Epilogue
Zane stood in his backyard, watching the trees move with the breeze. Peaceful lived up to its name tonight, the cicadas humming their steady rhythm, fireflies winking lazily in the humid summer air.
The trial had ended a week ago, but the aftermath lingered like smoke after a fire. Tate MacCready had been sentenced to decades in prison for crimes no one in Peaceful had imagined him capable of committing.
Zane’s jaw clenched as he thought about the victims who had come forward. Boys and girls, their faces a mixture of shame and relief, each one stepping up to tell their story. Tate had groomed and manipulated them, exploiting their vulnerabilities under the guise of mentorship. Asha had been his first victim, but far from his last.
Maddy, with her unyielding determination, had worked tirelessly to ensure every victim had access to therapy, offering them a fighting chance to reclaim their lives. Asha had taken those first brave steps, too, attending sessions that laid bare her pain, piece by piece. Each one was agonizing but liberating. Watching her finding her way back to herself had been a revelation. Through it all, their bond had strengthened. She had allowed him to see her vulnerabilities, and he, in turn, had shown her his love and support.
The thought of Asha facing Tate in court, testifying with unwavering resolve, made Zane’s chest tighten. She had been the catalyst, the one who had broken the silence. And though the scars of her experience might never fully fade, she was healing—and helping others do the same.
The screen door creaked behind him, and he turned to see Asha stepping out, her silhouette framed by the warm glow of the house.
“You’re brooding,” she teased.
Zane leaned back against the railing, his lips curving into a faint smile. “Just thinking.”
She joined him, wrapping her arms around herself as the cool night air kissed her skin. “About the trial?”
“Yeah. And the victims,” he admitted. “I keep wondering if I could...” He trailed off at her expression.
Asha shook her head, her dark eyes locking with his. “You can’t think like that, Zane. He was a master at hiding his tracks. Even I didn’t see who he really was until it was too late. He’s a master manipulator.”
Her hand found his, squeezing gently, and Zane pulled her against him.
The trial had been brutal, but seeing her tormentor taken away in handcuffs had brought a sense of justice she hadn’t believed possible. Still, her heart ached for the other victims, especially the boy who’d started the fires.
She thought about the way he had looked at her after the verdict was read, his eyes filled with a gratitude that nearly brought her to tears. It wasn’t only her story that had put MacCready away—it was all of theirs, woven together into an undeniable truth.
Asha glanced at Zane, whose beloved face was shadowed in the fading light. He’d been her rock through it all, steady and unyielding, even when her own strength had wavered. But not all victims might have someone to lean on.
“Do you think they’ll be okay?” she asked softly.
“The kids?” Zane asked. “They’ve got a long road ahead, but yeah. They’ll be okay. And so will you.”
Her gaze dropped to their joined hands, where she brushed her thumb over his knuckles. The words bubbling up inside her, the ones she hadn’t even dared to think until now.
“I’m pregnant,” she blurted.
Zane froze, snapping his head toward her. For a moment, he simply stared, as if the words needed time to settle. Then his face broke into a grin so wide it made her heart ache.
“You’re…? Asha, are you serious?”
She nodded, and tears pricked her eyes. “I found out this morning. I was going to wait to tell you, but?—”
Zane pulled her into his arms and lifted her off the ground. He spun her in a circle, his laughter ringing out into the quiet evening air.
“You’re going to be amazing,” he said, setting her down but keeping her close. “ We’re going to be amazing.”
Asha rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. The words spilled out before she could stop them, raw and unfiltered. “Marry me.”
Zane pulled back, his eyes wide with surprise. Then his grin returned, softer this time, full of love and certainty. “Hell yes!” His voice was thick with emotion. “A million times yes.”
He tightened his arms around her, his lips brushing her temple as he whispered, “Love isn’t just a gift—it’s a choice—and I’ll keep choosing you, Asha, every day.”
She looked up, so full of emotion, her response soft, steady. “I’m so happy you gave me a second chance. You’re my beginning, my end, and everything in between.”
As the sky darkened and the stars blinked to life above them, they stood together in their back yard. Their love, once fractured, had been rekindled—stronger, truer, and unshakable. It was living proof that even in the darkest moments, second chances could light the way home.
THE END