Chapter 147: Hundred and Forty Seven

I couldn’t stop shaking.

Even after the slam of the front door had given into a heavy silence, the sound still reverberated in my chest, rattling me. I could feel the vibration inside me, in my veins, in heart. My palms were clammy against the counter. The spatula Declan had dropped earlier still lay on the floor, a stupid little reminder of how quickly everything had flipped.

Emma’s voice replayed in my head, sharp and cutting: Protect him? Or protect yourself?

I pressed my hands to my ears as if I could shove the words out. But they burrowed deeper.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, not even realizing I’d spoken until Declan turned toward me. His face was tight, his jaw set like stone, but when his eyes met mine, they softened.

“Willow,” he said, coming closer.

“I never should’ve come here,” I choked. “I should’ve known this was a mistake -”

“Don’t,” he cut in, his voice low and steady. “Don’t you dare say that.”

I stumbled back a step, shaking my head. “She hates me. She thinks I’m some, some girl who trapped you, who kept your child from you. And maybe she’s right.” My throat burned, tears

pricking hot at the corners of my eyes. “I did keep him from you. I lied. I ran.”

Declan reached for me, catching my wrists gently, as if he knew I might just run if he wasn’t careful. His thumbs brushed across the inside of my wrists lightly. “You did what you thought you had to do to. To protect Noah. And me. And even though I wish you hadn’t run away, I understand you were scared. I’m not going to hold you to it. Ever.”

“But look at what’s happening now!” I burst out. “She’s going to destroy me. She’ll try to take Noah, she’ll drag us through the mud, and you’ll,” My voice broke. “You’ll lose everything

because of me.”

His grip tightened, firm but not cruel. “You think I care about everything more than I care about you? About him?”

“Yes!” The word ripped out of me before I could stop it. “Yes, because you should. Because you’ve worked your whole life for this, Declan. Your career, your reputation. Your mother is right.

You don’t need us weighing you down, pulling you into my mess. I’ve already ruined so much.”

“Stop.”

His voice came out strong and final. My eyes flow up to his. The look on his face was slightly chilling.

He leaned in, forehead almost touching mine, forcing me to see him, to hear him. “The only thing I ruined was us, by letting you walk away all those years ago. And I will not make that

mistake again.”

I blinked at him, tears sliding hot down my cheeks. “You don’t understand, Declan. And think of how this might affect Noah. ”

“I understand perfectly,” he said. His eyes, dark and unflinching, were steady on mine. “I understand that I love you. That I love my son. And that no matter what my mother thinks, no

matter what the world thinks, I’m not losing either of you. Not again.”

The conviction in his voice should’ve steadied me. Instead, it cracked me open further, because underneath it all was that gnawing voice that wouldn’t let go: But what if she’s right?

I pulled away, hugging myself, trying to contain the weakness I was suddenly feeling in my body. I paced toward the window, staring out at the lake as if the sight of the still water could

calm me.

“She thinks I’m using you,” I whispered. “That I came back into your life just to—what? Climb out of poverty? Secure your money?” I laughed bitterly. “She’s always hated mel. She doesn’t see Noah at all. Her grandson. I’ve always been just some scandal waiting to explode.”

Behind me, I heard Declan’s footsteps, slow and careful. His hands came to rest lightly on my waist. I could feel his skin on the bare skin of my waist. His hands were warm in comparison

to my body.

“Look at me,” he murmured.

I resisted for a moment, then turned. His eyes were steady, burning, and blue. “You’re not a scandal,” he said. “You’re the only thing in my life that ever felt real. And Noah,” His voice cracked just slightly before he cleared it. “Noah is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Don’t you let her poison that. Don’t you let her poison you.”

I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to. But Emma’s words still twisted inside me.

“What if she does something?” I whispered. “What if she tries to take him from me?”

The silence that followed was heavy, and it told me Declan had already considered it. His jaw tightened, his hands on my shoulders firming. “Then we fight back. Together.”

“Together,” I repeated. “Promise?” My voice came out small. Like I was begging him, unsure.

“Yes.” His eyes didn’t waver. “I’m in this, Willow. With you. With you and Noah. No matter how messy it gets. No matter how ugly.” He took a deep breath, “We are a family.”

I nodded, but the ache in my chest didn’t fade. Because beneath the reassurance, I knew the truth: Emma Hale was powerful. And if she wanted a war, she would fight to win.

That night, after Noah was tucked in upstairs and Declan had built up the fire again, I sat curled on the couch with a blanket pulled tight around me. The yellow light and warmth of the

flames should’ve been soothing, but my chest felt tight, every breath shallow.

Declan sat beside me, close but not too much. He didn’t push me to talk. He just reached over, lacing his fingers through mine, his thumb brushing the back of my hand.

I stared at our joined hands for a long time. “Do you ever regret it?” I asked quietly.

He turned, brows knitting. “Regret what?”

“Us,” I whispered. “Back then. Now.”

His answer came without hesitation. “Never.”

Tears blurred my vision. “Not even with everything that’s happened?”

He squeezed my hand. “We made mistakes. But us? Never a mistake, dove,” He sighed, “I have lost too many years with you. And I’m not letting her take what’s left.”

I leaned into him, burying my face in his chest as the tears came hot and unstoppable. His arms wrapped around me instantly, holding me tight, steady.

“I’m so scared,” I confessed, the words muffled against his shirt.

“I know,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “Me too. But we’ll get through it. I swear, my love. We’ll get through it. I’m going to protect you.”