Chapter 7 - The Fall of the Fiancée
The sound of the handcuffs clicking around Ashley’s wrists was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. She fought wildly, kicking, scratching, and cursing like a demon. “Michael! Do something! You need me! You’re nothing without me!” she shrieked as two officers forced her toward the back of the cruiser.
I walked up to her, stopping just inches from the window. “I am everything without you,” I said quietly. “And you will spend the best years of your life in a concrete cell.” I turned away and didn't look back as they shoved her inside and slammed the door. Her expensive lawyers were already on their phones, frantically trying to distance themselves from a sinking ship. They didn't even look at her as the police car drove away, kicking up the same dust Emily had walked through yesterday.
Silence descended on the shelter courtyard. The threat was gone, and the nightmare was finally over. I turned back to the wooden bench where Emily had collapsed onto her knees, weeping loudly as the tension of a whole year left her frail body.
I fell to my knees right beside her. I didn't care about the dirt on my suit; I didn't care about anything else in the world. I wrapped my arms around her, and this time, she didn't pull away. She leaned into my chest, sobbing uncontrollably while between us, the twins fussed, squished by our embrace.
I looked down at them. “Hi,” I whispered to my sons, fresh tears blinding me. “I’m your dad. I’m so sorry it took me so long to find you.”
Emily looked up at me, her face wet with tears. “They need names, Michael,” she whispered. “I... I wouldn't name them without you. I kept waiting. I kept hoping you would figure it out.”
May you like
My heart broke all over again knowing she had held onto hope even when I had given her none. “Leo and Liam,” I said, recalling the names we had picked out years ago when we were just dreaming of a family.
Emily smiled—a real, beautiful, genuine smile. “Leo and Liam,” she agreed. I stood up and gently helped her to her feet. “Let’s go home,” I said.
