A New Life

*CHRIS*The plan was to come back, spend time with my folks, maybe do a little shopping, and go back home.However, things didn’t quite go as planned.My son had been talking about this damn tree for three weeks.Not Christmas.Not presents.Not Santa.The tree.Specifically, the big one downtown that apparently required an entire ceremony just to turn the lights on.I didn’t understand the excitement.It was a tree.With lights.We had one of those at home.Smaller.Inside.Warm.And I didn’t have to stand around a hundred strangers to look at it.But apparently that wasn’t the same.Honestly, I was hoping he’d forget all about it.Safe to say he didn’t.“Daddy.”“What?”“When are they gonna turn it on?”I looked at my phone.“Seven.”He looked at the tree.Then back at me.“When is seven?”“In fifteen minutes.”He frowned.“That’s long.”“It’s fifteen minutes.”“I know.”Clearly he didn’t.He grabbed my hand again.Four years old.Impatient as hell.And somehow capable of asking the

Last Updated : 2026-08-27

Epilogue: The Stakeout

*ERIC* “I don’t like him.” Mira didn’t look up. That pissed me off more than if she had argued. She sat on the other end of the couch with her legs underneath her, scrolling through something on her phone like our daughter hadn’t just left this house with some strange man. Some strange man who apparently thought he could pull into my driveway. Walk to my front door. Ring my doorbell. And leave with my daughter. Like that shit was normal. “Mira.” “I heard you.” “I said I don’t like him.” “And I said nothing.” “Exactly.” She looked up. “What do you want me to say?” “That you agree.” “I don’t.” I stared at her. She went back to her phone. I reached over and grabbed it. “Jamira.” That got her attention. Her eyes lifted slowly. “What?” “You saw him.” “Yes.” “You saw his shoes?” She blinked. “His shoes?” “Yes.” “What was wrong with his shoes?” I sat forward. “Exactly.” “What?” “You didn’t notice.” She stared at me. Then started laughing. “This isn’t fun

Last Updated : 2026-08-27

All Chapters of Love On Ice: Chapter 161 - Chapter 162

A New Life

Epilogue: The Stakeout