Chapter 124: The end

Together, we chose a story.

And I worked on it tirelessly.

I wrote my novel during the difficult months after Arthur's birth.

My story became a refuge for my mind whenever life felt overwhelming.

Even with support.

Even loving my family.

Even being endlessly happy with my son.

Motherhood can still be lonely.

Exhausting.

Some days are filled with tears.

Others with complete desperation.

Having a small part of the day that belonged only to me—a place where I could create worlds and characters—felt like a cool breeze on a hot day.

It saved me.

And when the book was finally published...

When I held the printed copy in my hands for the very first time...

I cried.

I looked at those pages and remembered everything.

Every secret tear.

Every hardship.

Every step that led me here.

And I realized something beautiful.

Something wonderful had been born from my pain.

Not every story that begins with sorrow must end in tragedy.

It can end happily.

Bad days do not last forever.

And tomorrow, one of my greatest dreams will come true.

We're traveling as a family.

Our first stop will be a bookstore in Chicago, where I'll hold my very first signing event.

Where I'll meet incredible women who have followed my work.

After that, we'll travel across the United States.

We'll visit places where the Outfit has allies.

See new landscapes.

Discover new adventures.

Maybe we'll sing somewhere.

Maybe we'll camp beside a fire.

Or dance in the rain again.

Even knowing we'll be escorted everywhere doesn't bother me.

It doesn't diminish the beauty of the journey.

Because freedom means something different to me now.

Freedom is holding my son in my arms.

Freedom is standing beside the man I love.

"After our bath, I have a surprise for you, Flame."

"What is it?"

Ramzi laughs.

He knows how curious I am.

And he loves teasing me.

"I memorized some lines from your book."

I smile.

Ramzi has never exactly been a romance reader.

But he was my first reader.

The first person who read every word.

"Oh, really?"

"Mhm."

"And you're going to recite them to me?"

I tilt my head back to look at him.

"Oh, absolutely, Flame."

The mischievous look in his eyes tells me everything.

I laugh and shake my head.

The happiness in my chest feels almost overwhelming.

Because of where I am.

Because of who I'm with.

Because life somehow became even better than the happiest ending I ever dared to write.

Because Ramzi Draneth is no longer my prison.

He is my home.

THE END