Page 88 of Forbidden Bond

“I missed you, too,” I say softly. “Although you might change your mind soon. I’ve been puking my guts out every morning for the past few days. Morning sickness is awful.”

“In that case, you can go sit over there,” he says pretending to throw me off him only to pull me back in and hug me.

“And I’ve been sleeping a lot,” I point out.

I don’t know why I’m listing all this out to him. The expression on his face is amused as he shakes his head.

“Shut up, Katherine,” he mutters. “You’re carrying our baby. None of that matters, I’ll take care of you. I love you so damn much.”

My heart races in my chest. Those are my favorite words to hear. “I love you, too.”

He kisses me then, and the kiss is hard and heady with desire. Our movements grow frenzied, Topher hurriedly helping me out of my clothes. When he thrusts into me, I let out a soft gasp. It feels like a homecoming.

I never knew a person could qualify as a home, but Topher has proven it time and time again. Every time I sought him out over the past few months, every time I drifted towards him, it was because a part of me could recognize that he was home. Even if it took the rest of me so long to come to the same conclusion.

I found my happiness.

Topher

FOUR YEARS LATER

“Dinner’s ready, everyone!” My mother’s voice resonates from the bustling kitchen, her culinary talents now rivaling those of any Michelin-starred chef, all thanks to Daniel.

They say children utter the most unexpected things, and it was the moment my son told his grandmother that the painstakingly crafted cake she had spent two days making was “so gross” that my mother decided to embark on her culinary journey. With ample time during the day, she honed her craft to perfection.

One by one, we gather around the table and take our seats.

“I can’t believe the friggin’ D’Angelo family is at my dinner table for Thanksgiving,” James chuckles.

“Tell me about it,” Christian chimes in, sharing a knowing glance with me and Carlo before rolling his eyes.

Just as Katherine’s dad was about to launch into his usual spiel about how he would willingly throw all of us in jail for just about anything, Christopher Jr. entered the room, brimming with childlike excitement.

“Grandpa, look what I made!” he exclaims, thrusting a meticulously crafted paper plane toward Katherine’s dad.

“Whoa, you made that?” James’ eyes widen with genuine astonishment. “Now there’s a D’Angelo I can hang with!” He springs up from his seat, eager to play with Junior, momentarily setting aside his tough exterior.

Katherine’s hand finds mine, and our wedding rings nestled perfectly atop each other.

“I’m happy for you baby brother but do you guys think he’ll ever let up?” he asks.

“We’re still waiting for him to bless our marriage,” I quip, a hint of playful exasperation in my voice.

Stacey joined in the banter with a hearty laugh. “You guys have been married for three years!” she pointed out.

“Exactly!” I retort, raising an eyebrow.

Laughter bubbles up within us, a testament to the camaraderie we have built over the years. We watch as Katherine’s dad revels in his time with Junior, his stern façade temporarily forgotten.

As our laughter subsides, a smile tugges at the corners of Katherine’s dad’s lips, unable to resist the infectious joy in the room.

We have come a long way from our tumultuous past, and moments like these served as poignant reminders of the power of forgiveness, love, and the unexpected twists that life can bring.

Finding joy in a love that was once… forbidden.

THE END

---