Page 27 of This Is Our Forever

For a moment, the only sound in the room is the soft whir of the air conditioning. Brad glares at me, then snatches the pen and scrawls his name across the bottom of the page.

“You can’t do this to me.” He shoves the paper back, his voice low and dangerous. “I’ll sue for wrongful termination. I’ll go to the press. I’ll—”

“You’ll do nothing.” My voice cuts through his threats. “You so much as breathe in my family’s direction, and I’ll bury you so deep your mother won’t be able to find you.”

Two security guards materialize in the doorway, and Brad’s face twists in rage as they approach and flank him.

“This isn’t over, Nathan.”

“Yes, it is.”

The guards escort him out, and the room falls silent. Dad rests a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, son. We all bought into his act.”

I nod, though words feel useless right now. The relief of having Brad out of our lives battles the ache of betrayal, leaving me feeling hollow.

“I need to get home.”

Home. To Amelia and Dylan. The family Brad had nearly destroyed. The thought of them is the only thing that soothes the sting, a balm to the wounds left by years of betrayal and deception.

When I walk into the penthouse, the sound of laughter fills the air. I find them in the kitchen—Amelia, her hair catching the sunlight, and Dylan hanging on a stool, grinning up at her.

Dylan spots me first, his face lighting up. “Daddy!”

He leaps off the stool, his legs pumping as he runs toward me. I catch him, pull him into my arms, and kiss his forehead.

“Hey, buddy. Been good for Mommy?”

He nods and launches into a detailed account of their day. I listen, but my attention is on Amelia as she approaches, concern etched into every line of her face. She knows how tough today has been for me.

Without a word, she wraps her arms around us, pulling us into a tight embrace. Her warmth melts away the lingering tension in my chest, and I press my lips to her temple.

“How did it go?” Her fingers slide through my hair, a gentle comfort.

I sigh and hold her close. “It’s done. He’s gone.”

She doesn’t ask for details; she doesn’t need to. Instead, she holds me tighter and grounds me in her presence.

“I love you,” I whisper against her skin, the words coming out raw and real. “Both of you. So much.”

She pulls back just far enough to meet my eyes, her gaze steady and full of that quiet strength I depend on. “We love you too.”

In that moment, the future stretches out before us, brighter than I ever imagined it could be. Brad’s betrayal, the heartache, the years we lost—they’re behind us now. What lies ahead is a life built on love, trust, and the everyday magic of being together.There will be challenges, yes. There will be wounds to heal and trust to rebuild. But as I hold Amelia and our son, I know—deep in my bones—that we can weather it all.

This is our forever, our happily ever after. And it’s only just beginning.

EPILOGUE NATHAN

A breeze carries the scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass, mingling with the distant laughter of children on the playground.

We spread our picnic blanket, a patchwork quilt handed down from Amelia’s grandmother, beneath the sprawling branches of an ancient oak tree.

Dylan races across the open field, his dark curls bouncing with each step. A kite trails behind him in a vibrant streak of red and blue. Amelia watches, her eyes sparkling with joy, a soft smile playing on her lips.

“He’s going to sleep well tonight,” she remarks, sprawling out beside me on the blanket.

“Yeah, he will.” I reach for her hand, marveling at how perfectly it fits in mine. Her skin, warm and soft, contrasts against my rough, calloused palm.

She shifts, her gaze locking on mine, curiosity lacing her voice. “You’ve been distracted all afternoon. What’s on your mind?”

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