Chapter 10 - Happily Never After (And Happily Ever After)
The sun began to dip below the Chicago skyline, casting a golden, amber glow across the manicured lawn of our home as the last of our guests departed.
The courtyard was wonderfully quiet. The gentle rustle of summer leaves in the wind mixed with the soft cooing of baby Claire, who was currently drifting off to sleep in Theo’s arms as he paced slowly across the stone patio.
I stood near the open French doors of the living room, watching them.
Six months ago, I had been lying on the marble floor of a country club ballroom, bleeding onto my blue silk dress while my mother called my trauma “just a little push” and my family laughed behind my back.
Looking back, that night wasn't the tragedy I once thought it was.
It was the catalyst.
It was the moment the old life—the life defined by conditional love, emotional blackmail, and desperate bids for approval from people incapable of giving it—was violently and permanently burned to the ground.
And from those ashes, Theo and I had built something unbreakable.
Theo walked over, carrying a sleeping Claire in his arms, her tiny head resting peacefully against his chest. He stopped in front of me, his dark eyes softening as he looked down at his daughter, then up at me.
“She’s finally asleep,” he whispered.
“Good,” I smiled, stepping into the circle of his free arm and resting my head against his shoulder. “Because I have a proposition for you.”
Theo raised an eyebrow, a familiar, teasing grin touching the corners of his mouth. “Is this a corporate restructuring proposal, or are you asking me to make you a martini?”
“Both,” I laughed softly, looking out at the city lights twinkling in the distance. “Let’s pack up the SUV tomorrow morning and drive up to Lake Geneva for the weekend. Just the three of us.”
Theo looked down at our daughter, then back at me, his expression radiating absolute, unwavering devotion.
“Done,” he said quietly, pressing a warm kiss to my forehead. “No board meetings. No legal briefs. Just our family.”
I smiled, closing my eyes as the warm summer breeze washed over us.
May you like
The past was buried. The debt was settled. The future was ours.
And as we stood together in the gathering twilight, I knew with absolute certainty that no one would ever push me down again.
