiercely burying my face against his chest. “You’re going to be the most incredible father.”
He kissed the top of my head. “And you,” he murmured, “will be the mother who teaches ou child how to fight and win with grace.’
I laughed through my tears. “Let’s just hope they don’t inherit my temper.”
He chuckled. “Or mine.”
We stood there for a long time, holding each other, imagining a future neither of us had thought possible. A future where no one was trying to take anything from us. A future where love wasn’t a weapon, but a home.
Later, we returned to the balcony, the sun had dipped low and painted the sky in streaks of orange and gold. I curled against him on the lounge chair, his arm draped around me, my hand resting lightly over my stomach.
The world was quiet. It was ours and it was safe.
“Asher?” I whispered.
“Mm?”
“You once told me you’d wait for me to stop fighting ghosts. That you wanted me to see you, not as revenge, not as a weapon… but just as you.”
He looked down at me, his eyes soft. “And?”
I smiled, brushing my lips against his. “I see you now. All of you. And I love you.”
CHAPTER 20
12:20 pm
His lips curved into a grin as he kissed me back, deep and certain. “Good,” he said when we broke apart. “Because I plan on spending the rest of my life proving you were right to. I love you more, Mrs Galanis.”
The waves below roared like applause, the stars were beginning to scatter across the sky. And for the first time, I didn’t feel like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
This was it. Our forever.
And it was more beautiful than I ever dared dream.
