Five Years Later

The Blackwood Foundation Gala glittered under a canopy of twinkling lights, the gardens of the restored Blackwood estate alive with laughter and the clink of champagne flutes. At the center of the crowd stood Sophie, her CEO title worn with quiet pride, her arm linked with Claire's. The scars of the past had faded into stories told over wine - stories of survival, sisterhood, and a company reborn not on profit margins, but on philanthropy.

Ethan lingered at the edge of the terrace, his gaze fixed on Aria. She stood near the fountain, their three-year-old daughter, Lila, balanced on her hip. The child's auburn curls glowed in the twilight, her laughter ringing out as she pointed to the fireflies dancing above the water.

"She has your stubbornness," Sophie murmured, appearing beside him with a smirk.

"And Aria's temper," Ethan replied, a smile tugging at his lips. "God help us."

Sophie hesitated, then squeezed his arm. "You did good, big brother."

The words, once unimaginable between them, hung in the air like a benediction.

Aria caught Ethan's eye and nodded toward the orchard, where the old oak tree they'd once carved their initials into stood sentinel. He met her there, the weight of the years softening into something warm and familiar.

"Remember when you threatened to fire me under this tree?" she teased, Lila now asleep in her arms.

"You *wish* I'd fired you," he shot back, brushing a curl from their daughter's forehead. "Would've saved me a lifetime of chaos."

Aria leaned into him, her voice softening. "Admit it. You love the chaos."

He kissed her then, slow and deep, the kind of kiss that carried the weight of burned bridges and second chances. "I love *you*," he corrected.

The sound of clinking glass drew their attention back to the party. Sophie stood on the terrace steps, her voice steady and clear.

"This foundation isn't just about rebuilding companies," she said, her gaze sweeping the crowd. "It's about rebuilding people. Families. Trust." Her eyes found Ethan's. "We've made mistakes. We've hurt each other. But tonight? tonight we celebrate the fact that we're still here. Still fighting. Still *together*."

As applause erupted, Lila stirred in Aria's arms. "Dada," she mumbled, reaching for Ethan.

He took her, his throat tight. Fatherhood had rewritten him, sanded down his edges, taught him the language of gentleness.

Aria laced her fingers with his, watching as Lila's small hand patted his stubbled cheek. "Think we'll ever tell her about the fire?"

Ethan's grip tightened. "When she's older. When she's ready."

"And if she asks why we stayed?"

He turned to her, the ghost of the man he'd once been smiling in his eyes. "We'll tell her that sometimes, the best stories start in the ashes."

---

**Later That Night**

In the quiet of their bedroom, Aria traced the scar on Ethan's shoulder - a relic from the tarmac fight with Alex. "Do you ever miss it? The power? The adrenaline?"

He caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. "I have everything I need right here."

Outside, the first snow of winter began to fall, blanketing the estate in silence. The world beyond these walls would always spin with scandals and secrets, but here, in this room, there was only peace.

And the promise of tomorrow.

FINAL