Page 77 of His Secret Merger

EPILOGUE

Juliette

One Year Later

The scent of grilled vegetables and citrus-marinated shrimp drifted through the backyard, carried by the soft breeze off the bay. Palm trees rustled overhead, dappling the yard with shifting light as afternoon melted into golden evening.

Damian stood at the grill, tongs in one hand, drink in the other, wearing the kind of relaxed smile that still made something flutter deep in my chest. Nearby, Mateo was helping Anthony rig the canopy over the picnic table, his sleeves rolled up with the sun streaking his dark hair. He looked taller every time I blinked.

Behind me, Gabrielle sat cross-legged on a blanket with Julian and Vivienne—her baby daughter curled against her chest, and Julian happily arranging toy boats in a blow-up wading pool.

I shifted Isla, my daughter, higher on my hip and kissed the top of her soft, dark curls. She squealed in response, reaching for the necklace around my neck and grabbing it with surprisinglyfierce fingers. “Careful,” I whispered with a grin, “that’s a limited edition.”

Gabrielle looked up from the blanket. “She’s going to be a collector, obviously.”

“Or a pirate,” I shot back.

She laughed, adjusting Vivienne. “I’d take either.”

From the side yard came the clank of the fence gate and Damian’s low whistle. “Mateo, can you give me a hand?”

Mateo’s eyes lit up. “Sure!” He jogged off, leaving Anthony with the canopy half-assembled.

I moved to the edge of the patio, shielding my eyes from the sun. When Mateo rounded the corner and saw the jet ski, he froze.

“What—” His voice cracked. “Is that…?”

Damian tossed him the keys. “Only if you think straight and keep your grade average at school, it’s earned you a little freedom on the water.”

Mateo stared for a second longer, then launched forward and hugged Damian so hard the keys nearly fell from his hands. “This is insane!”

Julian cheered and pointed from the pool. “Jet ski!”

Gabrielle laughed. “Oh, good. One more motorized vehicle for our peace of mind.”

They wheeled it down to the water while the rest of us gathered at the edge of the dock. Mateo’s grin split his face as he climbed on and fired it up. He looped out into the bay, carving easy arcs in the water, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak.

Damian slid his arm around my waist, kissing my temple. “Worth it?”

I nodded, too full to say anything yet. This—this was what we had built. Not just a house. A life.

Gabrielle called from the table, “Food’s ready!”

“Come on. Let’s eat,” Damian announced as he waved for Mateo to come back to the dock.

Soon, we walked back toward the picnic table, Isla babbling against my shoulder. I took in the plates of food, the mismatched chairs filled with people I loved. This wasn’t the life I’d expected.

It was better.

“Hey, Mom,” Mateo said, his voice a little shy. “Can I give you something?”

I smiled, shifting Isla carefully to my shoulder. “Of course.”

He held out a thin, wrapped parcel made of brown kraft paper and blue twine. I took it gently, sensing Gabrielle’s eyes on me too now, her smile tugging wider. Mateo rocked on his heels while I untied the string.

Inside was a photograph. Framed. Black and white.

It was a photo I didn’t even know existed—me in the hospital bed, cradling Isla in my arms, her tiny pink cap slightly askew. Damian sat beside me, one arm around my shoulders, the other hand gently resting on Isla’s impossibly small back. Mateo sat on the other side of me, grinning so wide his eyes nearly disappeared, one hand awkwardly but protectively cupping Isla’s foot like he already knew how to be a big brother. My hair was a mess, my eyes still puffy from tears of joy, but I wasglowing. We all were. The kind of glow that only comes when something real and rare settles into your life and makes a home there.

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