*Coughs dramatically* Say bye to the family untill next season. 🙂↔️ I think a couple of you thought the book had ended in chapter 158.😂 I’ll give you another chapter and an epilogue, don’t worry. Xoxo.💋
Chapter 163⟿❂⟾Nikolai⟿❂⟾I ran her a bath while she sat on the edge of our bed, slowly peeling off her work clothes. The sight of her in just her lingerie—something I’d specially requested—all soft curves and smooth skin, sent the familiar jolt of want through me that she always inspired.But underneath the desire was something else—a nagging worry that had been growing stronger over the past few weeks. She’d been tired more often, pushing herself harder than usual, and now the nausea…“The bath’s ready,” I said softly, pushing the thoughts aside for now.She smiled gratefully, rising to kiss me softly before disappearing into the bathroom. I heard the soft splash of water as she settled into the tub, followed by a contented sigh that made me smile despite my concerns.Russel and Allesia insisted on keeping Maeve so we could settle into married life properly for the first few months. That was working really well, considering how often we converted every part of our new home to a fu
Chapter 162~ Work-life Balance⟿❂⟾Nikolai⟿❂⟾Hey guys! 👋We’re almost at the end! I’ve been thinking about what to write next, and I’ll share updates (plus new edits!) on @author_commy over on I. n.s. t.a.g. r.a.m go follow if you haven’t already.Please recommend this book to your friends, leave an honest review, vote, and follow to help it reach more readers.Now enjoy the ending—I hope these books have filled your leisure time with so much love & smiles.💖(Expect the next chapter in a jiffy)Love you! 😍⟿❂⟾I pulled into the parking lot of my wife’s new office. It had taken two months of construction and more money than I cared to calculate, but seeing the kids from the convent finally settled into a proper home made every penny worth it.Sylvia had been relentless in her vision for this place. What started as a simple relocation away from Albany had evolved into a full-scale NGO operation, complete with educational programs, counseling services, and what she called ‘life ski
Chapter 161 ⟿❂⟾ Nikolai ⟿❂⟾ Dylan’s eyes swept the room, taking in the expanded group since he’d last visited. “Seriously though, between marriages and babies and engagements, I can barely keep track of who belongs to who anymore.” “It’s called growth, Dylan,” Melissa said sweetly from her perch on the arm of Kegan’s chair. “Some of us are evolving beyond eternal bachelorhood.” “Well, I’m not eternal. I’m just… selectively single.” “Selectively single,” Marcel repeated with a snort. “You mean ‘chronically unable to commit’?” “I can commit,” Dylan protested. “I committed to showing up tonight, didn’t I?” “Two hours late,” Kegan pointed out, earning himself a mock glare. “Fashionably late,” Dylan corrected. “There’s a difference.” Some things never change, and Dylan’s commitment issues were about as reliable as Sicily’s sunshine. “Speaking of commitments,” Melissa said, turning those bright eyes on me with that mischievous gleam that usually meant trouble, “we haven’t talked
Chapter 160 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ “What?” The word came out as a shriek of surprise before I could stop myself. “Oh my God, congratulations!” But even as the words left my mouth, I could see this wasn’t the joyful revelation it should have been. Allesia was shaking her head, fresh tears spilling over. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “I don’t know if this is a bad time. I forgot my shots because I have this project I’m working on—this film that’s been consuming all my time and attention. I’ve been so scattered, so focused on my career…” I guided her to one of the kitchen stools, my hands gentle on her shoulders. “Hey, it’s okay. These things happen.” “But they shouldn’t have,” she said, her voice breaking. “Russel and I, we had a plan. We agreed to wait at least four years before having another baby. Adelio is barely two, and I was already pregnant during our wedding planning, which was stressful enough. We wanted to give ourselves time, to let me establish my career, to give Adelio more
Chapter 159 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ I’d spent weeks worrying about meeting Nikolai’s family, but watching them together now, I finally understood what he meant when he said they were just family. Even Oliver had relaxed, laughing at Kegan’s increasingly ridiculous stories about their college pranks and Russel’s singlehood days, while Maeve had practically claimed Adelio as her new best friend. The two were currently passed out on the living room couch, tangled together like puppies after an evening of building elaborate block towers. “Man, every time I see you all, this family just keeps growing,” A gorgeous man announced as he strolled into the dining room, another gorgeous man close behind him. Nikolai leaned in to help me out of my misery of guessing who was who, “That’s Marcel Mancini leading, and that’s Dylan Mancini behind him.” “Ah, more Mancini trouble shows up,” Russel remarked, though his tone was amused rather than annoyed. “Traffic was insane,” Marcel explained right befo
Chapter 158 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ Sicily. I’d heard stories about this place from Stacy’s cautious mentions and Nikolai’s casual references, but experiencing it firsthand felt entirely different. The private jet’s descent into Catania offered a breathtaking view of Mount Etna’s silhouette against the Mediterranean sky, but my stomach was too knotted with nerves to appreciate the scenery. “Relax,” Nikolai murmured, his hand finding mine as the plane touched down. “It’s just family.” I shot him a look while adjusting Maeve’s seatbelt. Our now eight-year-old was pressed against the window, marveling at the approaching coastline with the fearless curiosity of childhood. “Just family? Stacy spent three hours yesterday telling me horror stories about your Don Russel, and now I’m supposed to just relax?” Oliver looked up from his book, grinning. “She’s been spiraling since we left Chicago. I caught her practicing introductions in the bathroom mirror.” “I was not—” I started, then caught