Epilogue 1
Wren
I watch Gabriel’s chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm, our daughter nestled against him in the sun lounger like she’s found her personal slice of heaven. The beach house we’re staying at for our belated honeymoon is the kind of place I used to dream about when I escaped into my mind from the dreary walls of my past life. The surf sways as we relax on the balcony, the sound wrapping around us in a natural melody that’s soothing but not sleep-inducing.
Gabriel’s eyelids flutter then close, his breath deepening as sleep claims him. It’s a sight that floods me with warmth. This man has become my everything. Holding our little girl on his chest like that embodies what has become my whole world: them.
Nova is three months old and thriving, all chubby cheeks and gurgles, oblivious to how much joy she’s brought into our lives. Or maybe she can sense how happy we are with her, and that makes her happy. All I know is that those two are my reasons for living and breathing.
I gently rise from my lounger so as not to disturb the peaceful scene before me, checking the umbrella is still shielding them both from the sun’s rays. Gabriel and our daughter look so content, so utterly at peace, that I can’t help but smile as I watch them. It’s a far cry from the life I used to know—a life that now feels like a distant, faded memory.
The waves crash against the shore as I lean against the railing, their rhythm soothing the restless thoughts swirling in my mind. It’s hard to believe how much has changed in such a short time, how far we’ve all come.
My thoughts turn to my mom. The visit Gabriel arranged was something I hadn’t even dared to hope for. Seeing her healthy, smiling, her eyes clear for the first time in years—it was like looking at a different person.
I’ll never forget the way she cried when she held her granddaughter for the first time. Those tears weren’t of sorrow but of joy, of hope. It was like something inside her had finally healed, a wound that had festered for years since my father died. I spent so long being angry with her, resenting her for not being the mother I needed. But that day, with her arms around my daughter, I saw the woman she used to be—the woman she could be again.
I close my eyes, letting the sound of the ocean carry me back to that moment.
Mom looked at me with such gratitude, as if she couldn’t believe she was allowed to be a part of this new chapter in our lives.
“I’m so proud of you, Wren,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “I’m so sorry for everything.”
I’d waited years to hear that apology face to face, only to find I didn’t need it anymore. Seeing her healthy, seeing her trying—really trying—was enough. She wasn’t perfect, and our relationship was still fragile, but there was something to build on now. Something real.
Gabriel was so patient, standing back to give us space while also being there for support when I needed it. He’s always understood that my past, messy and painful as it is, is a part of me—a part of what shaped me into the person I am today. He’s never tried to erase that, only helped me heal from it.
Of course, Gabriel, being the amazing man he is, bought her an apartment in the city—not far from us, but not too close. We both know that we need space while we continue strengthening our relationship.
I turn to look at my sleeping daughter, “Never going to happen with you, kiddo,” I whisper.
My past is a closed book, and my present, well, it’s a page-turner in the best way possible. Gabriel and I, we’ll be there for her. There will be no dark shadows from yesterday tainting her tomorrows.
I lean closer, brushing a kiss on Gabriel’s forehead. He doesn’t stir, just continues to sleep peacefully. And that’s okay. We’ve got nothing but time here, in our borrowed paradise.
I slip away, leaving Gabriel and our precious bundle to the rhythm of the ocean’s lullaby. Inside the beach house, my hands move on autopilot, assembling sandwiches with practiced ease. The kitchen is bright and airy, and I marvel at the stark contrast to the dim corners of my former life. The bread slices nicely under the knife, and then I pile turkey and lettuce high, the way we both like it. It’s a simple feast for two who’ve known too much complexity.
“From empty alleyways to this,” I murmur, gazing out the window at the endless blue horizon.
Gabriel’s rescue wasn’t only from the physical danger that night he found me. He saved me from an existence devoid of hope. My fingers brush over the countertop, still half-expecting the stability of this moment to crumble like so many before. But it doesn’t. It’s real. Every detail, from the polished stone to the hum of the refrigerator, whispers a promise of permanence.
Balancing the tray with careful hands, I make my way back outside. The warmth of the sun kisses my skin, and the air smells of salt and freedom. Setting the tray down next to the hammock, I lean over Gabriel. His chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm, our daughter nestled against him, her tiny hand resting on his bare chest.
“Hey there, sleepyhead,” I tease gently, nudging his shoulder with my fingertips.
His eyelids flutter open, revealing those deep brown eyes I love so much. He smiles, a mix of groggy charm and tender affection that melts me every time .
“Hey, little bird,” he croons, his voice husky with sleep.
“Food’s ready,” I say, planting a soft kiss on his lips. “But first, you should know I love you.”
“Love you more,” he responds automatically, even as his arms flex, carefully lifting Nova into my waiting arms.
She stirs, blinking at me with wide, curious eyes, a perfect blend of us both. As I cradle her, she coos, content in the knowledge that she’s loved and safe.
“Let’s eat,” I suggest, my heart full, watching as Gabriel stretches and sits up, the epitome of strength and vulnerability all at once.
He reaches for a sandwich, takes a hearty bite, and grins at me through a mouthful. “Delicious,” he declares.
I giggle. The man may run a billion-dollar company, but here, he’s simply Gabriel. My Gabe. Daddy, lover, protector. And there’s nothing we can’t face together as long as we have each other and our little girl.
“I guess I’d better hurry and eat mine, then,” I agree, settling beside him, our family complete in this serene slice of paradise .
Gabriel’s hand finds mine, lacing our fingers.“Thanks for the sandwiches.” His voice is a soothing rumble against the backdrop of the ocean’s whispers. “What’s on your mind for the rest of the day?”
I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear and glance down at our intertwined hands. “Honestly? I just want to stay here with you and our little girl. Maybe cook something nice for dinner later.” My eyes lift to meet his. “Thank you, Gabriel. For everything. This life…it’s more than I ever dreamed possible.”
Instead of the casual dismissal I half expect, he nods solemnly, his eyes reflecting the gravity of my words.
“Hard work got me where I am,” he starts, his gaze drifting to the horizon. “But it was an empty climb, building walls around myself. I never realized I was crafting the home meant for you, for us.”
The earnestness in his voice sends a shiver down my spine. It’s as if he’s peeling back layers, revealing depths of himself only for me.
“Then you showed up and turned my world upside down in the best way.” His thumb caresses the back of my hand, a small gesture that speaks volumes of the control he wields so gently. “You gave me a purpose beyond contracts and security threats. You gave me a family.”
The knot in my throat tightens as his lips press against mine, tender yet filled with all the promise of our shared future. It’s a kiss that seals vows not spoken but deeply felt.
“Family,” I echo softly, pulling back enough to see the truth of his words reflected at me. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Then we’re on the same page, little one,” he says with a hint of laughter in his voice.
The warmth of the sun, the gentle sway of the hammock we’re nestled in, and the man beside me all weave together into this moment, simple yet overwhelmingly full.
We shuffle inside with the remnants of our lunch. Sand clings to my feet, a gritty reminder of where we are, paradise not only in location but in life. I’m rinsing plates when Gabriel’s phone buzzes on the countertop. I glance at him, afraid our brief vacation is over. That tone is for clients only. He answers with a professionalism that always sends a thrill through me.
“Gabriel Burns,” he says, every bit the protector of worlds .
I dry my hands and lean against the counter, watching him. His brows knit and then rise, his posture shifting from business to intrigue. Then he laughs, a rich sound that doesn’t come often enough.
“Sure, I can arrange that,” he says into the phone, eyes locking with mine, dancing with mischief. “Let me check with my other half. Hold on.” He covers the receiver and turns to me fully now, that grin still playing at the corners of his mouth.
“That was Ed. Want to go to Dubai? Meet a prince?” The words seem surreal, the kind of question that doesn’t fit into the realm of everyday conversation.
My jaw drops because what else can it do? “Um, yes?” It comes out as a squeak, a funny sound that has Gabriel chuckling low in his throat.
“Good answer.” He goes back to his call, all business again. “We’ll be there.”
He hangs up and strides over, scooping me into his arms. “Remember how you said we’d never need passports? That your home was now with me, and you couldn’t see why you’d ever leave?” The tease in his tone is gentle, loving.
“Okay, okay, you win,” I admit, laughing despite the flutters in my stomach. “I guess we’re about to become international travelers.”
“Guess so.” He plants a kiss on my forehead. “We’ll finish our vacation, and then we’re off to Dubai.”
I smile, warmth spreading through me that has nothing to do with the Hawaiian sun beating down on the beach house. My arms find their way around his waist, pulling him closer. “You keep giving me these amazing experiences,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “And I don’t know what I give you in return.”
“Everything,” he says, voice firm as his arms tighten around me. “You’ve given me everything I didn’t know I needed. Stability, laughter, love. You’ve made me a better man, Wren.”
A surge of emotions wells up inside me, and I press my lips against his. The man who saved me, who gave me a world I never thought I’d belong in. The taste of sea air and promises mingles between us, the simplicity of the act grounding me.
“Thank you,” I breathe into the space we share. “For being my guardian angel.”
“Always,” he whispers back, and there’s a finality in the word, a promise etched in time.
The wail of our daughter slices through the calm like a siren, and I’m on my feet before I even register moving.
“Shh, little one, Mommy’s got you,” I coo, scooping her up from the play mat where she was content moments ago. Her tiny fists flail, and her face scrunches up in that all-too-familiar way that tugs at my heartstrings.
“We’re going to see the world together, you and I,” I whisper against her downy head, bouncing her gently. “Papa’s going to make sure of that.”
Gabriel’s grin quickly spreads across his face, a spark of adventure lighting up his eyes.
“We have to be careful in Dubai. Things aren’t the same as they are here,” he says, standing and stretching with a yawn. “But it’s an amazing place, one you have to see to believe. And even then, you can’t quite believe it.”
“Sounds like my life since meeting you,” I reply, glancing over at him with a smirk while patting Nova’s back.
Her cries subside, the promise of a new expedition already working its soothing magic. I settle onto the couch, the soft Hawaiian breeze drifting through the open windows, and unbutton my shirt to feed her. Gabriel slides in beside me, his presence a steady force as he wraps one arm around us.
“Save some for me,” he purrs, sending goosebumps skittering over my flesh.
“Greedy man,” I tease, leaning into his chest. It’s strange, this feeling, like I’m complete. Where there used to be a gaping hole in my life, Gabriel filled it and fitted the pieces of me back together without even realizing he was doing it.
I glance up at him, and his eyes meet mine, a silent conversation shared in a look. From now on, I know I’ll never be alone. I have someone who loves me, cherishes me, and wants me around as much as I do him. Nothing could be better.
“Love you, Daddy,” I murmur, the nickname slipping out as naturally as breathing.
“Love you too, little one.” His lips press into my hair, and for a moment, we’re just a family, nothing complicated, nothing broken, just us, here, now.
And as our daughter’s soft sighs fill the space between us, I know this is what peace feels like.
I nuzzle closer to Gabriel on the sofa, our little one nestled on my chest, her tiny fists curling and uncurling in dreamy motions. The sun dips lower, painting the sky in strokes of pink and orange. I let out a contented sigh, his warmth against my side.
“Did you ever think we’d end up here?”
Gabriel chuckles, a low, soothing sound that vibrates through his chest to mine. “In Hawaii, with the most beautiful girls in the world? Always hoped, never really knew.”
I smile, and my heart swells a bit more. Not long ago, hope was a luxury I couldn’t afford. But now, it’s something I nourish every day.
“Remember when I said I had nothing to offer you?” I keep my gaze on the horizon, where the sea meets the sky in a perfect line.
“Yeah, I remember,” he says, his thumb brushing over my hand. “Silliest thing I ever heard.”
I laugh, and Nova stirs, her little brows furrowing before she settles again. It’s funny how life works out. You think you’re surviving, and then someone comes along and shows you what living really is.
“Thank you for everything,” I whisper, not just for the trips and the safety but for the laughter, the late-night talks, and the sense of belonging.
“Hey, no need for that,” he replies, his other hand gently caressing our daughter’s back. “You’ve given me a home, Wren. A reason to be better. ”
The simplicity of his words wraps around me, a promise as tangible as the setting sun. We have all we need right here, between the balmy air and the whisper of the palms. Our future, once a blank page, now writes itself with possibilities I never dared to imagine.
“Look at her,” I murmur, gazing at our daughter, so serene in her slumber. “She’s going to have the world at her feet, isn’t she?”
“Only the best for our little princess,” Gabriel agrees, pride lacing his tone.
As the evening deepens, the stars peek from their celestial hiding spots, shyly at first, then with growing confidence. It seems like a metaphor for my own journey, emerging from darkness to find light in unexpected places.
“I love this,” I say, my voice a hushed reverence for the peace enveloping us.
“Me too, little bird,” Gabriel replies. “Me too.”
I rest in his arms, the cradle of all my hopes and dreams now. Here, at this moment, everything is as it should be. And for the first time in my life, I truly understand what it means to be whole.
As the night whispers its secrets and the ocean lulls us with its song, I close my eyes. I don’t need to see to believe in the beauty of our world. I feel it right here, with them, with him. This is our serenity, our mutual growth, our love. We’ve created a tapestry of moments stitched together by the hands of fate and the courage to embrace them.