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Chapter 53
Last Updated:
2025-04-23 04:52:43
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The Price Of Us Chapter 54
ANNA POV.It was a quiet morning when I realized how much had changed. Not in some big, dramatic way, but in the small, subtle shifts that marked the kind of growth you can’t measure in days or weeks. More like... a deep breath. Like I could finally breathe again.Jace was in the kitchen, the steady clink of the coffee mug against the counter echoing in the stillness. Nathan was asleep in his crib, the room dark and cozy with only the morning light slipping through the curtains. A breeze ruffled the leaves outside, and everything just felt... peaceful. Peaceful. How long had it been since I’d known what that felt like?I walked into the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe, watching Jace move around. He was humming something under his breath, pulling the milk from the fridge. I couldn’t help but smile. He was in his element. We both were.“You’re up early,” I said, my voice a little hoarse from sleep.He looked over his shoulder, that easy grin spreading across his face. “I’ve
Last Updated : 2025-04-23The Price Of Us Chapter 55
ANNA POV.The house felt quieter than usual that afternoon, the kind of quiet that was almost too still. Nathan was glued to the screen, eyes wide as he watched the colorful chaos of the cartoon characters dancing across the TV. I let the background noise of their chatter and music fill the space while I took a moment for myself, scrolling aimlessly through my phone.That’s when it rang.I didn’t recognize the number, but something in my gut told me it was important. Maybe it was the way my pulse quickened, or how I immediately felt the need to answer. So, I swiped right and brought the phone to my ear, still trying to keep one eye on Nathan, who was kicking his legs in excitement.“Hello?” My voice was casual, but my heart was already beginning to race.There was a pause, and then, that voice. Smooth, authoritative, and utterly familiar.“Mr. Lysander here.”My breath caught. I wasn’t sure if it was the shock, the nerves, or the combination of both. I swallowed before speaking agai
Last Updated : 2025-04-24The Price Of Us Chapter 56
JACE POV.I stood there, Luciana’s voice echoed in my ears, her demand clear as day: “You’ll remarry. In the Italian tradition. You’ll make it official. Properly. And only then will you have our blessings—for Nathan, and for everything else.”I could feel Anna’s hand in mine, her fingers trembling slightly, but she didn’t pull away. I could feel her trying to process everything, her mind racing just like mine. But as I looked at her, I knew this was the moment. The moment I had to make a choice—not for me, but for Nathan. For us.I glanced at her, and in that brief, fleeting moment, I saw the fear in her eyes—the same fear that I carried, the fear of what we might be sacrificing just to appease these people. But beneath that, I saw something else: trust. She trusted me, even when I didn’t know if I could trust myself in situations like this. And for Nathan, for our future, I knew there was only one thing to do.I stepped forward, my jaw tight, and met Luciana’s gaze, steady and unwa
Last Updated : 2025-04-24The Price Of Us Chapter 57
ANNA POV.The day after the name ceremonyThere are many things I expected to deal with after a dramatic naming ceremony involving Jace’s aristocratic parents, a baby, and a last-minute wedding proposal.Cleaning mashed bananas off the ceiling was not one of them.“Jace!” I hollered from the kitchen, holding up the offending evidence between two fingers. “Your son has weaponized his breakfast again.”There was a pause. Then a muffled, “I’m on a call!” floated down the hallway, followed by the unmistakable thump of someone stepping on a squeaky toy.“Tell the board banana takes priority over billion-dollar investments,” I muttered under my breath as I bent down to wipe more goo off the tile floor.Nathan sat in his high chair looking utterly pleased with himself, one cheek squished into a chubby shoulder, his fingers glistening with the remnants of his fruity assault. He looked like a tiny mafia boss who had just executed a plan and was waiting for applause.“You think this is funny,
Last Updated : 2025-04-24The Price Of Us Chapter 58
ANNA POV.The following weekend, Jace announced—quite dramatically, like he was unveiling a grand plan to summit Everest—that he was taking Nathan out by himself for the first time.“Just me and the bean,” he said, standing at the foot of the bed in his ‘dad mode’ outfit: sneakers, cargo shorts (with so many pockets), and a baby carrier he’d watched three YouTube tutorials on how to wear. “A father-son bonding adventure.”I raised an eyebrow. “Where exactly are you two going on this adventure?”“Nowhere wild,” he said confidently. “Just the farmer’s market. We’ll get some fresh fruit. Maybe bread. Touch grass.”I bit back a grin. “And what will you do if Nathan poops halfway through the stall with the fresh berries?”He faltered. “We—we will embrace the chaos.”God help the farmer’s market.Fifteen minutes later, they were out the door, Nathan happily gurgling in his carrier like he was in for the best time of his life, and Jace giving me a thumbs-up with the determination of a man go
Last Updated : 2025-04-24The Price Of Us Chapter 59
JACE POV.I used to think I knew what regret felt like.It wasn’t this.Not this bone-deep, breath-stealing ache that bloomed with every word she spoke. Not the kind of regret that made you want to claw through time and tear it apart, just to rewrite the pages where you were absent.Anna sat beside me, her voice soft, unraveling memories she should never have had to carry alone.“I used to cry in the produce aisle.”That was her opening line. No preamble. No soft landing. Just that.And I sat there, stunned, trying to imagine her—my Anna—pregnant and alone in a foreign country, breaking down between stacks of fruit.She kept talking, and each word punched straight through my chest.The whiteboard note. The letters she burned. The silence she filled with her own voice just so the walls would remember her name.I couldn’t move.I couldn’t breathe.She looked so calm while she said it all. Like she’d told these stories to herself a thousand times just to survive. Like she’d rehearsed t
Last Updated : 2025-04-25The Price Of Us Chapter 60
JACE POV.The morning light spilled through the curtains, and I could hear Anna in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared breakfast for Nathan. It was a familiar sound, one I’d grown used to. I leaned over the crib, brushing a hand through Nathan’s messy hair, kissing his forehead as he blinked awake with a sleepy smile.“Be good for mommy today, buddy,” I whispered, feeling the weight of responsibility settle back into my chest.Anna came over and gently cupped my face, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Good luck with everything today, love,” she said, her voice warm and soft, but there was an edge of concern I couldn’t ignore. I could tell she was worried, even if she didn’t voice it.“I’ll be fine,” I assured her, the same words I always used, though today felt different. Maybe it was the new venture. Maybe it was the new faces I was going to meet at the office. After giving Nathan one last hug and a quick nod to Anna, I grabbed my jacket, and heading out the door.The drive in
Last Updated : 2025-04-25The Price Of Us Chapter 61
JACE POV.The office felt different that morning—brisker, sharper. Maybe it was the way the sky was still heavy with clouds, or maybe it was the silence that met me as I walked into the building, unlike the usual rustle of early morning staff chatter. Everyone was probably already buried in schedules and meetings, which I liked. It meant things were moving.I’d barely settled behind my desk when there was a soft knock on the door.“Come in,” I called, not looking up just yet.The door eased open, and in walked Sophie. Sleek blazer, sharp eyes, and a cup of something steaming in her hand.“Good morning, Mr. Lysander,” she said with that cool, collected smile that was starting to become her signature. She placed the cup gently on the edge of my desk. “Coffee.”I blinked, surprised. “I didn’t ask for coffee.”“I know,” she replied, standing straight with her hands neatly folded in front of her. “But my grandmother used to say—‘A good day starts with coffee, not emails.’ Thought you cou
Last Updated : 2025-04-25
Latest chapter
The Price Of Us Chapter 61
JACE POV.The office felt different that morning—brisker, sharper. Maybe it was the way the sky was still heavy with clouds, or maybe it was the silence that met me as I walked into the building, unlike the usual rustle of early morning staff chatter. Everyone was probably already buried in schedules and meetings, which I liked. It meant things were moving.I’d barely settled behind my desk when there was a soft knock on the door.“Come in,” I called, not looking up just yet.The door eased open, and in walked Sophie. Sleek blazer, sharp eyes, and a cup of something steaming in her hand.“Good morning, Mr. Lysander,” she said with that cool, collected smile that was starting to become her signature. She placed the cup gently on the edge of my desk. “Coffee.”I blinked, surprised. “I didn’t ask for coffee.”“I know,” she replied, standing straight with her hands neatly folded in front of her. “But my grandmother used to say—‘A good day starts with coffee, not emails.’ Thought you cou
The Price Of Us Chapter 60
JACE POV.The morning light spilled through the curtains, and I could hear Anna in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared breakfast for Nathan. It was a familiar sound, one I’d grown used to. I leaned over the crib, brushing a hand through Nathan’s messy hair, kissing his forehead as he blinked awake with a sleepy smile.“Be good for mommy today, buddy,” I whispered, feeling the weight of responsibility settle back into my chest.Anna came over and gently cupped my face, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Good luck with everything today, love,” she said, her voice warm and soft, but there was an edge of concern I couldn’t ignore. I could tell she was worried, even if she didn’t voice it.“I’ll be fine,” I assured her, the same words I always used, though today felt different. Maybe it was the new venture. Maybe it was the new faces I was going to meet at the office. After giving Nathan one last hug and a quick nod to Anna, I grabbed my jacket, and heading out the door.The drive in
The Price Of Us Chapter 59
JACE POV.I used to think I knew what regret felt like.It wasn’t this.Not this bone-deep, breath-stealing ache that bloomed with every word she spoke. Not the kind of regret that made you want to claw through time and tear it apart, just to rewrite the pages where you were absent.Anna sat beside me, her voice soft, unraveling memories she should never have had to carry alone.“I used to cry in the produce aisle.”That was her opening line. No preamble. No soft landing. Just that.And I sat there, stunned, trying to imagine her—my Anna—pregnant and alone in a foreign country, breaking down between stacks of fruit.She kept talking, and each word punched straight through my chest.The whiteboard note. The letters she burned. The silence she filled with her own voice just so the walls would remember her name.I couldn’t move.I couldn’t breathe.She looked so calm while she said it all. Like she’d told these stories to herself a thousand times just to survive. Like she’d rehearsed t
The Price Of Us Chapter 58
ANNA POV.The following weekend, Jace announced—quite dramatically, like he was unveiling a grand plan to summit Everest—that he was taking Nathan out by himself for the first time.“Just me and the bean,” he said, standing at the foot of the bed in his ‘dad mode’ outfit: sneakers, cargo shorts (with so many pockets), and a baby carrier he’d watched three YouTube tutorials on how to wear. “A father-son bonding adventure.”I raised an eyebrow. “Where exactly are you two going on this adventure?”“Nowhere wild,” he said confidently. “Just the farmer’s market. We’ll get some fresh fruit. Maybe bread. Touch grass.”I bit back a grin. “And what will you do if Nathan poops halfway through the stall with the fresh berries?”He faltered. “We—we will embrace the chaos.”God help the farmer’s market.Fifteen minutes later, they were out the door, Nathan happily gurgling in his carrier like he was in for the best time of his life, and Jace giving me a thumbs-up with the determination of a man go
The Price Of Us Chapter 57
ANNA POV.The day after the name ceremonyThere are many things I expected to deal with after a dramatic naming ceremony involving Jace’s aristocratic parents, a baby, and a last-minute wedding proposal.Cleaning mashed bananas off the ceiling was not one of them.“Jace!” I hollered from the kitchen, holding up the offending evidence between two fingers. “Your son has weaponized his breakfast again.”There was a pause. Then a muffled, “I’m on a call!” floated down the hallway, followed by the unmistakable thump of someone stepping on a squeaky toy.“Tell the board banana takes priority over billion-dollar investments,” I muttered under my breath as I bent down to wipe more goo off the tile floor.Nathan sat in his high chair looking utterly pleased with himself, one cheek squished into a chubby shoulder, his fingers glistening with the remnants of his fruity assault. He looked like a tiny mafia boss who had just executed a plan and was waiting for applause.“You think this is funny,
The Price Of Us Chapter 56
JACE POV.I stood there, Luciana’s voice echoed in my ears, her demand clear as day: “You’ll remarry. In the Italian tradition. You’ll make it official. Properly. And only then will you have our blessings—for Nathan, and for everything else.”I could feel Anna’s hand in mine, her fingers trembling slightly, but she didn’t pull away. I could feel her trying to process everything, her mind racing just like mine. But as I looked at her, I knew this was the moment. The moment I had to make a choice—not for me, but for Nathan. For us.I glanced at her, and in that brief, fleeting moment, I saw the fear in her eyes—the same fear that I carried, the fear of what we might be sacrificing just to appease these people. But beneath that, I saw something else: trust. She trusted me, even when I didn’t know if I could trust myself in situations like this. And for Nathan, for our future, I knew there was only one thing to do.I stepped forward, my jaw tight, and met Luciana’s gaze, steady and unwa
The Price Of Us Chapter 55
ANNA POV.The house felt quieter than usual that afternoon, the kind of quiet that was almost too still. Nathan was glued to the screen, eyes wide as he watched the colorful chaos of the cartoon characters dancing across the TV. I let the background noise of their chatter and music fill the space while I took a moment for myself, scrolling aimlessly through my phone.That’s when it rang.I didn’t recognize the number, but something in my gut told me it was important. Maybe it was the way my pulse quickened, or how I immediately felt the need to answer. So, I swiped right and brought the phone to my ear, still trying to keep one eye on Nathan, who was kicking his legs in excitement.“Hello?” My voice was casual, but my heart was already beginning to race.There was a pause, and then, that voice. Smooth, authoritative, and utterly familiar.“Mr. Lysander here.”My breath caught. I wasn’t sure if it was the shock, the nerves, or the combination of both. I swallowed before speaking agai
The Price Of Us Chapter 54
ANNA POV.It was a quiet morning when I realized how much had changed. Not in some big, dramatic way, but in the small, subtle shifts that marked the kind of growth you can’t measure in days or weeks. More like... a deep breath. Like I could finally breathe again.Jace was in the kitchen, the steady clink of the coffee mug against the counter echoing in the stillness. Nathan was asleep in his crib, the room dark and cozy with only the morning light slipping through the curtains. A breeze ruffled the leaves outside, and everything just felt... peaceful. Peaceful. How long had it been since I’d known what that felt like?I walked into the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe, watching Jace move around. He was humming something under his breath, pulling the milk from the fridge. I couldn’t help but smile. He was in his element. We both were.“You’re up early,” I said, my voice a little hoarse from sleep.He looked over his shoulder, that easy grin spreading across his face. “I’ve
The Price Of Us Chapter 53
JACE POV.The morning sunlight streamed in like it had a personal grudge against curtains. Golden and smug, it warmed the edge of our bed where Anna had once claimed a pillow fortress against my roaming legs. Now her defenses were down—literally. A pillow lay abandoned on the floor, and in its place, her foot rested over my calf, delicate but decisive. I didn’t move. Not yet. There was a stillness to the house that came around only at sunrise—before Nathan realized he had lungs and opinions, before Teresa clanged her way through the kitchen like she was trying to scare ghosts out of the cutlery. Just soft breathing. The occasional rustle of bedsheets. Anna’s lashes fluttering against her cheeks as if she were in the middle of a dream she didn’t want to leave. God, I loved this. Six days since the reel. Six days of silence from my family. And somehow… peace. We didn’t say it out loud, but we’d agreed without speaking: no news was better than old wounds opened up again. “J
