The fight was finished. Gabby was gone. The shadows that had plagued Ariella for so long were finally lifted.
But peace felt unfamiliar.
For years, Ariella had been in a constant battle for survival. Now, she stood at a new beginning, with open roads and endless opportunities in front of her.
She just needed to decide how to use them.
The house was still as Ariella stood in the nursery, her fingers gliding over the soft fabric of a tiny onesie.
She considered how well the pregnancy had progressed over the past few months. Despite her constant back-and-forth battle with Gabby, she had not recorded any strange illness, fatigue or hormonal issues. It's been a smooth ride all along.
She couldn't help but wonder how the turn of events within the last six months didn't affect her health or that of her unborn child.
Any day now.
Her son would arrive.
The mere thought of finally meeting him filled her with warmth, a mix of excitement and anxiety. Would she be a good mother? Would she know how to love when she had never truly been loved?
"You're overthinking it."
Leo's voice pulled her from her thoughts, and she turned to see him leaning in the doorway, arms crossed, a playful smile on his face.
Ariella let out a light laugh. "Can you tell?"
Leo walked over, wrapping his arms around her from behind and resting his hands gently on her belly. "I can always tell."
Ariella leaned back into him, closing her eyes. "It still doesn't feel real."
Leo kissed her temple. "It is real, Ariella. You're going to be an amazing mother."
Ariella smiled gently. "What if I make mistakes, seeing that it will be my first time being a mother?"
Leo laughed softly. "Then we'll learn together. Don't forget I'll also become a father for the first time"
She turned to look into his eyes. "Are you happy?"
Leo held her face, his gaze filled with a deep honesty that made her heart swell. "Happier than ever."
Ariella felt a lump in her throat. "Me too."
Leo leaned down, capturing her lips in a slow, deep kiss. A kiss that felt like a fresh start.
A kiss that promised forever.
Later that evening, as the sun set, a knock at the door broke the silence.
Ariella and Leo looked at each other.
"Are we expecting anyone?" Ariella asked, a frown on her face.
Leo shook his head. "No."
Ariella felt a knot in her stomach. After everything they had faced, uninvited guests always made her uneasy.
Leo put a hand on her shoulder. "Stay here."
She nodded, watching him approach the door.
Leo opened it, his body tense.
A man stood on the porch. He was tall, with gray hair and sharp, assessing eyes. Dressed in a fancy suit, he exuded authority.
Ariella's heart raced.
She recognized him.
Leo's father.
The man who had caused their separation during his childhood. The one who had controlled Leo's life for so long.
Leo's face was unreadable. "What are you doing here?"
His father took a breath. "I came to talk."
Leo's jaw tightened. "We have nothing to discuss."
The older man glanced at Ariella, who stood behind Leo. "You must be Ariella."
Ariella raised her chin. "And you're the man who thought he could dictate Leo's life."
Leo's father chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're just as I imagined."
Leo stepped in front of Ariella protectively. "You need to go."
His father's expression darkened. "Not until I say what I came to say."
Leo's body was tense, but after a moment, he exhaled sharply. "Fine. Say it and leave."
The older man's demeanor changed—less cold, more… strategic.
"I made mistakes," he said, his voice steady. "Big ones."
Ariella frowned, surprised by his admission.
Leo's lips twisted in disbelief. "Mistakes? You call tearing me away from the woman I loved and forcing me into a life I didn't want mistakes?"
His father met his gaze firmly. "Yes."
A thick silence hung between them.
Ariella crossed her arms. "Why are you really here?"
His father's eyes shifted. "I realize now that I was wrong. And whether you accept it or not, I am still your family."
Leo scoffed. "You stopped being my family a long time ago."
His father's face grew stern. "I didn't come here to ask for forgiveness." He took a breath. "But I need to make one thing clear."
Leo glared. "What is it?"
His father's gaze moved to Ariella's belly.
"That baby you're expecting?" He breathed out. "I won't interfere in his life. I won't repeat the mistakes I made with you."
Leo felt a lump in his throat.
His father stepped back, giving a slight nod. "That's all I wanted to say."
Then, without waiting for a reply, he turned and left.
Leo and Ariella watched him disappear, the heaviness of the moment lingering.
Ariella looked at Leo. "Are you alright?"
Leo breathed out slowly, his jaw clenched. "I'm not sure."
She took his hand. "You don't owe him anything."
Leo nodded, but his eyes showed inner turmoil.
Ariella squeezed his hand. "I may not understand his motives or the reason why he chose to show now but no matter what, we move forward. Together."
Leo's expression softened. "Yeah."
And just like that, his father was gone.
But the past?
The past never fades away so easily.
That night, Ariella lay in bed, her hand on her belly as she looked up at the ceiling.
Leo was asleep next to her, but her thoughts were racing.
Even with the shadows of the past still around, she felt a sense of hope.
For the first time in a long while, the future didn't seem scary.
It felt like something she could finally welcome.
She turned to see Leo sleeping beside her, his breathing steady and his face relaxed.
And she understood.
No matter what happened next, they would face it together.
Because this? This was their forever.