Chapter 10 - Forever Mine
The sun climbed higher over the New England hills, casting a golden glow across the pine trees and the quiet valley below.
Life wasn't without its daily challenges—managing a chronic condition always required vigilance, and running a global medical tech company meant long hours and high stakes. But shadows held no power here anymore. The past had been confronted, judged, and buried deep beneath the weight of true accountability and justice.
We spent the afternoon planting a garden on the south side of the cabin—rows of lavender, sweet peas, and bright orange marigolds that attracted hummingbirds from all over the valley.
As I knelt in the rich, dark soil with a pair of gardening gloves on, brushing a strand of hair away from my face, Marcus walked over carrying a watering can. He stopped, looking down at me with a mixture of profound tenderness and amusement.
"You have dirt on your nose," he noted.
"It's called honest work, Agent Vance," I retorted, laughing as I flicked a small clump of soil in his direction.
Marcus chuckled, dropping the watering can and dropping down onto his knees right beside me in the mud, completely unbothered by his clothes. He leaned in, gently wiping the speck of dirt from my nose with his thumb before pressing his lips softly to mine.
The kiss was sweet, grounding, and full of a quiet, unshakable promise.
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We had survived the cold halls of Bellefleur Manor. We had survived the venom of a world that cared more about status than human life. And out of the ashes of that bitter, frozen day, we had built something infinitely warmer, stronger, and more enduring than anything money could ever buy.
As the evening breeze rustled through the apple blossoms overhead, I rested my head against Marcus's shoulder, watching the sun dip below the western horizon in a blaze of amber and gold.
