Epilogue - Jayce
The Whitmore foyer is packed with people, all here to celebrate Rosie’s performance as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her acceptance into the New York City Ballet. Henry organized a big party and I’m just arriving as I spot my girlfriend across the room, her black hair cascading down her back and her whiskey eyes sparkling with excitement the minute she sees me too. I make my way over to her, pushing through the crowd of well-wishers. When I reach her, I take her hand and lead her to a quieter corner and kiss her. It feels so good to not sneak around anymore, to just kiss her whenever I want and to know that everyone’s supporting us.
“You look so fine, Mr. Thorne,” she says and kisses me again as if one time wasn’t enough, and no, with her, it’s never enough.
I pull out the small velvet box that’s been burning a hole in my pocket all day long and her eyes go wide.
“Oh God, Jay, what are you doing—”
“Relax. I know we haven’t been together for very long, but I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Don’t worry. This is just a promise ring, but when you’re ready to settle down, I want you to be my wife, Rosie. Do you accept this promise ring?”
She gasps and throws her arms around my neck, pulling me up into another kiss. “This is so sweet. And yes, of course.”
As we’re kissing, I feel her fingers fumbling with the ring. She pulls back and looks at me questioningly. “What about your ring?”
I grin and pull the matching band out of my pocket.
“God, I love you.” She plants one more kiss on my cheek and slips the ring onto my finger. “A promise ring sounds perfect. Thank you.”
But then Rosie’s body goes rigid beside me, and I follow her gaze to a woman marching through the foyer, her dark red hair catching the light.
“Who is that?” I ask, immediately gripping her waist.
“That’s…actually, I don’t know her name, but she’s a lawyer…she’s working with Mr. Stevens.” Rosie’s voice is tight, and I feel that grip on my throat too.
We haven’t heard a thing from Stevens or anyone else since Rosie talked with Kix Lyle, and I thought everything was settled and we could focus on processing everything that happened.
“We should speak to her, check on whatever she wants…” Rosie runs her way, but I take her hand and walk with her, hoping everything is okay and that there’s not anything more to come.
“We’ll handle this,” I say.
Rosie nods and takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself. I can see the fear in her eyes, and it breaks my heart.
“Is there something we can assist you with?” I inquire, maintaining a courteous yet assertive tone.
The lawyer spins around. “I’m looking for Colton King.”
I see Rosie easing up slightly beside me, and I think I do too. “Can I ask what this is about?”
She gives me a once-over. “I’m Jenna, his lawyer, and there are urgent matters to discuss.”
“Oh, certainly, he’s—”
But before I can tell her where he is, she strides through the foyer, her heels clicking sharply against the polished marble floor. We follow her brisk pace until she halts abruptly in front of a startled Colton. Shit, he looks like he’s staring at a ghost.
“Are you insane?” she says, stopping inches in front of him.
Colton, standing with his daughter nestled against his chest, doesn’t even flinch. He just looks at her. Like, really looks. As if his brain can’t quite compute what he’s seeing.
Rosie and I stop right next to them.
“You kidnapped your own daughter. Do you have any idea how much more complicated your case is now? I can’t believe you.”
Colton blinks. “You’re…?”
Jenna exhales sharply, crossing her arms. “Do you know what your ex-wife can do now?”
“You’re not…” His voice trails off, his expression stunned, and I’m afraid he’s even less capable of speaking than he normally is. What’s up with him?
The woman huffs. “I’m Jenna. Your lawyer. Don’t tell me you have no idea who I am. This is getting ridiculous.”
“It’s just…” He swallows and his Adam’s apple bops. “You look…different.”
She squints at him like he’s the biggest idiot she’s ever met. “Well, if you’d actually looked at the photo in my emails, this wouldn’t be so hard to believe, Mor—” She catches herself just in time, glancing down at the little girl in his arms before clearing her throat and forcing a tight grin. “Sorry.”
Then, just as quickly, the fire is back in her blue eyes.
“You better start responding to my emails, Colton, because I’m furious. We need to work on this, now , or we’re going to lose. You can’t just take your girl and vanish.”
Colton exhales. “Okay. Okay. What do you need me to do?”
“First? Take your daughter back to your ex.”
His jaw locks. “But—”
“This isn’t funny, Colton.”
“But I can’t.” As soon as the girl hears them mention her returning to her mom, she latches onto Colton, causing a sinking feeling in my stomach. Colton winces, then picks her up. She nestles into his neck, avoiding eye contact with everyone.
“I won’t,” he says.
Jenna presses her lips into a thin line. “Okay. Then we need to file for an emergency custody order, but we need proof she left the kid alone, and we have to act right now.”
“I have proof.”
Jenna’s eyes flash with interest. “Well, then. Get yourself a babysitter. We need to save this case, and we’re doing it now .”
Colton hesitates. “Okay. Meet you in…an hour?”
“Fine. You’re…unbelievable.”
With one last sharp click of her heels, Jenna turns and stalks off, radiating the kind of energy that makes you want to straighten your posture and check if you’ve accidentally committed a felony.
We all watch her go. Then, as if pulled by some invisible force, every single pair of eyes slowly drifts back to Colton.
No one speaks. No one even blinks.
Until Rosalie—arms crossed, head tilted—finally breaks the silence. “Didn’t you say your lawyer wasn’t hot?”
Colton doesn’t answer right away. He just keeps staring after Jenna like a man who’s just been hit by a truck driven by a supermodel and is still trying to decide whether to sue or ask for her number.
“She wasn’t in high school…” he mutters.
Rosalie’s eyes widened in realization. “And this is the girl, the lawyer, you bullied?”
Colton shoots her a look that makes me grip her waist again. “I didn’t bully her. I just…didn’t know what to say to her real bullies.” He rubs the back of his neck. “But, man, I tried to help.”
Rosalie looks at Riley, then back at Colton. “She only accepted your case if she got to call you names, right?”
Colton lets out a slow breath. “It’s…complicated. Still. Back then I was new. Didn’t know English yet. And by the time I could fight back, it was too late.”
Riley claps him on the back. “Tell her.”
Colton sighs, shifting the little girl in his arms. “I’ll figure it out.”
I smirk and lean into Rosie. “You know what I think?”
Rosalie wriggles her eyebrows.
“Colton has the hots for his lawyer.”
He hears me and shoots me a glare.
But Rosalie? She just smiles knowingly. “I don’t know about that…” she murmurs, lips brushing against my skin. “But I do know that I have the hots for you. ”
My response is immediate, and I pull her in for a slow, lingering kiss that sends a shiver down her spine.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, princess.”
Riley groans. “Oh, come on . Get a room .”
But Rosalie isn’t paying attention.
And neither am I, because all I can see is the love of my life.