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Please Come Back 113

Christiana’s POV.

I couldn’t stop smiling. A part of me felt like I was floating, the other part so full I was sure it would burst. After finally telling Alex I loved him, that I had always loved him…I felt light, like some heavy burden had finally slipped from my shoulders. There was no more hiding, no more holding back. It was just us, bare and real. And Alex…he looked at me like he’d won the world.

He hadn’t stopped smiling since, either. Even now, as we stood side–by–side in the kitchen, preparing breakfast, he had that lovestruck grin plastered on his face, making him look almost boyish. “I can’t believe this,” he murmured, almost to himself, watching as I poured the batter into the pan. “Feels like a dream.”

I glanced at him, raising an eyebrow playfully. “If this were a dream, you wouldn’t be cooking breakfast. You’d probably be waiting at the table with a newspaper.”

He laughed, a deep, soft sound that sent warmth flooding through me. “Maybe. But I wouldn’t mind it at all. Being here with you like this? It’s everything.” He reached over, brushing a stray hair from my face, and let his hand linger, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my cheek.

I leaned into his touch, savoring the warmth, and whispered, “You’re acting like a lovesick teenager, you know.”

He just laughed, unabashed. “That’s exactly how I feel. I’m not afraid to admit it.”

The smell of sizzling pancakes filled the kitchen, but it was the laughter…ours and the kids…that made the moment feel alive. Ethan and Emma came tumbling into the kitchen, their eyes lighting up when they saw us together. Ethan let out a small gasp, his eyes wide. “Are we having breakfast…all together?”

I nodded, unable to keep the smile off my face. “Yes, we are. Your dad’s actually cooking for once.”

Alex ruffled Ethan’s hair, laughing as he did so. “Hey, give me some credit. I’m a master at breakfast.”

Emma giggled, climbing onto one of the chairs. “Does this mean Daddy’s staying with us forever?”

The question hung in the air, and Alex and I exchanged a look, one so full of unspoken promises that it felt like everything in the world was right. Alex knelt down beside her, looking her straight in the eye. “If your mom lets me,” he said softly, casting me a meaningful glance, “I’ll stay as long as she’ll have me.”

I felt my throat tighten, emotions bubbling up, but I managed a playful smile. “Well, I’ll consider it. But only if you make the pancakes next time, too.”

Ethan and Emma erupted into laughter, and Alex joined in, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close. For the first time in what felt like forever, we felt like a family…a real, whole, and complete family. The kids couldn’t stop smiling, and their happiness was infectious.

As we sat around the table, I watched Alex with the kids, how he listened to their stories, his gaze warm and patient. He asked Ethan about school, nodded seriously when Emma rambled on about her favorite toy, and every so often, he’d look up at me, catching my eye with a look that left me breathless.

He reached over, squeezing my hand under the table. “Christiana,” he murmured, his voice low and thick with emotion, “this… right here. It feels like a dream come true.”

My heart clenched, with joy and disbelief coursing through me. “For me too, Alex.”

He brought my hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to my fingers. “Then I’ll spend every day making sure you never regret this.”

I swallowed, my chest tight with emotion. As I looked around the table, at our family…the family we’d fought so hard to be… I felt like, for the first time, everything was exactly as it should be.

Few hours later.

The kids had finally settled, their soft breaths the only sound echoing through the quiet, spacious halls of Alex’s home. I stood there, feeling the weight of everything that had happened press down on me, and Alex was beside me, his hand gently resting

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Chapter 113

on my shoulder, grounding me.

“Christiana,” he said softly, his voice pulling me from my thoughts. He turned to face me, and his eyes were intense, filled with something fierce and bold. “I won’t let anything happen to you or the kids. I promise.”

I looked up at him, heart hammering against my chest. Part of me wanted to find comfort in his words, to believe that he could somehow shield us from the darkness that Bianca had brought into our lives. But I couldn’t rely on him, not like this.

“You can’t just promise things, Alex,” I whispered, my voice trembling with frustration. “Bianca is still out there, and she’s dangerous. She needs to be exposed for who she really is. She has to pay for what she’s done.”

He looked down for a moment, a shadow of guilt crossing his features. “I know,” he said, nodding slowly. “And it’s all my fault. I let her get this close. I should have seen through her lies from the beginning.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “You’re right, you should have.” My words were sharp, but I didn’t pull away from him. I needed to be close, to feel his warmth, even if anger was still simmering in my chest.

His hand reached for mine, and he took it gently, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’ll make it right, Christiana,” he promised, his voice filled with a quiet, determined intensity. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you. I’ll fight anyone… Bianca, even my mother. I’ll go to the ends of the earth for you and the kids.”

His words tugged at my heart, but I couldn’t let myself believe them so easily. I couldn’t afford to. “Alex… promises aren’t enough this time.” My voice broke, and I felt a tear slip down my check..

He reached up, gently brushing the tear away with his thumb, his hand lingering on my cheek. “I know,” he murmured, voice soft. His gaze held mine, steady and unyielding. “But I need you to trust me. Trust that I will handle this. Bianca won’t come near us again.”

I sighed, looking away, my gaze falling to the floor. It was hard to trust, after everything. But the way he was looking at me, like I was the only person in the world, it broke down a part of my defenses. “I just… I need her to face the consequences, Alex. I need her to suffer for what she’s done.”

His jaw clenched, and a flicker of something dark crossed his eyes. “She will,” he said with chilling certainty. “I’ll make sure of it.”

There was a brief silence as I absorbed his words. He was serious, there was a fierceness in him, a determination that left no room for doubt. Despite everything, I felt a strange comfort in that.

He leaned closer, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead, his lips warm against my skin. “You and the kids are my life, Christiana. I’ll protect you with everything I have.”

A warmth blossomed in my chest, a fragile, hesitant feeling I hadn’t allowed myself in so long. I could see how deeply he meant every word, how ready he was to put everything on the line for us. His love, the fierce devotion he showed, was something I never expected.

“Alex…” I whispered, struggling to hold back the swell of emotion in my chest. His fingers slid to my chin, tilting my face up to meet his eyes. His gaze was tender, filled with love that was almost painful to look at.

“You’re my heart,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “You, and the kids…you’re all that matters.”

I bit my lip, trying to hold back a smile. I didn’t want to feel this warmth, this comfort, and yet here I was, my heart racing in his presence. “You’re a fool, you know that?” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

He chuckled, his gaze never leaving mine. “Then let me be a fool for you.” He took my hand and brought it to his lips again, his eyes dark with unspoken promises.

And, just for a moment, as his lips brushed against my knuckles once more, the world around us faded away.

But quickly, he pulled away from me as if touching me burnt him, and he let go of my hand before saying. “Daniel Brooks,” as if the name was just drawn to him and ruined the mood.

I looked at Alex, his face tight, guarded, the hurt still raw in his eyes. The mention of Daniel had made him tense, his jaw set, the softness in his expression vanishing instantly.

“Why are you so worried about Daniel?” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, hoping to bring some calm to this storm. “There’s nothing between us. He’s… he’s just a friend.”

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1:55 PM

Chapter 113

Alex scoffed, his eyes darkening. “A friend?” His laugh was sharp, almost bitter. “That ‘friend‘ of yours couldn’t keep his hands off you. Don’t play me for a fool, Christiana. I can see he’s in love with you.”

“Alex, listen to me.” I reached out, my hand trembling slightly as it rested on his arm. “You’re wrong. Daniel… he’s just…”

I paused, catching myself before I could slip up. I knew how Daniel felt about me, The way he’d kissed me, told me he loved me. But I’d never felt that way about him, not even close. Thinking of him now, I felt a pang of sadness, knowing I’d led him on without ever intending to. I liked him, sure, but love? That had always belonged to Alex, whether I wanted it to or not. “He’s just a friend, Alex,” I repeated, my voice softer this time. “You don’t have to worry about him. Daniel won’t be a problem.” Alex’s gaze hardened, and he shook his head slowly, unconvinced. “Won’t be a problem?” he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. “Christiana, I fought the man because of you. Because he couldn’t keep his damn intentions to himself.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at him, momentarily speechless, replaying what he’d just said. “You… you fought him?” My voice was barely a whisper.

“Yes,” he replied, his voice dropping lower, his eyes filled with something almost feral. “Because he had the nerve to touch what’s mine.”

I swallowed, feeling the air between us tighten. “I had no idea…”

“Of course, you didn’t.” He looked at me, his face still clouded with anger. “You were too busy thinking he was just a friend.”

I felt my cheeks flush. Alex’s intensity, his raw possessiveness, was overwhelming. Yet, for some reason, it didn’t scare me. It just made my pulse quicken, my skin prickle with a sensation I hadn’t felt in what seemed like forever.

I straightened, meeting his gaze with as much determination as I could muster. “Alex, he doesn’t matter. You matter. And I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want you to know that.”

His expression softened, just a little, but his eyes never left mine. “I barely believe you,” he murmured, the pain still visible beneath the anger. “How do I know you won’t run back to him?”

I took a shaky breath, trying to steady the whirlwind inside me. “Because I never loved him,” I said, finally admitting it aloud. “I never wanted him the way I… the way I wanted you.”

His face softened even more, his eyes searching mine, as if looking for the truth in my words. I could feel his breath on my face, warm and laced with the sharp scent of alcohol, yet I didn’t move. His hand found its way to my cheek, his fingers brushing against my skin with a gentleness that made my heart ache.

“Christiana,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “You make it so damn hard to let go.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, his lips crashed down on mine, fierce, raw, and unrelenting. It was as if he was pouring everything he’d been holding back, all the anger, the longing, the hurt, into that one kiss. And I found myself melting into him, unable to fight it, unwilling to even try.

My arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer, and for that one moment, the world around us ceased to exist. There was no Daniel, no past, no pain, just him an

d me, tangled together, lost in the flames we’d tried so hard to extinguish.

And this time, I didn’t want to let go.

Please Come Back

Please Come Back

Status: Ongoing

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