Epilogue

Riley

The room is quiet except for the soft breaths of our newborn son. 

He's sitting in the chair next to the bed, cradling Kai in his arms. The sight of him—a man who once made the world tremble—reduced to awe as he looks down at our son makes my heart swell in a way I can't even put into words.

I can't take my eyes off him.

He brushes his thumb gently over Kai's tiny hand, his lips curling into a faint smile when Kai grips his finger. 

"You're strong already," he murmurs, his voice softer than I've ever heard it. "Just like your mother."

I blink back tears, overwhelmed by the moment. This is the man I fell in love with, the man who shattered every wall I put up and built a home around my heart. The man who claimed to be ruthless, yet looks at our son like he's holding the most fragile, precious thing in the world.

"You're a natural," I say quietly, my voice thick with emotion.