Chapter 25
If he could, he wished it were him lying on that operating table instead of her. Yet no matter how strong or influential he was, all he could do was remain outside, waiting, powerless.
Thalia gave birth the following day. The moment Thorne was allowed to see her, he rushed into the room. His eyes, rimmed with red, betrayed the sleepless hours he’d spent in worry. Kneeling by her bedside, he took her hand in his and clutched it tightly. His voice was firm but trembling with emotion. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
She managed a faint smile, her exhaustion evident as her heavy eyelids closed briefly. Later, the baby was named Althea, a symbolic union of her parents, derived from
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a character in both Thalia’s and Thorne’s
names.
The Everleigh family devoted themselves to caring for Althea, ensuring her every need was met, while Thalia was sent to a postpartum recovery center to regain her strength.
Months passed, and once she had fully recovered, Declan, Thorne’s father, offered a suggestion over coffee one morning. “You’re still young, Thorne. Go enjoy life while you can. Take Thalia and explore the world together. Your mother and I are happy to look after the baby for a while.”
Vivienne, cradling little Althea in her arms, brought her over to Thalia. The infant’s delicate features, with her soft, fair complexion, were undeniably the perfect blend of her parents. She was a living
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masterpiece painted with the finest strokes of both Thalia and Thorne’s genes.
Thalia couldn’t suppress the smile that spread across her face. Reaching out, she gently teased the baby, her fingertips brushing against Althea’s tiny hand. To her surprise, Althea opened her mouth as though to bite her. Thalia instinctively drew her hand back, laughter escaping her lips as a shiver ran down her spine.
Vivienne chuckled warmly. “She’s probably just hungry! Look how much she’s grown already.”
Thalia couldn’t help but reminisce. “I still remember when she was just a tiny bundle in the photos–so small, so fragile. It’s amazing how much she’s changed.”
After the playful scare, Thalia refrained from
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teasing Althea again, though she couldn’t take her adoring eyes off her.
Before long, Thorne decided to follow his father’s advice and whisked Thalia away on trips across the country. Whenever they missed Althea, they would call home to see her through a glowing phone screen.
For the next three years, they ventured across the globe, only making brief trips home during the holidays. But their extended absences came with a price–upon their return, Althea barely recognized her own parents. The little girl who had been a part of their hearts now felt like a stranger in their
arms.
When Thalia gently picked her up, Vivienne pinched Althea’s soft cheek and cooed, “Come on, sweetie, say ‘Mommy.”
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Bold and unhesitant, Althea looked up and said, “Mommy, hug.”
The simple word struck Thalia’s heart like an arrow. She pulled Althea close, guilt swelling in her chest. Overwhelmed by emotion, she and Thorne made an unspoken vow to stop their endless wanderings. It was time to stay home, to be present, and to create a true family life.
Later, at a photo studio, the entire family gathered for a portrait. The photographer captured a moment laden with warmth and joy a snapshot of love made tangible. The framed picture soon hung in the Everleigh family’s living room, prominently displayed for all to see.
Thorne’s parents beamed proudly as they admired the photograph hanging on the wall. “Look at how perfect this turned out,” his
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Gjes joj jou owes
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mother said, her voice filled with happiness. Meanwhile, little Althea sat on the floor nearby, stacking colorful building blocks with a look of pure concentration, her light giggles sprinkling the air.
Standing to the side, Thorne reached out, his hand searching for Thalia’s. When their fingers finally intertwined, he pulled her closer and whispered, “Thalia, meeting you was the greatest blessing of my life.”
Her gaze softened as she turned toward him, her lips curving into a gentle smile. “I feel the same,” she replied, her words carrying the weight of her emotions.
In that moment, she couldn’t help but reflect on how far they had come. If she hadn’t taken the chance to go abroad, she might never have met Thorne. Every struggle, every twist of fate, now seemed like a divine plan
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leading her to him. What once felt like a dream was now her blissful reality. Silently, she thanked whatever powers had aligned to bring him into her life.
(The End)
