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Chapter Twenty Six
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2025-03-17 20:34:23
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After hours of playing until our cheeks were pink and our fingers numb inside our gloves, Jesse suggested a swim to warm up.The chalet’s indoor heated pool gleamed invitingly, the tall windows letting in the soft light.Lucas splashed happily at the shallow end with Justin nearby while Jesse held our daughter carefully, letting her float gently across the water as she squealed in delight.I floated lazily, watching them, my heart so full it ached.This.This was everything.Until it wasn’t.It happened so fast I almost didn't see it.A shadow moved near the balcony windows.A figure —tall, fast, predatory —slipping silently into the pool room.And I saw the glint of metal in his hand.A knife."Lucas!" I screamed.The boy turned instinctively toward my voice — just as the man lunged.Everything slowed.I kicked off the wall hard, propelling myself across the water, but I was too far.Too slow.My heart crashed against my ribs, my scream tearing from my throat—When suddenly—Bang!
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I leaned forward, heart tightening."Go on.""It's about his son."I froze.For a moment, I thought I misheard him."His... son?""Yes," Tomas said grimly. "The child Athena carried—it was his after all. After everything fell apart, no one claimed the boy. He's in the St. Mary's Orphanage on the east side of the city."I gripped the phone tighter."And no one's...?""No, miss. No one. He's been there since he was born."My chest squeezed painfully. I swallowed hard."Thank you for telling me," I said quietly.I ended the call and stood, my mind racing.I told Jesse everything. "I’ll drive," he said, grabbing the car keys without question.The orphanage was an old, crumbling brick building tucked away in a poorer part of the city.Children played listlessly in the cracked courtyard, most too thin, too wary.My heart ached just looking at them.Then I saw it.A small boy—maybe three years old—being shoved hard by two older kids.He stumbled, falling on the concrete, a bloody scrape bloo
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Jesse took to fatherhood like he had been waiting his whole life for it.He hovered over both of us constantly —checking the room temperature,checking if she was breathing,checking if I was drinking enough water.It was both heart-melting and hilarious."Bella," he said one afternoon, practically bursting into our bedroom with a worried look, "I don’t think she’s eaten enough today."I blinked at him from the bed, where our daughter was curled against me, fast asleep and milk-drunk with a little smile on her face."Jesse," I said patiently,"She's fine. Look at her. She’s smiling."He scowled, arms crossed over his chest."I still think we should call the pediatrician."I laughed softly."We already called twice this week."He grumbled under his breath, coming over to sit carefully on the edge of the bed.Gently — so, so gently — he ran a fingertip along her tiny cheek.She yawned, wrinkling her nose, and Jesse froze, looking like someone had just handed him the keys to the univers
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Jesse took to fatherhood like he had been waiting his whole life for it.He hovered over both of us constantly —checking the room temperature,checking if she was breathing,checking if I was drinking enough water.It was both heart-melting and hilarious."Bella," he said one afternoon, practically bursting into our bedroom with a worried look, "I don’t think she’s eaten enough today."I blinked at him from the bed, where our daughter was curled against me, fast asleep and milk-drunk with a little smile on her face."Jesse," I said patiently,"She's fine. Look at her. She’s smiling."He scowled, arms crossed over his chest."I still think we should call the pediatrician."I laughed softly."We already called twice this week."He grumbled under his breath, coming over to sit carefully on the edge of the bed.Gently — so, so gently — he ran a fingertip along her tiny cheek.She yawned, wrinkling her nose, and Jesse froze, looking like someone had just handed him the keys to the univers
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"Bella? Baby, what’s wrong?"I just stood there, frozen, staring at him.I held up the test with trembling fingers.For a moment, he just blinked at it.Then he looked at me.Then back at it.And then—He dropped to his knees in front of me so fast I gasped.His hands slid up my waist, cradling my hips gently.He pressed his forehead against my stomach, breathing me in.Trembling.Overwhelmed."Are you sure?" he rasped against my skin.I nodded, tears filling my eyes.A broken laugh escaped him — choked, joyful, raw.He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me so tightly I could barely breathe."I love you," he whispered over and over."I love you so much."From that moment forward, Jesse turned into a man possessed.Protective didn’t even begin to cover it.He treated me like I was made of glass wrapped in silk wrapped in diamonds."You’re not carrying a baby," I teased him one morning as he insisted on carrying me—literally carrying me—from the bedroom to the kitchen."You’re ca
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"Come on," he said. "I have plans."I groaned dramatically, pulling the sheet over my head."More plans? I’m still recovering from last night’s plans."He laughed — a deep, beautiful sound — and tugged the sheet down gently."You’ll like these," he promised.Half an hour later, we were barefoot, hand in hand, walking along the beach.The sand was cool under our feet, the early morning sky painted in soft pinks and golds.Jesse led me to a small cove tucked away behind a wall of jagged black rocks.There, waiting for us, was a small wooden boat bobbing gently in the shallows.Two paddles rested inside.And a small wicker basket.I turned to him, raising an eyebrow."A boat ride? Seriously?"He smirked."A romantic boat ride."I snorted but allowed him to help me in anyway.We paddled lazily out into the open water.The island shrank behind us, a green gem floating in a sea of blue.Jesse opened the basket, pulling out cold lemonade, fresh fruit, and a blanket.We anchored ourselves wit
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I swallowed hard against the sudden rush of emotion. "I dreamed of you too," I whispered. Even when it hurt. Even when I thought you were lost. We made love slowly that night. No rush. No desperation. Just endless kisses, whispered promises, hands sliding over bare skin, hearts beating in perfect sync. It was the kind of love that healed. The kind that stitched up every wound. The kind that made surviving worth it. The next morning, Jesse woke me before sunrise. He wrapped me in a blanket and carried me out onto the beach, sitting down with me in his lap as the first light bled across the ocean. We watched the sun rise together. Silent. Peaceful. Whole. He pressed a kiss to my temple and whispered: "Forever, baby." And I believed him with every piece of my heart. Jesse caught me staring at him and smiled lazily. "What’s that look for, Mrs. Jesse?" I smirked. "Just trying to figure out how I got so lucky." He leaned over, kissing me slow and deep. "You weren’t l
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I sat up, rubbing my eyes, just as he strolled back into the bedroom carrying a tray.Coffee. Croissants. Strawberries.And that boyish, mischievous grin that always made my heart race."Breakfast in bed?" I teased, smiling sleepily.He set the tray down beside me and leaned in, brushing a kiss against my forehead."Not just breakfast," he said.I moved my head."Oh?"He sat down on the edge of the bed, his eyes sparkling with something... secretive."Get dressed, baby," he said, voice low and full of promise."We're leaving in an hour."I blinked."Leaving? Where?"He only grinned wider."You’ll see."An hour later, after much playful grumbling and teasing, I was dressed in casual jeans, a white shirt, and a soft leather jacket Jesse had insisted I wear.The car was already waiting downstairs.Sleek. Black. Windows tinted so dark you couldn’t see inside.I gave him a suspicious look as he opened the door for me."You're not kidnapping me, are you?"He laughed, the sound low and warm.
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He slid the phone into his pocket and crossed the room toward me.I set the teacup down as he stopped in front of me.He didn’t say anything at first.Just stood there looking at me with something soft, almost vulnerable, in his eyes.I tilted my head."What?" I asked playfully.He crouched down in front of me so we were eye level."We have a wedding to plan," he said casually, like he was suggesting dinner reservations.I blinked.Then blinked again."What wedding?" I teased, arching a brow."Whose wedding?"He chuckled, deep and low, sliding his hands along my knees, pulling me slightly closer."Ours, baby," he said softly."I’ve annulled the marriage with Anna. It’s only right... we get married."For a moment, my heart stopped.The world spun.Not from fear.But from happiness so fierce it almost knocked the breath from my lungs."Ours?" I repeated, my voice a little shaky.He nodded.Eyes steady.Sure.Certain."You’re the only one I ever wanted, Bella," he said, cupping my cheek.
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