Chapter 9 - The Double Birthday
Seven months later.
The grand dining room of the Tuscan villa was decorated with dozens of gold and silver balloons, colorful streamers, and a massive three-tiered chocolate cake resting in the center of the table.
It was the twins' seventh birthday—their first official birthday celebrated together as a complete, unbroken family.
Guests had arrived from all over the world.
Detective Sarah Miller and Dr. Nathan Bennett had flown in from the United States—having become close friends with Mary and Alexander through their joint work on child protection initiatives. Daniel Park sat near the garden doors, happily chatting with Elena, while several local Italian families who lived in the surrounding village brought their children to join the celebration.
The room echoed with joyful music, clinking glasses, and the happy chatter of children playing games on the lawn outside.
Alexander stood near the head of the table, wearing a sleek black tuxedo, holding a glass of champagne. Mary stood beside him, radiant in an emerald green gown that accentuated her warm skin and shining dark eyes.
"May I have everyone's attention, please?" Alexander said, his deep, commanding voice effortlessly cutting through the room's noise.
The guests turned toward him, quiet settling over the room as everyone smiled at the handsome couple standing at the head of the table.
Alexander looked down at Kieran and Kyla, who were sitting at the front of the table wearing silver party hats, their small faces covered in smudges of chocolate frosting.
"Seven years ago," Alexander began, his voice filled with deep, resonant emotion, "a tragic darkness tried to steal my family away from me. I lived in a world without light, believing that love was a weakness and that power was the only thing that mattered."
He looked at Mary, his dark eyes shining with adoration.
"Then, six months ago, at a quiet gala in Seoul, a little boy walked up to a little girl and said four simple words: 'We look identical.'"
The guests chuckled warmly.
"That little boy didn't just find his sister that night," Alexander continued softly. "He broke through five years of lies, brought his mother back into my life, and saved my soul. Today, as we celebrate Kieran and Kyla's seventh birthday, I stand before you not as a leader of an empire, but as the luckiest father and husband in the world."
Alexander raised his glass high. "To Kieran and Kyla—the two halves of my heart. And to Mary—the woman who taught me how to live again."
"To the Han family!" the guests shouted in unison, raising their glasses, the room erupting into applause and cheers.
Kieran stood up on his chair, raising his glass of orange juice. "And to Daddy! The best bad-guy-beater in the world!"
Laughter roared through the dining room. Alexander stepped forward, leaning over to kiss both Kieran and Kyla on their foreheads, before pulling Mary into his arms and kissing her deeply under the golden light of the chandeliers.
As the guests moved out into the garden for the evening fireworks display, Alexander reached into his tuxedo pocket and pulled out a small, velvet jewelry box.
He took Mary's hand, leading her out to the secluded stone balcony overlooking the quiet olive groves under the starry sky.
"What is this, Alexander?" Mary asked softly, looking down at the box in his hand.
Alexander sank down onto one knee on the cool stone floor, looking up at her with pure, devotion.
"Five years ago, I didn't get to give you the wedding you deserved," Alexander whispered, opening the velvet box to reveal a breathtaking ring featuring a flawless pink diamond flanked by two smaller blue diamonds—representing her, Kieran, and Kyla.
"Mary Vance," Alexander said, his voice trembling with love. "Will you do me the honor of marrying me again? This time, in front of our children, under the open sky, as a complete family?"
May you like
Tears of pure, overwhelming happiness overflowed from Mary's eyes. She dropped to her knees in front of him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
"Yes," Mary sobbed softly against his chest. "A thousand times yes, Alexander."
