Dearest readers, I am deeply and genuinely sorry for going on hiatus without notice for almost two weeks now. I fell critically ill (you can never predict when it comes), and have been undergoing treatment ever since. I am still slowly recovering, so I plead with you all to have a little bit of patience for me as I try to get better fully. Updates for this month wouldn't be as frequent as other months, I will drop one or two chapters as my strength allows me. But, I will fully resume updates from next month. Thank you so much for your understanding! With love, Mary Swan.
Ivan’s hands cupped mine, his eyes glistening.“Emily,” he said, his voice thick. “You changed everything. I didn’t know what it meant to live fully until I saw you laugh. I didn’t know what it meant to love until I watched you hold Mila when she was scared, when she was sick, when she just needed s
E M I L YSix months later.The soft swell of violins filled the chapel air, and I blinked through a veil of tears as the double doors creaked open before me. My hand tightened around Mila’s tiny fingers, her giggle a spark of light in the stillness. She looked up at me with a beaming smile, radiant
I opened the box.“Will you marry me?”The room was silent for a heartbeat.Then Emily dropped to her knees and flung her arms around my neck.“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes. A million times, yes.”The room erupted.Mila squealed and clapped. Laura cried openly. Mikhail whooped. Elle burst into full sob
I couldn’t stop staring.“You’re going to burn a hole in me,” she teased, glancing at me through the mirror.“Can’t help it,” I said, my voice hoarse.She stood then, unwrapping the towel from her body. I looked away out of instinct, respect, habit, nerves, but she laughed and tossed a pair of tight
I V A NThe day after the courthouse verdict felt like the first real breath I’d taken in months. We’d finally won. Emily had full custody, Tristan was out of our lives for good, and Mila… Mila was safe. I thought that kind of peace would be enough to steady my nerves for a while. But now, standing
The final day of the hearing, when Tristan took the stand, it was like watching a stranger unravel.He was combative. Defensive. Sloppy. He tried to paint himself as the victim of a cruel mother who shut him out and poisoned his daughter’s mind. But under cross examination, it didn’t take long for h