Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 71 - Chapitre 80

The trip Damien planned came together faster than Elena expected.He had chosen a private beach villa in a quiet coastal town just a few hours away, nothing extravagant, but perfect for the three of them. Leo was beyond excited, packing his own small suitcase with help from Damien, carefully placing his favorite building blocks and stuffed penguin inside.The drive there was filled with Leo’s nonstop questions and Damien’s patient answers. Elena sat in the passenger seat, watching the scenery change from city to open road, her hand resting comfortably on Damien’s thigh. Every so often he would glance over and smile at her, that soft, private smile that still made her heart flutter.The villa was beautiful. White walls, large windows overlooking the ocean, and a private stretch of beach just steps away. Leo ran straight to the water the moment they arrived, shoes kicked off, laughing as the waves chased his feet.Damien stood beside Elena on the deck, watching their son with quiet wond

The silence after Lila’s departure was heavier than Elena expected.She stood frozen on the front steps for several long moments, Damien’s arm still wrapped protectively around her shoulders. The afternoon sun felt too bright, the birdsong in the trees too cheerful for the storm that had just passed through their front door. Leo’s innocent voice calling from inside finally pulled her back to reality.“Mama? Dad? Is dinner ready yet? I’m hungry!”Elena forced a steady breath and wiped her eyes quickly before turning to face the house. “Coming, sweetheart. Just give us one minute.”Damien’s jaw was clenched so tightly she could see the muscle jumping. His hand remained firm on her waist, as if he was afraid she might slip away if he let go. “I’m so sorry,” he said again, voice low and rough with barely contained anger. “I thought we had shut this down. I’ll call my lawyer right now. We’ll get a restraining order by the end of the week. She won’t come near this house or Leo again.”Elena

The restraining order came through faster than expected.Damien’s legal team had worked efficiently, presenting the forged documents, the harassing messages, and the pattern of behavior. Lila was legally barred from contacting them or coming within a certain distance of their home, Leo’s daycare, or Elena’s workplace. For the first time in weeks, Elena felt like she could breathe a little easier.But legal protection couldn’t erase the emotional residue.One quiet evening, after Leo had fallen asleep clutching his favorite stuffed dragon, Elena found herself standing at the large window in the living room, staring out at the darkened backyard. The string lights Damien had installed twinkled softly, casting a warm glow over the grass where Leo’s latest fort still stood half-built.Damien came up behind her, his arms sliding around her waist as he rested his chin on her shoulder. He didn’t speak at first, just held her, his presence solid and reassuring.“You’re still carrying it,” he

The days after bringing Max home were filled with chaos and joy in equal measure.The golden retriever puppy had endless energy, chasing Leo around the backyard, stealing socks, and leaving muddy paw prints across the hardwood floors. Leo was in heaven, declaring Max his “best knight” and building him a special dog fort next to his own kingdom of blocks. Damien took on the early morning walks with patience and good humor, while Elena found herself laughing more than she had in years as she watched her son and the puppy tumble together on the grass.One golden Sunday afternoon, the four of them, Elena, Damien, Leo, and Max, were sprawled on a large blanket in the backyard. Leo was trying to teach Max how to fetch, though the puppy mostly preferred chewing on sticks and rolling in the grass. Damien lay on his back with his head in Elena’s lap, eyes half-closed in contentment as she ran her fingers through his dark hair.“This is perfect,” Damien murmured, reaching up to catch her hand

The proposal had unlocked something beautiful in their home.Over the next few weeks, wedding planning became a gentle thread woven into their daily life. It wasn’t rushed or overwhelming, just quiet conversations over morning coffee, late-night discussions after Leo was asleep, and small decisions that made the future feel real and exciting.One Saturday morning, the three of them sat at the big kitchen table with notebooks and crayons spread out. Leo was “helping” by drawing colorful pictures of what he thought the wedding should look like, mostly dragons, towers, and a very large cake.“I want to wear a crown!” Leo declared, holding up his latest drawing. “And Max can be the ring dog!”Damien laughed, the sound warm and easy as he ruffled Leo’s hair. “We can make that happen, buddy. You’ll be the best ring bearer and crown-wearer ever.”Elena watched them with a soft smile, her heart full. She reached across the table and took Damien’s hand, their fingers intertwining naturally. Th