Page 211 of Broken Destiny

Eventually, we moved to the backyard, where lunch had been set up under the warm afternoon sun.

Plates were passed around, drinks were poured, and conversation flowed more easily with each passing minute while laughter drifted across the yard and the children played nearby.

I found myself looking around at the scene, at all of them—my mother, my siblings, Geeta, Caleb, the children—and a deep sense of gratitude filled my heart.

For my biological mother and this extension of family.

For Caleb, standing beside me.

For my children, safe and happy.

For Geeta, who helped me raise the children.

For this second chance at belonging.

In that moment, surrounded by the people I loved, I felt something I had not felt in years.

Home.

EPILOGUE - CALEB AND JIYA

CALEB

Ilooked forward to coming home after work every single day.

My life finally felt full again, in a way I had once convinced myself would never happen. Every dream I had once buried deep inside me had somehow found its way back to the surface.

Jiya, the children, and I were living under the same roof, building a life together, one quiet moment at a time, and every day beside them felt like something I never wanted to take for granted again.

There was only one last thing left to do to make it official.

And I didn’t want to wait any longer.

One afternoon, while Jiya was out grocery shopping with Geeta, I decided it was time.

The second the front door closed behind them, nerves hit me hard.

I called Lucas and Emma into the living room and gently plopped them onto the couch before kneeling in front of them.

“Okay,” Lucas said immediately, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. “Why do you look nervous?”

A laugh escaped me.

“Do I?”

“Yes,” he said firmly.

Emma nodded seriously beside him, clutching Mia against her chest.

I rubbed my palms against my jeans before taking a steady breath.

“I want to ask your Mom something important,” I said carefully. “But before I do, I wanted to ask you guys first.”

Both of them stared at me silently.

“I want to ask Jiya to marry me,” I continued, my voice softer. “How do you guys feel about it?”

Neither of them moved.