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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: FOREVER HOME

STACEY

I look like absolute shit. Sitting on the edge of my bed, staring in the full-length mirror in my room, I can hardly recognize myself. I look haggard, with dark circles under my eyes and hardly any color in my face. It makes sense, since I haven’t been able to sleep. I’m too heartbroken and too stressed. A million things are running through my mind, the most important being how the hell I’m going to tell Millie her father won’t be around anymore.

Suddenly, my phone buzzes on the nightstand. The faint light from the screen barely cuts through the morning gloom. With a groan, I grab it, expecting some mundane work message or maybe check-in text from Grace. To my surprise, it’s from an unknown number.

The text is short, just a link and a short sentence:

Elise: Hey, this is Elise, read this article.

Elise? How did she get my number? Curiosity burns through me, dissipating the fog of sleep. I tap the link, and the headline hits me like a punch to the chest:

Weston Stepson Calls Off Engagement, Declares Love for Long-Lost Family in Emotional Statement.

My breath catches, and I sit up straight, clutching the phone until my fingers ache. Beneath the headline is a picture of Owen. His expression is neutral and he’s staring straight down the barrel of the camera, looking almost defiant.

I scroll, the words jumping out at me:

Owen Scott, stepson of Gerald Weston, announced today that his engagement to Elise Richardson has been officially called off. In a heartfelt statement, Scott revealed he has a family in the United States — a woman he calls ‘the love of his life’ and a young daughter. ‘I’ve wasted too much time already,’ Scott said. ‘And I refuse to waste any more.’ Scott confirmed he is moving to the States permanently to be with them.

The phone trembles in my hand. I read it again, slower this time, letting the words sink in. My throat tightens as the realization hits me. Owen did this. Publicly. For me. For Millie.

I barely have time to process before my phone buzzes again. Another text from Elise.

Elise: Call me.

I waste no time. The phone rings twice before Elise answers, her voice soft but steady.

“Hi, Stacey,” she says.

“Why?” I blurt out, my voice cracking. “Why would he do this? Why now?”

Elise sighs. “Because it was the only way to ensure you and Millie were safe.”

I blink, confused. “Safe? From what?”

“Gerald.” She doesn’t hesitate. “Owen knew Gerald would try to control him, maybe even you and Millie, if he thought he still could. Going public like this? Declaring his family for the world to see? It cuts Gerald off at the knees. He can’t threaten you without risking his reputation… and believe me, Owen made sure of that.”

My chest tightens, my thoughts swirling. “But…but why would he do this and risk hurting his mother so publicly?”

Elise’s voice softens. “Mrs. Weston — Margaret — helped too. She talked to Gerald’s siblings to make sure they’re watching him like hawks. They know the whole story of what he did to you and Owen now, every detail. Gerald’s family is furious, especially his two older brothers that control the majority shares to everything under the Weston umbrella. And, after Owen’s public statement, Gerald can’t touch any of you without it blowing up in his face. Even my parents are more than willing to let the engagement drop now. They don’t want to get wrapped up in Gerald’s drama.”

The room feels too small, too bright, too everything. “He… he did all this… for me?”

“Yes.” Elise states firmly. “He’s done with Gerald’s games, Stacey. Forever.”

My hands shake as I lower the phone, staring at the article still open on the screen. The love of his life. His family. He’s moving here permanently — for us.

Elise’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Because of Owen, I finally found the courage to tell my family the truth.”

“You did?” I gasp. “How was it? Are you okay?”

She laughs softly. “They weren’t thrilled, but it wasn’t quite the world-ending reaction I was expecting. My parents are… trying, but Rebecca and I don’t have to hide anymore, and that’s what matters most.”

“Oh, I’m so happy for you, Elise,” I say, relief washing through me.

There’s a pause on her end before she says, “You should talk to him, Stacey. He’ll be back soon.”

A sudden knock on the door makes me jump. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and my chest tightens as I stand. Could it be…? No way, that’s too soon. But maybe?

“Elise, thank you,” I hurriedly say as I make my way to the front door. “I have to go, but I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Call me anytime, Stacey.”

I hang up and shove my phone in my pocket just as I reach the door. My heart is racing as I pull it open and I find Owen standing on my porch. His hair is mussed like he’s been running his hands through it nonstop, and the dark circles under his blue eyes match my own.

“Stacey,” he says softly, his voice low and raspy.

I don’t know what to say, so I just stand there, gripping the edge of the door.

“Can I come in?” he asks.

I nod, stepping aside, for him to enter..

He turns to me, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets.

“I’m sorry,” he says, and the rawness in his voice makes my chest ache. “I’m sorry for everything—for not telling you about the engagement, for not explaining sooner, for leaving you without an explanation again. For not being brave enough to stand up to Gerald sooner.”

I swallow hard. “I… I saw the article. You said you were choosing me and Millie. Is that true?”

He exhales shakily, pulling something from his pocket. A folded piece of paper.

“Stace, that’s been true from the beginning…we were both manipulated into thinking otherwise.”

He holds the paper out to me.

“What is this?” I ask, hesitating to take it.

“It’s the letter I wrote for you. The real one.”

My stomach twists and I feel a rush of anxiety as I slowly reach out and take it. My fingers tremble as I unfold it. The handwriting is his, there’s no doubt. My breath catches as I start to read.

Stacey,

I don’t know how to write this, because every word feels wrong. Nothing about this is right. I’ve gone to Canada with my mom and new stepfather, Gerald. I swear to you, I didn’t want to go, especially without saying goodbye, but Gerald didn’t give me a choice. I want you to know that I love you. I’ve always loved you and I will always love you. From the moment we met, it was you—your smile, your laugh, the way you see the world. You’ve been my light in every dark moment, and I don’t know how to live without you.

This is selfish of me, I know, but please wait for me. I will come back for you. Our future together matters more to me than all the money and prestige Gerald can offer me. I want to marry you one day, Stacey. I want to have babies with you and do the whole white picket fence thing. We’ll have girls as pretty as you and boys as stubborn as me. We’ll have a yard and a dog, and I’ll teach the kids to skate and you’ll make them into smart little badasses. There is no other girl I want to build my life with. Once I’m able to break free from this situation, I’ll come back to the States and we’ll be together again. I promise.

I love you, and I will always love you. I will talk to you soon.

- Owen

P.S., Gerald took my phone and forced me to get a new one with a new number. I tried calling, but your phone wasn’t working, so my new number is 555-3535.

By the time I reach the end, my vision blurs with tears. I clutch the letter to my chest, looking up at him. This letter is so completely different from the one I actually received. That one was cruel and cold, but this one is filled with all the love and hope I would’ve expected from him back then.

“Owen… why didn’t I get this letter?”

“Gerald,” he says bitterly, his jaw tightening. “He replaced it with that other bullshit. I never knew until Elise found the one you actually got outside my apartment and I realized just how far he was willing to go to control me. When I confronted him, he gave this one back to me.”

I can’t breathe, can’t think. I’m overwhelmed with so many emotions, I don’t know what to feel. All this time, we both believed the other had just abandoned our relationship, but we were being played like pawns.

“Say something,” he pleads, his voice breaking.

I take a shaky step toward him, holding the letter to my chest as tears fill my eyes.

“I loved you, Owen. I waited for you, and you never came back. I was so angry with you… I thought the worst of you. I’m so sorry I didn’t believe in you…”

“Don’t apologize,” he whispers, raising his hand to cup the side of my face. “You have nothing to apologize for. None of this is your fault, and I’m the one who’s sorry this happened. I should’ve tried harder to find you. I shouldn’t have given up when you didn’t reply to the letter and changed your phone number. I should have found you and told you in person that I loved you and wanted to still be with you. That hasn’t changed, Stace. I love you with all my heart, and I want to be with you and Millie. You’re my family. My real family, and I’m never leaving you again.”

I hesitate a moment, the truth of everything finally setting in., “I need you to promise me that you won’t keep me in the dark about things anymore. When I found out that you went to Canada again without a word…”

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he quickly says. “I’m sorry. I was just so desperate to show you the truth instead of just try to convince you of it. I swear to you that it won’t ever happen again. I will never keep things hidden from you again.”

“And Elise? Why did you send her instead of talking to me yourself?”

He looks a bit sheepish as he answers, “I thought it would be good for you to have some…girl-on-girl support.”

That makes me laugh.

“All right,” I say, smiling. “I forgive you…but you will never do something like that again.”

“I promise. There will be nothing but total honesty between us from now on.”

At that, the dam inside me breaks, and I throw myself into his arms, clutching him tight as I sob against his chest. Everything, all the hurt, confusion, and sadness I’ve felt over the years melts away and is replaced by absolute joy and relief.

“It’s always been us,” I whisper against his chest.

“Always,” he murmurs, holding me tighter. “And it always will be.”

The sound of small footsteps shuffling down the hallway makes me freeze in Owen’s arms. I pull back just in time to see Millie appear, rubbing her eyes, her hair a wild tangle. She’s been in bed asleep, and is wearing her pajamas and slippers.

“Mommy?” she says, her voice thick with sleep. “Why are you crying? Did Daddy do something bad?”

I laugh, swiping at my cheeks. “No, baby. These are happy tears.”

Her head tilts to the side as she processes this, her little face scrunching in thought. “Happy tears? Why?”

I look at Owen with a soft laugh before answering, “Because Daddy’s moving in, sweetheart. We’re going to be a family and you’ll never be without him again.”

Owen stares at me, wide-eyed and clearly shocked. But he looks shocked in a good way. A very, very good way.

Millie’s eyes light up, and she claps her hands. “Really? You’re staying forever, Daddy?”

“Forever,” Owen promises, sounding choked up with emotion.

Millie throws her arms around his neck, and he scoops her up, holding her close. I can’t help but smile as I watch them, my heart swelling so full it feels like it might burst.

But then Millie leans back, her little brow furrowed in a way that looks so much like Owen, it’s uncanny.

“Hmm,” she says thoughtfully, tapping her chin with one little finger.

“What’s that face for?” Owen asks, grinning.

“Well…” Millie starts, her tone so serious I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. “Maybe we should get a bigger house first.”

Owen raises an eyebrow, playing along. “Oh? And why’s that?”

Millie nods like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “For my brothers and sisters, of course.”

I gasp, my mouth dropping open. “Millie!”

Owen just throws his head back and laughs, the sound deep and genuine.

“I like the way you think,” he says, ruffling her hair.

Millie beams, clearly pleased with herself, while I stand there, torn between laughter and sheer disbelief.

“Don’t encourage her,” I mutter, though I can’t hide the smile tugging at my lips.

Owen looks at me over Millie’s shoulder, his eyes warm and full of something that makes my knees weak. “Why not? She’s got great ideas.”

I shake my head, but my heart feels lighter than it has in years. This — this moment right here — is everything I’ve ever wanted. It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of. A family, a future… with Owen. In the end, we were always meant to be together, and no one and nothing can keep us apart.