Chapter 7 - The Mercer LegacyThe sun dipped below the horizon of Lake Michigan, painting the sky in brilliant shades of amber, violet, and deep indigo.
On the expansive stone terrace of the estate, twinkling fairy lights strung through the oak trees cast a warm, magical glow over a long mahogany dining table laden with food. There were no bodyguards standing at rigid attention nearby, no secure satellite phones buzzing with emergency threat alerts, and no shadows lurking in the corners.
Tonight, there was only family.
Ivy and Isla sat across from each other, happily debating the merits of chocolate cake versus strawberry tart, their energetic chatter filling the quiet evening air. Ara sat beside me, her hand resting comfortably over mine on the armrest of our chairs, her laughter mingling with the girls'.
I poured a glass of sparkling water, raising it slightly as I looked around the table.
“To new beginnings,” I said softly, catching the attention of everyone at the table.
Ivy and Isla immediately grabbed their glasses of apple cider, clinking them together with enthusiastic zeal.
“To new beginnings!” the girls chorused in unison.
Ara turned her head, looking up at me with those familiar, striking gray eyes that had haunted my dreams and guided my search for seven impossibly long years. There was no fear left in them—only a deep, unshakable peace, and a love so fierce it defied the cruelest twists of fate.
“You know,” Ara murmured with a playful smile, leaning in close so the girls couldn't hear, “you never did answer my question from the hospital.”
I raised an eyebrow, curious. “Which question was that?”
“Whether you’re ever going to stop spoiling our daughters, or if I’m going to have to deal with a garage full of ponies by next month.”
May you like
I grinned, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer against my side, watching our daughters laugh over a spilled napkin.
“Never,” I whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her temple as the evening breeze rustled the leaves above us. “Some empires are built on power and fear... but ours is built on everything we fought to bring back home.”
