All Chapters of HIS ONE NIGHT, MY FOREVER : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Alina’s POV After dinner, we walked along the porch, letting the waves wash over us in sound and motion. Leo ran ahead one last time before bedtime, shouting to the seagulls and chasing the tide. Sebastian and I remained behind, walking slowly, letting the quiet of the evening settle around us. He did not reach for my hand. I did not offer it. We simply existed together, patient and present, letting the night hold us. “I never realized,” he said softly, “how much I took for granted. Not just you, not just Leo, but life itself. I was focused on appearances, on control, on power. Now I see how fragile and precious each moment is, how vital it is to choose carefully.” I listened, feeling the weight of his words and the truth within them. Healing did not arrive in grand gestures. It arrived in patience, presence, and deliberate actions repeated day after day. I could see in him that he had learned this lesson, that he was applying it, that he was becoming a man capable of trust

Alina’s POVAfter breakfast, we went for a walk along the beach. Leo ran ahead, collecting shells and tossing them into imaginary rivers. Sebastian and I followed slowly, our steps naturally falling into the rhythm of the tide. I noticed how much had changed in him: he moved with ease, patient and attentive, no longer trying to control everything. He had learned to exist in the moment, to participate without dominating, to let life unfold naturally.“I’ve been thinking,” Sebastian said softly, glancing at me as we walked side by side. “About life, about us, about what really matters.”I turned toward him, curiosity softening my expression. “And what have you realized?” I asked.He hesitated, then spoke carefully. “I can’t change the past. I can’t erase mistakes. But I can choose what comes next. I can be present. I can be responsible. I can protect instead of control. I can be someone worthy of you and Leo.”His words carried sincerity, but I remained cautious. Trust was built throug

Alina’s POVThere was a deliberate calm in him now, a patience that had been absent in the early days after we arrived at the beach house. I watched him, noting the subtle ways he had changed how he moved with attentiveness rather than control, how he interacted with Leo without overt dominance, how he allowed life to unfold naturally rather than trying to bend it entirely to his will. These small shifts, almost imperceptible at first, had begun to build a quiet rhythm of trust between us.Leo bounded into the porch moments later, hair sticking up in chaotic tufts, eyes bright with excitement. “Mama! Papa! Look what I drew!” he shouted, waving a piece of paper covered in colorful scribbles and elaborate doodles. “It’s a treasure map for our adventure today!”I knelt beside him, examining the drawing with genuine admiration. “It’s wonderful, Leo. You’ve put so much detail into it.” His grin was radiant, and Sebastian crouched beside him, ruffling his hair gently. “Wow, buddy. That’s

Alina’s POVHealing was not found in grand gestures. It was built in ordinary, repeated acts: presence, patience, attentiveness, and care. I could see that he understood the power of subtle shifts and quiet milestones, that he was committed to honoring the delicate rebuilding of trust.Leo returned from play, tired but happy, and we tucked him into bed. He held my hand and whispered, “I love you, Mama.”“I love you too,” I whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.Once he was asleep, I stepped outside onto the porch, letting the cool night air brush my skin. Moonlight glimmered across the waves. Sebastian joined me silently, standing beside me. No words were necessary, presence alone was enough.I thought of the small ring he had returned to me weeks ago. It was not a proposal, not yet, but it was a symbol of possibility, a quiet promise. I did not wear it, but I held it in my mind, feeling the weight of hope, trust, and patient love.We remained there, letting the night dee

Alina’s POVWe spent the morning building a fort from driftwood and shells. Leo dictated every detail, insisting on towers, secret passageways, and bridges. After dinner, we walked along the porch, listening to the waves. Leo ran ahead, chasing the tide. Sebastian and I followed, letting silence settle between us. He did not reach for my hand, nor did I offer it. We simply existed, side by side, patient and present, letting the night envelope us.“I never realized,” he said softly, “how much I took for granted before. Not just you, not just Leo, but life itself. I focused on appearances, control, and power. Now I see how fragile and precious every moment is. How vital it is to choose carefully.”I acknowledged the truth in his words. Healing did not arrive in grand gestures or dramatic declarations. It was built in the patient accumulation of ordinary moments, repeated acts of care, and emotional vulnerability. Leo returned from play, exhausted but happy. We tucked him into bed. He