Chapter 7 - The Shadows of the Past
The news of Julian Brennan’s arrest sent shockwaves through the financial world.
By four o'clock that afternoon, Brennan Health stock had bounced back, surging twenty-two percent as investors realized Garrett had completely purged the corrupt elements of his company and secured the multi-million dollar expansion.
Back at the Beacon Hill estate, the reporters had vanished, cleared out by court orders and private security teams.
The snow was falling heavily outside, painting the gardens in a thick layer of white.
In the warmth of the estate’s grand library, a massive log fire crackled in the hearth.
Paige sat on a deep leather sofa, wrapped in a soft cashmere blanket, sipping tea. Oliver was fast asleep on a rug near the fire, snoring softly, his gray rabbit tucked under his arm.
The double doors opened, and Garrett walked in.
He looked exhausted, his tie loosened at his collar, his jacket draped over his arm. But when his eyes landed on Paige and Oliver by the fire, the tension melted from his posture.
He walked over, dropping onto his knees beside the sofa, resting his head against Paige’s lap.
Paige smiled softly, reaching out her fingers to comb gently through his thick, dark hair. "I saw the news, Garrett. You did it."
"It’s over," Garrett murmured, closing his eyes, enjoying the soft warmth of her touch. "Julian is in a federal holding cell. He won't get bail. The company is secure."
"And us?" Paige asked softly.
Garrett opened his eyes, turning his head to look up at her. "There is no 'us' until I fix what I broke, Paige."
He sat up, pulling a small velvet box from his pocket.
Paige’s heart stopped. "Garrett..."
"No," Garrett said quickly, opening the box. "It’s not an engagement ring. I haven't earned the right to ask you that yet."
Inside the box lay a delicate gold necklace bearing a small, diamond-encrusted pendant shaped like an olive branch.
"This was my mother’s," Garrett said softly, taking the necklace out. "Before she died, she told me that the most important thing a man can do is protect the peace of his home. I forgot that for four years, Paige. I let greed and paranoia destroy my peace."
He leaned closer, unclasping the necklace, his hands warm as he reached around her neck to fasten the delicate chain.
"I want to earn you back, Paige," Garrett whispered, his face inches from hers. "Not with my money, not with houses or security guards. I want to earn your trust. I want to court you. I want to show you the man I can be when I’m not hiding behind my wealth."
Tears filled Paige’s eyes. She reached up, touching the golden olive branch resting against her collarbone.
"You don't have to earn anything, Garrett," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You saved our son on that plane. You held him when the thunder came. You built a room for him before you even knew he existed."
She leaned forward, closing the distance between them, and pressed her lips against his.
The kiss was slow, deep, filled with four years of buried longing, forgotten pain, and an explosive, overwhelming love that had never truly died.
Garrett wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest, kissing her as if she were the air he needed to breathe.
When they finally separated, both gasping for breath, Garrett rested his forehead against hers, his eyes dark with devotion.
"I love you, Paige," he whispered. "I never stopped."
"I love you too, Garrett," she breathed back.
Behind them, a tiny voice piped up from the rug.
"Mama? Daddy? Why are you squishing each other?"
Garrett and Paige broke into quiet laughter, turning to see Oliver sitting up, rubbing his eyes, looking thoroughly confused.
May you like
Garrett reached out, scooping his son into his arms, pulling both Paige and Oliver into a tight, warm hug in front of the roaring fire.
"We’re squishing because we’re a family, Ollie," Garrett whispered into his son’s hair. "And families stay together."
