Page 116 of Forbidden Grumpy Boss

I canonly hope Ezra is looking down on us and smiling.

Chapter forty

Epilogue

Silas

There’s a lightness tothe air tonight. A quiet joy I don’t remember feeling in years, maybe not ever. The Eiffel Tower glimmers above us, its lights dancing across the river. Paris knows how to show off, but tonight, it’s like she’s putting on a show just for us.

Leah’s laughter echoes over the clinking glasses on the little table between us. She’s in this dark green dress that catches the evening light in all the right places. And Caleb, sitting across from me, is leaning in, eyes twinkling as he spins another story for his little brother, Ezra, who’s currently enthralled by his big brother’s every word.

Caleb turns to me. “Dad, remember when you taught me to play poker?” He grins, daring me to admit to it.

I raise an eyebrow, glancing at Leah with a half-smile. “I thought we agreed that’s between us,” I say, leaning back in my chair, savoring this new rhythm we’ve all found together.

Leah swats my arm playfully, laughing. “You taught a fifteen-year-old poker? Should I be worried about this one growing up as the family hustler?”

“Someone’s got to keep us all in line,” I say, winking at Ezra, who’s currently sucking down a kid-friendly drink through a bendy straw, blissfully unaware of our jokes.

It hits me. I look around the table, realizing that everything I’ve ever wanted is right here. The ache of the past—of Ezra’s namesake, my brother—has faded into something softer. It’s not gone, but it doesn’t overshadow moments like this.

The buzz from the success of my latest film feels electric, coursing through the air as I sit at this tiny café on the corner ofRue de Rivoli. The Eiffel Tower looms in the distance, and the warm glow of the streetlamps bathe everything in golden light, making this evening feel like a scene from one of my movies.

“Can you believe it?” she says, her eyes sparkling. “You’re officially the toast of Paris!”

“Toast?” I quip, leaning back in my chair. “I was hoping for more of a full-course meal.”

Caleb rolls his eyes dramatically. He’s wearing a fitted black T-shirt and jeans, a little too cool for school. “Dad, you just won an award. You can’t be greedy now.”

“Greedy?” I shake my head, chuckling. “I’m just hungry for success.”

Caleb snickers at my terrible pun. “Good thing we ordered all that food, then.”

Yeah, I’m making Dad jokes now.

We’ve ordered enough to feed a small army. Plates filled with creamy pasta, aromatic herbs, and fresh baguettes crowd our table. The aroma of garlic and butter fills my nostrils, making my mouth water. There’s something comforting about sharing a meal with them. Like this is where I truly belong.

“Speaking of success,” Leah interjects, leaning forward, her elbows resting on the table. “Did you see the reviews? They’re practically calling the film a masterpiece!”

I can’t help but smile at that. The reviews have been kind, almost shockingly so. “I wouldn’t go that far,” I say, trying to stay humble, but the pride in my chest swells nonetheless.

Caleb jumps in, his enthusiasm, contagious. “Dad, you have to take the compliment! This is a big deal! You’re a big deal!”

I ruffle Caleb’s hair playfully. “You know, I wouldn’t be here without you guys. You’re my good luck charms.”

Leah’s eyes soften, and she reaches for my hand across the table. “And we’re proud of you. But you know, it’s not just the movie. It’s how you’ve embraced this new life. How you’ve been there for us.”

Her words wrap around me like a warm blanket. It’s a stark contrast to where we were just a few years ago, lost in grief and confusion. I remember when Leah was struggling to find her purpose, weighed down by her father’s expectations. Now, she’s running her own consultancy agency, thriving without the heavy shadow of family obligations hanging over her.

“I still can’t believe you’re doing it all on your own,” I say. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks,” she says, a blush creeping up her cheeks. “It feels good to have my own thing, you know, finally? My dad stopped hounding me about the family business. And now, I get to help others find their path.”

“And you’re really good at it,” I add, beaming at her.

Caleb shifts in his seat, his gaze darting between us. “It’s so weird that I’m the only one in the family without a cool job. What am I supposed to do?”

“Right now, I’d say you’re doing a pretty great job at being a brother,” Leah says, her voice playful. “That’s a full-time role. Especially with Ezra around.”

---