Page 200 of Broken Destiny

My heart skipped, curiosity and hope rising together.

I nodded.

Fear flickered in Jiya’s eyes even before she spoke. She swallowed hard, her fingers twisting together nervously.

“Would you like to meet our daughter?” she asked softly.

Emotion slammed into me so fast it almost stole my breath.

A slow smile spread across my face despite the tightness burning in my chest.

“You mean the little girl who hates cauliflower,” I said gently, “and sleeps with one arm over her ear like her father?”

Her mouth fell open, her eyes widening.

“You know?”

“I found out a couple of hours ago,” I admitted quietly.

The truth had shaken me to my core when I first read it, but now all I felt was overwhelming love.

Love for Emma.

Love for Jiya.

Love for the family I almost lost before I even realized it was mine.

Tears filled Jiya’s eyes again.

“I’m sorry I kept her away from you,” she whispered, lowering her gaze.

“Please forgive me.”

The pain in her voice pierced straight through me.

I lifted her chin gently until she looked back at me.

“I understand why you did what you did,” I said softly, holding her gaze. “Only forgiveness will heal everything. Forgive me… and I’ll forgive you.”

Silence wrapped around us softly beneath the night sky.

Then her lips curved into a small smile.

“You got yourself a deal, Mister.”

Relief flooded my chest, loosening something that had been tight inside me for years.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her against mine, holding her close while the familiar warmth of her body settled into me like home.

Leaning closer, I brushed my lips near her ear.

“Now say the words again,” I whispered.

“Which ones?” she asked, feigning innocence, though the playful spark in her eyes betrayed her immediately.

I smiled.

“The ones that make me want to never let you go again.”