Page 102 of Papers Don't Lie

“You said I’m your wife, but I’m not anymore, Kai." Esmeray looks down at her feet, biting the inside of her cheek.

“Papers don’t lie, my love,” I say and reach out to my back pocket, then show her the new papers.

Her eyes widen, taking in the statement. I made sure to erase Carter’s touch from her life, and now, the only man she’s married to is me. She’ll forever be Esmeray Graves, if she wants to be.

“I—” she stammers, not finding her words.

“You don’t have to say anything other than you want to come back home with me, where Raven is waiting, by the way,” I say, and if possible, her eyes round more. “I wanted it to be a surprise, but I thought I’d convince you to come.”

She falls into my arms, hugging me until I’m out of breath, yet I don’t seem to care. Dying in her arms seems like the best kind of death to me. I’d die happily.

“Yes, yes,” she says, tightening her grip on me. “Yes, I’ll come home.”

At the sound of those words, my chest instantly warms.

Home. She feels like home.

She steps away, wiping the tears on her cheeks. “Thank you, Kai. For everything you did. If you didn’t come, I—it would’ve destroyed me."

“I searched for you every day and night, Ray, and I’d do it over again if it means I’ll find myself in your arms again.”

She blushes, her chin burying in her chest. “You looked for me?”

I nod, my eyes softening. “Day and night, in my dreams and with every resource I had. I’m sorry it took me that long, Ray. I’m so, so sorry,” I murmur and drag her into my arms again, shedding tears at the sudden feeling of relief.

She’s finally where I wanted her to be. She’s in my arms, and she’ll come back home with me, where she belongs.

“You came. That’s all that matters.”

My hand slides on her back, and I guide her outside of the house, my lips pressing onto her forehead. I don’t know if it’s all in my imagination, but she still smells like blueberries.

“If I had a choice… I would’ve never left you,” she whispers in my arms, her head tilting on my shoulders.

Even with knowing that information from Raven, I still let myself exhale in relief. “And I would’ve never stopped looking for you.”

She glances up at me, stopping on the doorframe, her green eyes searching deeply through mine. “Even if you didn’t know why I left?”

I smile, placing a palm on her cheek. “I still don’t know why you left, and that didn’t stop me.”

“Oh my God, Esmeray!”Raven gets up from the couch, running towards her sister the moment we step inside the house. “I thought I’d never see you in New York again.” She hugs her tightly despite the growing bump.

“I’m back.” Esmeray’s voice cracks as she breaks into tears again. After two minutes, time I use to admire their love, theystep away and Esmeray cracks into a laugh, wiping her tears with her palms. “I don’t think I cried in a year how much I’ve cried this last month.”

We all laugh, and even if I wanted to let her spend more time with her sister, I simply can’t let her go. So my hand lands on the small of her back, dragging her closer as we walk to the living room. Raven stays close, her hand massaging her stomach as we take a seat on the couch.

“What happened with Jamie? Does he know you’re here?” Esmeray asks, worry etched in her features.

Raven smiles, shooting me a look. “We divorced. He helped.”

I shake my head, my hand stretching on Ray’s shoulders. “She blackmailed me. I was forced to do it.” I wink at Esmeray, and her head snaps to her sister.

“Rave!”

“I’m joking," I say. “Jamie and Raven are no longer married, and she’ll live here as long as she wants to.”

Slowly, Esmeray raises her head to look at me, her round eyes glistening on me. Her eyebrows lower as she takes me in. “Thank you," she whispers.

I lean down, placing a kiss on top of her forehead before breaking away when the boys get out of my office, Purple following them. Purple doesn’t hesitate, running and jumping into Esmeray’s arms.

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