Bella knelt on the nursery rug, clapping her hands while Jessy toddled unsteadily toward her. His small steps were wobbly, his arms stretched out for balance, but the determination in his little face was unmistakable.
"Come on, sweetheart. You can do it," Bella encouraged, her voice thick with pride.
Jessy let out a squeal "Mama!" before stumbling into her arms. Bella laughed and hugged him tightly, pressing kisses to his chubby cheeks.
"Dada!" Jessy suddenly chirped, pointing toward the doorway.
Chris leaned against the frame, his lips curving into a rare, unguarded smile. "That's right. Dada's here."
Jessy clapped his tiny hands, showing off the six rabbit teeth he had been proudly chewing everything with. Chris crouched down and scooped him up with ease, lifting him high until the boy squealed in delight.
For a moment, the world was quiet. Just them. Just family.
But outside Romero, the storm was raging.
Every headline screamed their names.
"From Scandal to Proposal: Bella Walter's Return to the Spotlight."
"Hampson Empire Tarnished or Strengthened by Love?"
"Sources confirm: Thelma Frederick, Neil Periwinkle, and Lilian Brooks face sentencing."
The media frenzy had sharpened again, circling like vultures, painting Bella as everything from a survivor to a manipulator. Some defended her, others crucified her. But Chris didn't flinch. He had waited for this.
At his office desk, Elliot spread out the files. "It's time."
Chris's eyes were steel as he flipped through the papers. "Loose ends tied?"
"All of them," Elliot confirmed. "Cassandra is gone. Clinton's rotting in prison. And as of this morning, the Fredericks' companies are under government receivership. Every shell account, every dirty deal exposed."
"And Thelma?" Chris asked, his voice cold.
Elliot's mouth twitched into something like satisfaction. "Sentenced to 15 years. Child abuse, fraud, conspiracy. No parole before ten."
Chris's hand stilled on the desk. Fifteen years wasn't enough, but it would do.
"And Lilian and Neil?"
"Five years each. Fraud, defamation, conspiracy to distribute manipulated media. They both tried for bail, but the courts denied it."
Chris exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. "Good. They'll rot for every tear she shed."
That evening, Bella sat curled on the sofa with Arabella leaning against her, Jessy babbling nonsense words as he waddled between the coffee table and his father's legs.
"Food!" Jessy squealed, pointing at a half-eaten biscuit Arabella had been nibbling.
Arabella giggled, handing it to him. "Bossy, aren't you?"
Bella smiled at the sight, her heart swelling. She stroked Arabella's hair absently, remembering how, not long ago, this little girl had flinched at every touch. Now she leaned into it, trusting, secure.
Chris watched from his armchair, silent but unrelenting in his thoughts. The world was still watching, still waiting for them to break. But here, in this living room, he saw what mattered most.
When Jessy crawled into his lap and Arabella leaned into Bella's side, Chris caught Bella's eyes across the room. For once, there was no wall between them only a quiet understanding.
Everything outside could burn. He had finished what he started. The enemies were gone, the lies dismantled. And now, there was only one thing left to do.
To build.
Together.
Jessy was asleep in his crib, Arabella tucked under her covers, her little hand curled around the stuffed bear Bella had given her.
Bella stood by the window, the moonlight painting her profile. Chris came up behind her, his presence warm and unyielding.
For a long moment, neither spoke. The silence between them wasn't awkward anymore, it was heavy with everything unsaid, everything waiting.
Chris reached into his pocket and pulled out the small velvet box she hadn't seen in months. Her heart jolted.
"Bella." His voice was rough. "I've asked before. But tonight, I need you to answer me. Not because of the children. Not because of the storm we've survived. But because of us. Because I can't picture a life without you in it."
Bella's eyes filled, her throat closing. She had held her answer in for so long, afraid to hope, afraid to fall again. But tonight, after the laughter, after the family, after seeing him with their children... she knew.
"Yes." Her voice cracked. "Yes, Chris."
Relief swept across his face, raw and unguarded. He slipped the ring onto her finger, then pulled her close, kissing her with a hunger that had been burning for years.
Bella melted into him, her hands tangling in his hair, the kiss deepening until it left them both breathless. The heat between them ignited, years of longing and restraint snapping like brittle glass.
He lifted her easily, carrying her toward their room. "I've waited too long for this," he murmured against her lips.
The door shut quietly behind them, and for the first time in years, there were no lies, no distance, no walls. Just Bella and Chris finally, completely, theirs again.
The sun broke through the curtains softly, spilling golden light into the room.
Bella stirred first, her cheek pressed against Chris's bare chest. For the first time in what felt like forever, she woke without heaviness sitting on her chest. She felt warm. Safe. Whole.
Chris was already awake, watching her with the kind of gaze that could undo her. His fingers brushed through her hair lazily, as if memorizing every strand.
"Good morning, fiancée," he murmured.
Bella's lips curved despite her blush. "You've been waiting to say that, haven't you?"
"For years," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her. It was slow, tender, and tasted of promise.
But the moment was short-lived.
The door burst open with a squeak, and Arabella stumbled in holding Jessy by the hand. Jessy was toddling proudly, his six little teeth flashing as he babbled, "Mama! Dada!"
Bella quickly pulled the blanket higher, stifling her laugh as Chris groaned. "Timing, little man... worst timing."
Arabella giggled and climbed onto the bed. "We're hungry," she announced, as if it explained everything.
Jessy echoed her by smacking his small hand against Chris's chest. "Food!" he squeaked, making Bella dissolve into laughter.
Chris sat up, resigned, pulling Jessy into his lap. The boy tugged at his chain, fascinated, while Arabella leaned into Bella's side.
Bella stroked her daughter's hair and smiled softly. "What am I going to do with the both of you?"
Chris smirked. "Feed us first. Then marry me."
Bella rolled her eyes, but the heat in her cheeks betrayed her. "You don't waste time, do you?"
"I've already wasted years," he said seriously, his eyes locking onto hers. "Not another day, Bella."
Later that morning, the kitchen was loud with laughter and the smell of pancakes. Arabella insisted on stirring the batter, Jessy clapped flour-covered hands, and Chris pretended to scold them both, though his smirk gave him away.
Bella leaned against the counter, just watching. It was messy, chaotic, but it was hers. The family she thought she'd lost was finally whole.
Hailey arrived mid-morning with her two kids, Andrew came with his wife and children, and soon the table was overflowing again. Plans for the future began slipping into conversation without anyone forcing them.
"When's the wedding?" Hailey teased, waggling her brows at Bella.
Bella nearly choked on her juice. "We haven't even talked about it yet."
Chris leaned back in his chair, a wicked smile curving his lips. "We will tonight."
The twins immediately jumped in. "You better let us be groomsmen, hyung."
Raquel piped up from the end of the table, "And bridesmaid duties better include me."
The laughter rolled, but beneath it was something else unity. After years of division, brokenness, secrets, and storms, both families were finally breathing the same air in peace.
Bella caught Chris's hand under the table. He squeezed back, his thumb brushing her ring.
For the first time, the word didn't scare her.
Wedding.
And as Jessy babbled "Mama, Dada," smearing syrup on his little cheeks, Bella knew this was just the beginning of a new chapter.