\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0e17\u0e23\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd his heart is inside you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her face collapsed. She screamed, cursed, sobbed, smashed her fists against the glass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou killed him,\u201d she shrieked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head. \u201cNo. You did. And now you get to live with it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked away without looking back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That night, Ax sat with me on the balcony while Ryle slept inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you going to leave again?\u201d he asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wanted to say no. I wanted to say I would stay forever.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I lied. \u201cI will.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He nodded like he already knew the truth I was too afraid to say out loud.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Six months later, I was whole. Strong. Deadly again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Colt\u2019s restraint was breaking. I felt it in every look, every almost-touch. One night, I\u00a0<\/p>\n
thanked him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFor everything,\u201d I said quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He pulled me close, his voice rough. \u201cDon\u2019t thank me. Don\u2019t leave me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His mouth was on mine before I could think. It was desperate, consuming, like he was trying to carve himself into my bones. I kissed him back, just as hungry, just as broken. That night, we held each other like we were afraid the world would rip us apart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the morning, Colt was asleep. Peaceful. Unarmed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I kissed his forehead once. Silent tears fell.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I packed my bag. I took my son\u2019s hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When we walked out of the villa, my chest screamed for me to turn back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Because loving him would have destroyed us both.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped off the plane with Ryle right beside me, his small hand hooked into my coat while I dragged the suitcase behind us. My heart was pounding so loud it felt reckless, like it might expose me. Everything felt lighter though, quieter, like I had finally slipped out of a cage and locked the door behind me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ryle looked up at me, eyes bright. \u201cMom, is this really where we\u2019re staying now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:15 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a while,\u201d I said, squeezing his hand. \u201cJust us. No noise. No ghosts.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
He nodded like he understood more than a kid his age should, and that alone made my chest ache.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I kept my head down as we walked, letting the airport swallow me whole. I thought about David. Roxanne. Colt. All the names that once owned pieces of me. I thought about blood and lies and how close I came to losing myself. Mostly, I thought about freedom. Not revenge. Not pretending. Just breathing and being dangerous in my own quiet way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then someone took my suitcase.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked up fast, instinct sharp, body already ready to break something if I had to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMa\u2019am, let me get that for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Colt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Calm. Clean. That unreadable smile that always made me feel like he already knew how this story ended.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My breath hitched before I could stop it. \u201cYou really need to stop doing that,\u201d I said softly. \u201cOne day I might shoot first.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His smile deepened as he lifted the suitcase easily. \u201cI would still walk toward you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once we were clear of the crowd, he stopped me gently. His voice dropped, slow and serious. \u201cI told myself I would never let you walk alone again. Not you. Not your son. Not ever.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head, studying him. \u201cI thought I wanted to disappear.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd you were allowed to. But disappearing does not mean being unprotected. It does not mean unloved.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat tightened. I hated that he could still do this to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know how to be soft,\u201d I said honestly. \u201cI only know how to survive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His hand brushed mine, light but deliberate. \u201cThen we start there. Survival first. Happiness comes after.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed. \u201cYou\u2019re still stubborn.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you still like it,\u201d he replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The days that followed felt unreal. Colt rented a quiet place near the water, nothing flashy, nothing loud. Mornings were coffee and silence. Afternoons were walking with Ryle, ice cream on his chin, Colt trailing a step behind like a shadow that chose to stay\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4 98.0%\u00a0<\/p>\n
98.0%\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:15 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
gentle. At night, Colt taught me how to watch exits again, how to read a room, how to stay deadly without being cruel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to lower your guard,\u201d he told me once while Ryle slept. \u201cJust let me stand beside you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
One night on the balcony, city lights burning beneath us, Colt took my hand. He went down on one knee without warning, velvet box already open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNadia Joseph,\u201d he said quietly, like this was a truth and not a question. \u201cMarry me. Not because of who you were or what you survived. Marry me because you scare the world and I want to build one that never tries to cage you again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ryle gasped behind us. \u201cMom, say yes. Please. Uncle Colt makes good pancakes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I laughed through tears. \u201cThat\u2019s a strong argument.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked back at Colt. \u201cYes. But we do this my way. No secrets. No control. No pretending.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice was steady. \u201cI would never survive pretending with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fireworks lit the sky like the city itself was celebrating. Colt slipped the ring onto my finger and kissed my knuckles like a promise carved in stone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When we returned to the villa, Ax was already there, leaning against the railing like he owned the place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTook you long enough,\u201d he said. \u201cI was about to send a search party.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ryle ran straight into his arms. \u201cUncle Ax!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ax laughed and ruffled his hair. \u201cYou got taller. That\u2019s suspicious.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled. \u201cI\u2019m happy, Ax. Don\u2019t ruin it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He softened instantly. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t dare.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, Colt\u2019s parents came. His mother held my hands and said, \u201cYou are home now.\u201d His father nodded once, solid and approving. I had never known what that felt like. Being claimed without being owned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One morning, I went to David\u2019s grave alone. I placed white lilies down and whispered, \u201cYou were part of my story. You don\u2019t get to be my ending.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I came back, Colt wrapped an arm around me. \u201cYou said goodbye.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI said thank you,\u201d I answered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Months later, the test turned positive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cColt,\u201d I called, voice shaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He rushed in. I held it up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He laughed, cried, and crushed me to his chest all at once. \u201cWe\u2019re doing this right,\u201d I\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/4 99.0%\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:15 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
said firmly. \u201cNo cages. No lies.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He kissed my forehead. \u201cOn my life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0e0a\u0e23\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
Five years later, our California home was loud with laughter. Colt sat on the couch with our daughter in his arms, Ryle sprawled beside him like he owned the place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMom,\u201d Ryle said, grinning. \u201cDad says I can learn how to drive a motorcycle.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I crossed my arms. \u201cHe says a lot of things.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Colt smirked. \u201cHe\u2019s fearless. That\u2019s your fault.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned in, kissing Colt slowly. \u201cI was never meant to be soft,\u201d I murmured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd yet,\u201d he replied, eyes dark and full, \u201cyou chose us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Our daughter giggled, sunlight spilling over all of us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wasn\u2019t a ghost anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was a woman who survived.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And this life was mine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Prepare the divorce and ruin your husband by Mark Twain 25 \u00a0 Chapter 25\u00a0 \u0e17\u0e23\u00a0 86\u00a0 \u201cAnd his heart is […]<\/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":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-his-regret-my-victory-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23556","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=23556"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23556\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}