Elijah’s POVAnother day in the Swiss Alps. Sophia’s right, it’s supposed to be a family trip and I should make an effort to be present in all ways. This morning, guilt seemed to burden me as I recalled how I’d acted yesterday. The cable car ride with Sophia had been tense and quiet, neither of us saying much. The silence between us felt like a chasm, growing wider with each passing minute. At least Reese had enjoyed it—she was so worn out afterward that she fell asleep right after lunch. We decided to skip the village festival and reschedule it for today, planning to go after our ice skating activity.As we walked toward the ice skating area, I placed my arm around Sophia’s shoulders and planted a kiss on her cheek. “I’m sorry about yesterday,” I whispered, hoping we could put it behind us and salvage the rest of our vacation.She gave me a faint smile, but then pulled away to hold Reese’s hand, moving ahead of me. The distance between us wasn’t just physical; I could tell she was
Elijah’s POVLater that evening, after a day that felt more like walking on eggshells than enjoying a vacation, I decided it was time to make things right. The guilt from how I’d treated Sophia was gnawing at me, and I knew I had to do more than just apologize—I needed to show her how much she meant to me.As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange, I led Sophia to a secluded spot overlooking the Alps, a place I’d discovered earlier. I’d arranged for a small bonfire to be set up, with cozy blankets and a bottle of her favorite wine waiting for us. Reese was already tucked into bed after an exhausting day, giving us the perfect opportunity to reconnect.“Sophia,” I said softly, taking her hand as we sat down on the blanket, the warmth of the fire warding off the evening chill. “I know I’ve been distant, and maybe irritable at times. I haven’t been the easiest person to be around. But I want you to know that I’m sorry—for everything.”She looked
Emily’s POVI hastily walked through the doors of the NICU, holding my breath and hoping for some good news. I’ve been waiting for them to tell me that Jared would be strong enough to finally go home with me. “Good morning, Jared,” I whispered, leaning over to peer at my tiny miracle. “Mommy’s here again. I hope you had a good sleep.”A nurse approached, her eyes twinkling with a smile. “Miss Emily, I’ve got some wonderful news for you.”I looked up, my breath catching in my throat. “What is it?”“Jared has made tremendous progress over the past few days,” she said in a warm, eager voice. “He's strong enough to be transferred to the regular nursery today. And after one more day of observation, he’ll be ready to go home with you.”The world seemed to blur around me as I absorbed her words. “Really?” I gasped, tears springing to my eyes. “He can finally come home?”The nurse nodded. “Yes. He's a fighter, just like his mom.”I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer. They spilled down my
Emily’s POVI stood quietly in the small extra room in my new apartment that I had turned into a nursery, cradling my beloved Jared in my arms and humming a lullaby. He’d finally fallen asleep after hours of fussing. “You make me so happy, little one,” I whispered to him as I carefully laid him down in his crib. I was just starting to rest in the living room, stretching out my legs in front of me as I sat on the sofa, when the doorbell rang. I opened it to find Chris standing there, looking both relieved and apologetic. His suit was rumpled from travel, and he carried a small duffel bag slung over one shoulder.“Hey, Emily,” he said with a smile. “I’m really sorry I wasn’t here these past few days. The trip ran longer than I expected. And I’m sorry to come here without sending a message.”I stepped aside to let him in, smiling widely. “It’s alright. And why are you sorry about the trip? I was the one who insisted you go ahead with your plans. Besides, you gave me a bodyguard which i
Sophia’s POV“Sophia! Elijah! And little Reese!” she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she opened the door to her apartment, letting us in. “It’s so great to see you all!”I gave her a quick hug, happy to see her two days after we got back from our family trip. I motioned to the bag of goodies that we’d brought, filled with Swiss chocolates and other presents, which Elijah was carrying. “These are for you.”“Oh, thanks so much,” Emily said with a smile, though she looked quite tired and a little bit distracted. “You didn’t have to bring all this.”I grinned with a wave of my hand. “It’s no big deal. I bet Kayla has a lot for us too when she gets back from Bali.” We entered the cozy apartment, and Emily led us to the living room. Elijah set down the bags and went over to Jared’s crib to take a peek. Reese, ever curious, followed closely behind.“He’s so little!” Reese exclaimed. I joined my daughter, happy to see Jared whose eyes were open. He was murmuring soft coos, which was quite
Emily’s POVBreastfeeding Jared was one of the few moments I had to myself, where the world seemed to slow down, and it was just the two of us. I tried to keep my thoughts focused on him, on the warmth of his tiny body against mine, and the way his little fingers grasped mine. I knew he could sense my emotions, and the last thing I wanted was to pass on the anxiety boiling inside me.But it was hard—impossible, really—not to think about Phoebe. She had been through hell, and the fact that she was finally out on bail didn’t ease the mounting worry that clawed at me. I’d sent her the prize money from the design competition, not caring that it was all I had saved up. Phoebe needed it more than I did. Besides, I had plenty of projects lined up for when I got back from maternity leave. Money was the last thing on my mind.Jared’s sucking slowed, his eyes drooping as sleep began to claim him. I gently shifted him to my shoulder, rubbing his back until a soft burp escaped him. Then, with al
Chris’s POVI walked into Emily’s apartment, my pulse quickening the moment I saw Antoine gripping her arm tightly. Emily shook him off, looking annoyed as she stepped away. Without thinking, I yelled, “Stay away from her!” Antoine’s head snapped around, and his eyes seemed to shoot fire at me. I crossed the room in three quick strides, fists clenched, ready to fight if it came to that. But before I could get too close, Emily stepped in front of me, blocking my path.“It’s fine, Chris,” she said, her voice shaky but firm. “He wasn’t doing anything to me… he just wanted to see Jared.”I tried to calm down, though the adrenaline was still pumping through my veins. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to relax. I didn’t trust Antoine, not one bit, but I had to respect Emily’s wishes.Antoine’s glare slightly softened. Then to my shock, Emily turned to him, her expression resolute. “You can see him,” she said, “but you can’t hold him.”I didn’t agree with that decision, but that was her
Sophia’s POVI stepped into Emily's cozy apartment, carefully balancing the cake I'd brought. The pastel-colored icing read Happy One Month, Jared, and I hoped it would bring a smile to Emily's face. As I approached, I saw her seated on the couch, cradling Jared in her arms. Her eyes lit up when she saw me and the cake.“Oh, Sophia, you didn’t have to do this!” Emily exclaimed, her voice brimming with genuine happiness.I smiled warmly, setting the cake on the coffee table. “I wanted to. It’s a special milestone for Jared, and I thought a little celebration would be nice. Kayla told me she’ll drop by a little later too.”“Oh, that’s nice,” Emily said with a smile. “I only saw her once since she got back from Bali. Quite busy with her married life, I suppose.”“Yes, I think so. She and Connor are so in love, and I’m just really happy for them.”Emily carefully adjusted Jared in her arms, rocking him gently. “Yes, I know.” I watched her, noticing how she seemed sad but determined to t