CHAPTER 350

Emily’s POV

"To you, Emily," Chris said softly, his eyes meeting mine with genuine warmth as he raised his glass to me. We each held a mocktail in a wine glass.

I looked up, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. We stood on the patio, the night air cool and refreshing, the soft glow of the porch lights casting a serene ambiance around us.

The small dinner party had settled down, the earlier liveliness replaced by a cozy calm. Elijah and Sophia had disappeared upstairs to put Reese to bed, and Connor and Kayla were tucked away in one corner of the living room, deep in an intimate conversation.

“I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished,” Chris continued. “The way you’ve handled everything… it’s inspiring. Your resilience, your strength—it’s something to admire.”

The warmth in his words and the way his eyes held mine made my heart flutter. I felt a rush of emotions that I couldn’t quite put into words. I clinked my glass against his, feeling a bit flustered by the intensity of