Chapter 10 - The New Year's Light
One year later.
It was eleven forty-three p.m. on New Year’s Eve.
The grand penthouse overlooking Central Park was quiet, filled with the warm, amber glow of a crackling fireplace and strings of soft white fairy lights wrapped around the pine garland along the terrace.
Downstairs in the nursery, two-and-a-half-year-old Julian and Ivy were fast asleep in their twin beds, clutching their favorite plush toys after an evening of drinking warm milk and listening to bedtime stories.
Miles stood by the floor-to-ceiling glass window, wearing a comfortable cashmere sweater, a glass of champagne in his hand.
Claire walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her head against his back.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked softly.
Miles looked down at the street thirty floors below. He could see Fifth Avenue stretched out like a ribbon of light, cars hissing through the light snow, people walking beneath the holiday displays, counting down the final minutes of the year.
"I’m thinking about eleven forty-three p.m. two years ago," Miles said, turning in her arms and pulling her close. "I was walking away from a party, miserable, empty, and wondering why none of my achievements mattered."
"And then?" Claire smiled, looking up at him.
"And then I stepped off the curb, looked across the freezing street, and found everything I had ever been searching for," Miles whispered.
Outside, the midnight chimes began to ring across New York City. Fireworks exploded in brilliant bursts of gold, crimson, and green over Central Park, reflecting in the high glass windows of their home.
Miles leaned down and kissed his wife—a deep, slow, peaceful kiss filled with the promise of a lifetime of Sundays.
"Happy New Year, Claire," Miles murmured against her lips.
"Happy New Year, my love," Claire replied softly.
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Across the hall, in the quiet, warm nursery, Julian let out a soft sleep-sigh, while Ivy snuggled deeper under her quilt.
The billionaire had walked away from his empire, but tonight, standing in the warm light of his home, holding the woman he loved, Miles Harrington knew he was finally the richest man in the world.
