Page 102 of Carved in Ruin

I shake my head, unable to hold back a smile. He’s changing the subject deliberately, steering me away from thoughts of my uncle. It’s just like him to distract me with his teasing. God, I’m obsessed with this man.

“Asking them to donate the clothes they no longer wear is hardly harassment in my eyes,” I say, tilting my chin up in mock defiance.

“Oh, is that what you call it?” His lips twitch. “Natasha called me, said you interrogated her about every dress in her closet.”

“I didn’t interrogate her,” I protest. “Iencouragedher. There’s a difference.”

He raises a brow. “You threatened to send her husband into the ring for sparring if she didn’t.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Her husbandlikessparring. I was doing her a favor.”

“Uh-huh,” he drawls, his hands finding my waist and pulling me closer. “You know they’re all terrified of you, don’t you?”

“They are not,” I argue. “They love me.”

“They do,” he admits, his voice softening. “But you terrify them just a little.”

His eyes scan my face like I’m the only thing worth looking at. “My fearsome, soft-hearted wife,” he murmurs, his thumb brushing over my cheek.

My big, bad husband that is only sweet to me.

Forty One

Epilogue: A Happy Ending

Rafael

The auditorium is buzzing with applause and cheers, but I hear none of it. My eyes are fixed on Mila. She’s walking across the stage, her black gown flowing around her like a queen’s robe, her chin held high, and her face glowing with pride. My Mila. My wife. My obsession. My reason for living. My everything.

I sit in the front row, my hands gripping the armrests of the chair as I watch her accept her degree—hermaster’s in physics.She worked so damn hard for this, pouring herself into late nights and more equations than I care to count. And now, she’s proving to the world what I’ve always known. She’s unstoppable.

When she steps off the stage, her smile lights up the entire room. She moves toward Elliot. He congratulates her with an innocent hug, but my jaw tightens all the same. My hands curl into fists, and it takes everything in me to stay seated.

“Reel it in, caveman,” Layla murmurs from beside me, her tone amused.

I glance at her, my glare half-hearted, and she raises her hands in mock surrender. But she’s right. I don’t need to make a scene. Mila doesn’t look at anyone the way she looks at me. She’s mine, and I know it. Still, I don’t like anyone else touching her, no matter how innocent the gesture.

As the ceremony ends, she steps off the stage. Sam and Mary are the first to greet her. They both graduated before her since she had to take prep courses to qualify for the program, but they made sure to be here today. Sam wraps her in a brotherly hug, murmuring something that makes her laugh, and Mary follows with her own embrace.

I can’t wait any longer. I surge out of my seat and move toward her, ignoring the crowd, the noise, the stares. She spots me, her lips parting in surprise, but before she can say a word, I grab her by the waist and kiss her.

Right there, in front of everyone.

She melts into me, her hands gripping my shoulders as if she needs me to steady her. The world blurs. It’s just us.

Sam and Mary are grinning like idiots when I finally let her breathe, and Sam lets out a low whistle. “It’s not fair for a couple to be this in love. You’re setting unrealistic expectations for the rest of us.”

“Agreed,” Mary says, swooning dramatically. “You’re making the rest of us look bad, Mila.”

Mila laughs, her cheeks flushed, and she hugs Layla.

“You did it, Mila,” Layla whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “Mom would be so proud.”

Mila smiles, her eyes glistening, and she squeezes Layla tighter. “Thank you for everything. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

Layla sniffs, wiping at her eyes. Her gaze darts to me, her lips curving into a teasing smirk as she sees how much I want to snatch her sister back, and she just winks at me.

I steal her away, leading her outside where the cool air wraps around us.

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