Chapter\u00a0769<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0769\u00a0<\/p>\n
Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
The\u00a0air\u00a0was murky\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0sat\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0riverbank,\u00a0overlooking the\u00a0crossing\u00a0borders\u00a0between\u00a0Silver\u00a0Crescent\u00a0and\u00a0Redmoon.\u00a0My\u00a0toes\u00a0disappeared\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0water,\u00a0the\u00a0fish\u00a0nibbling\u00a0at\u00a0my\u00a0toes.\u00a0The\u00a0sun\u00a0was\u00a0warm,\u00a0though\u00a0it\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0feel\u00a0hot\u00a0enough\u00a0to\u00a0burn.\u00a0I\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath,\u00a0allowing\u00a0the\u00a0sun\u00a0to\u00a0soak\u00a0through\u00a0me,\u00a0washing\u00a0away\u00a0the stresses.\u00a0My\u00a0belly\u00a0was\u00a0big,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0feel\u00a0my\u00a0baby\u00a0moving\u00a0inside\u00a0of\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0placed\u00a0my\u00a0hand\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0swell\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0belly,\u00a0feeling\u00a0his\u00a0feet\u00a0push against\u00a0me,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0help\u00a0the\u00a0smile that\u00a0grew\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0face.\u00a0I\u00a0lay on\u00a0my\u00a0back,\u00a0closing\u00a0my\u00a0eyes,\u00a0resting\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0solitude\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0time\u00a0being.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0then\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0the\u00a0sun\u00a0disappearing\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0clouds\u00a0that\u00a0appeared\u00a0overhead.\u00a0I\u00a0opened\u00a0my\u00a0eyes,\u00a0frowning\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0darkened\u00a0sky.\u00a0An\u00a0eerie\u00a0feeling\u00a0washed\u00a0over\u00a0me,\u00a0causing\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0sit\u00a0up.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0tranquil\u00a0state\u00a0of\u00a0mind;\u00a0anxiety\u00a0had\u00a0taken\u00a0over\u00a0completely.\u00a0I\u00a0looked\u00a0around,\u00a0suddenly\u00a0feeling\u00a0as\u00a0though\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0alone.<\/p>\n
My\u00a0breath\u00a0hitched\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0a\u00a0woman walk\u00a0towards\u00a0me;\u00a0smoke\u00a0rose\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0ground,\u00a0surrounding\u00a0her\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0walked.\u00a0As\u00a0she\u00a0neared,\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0grew\u00a0large.<\/p>\n
\u201cEsme\u2026\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0whispered,\u00a0not believing fully\u00a0that\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0her.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0younger\u00a0than\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0last\u00a0saw\u00a0her\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0Manor.\u00a0She\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0wheelchair\u00a0either;\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0walking\u00a0towards\u00a0me,\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0she owned\u00a0the\u00a0very\u00a0ground\u00a0she\u00a0occupied.\u00a0She\u00a0wore\u00a0a\u00a0white\u00a0dress,\u00a0which\u00a0stood\u00a0out\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0sudden smoky\u00a0atmosphere,\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0shone\u00a0with\u00a0something\u00a0defined.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0stopped\u00a0only\u00a0inches\u00a0from\u00a0me,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0never\u00a0leaving\u00a0mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour\u00a0destiny\u00a0is\u00a0waiting,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0her\u00a0voice\u00a0powerful\u00a0and\u00a0yet\u00a0musical\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0time.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0waiting\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0time\u00a0for\u00a0your\u00a0return.\u00a0You\u00a0mustn\u2019t\u00a0run.\u00a0You\u00a0must\u00a0take\u00a0charge.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0understand,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0my\u00a0voice\u00a0echoing.\u00a0\u201cWho\u00a0are\u00a0you?\u00a0What\u00a0destiny\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0talking\u00a0about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTrust\u00a0your\u00a0instincts,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0ignoring my\u00a0questions.\u00a0\u201cYour\u00a0destiny\u00a0is\u00a0waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease,\u00a0can\u00a0you\u00a0give\u00a0me\u00a0any\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0answers?\u201d<\/p>\n
My\u00a0baby\u00a0kicked\u00a0rapidly\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0belly,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0heart\u00a0lurched\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0pressed\u00a0my\u00a0hands\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0stomach,\u00a0my\u00a0fingers\u00a0trembling.\u00a0Was\u00a0something\u00a0wrong\u00a0with\u00a0my\u00a0baby?<\/p>\n
\u201cBlood\u00a0call\u00a0to\u00a0blood.\u201d\u00a0That\u00a0was\u00a0all\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0before\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0flew\u00a0open\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0sat\u00a0up\u00a0quickly\u00a0in\u00a0bed.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0alarm\u00a0clock\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0end\u00a0table\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0off\u00a0loudly,\u00a0blaring\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0bedroom\u00a0at\u00a04\u00a0am.\u00a0My\u00a0heart\u00a0was\u00a0racing,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0feel\u00a0sweat\u00a0trickling\u00a0down\u00a0my\u00a0forehead\u00a0and\u00a0across\u00a0my\u00a0face.\u00a0I\u00a0placed\u00a0my\u00a0hands\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0belly,\u00a0my\u00a0fingers\u00a0still\u00a0trembling.\u00a0My\u00a0belly\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0smaller\u00a0than\u00a0it\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0dream,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0baby\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0kicking\u00a0nearly\u00a0as\u00a0much,\u00a0only\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0flutter\u00a0here\u00a0and\u00a0there.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0769<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
The\u00a0spot\u00a0beside\u00a0me\u00a0was\u00a0empty,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0of\u00a0panic\u00a0because\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0idea\u00a0where\u00a0Gavin\u00a0was.\u00a0But\u00a0then\u00a0I\u00a0heard\u00a0movement\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0bathroom,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath.\u00a0He\u00a0must\u00a0have\u00a0woken\u00a0early\u00a0so\u00a0he\u00a0could\u00a0take\u00a0a\u00a0shower.\u00a0I\u00a0lay\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0bed,\u00a0my\u00a0heart\u00a0still\u00a0beating\u00a0rapidly\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0chest.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0dream,\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0myself.\u00a0Nothing\u00a0but\u00a0a\u00a0dream.\u00a0But\u00a0then\u00a0why\u00a0did\u00a0it\u00a0feel\u00a0so\u00a0real?\u00a0And\u00a0why\u00a0did\u00a0it\u00a0feel\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0warning?<\/p>\n
I\u00a0closed\u00a0my\u00a0eyes,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0level\u00a0my\u00a0breathing.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0okay\u2026\u00a0my\u00a0baby\u00a0was\u00a0okay.\u00a0That\u00a0was\u00a0all\u00a0that\u00a0mattered\u00a0right\u00a0now.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0lost\u00a0in\u00a0thought,\u00a0my\u00a0body\u00a0relaxing,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0notice\u00a0the\u00a0bathroom\u00a0door\u00a0opening\u00a0or\u00a0Gavin\u00a0approaching\u00a0until\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0the\u00a0warmth\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0lips\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0corner\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0mouth.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0opened\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0slowly\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0him\u00a0staring\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0me.\u00a0His\u00a0eyes\u00a0were\u00a0shining\u00a0with\u00a0compassion\u00a0and\u00a0love.\u00a0His\u00a0hair\u00a0was\u00a0wet\u00a0from\u00a0his\u00a0shower,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0smelled\u00a0like\u00a0him,\u00a0making\u00a0my\u00a0heart\u00a0swell.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood\u00a0morning,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said\u00a0softly,\u00a0placing\u00a0another\u00a0soft\u00a0kiss\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0lips.\u00a0I\u00a0smiled\u00a0at him,\u00a0unable\u00a0to\u00a0help\u00a0myself.\u00a0The\u00a0dread\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0dream\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0faded\u00a0away,\u00a0and\u00a0all\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0left\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cDid\u00a0your\u00a0alarm\u00a0go\u00a0off?\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0clock\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0bedside\u00a0table\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0frown.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sleeping,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0tell\u00a0him\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0sit\u00a0up,\u00a0my\u00a0hair\u00a0falling\u00a0over\u00a0my\u00a0shoulders.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0resting\u00a0my\u00a0eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
A\u00a0smile\u00a0tugged\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0corner\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0lips,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0look\u00a0he\u00a0gave\u00a0me\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0believe<\/p>\n
\u201cResting\u00a0your\u00a0eyes,\u00a0huh?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYup,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0tell\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cNo\u00a0sleeping\u00a0here.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0moved\u00a0so\u00a0fast,\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0see\u00a0him\u00a0coming\u00a0until\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0practically\u00a0on top\u00a0of\u00a0me,\u00a0tickling\u00a0my\u00a0sides\u00a0and\u00a0making\u00a0me\u00a0laugh so hard\u00a0I\u00a0nearly\u00a0peed\u00a0myself.\u00a0I\u00a0wrapped\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0and\u00a0legs\u00a0around\u00a0him\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0koala,\u00a0keeping\u00a0him\u00a0in\u00a0place.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0smirked.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo\u00a0you\u00a0really\u00a0think\u00a0this\u00a0position\u00a0will\u00a0save\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0moved\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0way\u00a0that\u00a0showed\u00a0me\u00a0just\u00a0how\u00a0much\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0affected\u00a0by\u00a0this\u00a0position.\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0feel\u00a0every\u00a0inch\u00a0of\u00a0rubbing\u00a0against\u00a0my\u00a0core,\u00a0making\u00a0me\u00a0nearly\u00a0salivate\u00a0with\u00a0need.\u00a0He\u00a0smirked\u00a0when\u00a0he\u00a0smelled\u00a0my\u00a0desires,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0he\u00a0pressed\u00a0his\u00a0lips\u00a0to\u00a0mine\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0deep\u00a0and\u00a0hungry\u00a0kiss,\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0last\u00a0nearly\u00a0as\u00a0long\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0it\u00a0to\u00a0before\u00a0he\u00a0pulled\u00a0himself\u00a0off\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0time.\u00a0We\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0finish\u00a0packing,\u00a0get\u00a0dressed,\u00a0round\u00a0everybody\u00a0up,\u00a0and\u00a0get\u00a0going.\u00a0Our\u00a0flight\u00a0takes\u00a0off\u00a0in under\u00a02\u00a0hours.\u201d<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 769 Chapter\u00a0769 Chapter\u00a0769\u00a0 Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV +25\u00a0BONUS The\u00a0air\u00a0was murky\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0sat\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0riverbank,\u00a0overlooking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21838"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21838\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}