\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 121\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bella\u00a0<\/p>\n
The tension I had been carrying for days loosened all at once. My shoulders sagged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police were involved,\u201d he continued. \u201cQuietly. They asked me to keep everything discreet so Craig and Maya wouldn\u2019t panic too early. And now they are caught!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what kind of punishments are both of them looking at?\u201d I asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re looking at twenty years minimum,\u201d he replied. \u201cPlus financial penalties.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I closed my eyes, feeling something heavy finally lift from my chest. \u201cThey\u2019re gone,\u201d I whispered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cThey can\u2019t hurt you anymore.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My anger softened, replaced by gratitude so strong it almost hurt. I looked at him again, really looked at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d I said quietly. \u201cFor protecting me. For saving my dignity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shook his head slowly. \u201cYour dignity matters more to me than my own. I would burn everything I own before I let anyone drag you through the dirt.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tears welled up again, but this time they weren\u2019t from fear. I leaned forward and kissed him lightly, just a soft press of my lips to his. \u201cMy wedding with a certain CEO is on hold,\u201d I murmured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He laughed softly. \u201cGood. I was hoping you\u2019d say that. Because the CEO can\u2019t wait!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stood and offered me his hand. I took it, and together we walked back into the hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The wedding resumed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I saw that all the guests had already moved in. Scott must have told Troy via mind link that we were coming out. Everything felt calmer now, lighter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As we stood facing each other, hands joined, the priest spoke slowly. \u201cYou may speak your vows.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scott\u2019s lips lifted into a smile. He held my hands. \u201cI promise to stand by you,\u201d he said steadily like a rock, \u201cto protect you, to honor you, and to love you for the rest of my life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed and replied, \u201cI promise to walk beside you, to trust you, to choose you every day, and to love you with everything I am.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I heard sniffles and soft gasps from the crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The priest smiled and said, \u201cYou may kiss your bride.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scott lifted my veil. He cupped my face gently, his hands warm, and leaned down to kiss me. The kiss was slow and deep, not rushed, as if he wanted the whole world to know I belonged with him and he belonged\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 121\u00a0<\/p>\n
with me. I felt all the tension leave my body as his lips moved against mine. It wasn\u2019t just a kiss of celebration, but one of relief, promise, and certainty. In that moment, everything else faded away, and all I felt was him, grounding me, choosing me, and loving me openly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We only parted when Emma and Ryan shrieked with laughter and rushed between us. Scott laughed, lifting them both in his arms. \u201cYou gnats!\u201d He teased them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We walked outside together, into the celebration waiting for us. It was then that I saw Isla.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My grandmother stood a little apart from the noise and celebration, her hands folded in front of her, her eyes shining with unshed tears. When she saw Scott approaching with the kids, she smiled through the emotion on her face. Scott greeted her warmly, his tone respectful and sincere, and she squeezed his arm affectionately. Then, without making it awkward, he bent down to the twins, whispered something that made them giggle, and guided them away, clearly giving us space. He looked back at me and reassured me that he was around.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment he was gone, Isla opened her arms. I stepped into her embrace without thinking, and she held me tightly, her thin shoulders trembling slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so happy for you,\u201d she murmured against my hair. \u201cTruly happy. You married the man you love, and he loves you back. And your children\u2026 the way he looks at them, Bella. Like they are his own.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pulled back just enough to look at her face and wiped at my own eyes. \u201cThey are his biological children, I admitted quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her brows lifted in surprise. She stared at me for a moment, then her expression softened into something close to awe. \u201cScott\u2019s children?\u201d she asked gently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isla exhaled slowly and shook her head, as if overwhelmed. \u201cThen why,\u201d she asked softly, not accusing, only curious, \u201cwhy did you keep them a secret from him?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed. \u201cBecause after Craig, I didn\u2019t believe in love anymore,\u201d I confessed. \u201cNot after everything he had done to me. I didn\u2019t want my children to feel rejected if he didn\u2019t accept them. I couldn\u2019t bear for them to feel unwanted the way I did growing up. The way my father made me feel.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her hand came up to my cheek. It was warm but it was trembling. For a moment, she couldn\u2019t speak. Her eyes filled completely, and she pressed her lips together, trying to hold herself steady.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, my child,\u201d she finally whispered. \u201cI will never understand how Jared could let himself be so blinded. How he chose Lucy and her daughter over his own flesh and blood. I have tried to reason with him so many times. It breaks my heart.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I gave a small, sad laugh. \u201cIt used to break mine too. But it doesn\u2019t anymore,\u201d I replied honestly. I turned my head slightly and looked toward Scott, who was crouched on the lawn with the twins, pretending to be some kind of monster while they shrieked with laughter. \u201cThey are my world now. He is my world. I don\u2019t need anything else.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isla followed my gaze, and a smile bloomed on her face. \u201cYou look at peace and happiness,\u201d she observed. \u201cAnd you deserve that peace.\u201d Then she reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope. She held it out to me. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 121\u00a0<\/p>\n
I frowned in confusion. \u201cGrandma, what is this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOpen it,\u201d she encouraged gently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
65 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slid a finger under the flap and pulled out a single folded paper. When I saw the number printed on it, my breath caught in my throat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at it, stunned. Twenty million dollars.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is\u2026 my inheritance,\u201d I whispered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Isla confirmed. \u201cIt always was. It was time I handed it to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My hands started to shake, and I quickly folded the check back into the envelope. \u201cThank you,\u201d I said, my voice thick with emotions. \u201cFor never giving up on me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She cupped my face again, her thumb brushing away a tear I hadn\u2019t realized had fallen. \u201cYou were never forgotten,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry that Catherine left you so early. You were always loved by me and your grandfather. Even when others failed you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hugged her again, holding on a little longer this time, feeling lighter than I had in years. \u201cI love you, grandma\u2026\u201d I whispered. I pulled back after a few seconds and said, \u201cI know that father and Lucy would be quite a handful for some time. Why don\u2019t you come and stay with us?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She chuckled low. \u201cOh, don\u2019t worry! I have already moved out to the countryside in your grandfather\u2019s farm. I\u2019m sure they won\u2019t even notice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
At that I really laughed. I entwined my fingers with hers and led her to the celebrations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly, she asked, \u201cWhere are you going for the honeymoon?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I gaped. \u201cGrandmother!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
When Midnight Winds Carry Secrets Toward Worlds Yet Unknown 121 \u00a0 \u00a0 Chapter 121\u00a0 Bella\u00a0 The tension I had been […]<\/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":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-new-world-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23086","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=23086"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23086\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}