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Her smile is shaky, and she’s blinking a lot more now.
“Both our daughters will be loved.” She tells her brother in a small voice. “How many more months left until you meet your baby?”
Dario’s smile becomes brighter as he runs his hand through his hair.
“Only two more months, and then my princess will arrive.”
Chiara brings her own daughter closer to her, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek as she looks up at Dario, smiling.
“It’s a beautiful thing; being able to carry your baby in your womb for nine months, then carrying her in your arms all over again. Tamana will know what I mean.”
Her brother releases a shaky breath of laughter, rubbing his knuckle over my granddaughter's cheek.
“And until I’m able to hold my princess in my arms, I’ll spend my time spoiling your daughter. My little Anastasia”
I clear my throat, directing all attention to me.
“Anastasia will be spoiled by all of us, and she will be raised like the princess she is.”
Francesco shakes his head as a chuckle escapes him.
“She already has some of the most dangerous men wrapped around her tiny finger.”
A bubble of laughter leaves Chiara’s mouth.
“As she should, Papa.”
Together, we leave this room to move into one of the main rooms, somewhere with a little more space so we can all catch up, and spend some more time bonding with the new addition to our family.
The room settles.
We all gather around mother and daughter, our hearts soft as we watch over them both.
Francesco rises, moving closer to sit beside her as he wraps a protective arm around Chiara’s shoulders.
I stand back, my gaze sweeping over my two sons, and the man I once considered an enemy.
Dario mutters under his breath, still watching Anastasia like he can’t quite believe that she’s real.
And my sons?
They stand there, their presence protective as they remain close to the two most important women in their lives.
This is everything.
This is family.
This isours.
Epilogue
Chiara
It’s been years since the chaos first entered my life, but in the end, it’s the love that’s made everything fall into place.
The walls of this mansion have never felt more like home.
I step into the nursery, my eyes softening at the sight of my baby asleep in her crib. The light from the window is gentle, casting long shadows across the room, and I watch as my little one shifts slightly in the blankets, a quiet sigh escaping her lips.