53. Emily
53
EMILY
F our years later…
The garden is alive with color. Roses, lavender, and jasmine fill the air with their sweet, heady scent, and the sunlight filters through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the grass.
I stand at the edge of the flowerbeds, watching as Sophia runs through the garden, her laughter echoing in the warm afternoon air. She’s so full of energy, so full of life—it’s hard to believe she’s already four years old.
Four years.
I think back to everything that’s happened since I found out I was pregnant, and it feels like a lifetime ago. So much has changed. I’ve changed.
I’m no longer the scared, uncertain woman I was when Lucas and I first met. I’ve built something incredible—an empire, really—something that’s all mine.
My media company is thriving, and every time I step into my office, filled with awards and framed headlines, I feel a surge of pride. I’ve earned this. I’ve fought for it.
But as much as I love my work, nothing compares to the joy of watching Sophia grow up. She’s a perfect mix of Lucas and me—his fierce determination and my sharp intellect.
She’s curious about everything, always asking questions, always looking for the next adventure. The garden has become her playground, and every day is a new discovery.
I smile as I watch her run up to Jake and Peter, sitting together at the chess table we set up for them. It’s funny to think how different things are now.
Once, these two men were adversaries, locked in a bitter struggle for power. Now, they’re like family, spending their days in peaceful camaraderie, playing chess and sharing stories of the old days.
“Jake, can I play too?” Sophia asks, her voice full of excitement.
Jake looks up from the chessboard, his stern face softening as he smiles at her. “Of course, little one,” he says, pulling her onto his lap. “But you have to promise not to tell anyone if you beat me, alright?”
Sophia giggles, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Okay, I promise!”
I can’t help but laugh softly at the sight. There’s so much joy here, so much love. It’s a far cry from the life I once knew, and I’m grateful every day for how far we’ve come.
As I stand there, lost in thought, I feel a warm hand rest on the small of my back. I don’t need to turn around to know it’s Lucas. His touch is as familiar to me as my own heartbeat, steady and reassuring.
“She’s getting so big,” I murmur, my voice filled with wonder as I watch Sophia lean over the chessboard, her tiny fingers hovering over the pieces.
“She is,” Lucas agrees, his voice tinged with pride. “She’s going to be unstoppable.”
“She gets that from you,” I tease, leaning into him slightly, feeling the warmth of his body against mine.
“And from you,” he counters, his tone softening as he presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Come with me,” he adds suddenly, a mischievous glint in his eye as he tugs my hand.
I raise an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “What are you up to?”
“You’ll see,” he replies, that playful smile of his making my heart skip a beat, just like it did the first time we met.