Page 252 of Before Dawn

“Some things are worth waiting for, and love is always one of them.”

~ Unknown

THREE YEARS LATER

Mikkel and I had done it all.

We traveled the world, exploring places that felt like they belonged to another era, untouched by time. We hiked the jagged peaks of Zhangjiajie in China, stood in awe of the endless salt flats at Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, and wandered through the ancient ruins of Petra. We found serenity on the pristine beaches of the Seychelles and marveled as the sun dipped below the fjords of Norway. Each destination brought us closer together, filling our lives with moments so magical, they hardlyseemed real.

Through it all, Mikkel’s success never wavered. Elite Rides expanded to every corner of the United States, earning him a reputation as one of the most influential businessmen of his time. But, what amazed me most wasn’t his relentless ambition or the empire he built—it was the way he always made me feel like the center of his universe. He balanced his towering responsibilities and our relationship with a precision that left me in awe.

Of course, it wasn’t always easy. There were stressful days, moments when our lives felt like they were being pulled in too many directions at once. But no matter how overwhelming it got, we always found our way back to each other.

For my twenty-fourth birthday, Mikkel flew me to the set whereBeauty and the Beastlive action was filmed. Walking through the castle’s opulent halls, chandeliers glittering like something out of a fairy tale, I felt like I had stepped into the story I’d adored since I was a child. As if that weren’t enough, he took me to Disney World for a week, where we indulged in everyBeauty and the Beastexperience, from dining in the Beast’s castle to seeing the characters come to life.

It was a dream brought to life, and Mikkel, ever the romantic, said he wanted me to feel like the princess I’d always deserved to be.

As if the West Wing he’d built for me back home didn’t do that every single day.

Becoming an independent realtor turned out to be one of the best decisions I’d ever made. After finishing my apprenticeship, I set out on my own, working from home and building an impressive clientele, some of whom I could hardly believe had chosen me. The road wasn’t always smooth. There were setbacks that knocked me down and lessons I had to learn quickly. But the victories? I owned every single one of them.

Even with all this success, there was an emptiness inside me, one that nothing seemed to fill. Not the accolades, not the financial stability. When the world settled at the end of the day, I was still a woman facing battles no one else could see. No one except Mikkel.

We’ve tried so many times, hoping this time would be different. But each time, it’s the same story—a painful cycle of failure. Twice, I got pregnant, only to lose the baby. It’s become a cruel pattern of hope and heartbreak, leaving me exhausted and aching in ways I never imagined.

The first time, we weren’t even trying. When I saw the word “PREGNANT” appear on the test, a wave of pure, unfiltered joy washed over me. I wasn’t scared—shocked, yes—but deep down, I knew I could handle this. And I was certain the man I was about to share this journey with was nothing short of incredible. But then, five weeks later, that joy was ripped away from me in the cruelest way. I woke up in a pool of blood, and panic set in as we rushed to the doctor. The news that followed shattered me—shattered us. I had lost our baby.

I hated myself more than I thought possible. I felt like I had failed—like my body had betrayed us,our future.But no matter how much sadness Mikkel felt, he never let me feel anything less than his unwavering love. If anything, it grew stronger, as if he were trying to piece together the fragments of my broken heart.

With each failed attempt at conception and the agony of a second miscarriage, I felt myself breaking apart, my hope crumbling into despair. I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms as I fought to hold it together. I had learned to hide the tears, to bury the anguish threatening to consume me. But deep down, the pain never left—it festered, gnawing at my resolve.

I kept my appointments with Dr. Sang frequent, visited countless fertility clinics, endured endless supplements and injections. Mikkel spent thousands on the best reproductive endocrinologists worldwide, but nothing worked. Nothing eased the pain.

Mikkel had given me a life I never imagined, a love that could withstand anything. But I couldn’t give him the one thing I knew he wanted—a child. I saw the pain in his eyes after our second loss, in every negative test. Still, he never blamed me. He held me, telling me it wasn’t my fault, that we would get through this together.

My phone rang, displaying Azzaria’s name, and I hesitated before answering. “Hey!”

“Abi!” Azzaria’s voice was bright and cheerful. “The twins have been asking about you nonstop. They miss their Aunty Abi. They’re begging to talk to you.”

I forced a smile, even though she couldn’t see it. “I miss them too.”

Before I could say anything else, I heard the excited voices of her and Dillon’s two year old twins in the background. “Aunty Abi! Aunty Abi!” they called out, their little voices full of joy.

A real smile finally tugged at my lips. “Hey, my loves! How are you two doing?”

“We miss you!” Catalina chirped. “When you comin’ to pway wif us?”

My heart ached at their innocent question. “Soon, I promise. We’ll have lots of fun when I see you.”

“Pwomise?” Caiden asked, his voice hopeful.

“Promise,” I responded, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “You two be good for your Mommy and Daddy, okay? And I’ll bring you something special when I come.”

They giggled, and I could hear Azzaria in the background, trying to calm them down. “Alright, say bye to Aunty, so she can get some rest.”

“Bye, Aunty! We wuv you!” they shouted together, their sweet, slurred words filling me with warmth and longing.

“I love you both too,” I whispered, holding onto that feeling as the call ended.

---