The house had never been so full. Laughter spilled from every corner of Romero, bouncing off the high ceilings like music. Children's voices rang louder than any piano Chris had ever owned.
Arabella was in her element, proudly leading Hailey's children and Andrew's three children on a "tour" of the gardens, while Jessy toddled after them, determined to keep up on his little legs. Every few steps, he fell, but one of the older cousins always picked him up again, making him giggle with delight.
From the terrace, Bella watched with her mother's heart glowing. "Look at them," she murmured, a soft smile curving her lips. "They don't even know how much history it took to bring them all together."
Beside her, Vera nodded, eyes moist. "And that's the blessing of children. They don't carry the weight of what we endured. They just... love."
Inside, the adults had clustered into small groups. Bianca, with her head resting on her husband's chest, sat with Alexis and Liam, laughing as they teased her about baby names.
"You can't name the poor child after a fruit," Alexis said between laughs.
"What's wrong with Olive?" Bianca shot back, smirking. "It's classy."
"Classy until someone at school calls her pizza topping," Liam teased, making everyone burst out laughing.
Chris, meanwhile, stood in the kitchen with Hailey, pouring her a glass of wine while she scolded him like she used to when they were children.
"You work too much, Christian," she said, shaking her head. "Bella deserves a husband, not a machine."
Chris smirked. "You sound like Bella."
"Good," Hailey shot back. "Maybe if enough of us say it, you'll actually listen."
When Bella entered, carrying Jessy on her hip, the whole room seemed to shift. Chris's eyes softened instantly, the tiredness in them replaced with warmth. He reached for his son, who immediately squealed "Dada!" and lunged forward, clapping his little hands.
The cousins crowded around Arabella, braiding her hair and pulling her into their games. She giggled, the sound so light that Bella's chest ached.
Vera leaned against the doorway, watching her grandchildren swarm the room. For the first time in decades, she felt something close to peace.
Dinner was chaotic but beautiful. Long tables were set, children passing plates with clumsy hands, adults trading stories. Joe said a quiet toast:
"To family. Broken, mended, stubborn, forgiven. Tonight, we are whole."
Glasses clinked. Bella reached under the table for Chris's hand. He caught it instantly, squeezing tight.
Later that night, when the house finally quieted and the children were asleep in every guest room, Bella sat in the garden, the cool air brushing her skin. Chris joined her, draping his jacket over her shoulders.
"Look around," he said softly, gesturing back toward the glowing windows. "This is what we fought for."
Bella leaned into him, her heart swelling. "And this is what we'll protect. Always."
Chris kissed her temple, his hand resting gently over hers. For once, there was no rush, no battle, no storm waiting outside. Just the gift of family all of them, at last, under one roof.
The house was still buzzing from the day's chaos. Laughter lingered in the walls, children's giggles echoing faintly through the halls as the younger ones finally drifted off to sleep.
But outside on the back porch, the night was hushed. Vera sat with a shawl around her shoulders, the garden stretching quietly in the moonlight. Joe joined her, setting two mugs of tea on the little table between them.
"You've been quiet all evening," Joe said gently, lowering himself into the chair beside her.
Vera gave a small smile. "I was watching. Watching the children play. Watching Bella laugh again. Watching the family sit around one table." Her voice wavered. "It felt like a dream, Joe. Like something I never thought we'd see."
Joe reached across the table, covering her hand with his. "It's no dream. It's the reward for every battle you've fought. You held this family together when everything wanted to tear it apart."
Her eyes glistened, and for a moment she looked younger, softer. "Sometimes I think of all the mistakes. Trusting the wrong man. Losing so much. Hiding truths that broke me inside."
Joe's thumb brushed over her knuckles. "And still, you stand here with children who adore you. Grandchildren who light up when you walk into the room. Vera, you didn't lose you built something stronger from the ruins."
A tear slipped down her cheek, and Joe gently wiped it away. They sat in silence after that, the quiet between them no longer heavy but healing.
Upstairs, the siblings gathered in the Bella's room. Jayden sprawled across the bed, Kayden leaned against the desk, Raquel sat cross-legged on the carpet, and Bella curled up near the window, watching the night.
"It's strange," Raquel said softly. "For so long it felt like we were all just... surviving. Separate. Now we're here again, together."
Kayden nodded. "And we almost lost it. Lost Bella. Lost the truth about Arabella. I still can't believe everything that came out in court."
Jayden's jaw tightened. "I hate that we didn't know half of it until too late. That she had to carry it alone." His eyes flicked to Bella, softer now. "But we're here. And we'll never let it happen again."
Bella swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't want you to see me broken. I thought I was protecting you by running. But I only made the hole deeper."
Kayden pushed off the desk and sat beside her, nudging her shoulder. "Noona, you don't have to protect us anymore. We're grown now. Doctors, nearly. We can handle it."
Raquel smiled faintly. "We can handle you."
That made Bella laugh through her tears. For the first time in years, the siblings spoke not of pain but of tomorrow. Of plans, of things they wanted to build together holidays they'd take, milestones they'd celebrate, children who'd grow up knowing nothing but love.
It was a promise, unspoken but strong.
And downstairs, as Vera leaned her head against Joe's shoulder, she felt it too: the family had been tested by storms, but somehow, they had survived. And now, at last, they were healing.