Page 30 of Hate You Forever

I have the love of my life. We’re going to be getting married soon, and we have the perfect house to welcome our growing family. Baby number one is already on the way, and we have plenty of time to makenumbers two, three, four, and five, or as many as she’ll let me make.

My father has finally retired and left the garage to me full-time. While she’s still working at the vet’s office, she’s taking business classes to set up her future for anything she wants to do as the kids grow up and prepare to leave us. I’m finally getting my happy ending, but we’re nowhere near an ending. This is only the beginning of us, the beginning of an epic love story that I can’t wait to tell our children and grandchildren.

I pick her up against me and carry her back to our bedroom, which doesn’t yet have a bed. I lay her down gently on the floor and crawl over her body. “I love you, Jade Karma Seymour,” I whisper as I pick up her foot to take off her shoe.

She smiles down at me, her blue eyes level with mine. “I love you, too, Memphis Alan Styles.”

I roll my eyes at her using my middle name and drop the shoe onto the floor at my side before moving to the other. “And we love you, Xander Alan Styles,” I say, bending down to press a kiss to her stomach. The baby kicks and I pull away as she giggles loudly.

“We’re finally here, baby,” I whisper as I lower myself down to her, pressing a kiss to her neck.

She turns her head, exposing more of her throat to me. “It’s only the beginning,” she whispers, bringing her lips to mine.

Extended Epilogue

JADE-FIVE YEARS LATER…

The early morning sun streams through our bedroom window as I stand in front of the mirror, trying to zip up my dress. Memphis appears behind me, wrapping his strong arms around my waist and pressing a kiss to my neck.

"Need some help with that?" he asks with a smirk.

I roll my eyes but can't help smiling. "Your son kept me up half the night wanting ice cream. The least you can do is help me get dressed for work."

He laughs as he carefully zips up my dress. "Don't blame little Xander. You're the one who insisted on chocolate fudge brownie at midnight."

"I'm pregnant. I get to blame whoever I want," I say, turning to face him. His green eyes sparkle with amusement as he pulls me closer.

"And you're beautiful," he whispers against my lipsbefore kissing me softly. Even after five years of marriage, my heart still skips a beat when he looks at me like this.

The patter of little feet interrupts us as our four-year-old son bursts into the room, followed by an energetic Noodle. "Mommy! Daddy! Can we have pancakes?"

Memphis scoops him up, tossing him in the air as Xander squeals with delight. "Only if you help me make them, buddy."

I watch them head to the kitchen, my hand resting on my growing belly where our daughter kicks in response to her brother's laughter. The house Memphis renovated has become everything we dreamed of and more. The walls that once needed repair now hold our family photos, showing how we've grown from newlyweds to parents. The hardwood floors that he restored bear the marks of Xander's toy cars and Noodle's excited running.

In the kitchen, Memphis has Xander standing on a chair at the counter, helping him mix pancake batter while explaining the importance of getting all the lumps out. It's moments like these that make me fall in love with him all over again.

"How about blueberries in these?" Memphis asks, reaching for the fresh berries we picked up at the farmers' market yesterday.

"Yes!" Xander exclaims, already trying to grab a handful to pop in his mouth.

I laugh and join them at the counter, stealing a few berries for myself. "Like father, like son. Neither of you can wait for anything."

Memphis catches my eye, and I know we're both thinking of how he proved that wrong—how he waited for me, proved himself, and rebuilt our trust after coming back. He reaches over and squeezes my hand, a gesture that says more than words ever could.

The garage is thriving under Memphis's management, and I've finally opened my own mobile veterinary clinic, combining my love for animals with the business degree I earned taking night classes. Pearl and Blake live just down the street, and our kids are already inseparable.

After breakfast, I kiss them both goodbye and head to my first appointment of the day. When I return home that evening, exhausted but happy, I find Memphis and Xander in the backyard, working on the treehouse they've been building together.

"Mommy!" Xander calls down from his perch on the platform. "Daddy says we can sleep out here when it's done!"

Memphis catches my skeptical look and grins. "Maybe when you're a little older, buddy."

Later that night, after Xander is tucked in bed withNoodle curled up at his feet, Memphis draws me a temperature appropriate bath in our restored clawfoot tub that he has checked with a thermometer multiple times. He's added floating candles and rose petals, reminiscent of our first night in this house five years ago.

"You're spoiling me," I say as he helps me into the warm water.

He kneels beside the tub, running his hand along my arm. "You deserve to be spoiled. Especially now." His hand moves to my belly, where our daughter responds to his touch with a flutter of movement.

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