Chapter 10 - Forever Under His ProtectionFive years later.
The grand iron gates of Vance Manor swung open wide to welcome a fleet of black luxury SUVs pulling up the snow-dusted driveway.
Inside the sprawling, beautifully lit living room, a crackling fire roared in the marble fireplace. The house was filled with the sounds of running footsteps, echoing laughter, and Christmas carols playing softly in the background.
I stood by the Christmas tree, adjusting a shining star on the topmost branch, wearing a soft emerald-green silk dress.
Suddenly, two pairs of little arms wrapped tightly around my legs.
“Mommy! Mommy! Daddy’s home!” five-year-old Chloe and Claire chorused together, their dark curls bouncing as they beamed up at me with identical, mischievous grins.
I smiled, kneeling down to hug my two beautiful, brilliant daughters. They were growing up strong, fearless, and deeply loved.
The front doors swung open.
Elias walked into the foyer, shaking the light winter snow off his black wool coat. He looked just as striking, powerful, and dangerously handsome as the first night I met him.
He unbuttoned his jacket, dropped his briefcase on the mahogany console table, and immediately dropped to one knee with open arms as both girls squealed with delight and ran straight into his embrace.
“Did you miss me, my little princesses?” Elias laughed deeply, picking both of them up effortlessly as they showered his face with kisses.
“We missed you so much, Daddy!” Claire giggled. “And we built a snowman as tall as Uncle Marcus!”
Elias looked up over the heads of our daughters, his dark eyes meeting mine across the warm, sunlit room. The silver flecks in his eyes shone with a deep, unbreakable peace—the peace of a man who had fought a war against the entire world and won the only prize that truly mattered.
He walked over, still carrying our two girls, and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my lips.
“Welcome home, husband,” I whispered, smiling against his mouth.
May you like
Elias pulled me close against his side, wrapping his strong, protective arms around all three of us—his entire world, his true empire.
“I am home,” Elias whispered softly, looking down at our daughters and then back into my eyes. “And nobody will ever take this away from us. You’re under my protection now... forever.”
