Chapter 21 All That Glitters
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California bathed everything in golden light. The waves lapped gently against the shore just outside their glass-walled villa, and a soft breeze made the white curtains dance.
Layla stepped onto the balcony, her hand instinctively resting on her now-visible bump. Six months pregnant. The little life inside her was growing stronger each day—and so was her love for Jasper.
Everything in her life had changed, yet somehow, it felt like it was always meant to be this way.
She had already said her goodbyes—visiting Lina one last time at the hospital, thanking her for being the only family she knew during those dark years. Jasper had paid for everything, even going beyond what she asked. And Lina, tearful and grateful, told her that she finally felt seen and cared for.
Now, Camille, her baby sister, lived with their real brother, the heir to the Dumas legacy. Layla visited them often, and her heart felt whole every time she saw Camille happy, safe, and surrounded by truth.
This trip to California wasn’t just a vacation. It was a moment to breathe. To reflect. And to finally go public.
Jasper came up behind her on the balcony, wrapping his arms around her. “You ready?” he murmured against her hair.
Layla turned to face him, her eyes soft. “More than ever.”
Later that afternoon, after the baby appointment—where they heard the baby’s strong heartbeat and saw the curve of tiny fingers in the ultrasound—they changed into formal clothes for a photoshoot.
Layla wore a flowing, golden silk dress that caught the sun with every step. Jasper stood proudly behind her, one hand resting on her belly, the other around her waist.
They posted it together.
Caption:
“All that glitters isn’t gold… sometimes it’s love, truth, and a tiny heartbeat. Mr. & Mrs. Tate. Baby on the way.”
The world went wild.
Tabloids. Headlines. Photos spreading like wildfire. The girl from nowhere, now married to one of the richest men alive. The secret that had become a fairy tale.
But none of that mattered more than the look Jasper gave her later that night—when they were alone, barefoot in the sand, the stars shining above them.
He touched her face gently. “You are my glitter, Layla. You’re everything.”
And when she kissed him—softly, deeply—it wasn’t about gold or fame. It was about love that had survived every storm.