Chapter 10 - Forever Safe
The sun began its slow descent below the horizon, painting the sky in breathtaking shades of gold, crimson, and deep lavender.
The evening breeze rustled the leaves of the oak trees, carrying the sweet scent of blooming roses across the patio.
Inside the house, the grand dining room was filled with warm light and the cheerful sounds of dinner preparations. Liana stood by the window, holding baby Elena, watching Matteo teach Nico how to throw a baseball on the lawn outside.
Nico swung a small wooden bat, hitting the soft ball with a loud clack that sent it rolling toward the trees. He let out a triumph yell, pumping his little fists in the air as Matteo chased after him, picking him up and swinging him around in a high, joyful circle.
Their laughter echoed across the quiet valley.
Liana felt a warm tear slide down her cheek, but for the first time in years, it was a tear of pure, unadulterated joy.
She looked up at the evening sky, where the first evening star was beginning to twinkle softly through the fading twilight.
"Thank you, Maya," Liana whispered into the quiet air, feeling a gentle warmth wrap around her heart like an eternal embrace. "We are safe now. Everyone is safe."
The terrace doors opened, and Matteo walked inside, carrying a tired, giggling Nico on his shoulders.
"Who’s ready for bedtime stories?" Matteo announced, setting Nico down on the soft rug.
"Me! Me!" Nico raised his hands, running over to wrap his arms around Liana’s legs. "Mama, Daddy said he’s going to read the dragon story tonight!"
"Only if you brush your teeth first, little man," Liana laughed, kneeling down to press a kiss onto his forehead.
"Deal!" Nico shouted, sprinting down the hallway toward his bathroom.
Matteo walked up behind Liana, wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder as they both looked at their sleeping daughter in her arms.
"Ready to go upstairs?" Matteo murmured gently in her ear.
May you like
"Yes," Liana whispered, turning her head to smile at her husband. "Let's go home."
Together, hand in hand, they walked up the broad, warm staircase of their home, leaving the shadows of the past forever behind, stepping into a future built on love, truth, and an everlasting light that no power on earth could ever extinguish again.
