CEO Single Dad Falls For Her, Never Expected She’d Love His Kids Like Her Own
Chapter 9
The wedding never happened quickly.
Ethan refused to rush.
Ava wanted time.
The children needed time.
So they built a life before they built a ceremony.
They moved slowly.
Saturday breakfasts.
School concerts.
Family movie nights.
Trips to the beach.
Arguments over homework.
Lily’s lost shoes.
Noah’s baseball tournaments.
Ethan’s endless meetings.
Ava’s evening classes.
They learned each other’s habits.
Ethan discovered Ava hated expensive restaurants.
Ava discovered Ethan secretly loved old movies.
Noah discovered Ethan couldn’t dance.
Lily discovered Ava could make pancakes shaped like stars.
The house changed.
Photographs appeared on the walls.
Not just Ethan and Claire.
Not just the children.
New photographs.
All four of them.
But one photograph remained untouched.
Claire holding newborn Lily.
Ava never moved it.
One evening, Ethan asked why.
Ava said:
“Because she belongs here too.”
He kissed her forehead.
“You know you’re impossible?”
“Yes.”
“I love that.”
“I know.”
Months later, Ethan proposed.
Not at a luxury resort.
Not in front of cameras.
He proposed in the kitchen.
Lily was making cookies.
Noah was doing homework.
Ava was covered in flour.
Ethan walked in.
“Will you marry me?”
Ava froze.
Noah looked up.
Lily gasped.
“You’re supposed to kneel!” she shouted.
Ethan laughed.
He dropped to one knee.
Ava covered her mouth.
“Now?”
“Now.”
He held out the ring.
“I love you.”
Ava cried.
Then she looked at the children.
“They’re part of the answer.”
Ethan nodded.
“I know.”
She smiled.
“Yes.”
Lily screamed.
Noah cheered.
And the cookies burned in the oven.
Nobody cared.
