NovelEnglishATHENA
Five years later.....
"Rayen, not too much water! You're flooding the whole kingdom!" | call out as I dig my toes into the warm sand.
He rolls his eyes in a way that only a nine-year-old who thinks he's the smartest person alive can. "It's for the
moat, Mum. A castle needs a defense system."
"Obviously,” Alex says beside me, reaching over to smear sunscreen across my shoulder. "He gets his strategy
from me."
"And the attitude," | mutter, shooting him a look.
A giggle interrupts next to us, two actually, and | glance down to where the twins are crouched by the
sandcastle, their little hands covered in wet sand and their faces glowing with excitement.
Four years old and already impossible to keep still.
Asher is trying to carve a tunnel through the base of the castle while Alina carefully arranges seashells on the
turrets.
Both of them have blonde hair like spun sunlight and green eyes sharp as emeralds.
Totally miniature versions of their father.
| swear my genes didn't even put up a fight.
"I carried them for nine months," | grumble playfully, poking Alex in the side. "I went through labor, and all | got
was being the emotional support parent. You took all the genes."
Alex laughs, the sound low and warm, pullingcloser with an arm around my waist. "You gave them your
heart. That's the most important part."
| try to pretend I'm annoyed, but my smile betrays me. | rest my head on his shoulder, watching our children
build a kingdom in the sand like the world has never known pain.
This.
This is the life | never thought I'd have.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtRayen runs up suddenly, tossing himself into the sand besideand brushing sand off his shorts.
"Mum, guess what?"
"What?"
"We made you queen of the castle."
"Oh, did you now?"
"Yeah," Asher yells from the tower. "But Daddy has to be the dragon."
Alex groans, already rising. "Of course | do."
The kids squeal as he roars and chases them around the beach, tic and over-the-top as always. And | sit
here, hand on my heart, watching the man | once hated becthe man | can't imagine my world without.
This right here?
This is our happy ending.
ALEX
The moment | let out my fake dragon roar, chaos erupts.
Rayen grabs a plastic shovel as a sword and starts swinging at the air with all the serious intensity of a warrior
knight.
Asher bolts behind the half-built moat, yelling something about lava traps, while Alina, my sweet little angel,
starts throwing seashells at me.
Deadly ones.
Apparently.
"You dare challenge the mighty dragon?" | boom, my arms outstretched.
Alina squeals, "We shall defeat you with love and shells!"
"Then prepare to lose, tiny warrior."
She laughs so hard she tumbles backward into the sand, her curls bouncing with every giggle.
| let myself collapse near them with exaggerated exhaustion.
"I'm slain. The dragon has been defeated. Oh no..."
Asher throws himself on top of me, cackling like a villain.
"Victory is ours!"
Athena's laugh cuts through the breeze, and it hitsall over again. This is everything.
This is what we fought for.
| sit up with Asher, still clinging to my back like a monkey, and | glance toward her.
She's standing now, her hands on
her hips, pretending the 4like a royal architect, the
wind playing with her hair. s
She looks just as stunning as she
did the day I first laid eyes on heret beautiful Content belonge
except now she's more than
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She's mine.
"Mummy, what should we call the kingdom?" Rayen asks, nudging her knee.
Athena tilts her head in mock thought.
"Hmm... how about The King Elite?"
"That's genius! We can even build a cool school in the future!"
"Yes!" Asher backs his brother.
| stand and observe my entire world before me. Then, | stride across the sand, lifting my wife easily off the
Sound as she yelps in surprise.
s
She wraps her arms around my neck with that laugh that still makes my chest
ache in the best way.
How can someone love someone this much? This woman will be the death of me.
| press my lips on hers.
Our kiss is soft and playful.
When | pull away, she rests her forehead against mine.
"| love you."
| tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'd fight every war again just to end up right here."
"You must be head over heels for me, Mr. King."
| kiss her again.
"Completely Smitten, Mrs. King. Wanna make another baby?" | flash her one of
my smiles.
"Rayen? Did you call me?" She pulls away and runs to the kids.
| shake my head while | chuckle.
So this is what happiness feels like.
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