Page 39 of The Rancher's Pregnancy Surprise

I love you.

I love you.

Ronan doesn't say the words out loud, but I hear it in the way his arms tighten around me. I hear it just as clearly as I hear that other voice. The one that has always been with Me, and the one that always says the perfect things at His perfect timing.

Your parents also caused you pain.

But not once did it cross your mind to give up on them.

Because you knew the truth.

The people you love are not perfect.

No one is.

And that's why forgiveness must follow every mistake, for despair to transform into hope, and the love you have for each other will never die.

Epilogue

ACACIA STOOD AT THErailing of the yacht, the warm summer breeze caressing her face as she watched her six-month-old daughter being passed from one adoring arm to another. Azalea's peals of laughter carried across the deck, making Acacia's heart swell with a joy so profound it left her breathless.

"She's a beautiful girl," Joan Nelson said, coming to stand beside her. "I'm honored to be her godmother."

The upper deck of the grand yacht had been transformed for the occasion, decorated with soft pink and white azaleas—a tribute to her daughter's name. Today was Azalea's dedication day, and Acacia couldn't have imagined a more perfect celebration.

Guilt pricked at Acacia's heart as she observed the love in the older woman's eyes. Joan had been nothing but kind to her, even after the messy breakup with Claude. She opened her mouth, thinking that she should tell Joan that Azalea was actually her great-granddaughter, but before she could say a word, Joan suddenly asked in a casual tone, "Have you heard? I've updated my will."

"Oh?" Acacia's hands tightened on the railing.

"Azalea shall be a part of it, but let that be our little secret."

Acacia's eyes widened.Did this mean—-

"Old age does not make one an imbecile," Joan said with a sniff. "I admit that it took a while for me to realize there was more toyour breakup with Claude, but by the time I found out, you were gone, and I was not able to protect you."

Acacia quickly gave Joan's hand a squeeze at the regret in the older woman's voice. "You have nothing to regret, Joan. Everything happened the way God meant it to happen. God wanted me in Hartland. And now..." Her eyes brightened with tears. "God also answered one of my prayers." Her voice broke. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you the truth the first time. I didn't want you to force Claude to marry me—"

"And you were right to think that, too," the older woman acknowledged with a heavy sigh. "It was exactly what I would have done. I'm trying, Acacia. But I am still blind to some of his faults. Even so, the moment I saw you and Ronan together, it was clear to me that the two of you were meant to be together." She patted Acacia's hand. "And one day, your parents will see it, too."

"I'm praying for that, too," Acacia said softly as she remembered the looks on her parents' faces when she visited them with Azalea and Ronan. They hadn't even looked at her baby girl, and they had barely been civil to Ronan, whom they thought was a step down from Claude since they only saw him as an "ordinary" doctor while Claude stood to inherit millions.

Since then, she had not seen her parents again, with her mother stiffly making it clear that they would not welcome any other unscheduled visit. Acacia loved them still, forgave them for hurting her, and because she knew she had also hurt them with her pregnancy, she had asked for their forgiveness.

Beyond that, she was at peace.

Some things, one could only pray for and wait.

ON THE TOPMOST DECK, Ronan stood with their hosts, taking in the magnificent view of the ocean stretching endlessly before them. The luxury yacht was a floating paradise, with polished teakwood decks and gleaming chrome railings catching the golden rays of the setting sun.

"Thank you for this," Ronan said, gesturing to the elaborate setup surrounding them. "Azalea's dedication day wouldn't have been nearly as perfect without your help."

"Do not make the mistake of thinking that just by saying 'thank you' I am letting you use my yacht for free," Damen Leventis mocked. "I am still charging you for it. We both know you can afford the fee—"

Mairi couldn't believe what she was hearing from her Greek billionaire husband. "Don't be so—-"

"—which, would then be directly donated to my wife's favorite charity," Damen finished smoothly.

"—-marvelous," Mairi ended instead without missing a beat, but she knew it was still too late when she saw the two men exchanging smirks.

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