True Happiness

True Happiness
RONNY’S POV

The smell of pancakes filled the kitchen.

I wasn’t even sure how long I’d been standing in front of the stove, flipping them one by one, but I didn’t care. The sunlight was spilling through the window, soft and golden, painting the room with warmth that I hadn’t felt in what felt like forever.

Liliana was still asleep upstairs. No fear, no tears—just her, safe in our bed, breathing evenly like the world had finally decided to leave her alone.

I smiled to myself as I poured another batch of batter onto the pan. I wanted to make everything perfect. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, toast, fruit, even that special tea she liked. She’d been through hell last night, and I was going to make sure her morning was heaven.

“Sir,” Martha’s voice came from behind me, soft and teasing. “You’ve been at that stove since sunrise. Planning to open a restaurant?”

I turned, trying to hide the grin tugging at my lips. “Just breakfast.”

Her eyes twinkled as she folded her arms. “For Miss Liliana, I assume?”

“For both of you,” I said, trying to sound casual. “You’ve worked hard. You deserve something nice too.”

Her brows lifted. “Oh, really? You’re in such a good mood this morning.”

I shrugged, but I couldn’t hide the stupid smile on my face. “Maybe I have a reason to be.”

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “She’s really something, isn’t she?”

I didn’t have to ask who she meant.

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “She is.”

Martha’s smile softened. “You look different, sir. Happier. I haven’t seen that in years.”

I chuckled, glancing down at the tray as I added the last few plates. “Maybe that’s because I finally am.”

When I looked up again, she wasn’t smiling anymore. Her eyes were glassy, her hands trembling slightly as she wiped them on her apron.

“Martha?” I frowned. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, but her voice cracked when she spoke. “Nothing, sir. It’s just… I’m happy. So happy for you. You’ve been alone for so long, carrying so much. To see you like this, to see you find someone like Miss Liliana…” She stopped, her throat tight with emotion. “You deserve it. You deserve all of it.”

My chest tightened. Martha had been with me since I started my life, back when I didn’t have anything. She’d seen every side of me—the broken, angry, lost version. And now she was looking at me like she finally saw something good.

I set the spatula down and smiled at her. “Martha,” I said quietly, “I’m going to be a father.”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

I laughed softly, the words tasting sweeter every time I said them—even if I’d only said them in my head until now. “You heard me. Liliana’s pregnant.”

She gasped, covering her mouth with both hands, and then her face broke into the biggest smile I’d ever seen. “Oh, my goodness, sir! Are you serious?”

“Yes,” I said, unable to stop smiling. “I’m going to be a dad.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she reached out and hugged me—something she hadn’t done in years. “I’m so happy,” she whispered. “So, so happy. You’re going to be a wonderful father. She’s going to be such a beautiful mother.”

I hugged her back, my throat tight. “Thank you, Martha. For everything.”

When she pulled away, she wiped her eyes quickly. “Go on then,” she said, grinning. “Take that breakfast up before it gets cold. I’ll tidy up here.”

I nodded and carried the tray carefully. My heart was beating fast, but in the best way possible. Every step up the stairs felt lighter, every breath fuller.

When I opened the door to our room, soft morning light streamed through the curtains. She was still curled up on the bed, her hair messy, her face half buried in the pillow.

God, she looked beautiful.

She stirred when the door creaked, yawning softly. Her nose wrinkled as she sniffed the air, and then she blinked her eyes open, a sleepy smile spreading across her lips.

“You made breakfast,” she murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep.

I set the tray on the nightstand and smiled. “Yeah. You went through too much last night. You shouldn’t have been kidnapped in the first place. The least I can do is make sure you eat.”

She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. “Ronny,” she said softly, “I’m here with you now. Let’s forget about the dark night, please?”

I laughed quietly, sitting down beside her. “You make it sound so easy.”

She smiled, leaning against me. “Because it is. You’re my light, remember?”

That one sentence undid me completely. I kissed the top of her head, whispering, “Thank you.”

Then I picked up a fork and started feeding her. She giggled when I held up the first bite.

“You don’t have to do that,” she said.

“I want to,” I replied, grinning. “Let me spoil you a little.”

She rolled her eyes but opened her mouth anyway. Every bite she took made my chest ache in the best way. I couldn’t stop smiling. She looked at me between bites, her gaze soft and amused.

“What?” I asked, laughing a little.

“You’re so pretty,” she said.

I froze. “Hey, I’m a grown-ass man. Don’t call me pretty.”

She tilted her head, pretending to think. “Okay. You’re beautiful.”

I groaned. “That’s even worse.”

She giggled. “Then stop being both.”

I shook my head, chuckling. “You’re impossible.”

Her eyes sparkled as she took another bite. “You love me anyway.”

“I do,” I said simply. “More than anything.”

When she finished eating, she sighed happily and leaned back against the pillows. “That was delicious. You really didn’t have to do all this.”

I smiled, setting the tray aside just as Martha knocked softly on the door. She peeked in, her usual calm expression replaced by one of quiet joy.

“Can I take the tray, sir?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I said, handing it to her.

Her eyes drifted to Liliana, and she smiled warmly. “You look much better, Miss Liliana. I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Thank you, Martha,” Liliana said softly. “And thank you for taking care of him.”

Martha chuckled. “He’s easier to handle these days.”

I rolled my eyes as both women laughed. When Martha left, I turned back to Liliana and took her hand.

“Lily,” I said, my voice quiet.

She looked at me curiously. “What is it?”

I hesitated for a moment, just looking at her. At her soft hair, her bruised cheek that was already healing, the tiny smile that never failed to reach her eyes.

“When the court case is finalized,” I began, “and Lily—your sister—is sent to prison… I want to take you away for a while.”

She blinked, surprised. “Away?”

“Yeah,” I said. “A vacation. Just you and me. Somewhere far from all this madness. Somewhere peaceful.”

Her lips parted slowly, then curved into a small, beautiful smile. “I’d love that,” she whispered. “I’ll go anywhere in the world with you.”

I felt something tighten in my chest. I pulled her into me, wrapping my arms around her as if I could keep the entire world away from us.

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened in this orphaned boy’s life,” I whispered against her hair. “I love you so much.”

She held onto me tighter, her fingers curling in my shirt. “I love you too,” she said softly. “More than you’ll ever know.”

I pressed a kiss to her forehead and closed my eyes.

In that moment, everything else disappeared—the nightmares, the chaos, the pain. There was only her warmth, her heartbeat against my chest, her scent that made the world feel safe again.

I thought of the boy I used to be—the one who thought he’d never be loved, never belong anywhere. The one who believed happiness wasn’t meant for him.

And now, here I was—holding the woman I loved, the woman carrying my child.

My home. My heart. My whole world.

I tightened my arms around her, my voice breaking the silence.

“I’m never letting go,” I whispered.

She smiled against my chest. “Good.”

But even as we lay there in the quiet morning, wrapped up in love and safety, something in my chest stirred—a strange, quiet fear. A whisper I couldn’t explain.

Because happiness like this…I paused that thought.

For now, I chose to hold her tighter—to breathe her in, to memorize the moment, to pretend the world outside didn’t exist.

Because right now, she was my whole world.

And I wasn’t ready to let go.