My Unfaithful Ex Accused Me of Cheating Chapter 07

My Unfaithful Ex Accused Me of Cheating Chapter 07 The Home We Chose

Ian opened the velvet box.

A diamond ring rested inside. The stone was not large, but it had been cut so beautifully that it scattered points of light across the snow.

Looking at how seriously he waited for my answer, I suddenly started crying.

I could not get the words out. All I could do was nod and reach for him.

Julian rose, carefully slid the ring onto my finger, and pulled me into a tight embrace.

His voice caught slightly.

“Thank you, Maya.”

I buried my face against his chest and listened to his strong heartbeat.

For the first time, all the suffering behind me felt like something I had crossed only so I could arrive here- to meet him and finally understand what genuine tenderness felt like,

When we returned to the courtyard, the setting sun was spilling across the gate and staining half the sky red.

Julian led me inside by the hand.

Soup simmered in the kitchen, filling the house with warm steam and a comforting smell.

He wiped the tears from my cheeks and smiled.

“From now on, this is our home.”

I nodded.

Spring reached the lakeside quietly.

New green appeared on the willow branches, and the peach trees burst into bloom.

That was when Julian and I finally returned to Elington.

As our car entered the familiar neighborhood around the Cross family estate, I saw two tiny figures waiting at the gate.

Each child held one of the butler’s hands and stood on tiptoe, peering anxiously down the road.

Our twins.

Emma and Theo.

My parents had cared for them while I recovered. Now, at last, we were bringing them home.

The car had barely stopped when Theo pulled free and shot toward us like a little cannonball.

He grabbed the car door and tipped his face up.

d! Mom!”

Enima came more slowly.

She followed a few steps behind, clutching the edge of her clothes and watching me with wide,/shy eyes.

Julian got out first.

He bent to scoop Theo into his arms, then reached over and gently ruffled Emma’s hair.

“Did you miss Mom and Dad?”

“Yes!” Theo chirped. He threw his arms around Julian’s neck and looked toward me. “Mom, I made a picture for you!”

I opened the car door, crouched, and held my arms out to Emma.

“Come here, sweetheart. Will you let Mom give you a hug?”

Emma hesitated.

Then she slowly shuffled closer and folded herself into my arms, burying her small face against my neck.

“Mom…”

My heart melted.

I held her soft little body tighter, my eyes suddenly burning.

Being away from the children had left me carrying so much guilt.

Now I could finally stay beside them.

No more separation.

Once we were inside, Theo turned into a little chatterbox. He showed us his drawing, proudly displayed the things he had built with blocks, and then dragged Julian away to see his pet turtle.

Emma was much quieter.

She sat neatly on the couch with the stuffed toy I had bought her in her lap.

Every so often, she stole a glance at me. Whenever I caught her, she quickly lowered her head, her ears turning pink.

Julian noticed too.

While the children were occupied, he leaned close and spoke quietly.

“Emma takes after you. She’s sensitive. Spend a little more time with her from now on.”

I nodded and took his hand.

At dinner, Theo sat in his high chair and insisted on feeding himself.

He kept tapping his spoon against his bowl until Julian lightly tapped his forehead in return.

Theo pouted, but finally settled down.

Emma ate in tiny bites.

I put a rib on her plate: She looked up and whispered with shyness, ” Mom.”

Her eyes curved when she smiled.

She looked so much like me that my chest ached in the sweetest way.

That night, getting the twins to sleep was a project of its own.

Theo still had endless energy. He clung to Julian and demanded “The Three Little Pigs” three times before he finally agreed to close his eyes.

Emma lay quietly beside me, holding one of my fingers until her breathing became slow and even.

Afterward, Julian and I sat on the carpet outside their room and listened to the two steady rhythms of their breathing.

We looked at each other and smiled.

Julian pulled me against him and rested his chin on top of my head. He sounded utterly content.

I leaned on his shoulder and watched the moonlight beyond the window.

The next morning, Theo’s laughter woke me.

When I stepped outside, Julian was in the courtyard flying kites with both children.

Theo ran as fast as he could with the string in his hands. Emma stood beside Julian, carefully passing him the spool.

Morning light wrapped around the three of them.

The scene was so warm and ordinary that it almost felt unreal.

I stayed in the doorway for a moment, smiling.

Theo’s kite climbed higher and higher.

He bounced in excitement.

“Dad! Look! My kite’s going all the way into the clouds!”

Julian laughed and steadied him when he nearly tripped.

Then he turned to Emma.

“Want to try? Dad will help you.”

manodded shyly.

Julian crouched beside her and guided her hands, teaching her when to pull the string and when to let it..

out.

The kite wobbled, caught the wind, and rose.

Emma’s eyes lit up.

Tiny dimples appeared in her cheeks.

“It’s flying…”

I went inside to make breakfast.

The smell of fried eggs mixed with warm milk.

I had just put the toast on the table when Theo charged into the kitchen.

“Mom, I’m hungry!”

Emma followed more slowly.

She was still holding a small torn piece of kite paper.

“Mom, the kite string broke a little.”

“It’s okay. Dad can fix it in a minute.”

I stroked her hair, handed her some warm milk, and smiled.

“Breakfast first.”

We gathered around the table.

Theo talked nonstop about kindergarten. The day before, he had helped his teacher put away the blocks and earned a gold star.

Emma occasionally added something in her soft voice, including the very important news that a classmate had given her a piece of candy.

Julian kept putting food on both children’s plates.

He also remembered to refill my warm drink.

He smiled almost the entire meal.

After breakfast, Julian went to repair the kite while I helped the twins straighten up their toys.

Emma lined her stuffed toys up perfectly.

Theo threw his blocks into complete chaos, then insisted that Emma help him build a castle out of them.

I leaned against the doorway and watched.

Suddenly, this ordinary little mess felt more beautiful than any scenery I had ever traveled to see.

That afternoon, the sun was warm, so we took the children to the park for a picnic.

Theo chased butterflies.

Emma crouched in the grass to watch a line of ants busily carrying things back and forth.

Julian spread out the picrfic blanket, opened the cooler, and took out the sliced fruit.

Then he offered me a strawberry.

“Try it. Your favorite.”

I bit into it.

Sweetness spread across my tongue.

When I looked up again, Theo had exhausted himself chasing butterflies and was climbing into Julian’s arms, demanding to be carried.

Emma came over to me and gently tugged at my clothes.

She held out a freshly picked daisy.

“Mom, this is for you.”

I took the flower and pulled her close.

Julian came over with Theo and wrapped an arm around Emma and me as well.

The setting sun stretched our shadows across the grass.

The breeze smelled of flowers and fresh grass.

Our children’s laughter rang clear through the evening air.

I looked up at Julian, smiling.

“Can every day be like this?”

‘He bent down and kissed my forehead.

“Yes. Every day. The four of us, together for the rest of our lives.”