Chapter 18 - One Year Later
Hope’s first birthday was held at the lake house.
No enormous party.
No press.
Only family they trusted.
Sofia wore a pink dress and appointed herself Hope’s official protector.
Celeste attended too.
Her relationship with Dorian remained complicated.
Some wounds did not disappear simply because people regretted creating them.
But Celeste had changed.
She asked before visiting.
She respected boundaries.
She never again confused control with care.
Matteo was serving his sentence.
He and Dorian exchanged letters occasionally.
Forgiveness, Dorian explained, was not the same as removing consequences.
Alina understood that better than anyone.
Near sunset, she found Dorian standing on the dock with Hope asleep against his chest.
The scene reminded her of the photograph taken outside the attorney’s office—the image of a powerful man holding a little girl while the woman beside him looked broken.
Only now everything was different.
Dorian saw her approaching.
“What?”
“You’re staring.”
“I’m allowed.”
He smiled.
She rested her head against his shoulder.
“Do you ever think about that day?”
“The divorce?”
“Yes.”
“Every day.”
“Regret signing?”
“No.”
She pulled back.
His expression softened.
“I regret everything that made you ask for it. But signing was the first time I respected what you wanted even though it destroyed me.”
Alina considered that.
Then kissed him.
“Good answer.”
“I’ve had a year to prepare.”
She laughed.
Hope stirred between them.
And for once, the Cross family had nothing hiding in the shadows.
May you like
But Dorian had one final secret.
And this time, he intended to tell Alina before acting on it.
