Page 174 of Ruthless God

“Looks like it’s just you and me, mama.”

His voice is teasing, but there’s something deeper beneath it.

Something unspoken.

I step closer, my pulse thrumming in my veins.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “It is.”

I don’t know what happens next.

We’re still standing on the edge of something vast.

But for the first time in my life, I’m not afraid.

Because we made it.

Because we survived.

Because whatever comes next, we face it together.

And as Claudius pulls me into his arms, pressing his lips against mine, I know one thing for certain.

This isn’t the end.

It’s just the beginning.

EPILOGUE

Cecely

The sun is warm on my skin as I stretch out on the balcony, the salty breeze drifting in from the ocean. It’s been three months since we disappeared. Since we let the world believe Claudius Irons was dead. Since I chose this life. I never thought I’d feel free again. But here, in this moment, I do.

My phone buzzes. A name flashes across the screen. Harvey.

A grin spreads across my face as I answer. “Hey, stranger.”

His voice comes through lighter than I’ve ever heard it.

“Cecely.” He lets out a deep breath, almost like he’s choking on emotion. “It’s gone.”

The world tilts.

“What?”

“The tumor.” His voice cracks. “It’s gone. The doctors just called. All the scans came back clean.”

Tears prickle my eyes. I press a hand to my round stomach, overwhelmed with relief, with joy, with something too big to name.

I laugh, the sound shaky. “Harvey…oh my God.”

“I’m going to live, Cec.”

His voice is thick with something raw.

And so is mine when I whisper?—

“Yeah. You are.”

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