All Chapters of Scars She Carries, Love She Deserves: Chapter 41 - Chapter 47

Chapter Forty-Two — AlwaysThe day after the dreamlike stillness of morning light, life returned to its regular rhythm—school drop-offs, work emails, groceries, laundry. But something about the way Elena moved through it all had shifted. There was an ease to her smile, a softness in the way she held Jack’s hand in the cereal aisle, a lightness in her laugh that hadn’t been there before.They came home late from the park that evening, all sun-tired and wind-kissed. Lila fell asleep in the car, her fingers still clutching a leaf she had found and deemed magical. Jack carried her upstairs, and Elena tucked her in, brushing a kiss across her forehead. Then they descended into the quiet of the kitchen.The dishwasher hummed as Jack scrubbed a pan at the sink, his sleeves pushed up and water speckling the front of his shirt. The scent of lavender bubble bath still lingered in the air, blending with the garlic and thyme from dinner.Elena stood behind him, drying her hands with a dish towel.

Chapter Forty-Four — The Last GoodbyeThey didn't go far for their honeymoon.Just a quiet cabin a few hours up the coast, tucked between towering pines and the hush of a private cove. It wasn’t lavish. It didn’t need to be. It was time carved out just for them—a pause between chapters, a place where the noise of the world couldn’t reach.Lila stayed with Elena’s parents, who were overjoyed to babysit. They waved her off with tearful eyes and promises of too much dessert and bedtime stories every night.The first night at the cabin, Elena and Jack walked the rocky shoreline, hand in hand, the sea breeze curling through their clothes. The sun dipped behind the trees as if tucking itself in.They didn’t talk much. They didn’t need to. Everything between them was quiet certainty.Inside, they lit the fire and poured wine. Jack put on a soft playlist and pulled Elena into a slow, swaying dance in the middle of the living room, her head tucked under his chin.Later, wrapped in each other b

Epilogue — HomeSeveral years had passed since that day on the beach.Life had grown, slowly and softly, like wildflowers in spring. It hadn’t always been easy, but it had been real—and full. And now, it was fuller than ever.Their new house sat at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, painted a soft blue with white shutters and a wraparound porch. It wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t falling apart either. It was theirs. A home they’d chosen together. A place to grow roots.Boxes were stacked in every corner, some labeled in Lila’s careful handwriting—books, toys, kitchen stuff. Jack hoisted the last one from the truck while Elena stood in the front yard, one hand resting on the curve of her pregnant belly, the other loosely holding the fingers of their youngest, a giggling two-year-old with Jack’s eyes and Elena’s wild curls.Lila, now ten, darted past them with a grin, holding a clipboard like a tiny general. “Okay, we’ve got bedrooms assigned, snacks unpacked, and the couch is in the perfect