ETHAN'S POV
Ava walked to the kitchen island and took the bottle from my hand. "Thank you. For yesterday. For everything."
I leaned against the counter, watching her cradle Zariah. "You're thanking me for the bare minimum, Ava."
She smiled faintly. "Maybe. But I see you trying. That counts for more than you think."
I didn't deserve her grace, and yet, she gave it to me in quiet gestures like this.
"I want more mornings like this," I said after a pause. "No more secrets. No more emotional distance. Just… us."
Ava looked up, thoughtful. "Can you handle it, Ethan? The slow days? The quiet kind of love?"
I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around her and Zariah. "I'll learn. For you both, I'll learn."
---
Later that morning, we had breakfast outside on the terrace, just the three of us.
Rosalind had gone to church early, giving us space. Victor had left after the ceremony, but not without leaving a discreet security detail behind, just in case.
