Page 72 of Love Under Siege

As the hours pass by, I find myself lost in Jacob's arms, swaying to the soft music in the background. The outside world fades away as all that matters is the man holding me tightly and the future ahead of us.

"Jacob," I whisper softly, resting my head on his shoulder. "I'm so grateful to have you."

"And I am grateful for you," he replies in a soothing tone. "No matter what lies ahead, we will face it together."

We dance the night away, lost in our own little world of happiness. The future may be uncertain, but with Jacob by my side, I feel like we can conquer anything. As we hold each other close, I know that this is just the beginning of our beautiful lifelong journey together.

EPILOGUE

Anya

Two Years Later

The late afternoon sun streamed through the windows of our cozy Colorado home, casting a warm, golden light over the room. I sat on the couch, cradling my swollen belly, feeling the occasional kick of our little one growing inside me. Each flutter reminded me how much my life had changed, how Jacob and I had fought for the peace we now had. The quiet life in Colorado suited us. After everything we’d been through, we’d found our haven.

The front door creaked open, and before I could even look, I heard Lana’s familiar voice. “Anya!” she called out excitedly. Seconds later, she bounded into the living room with her signature energy and a huge grin plastered on her face.

“Hey, mama!” she teased, her eyes immediately falling to my belly.

“Oh my God! What are you doing here?” I exclaim, giving her a hug.

“I thought I’d surprise you” she answers. Then she sit beside me on the couch and places her hand on my stomach. “How’s my favorite little peanut doing today?”

I smiled, placing my hand over hers. “Active,” I laughed. “This one’s going to be a kicker; I just know it.”

Lana’s eyes lit up as she felt a little nudge beneath her palm. “I still can’t believe it,” she whispered, her voice soft and full of wonder. “You’re going to be a mom, Anya.”

“Neither can I,” I admitted, shaking my head slightly. “But here we are.”

She grinned, but I could see something deeper in her eyes, a hint of unease that hadn’t been there before. I knew Lana well enough to sense when something was on her mind. “Okay, spill it,” I said, turning to face her. “What’s going on?”

Lana hesitated for a moment, her fingers tracing gentle circles over my belly before she finally met my gaze. “I’ve made a decision,” she began, her voice a little shaky. “I’m moving to New York.”

I blinked in surprise. “New York?”

She nodded, her smile widening, but there was a bittersweet edge to it. “Yeah, I’m starting my own interior design company. The facility dad sent me to, helped me with getting a degree in it, and I need a fresh start.”

Her words hit me like a wave. On one hand, I was thrilled for her—Lana had always been so passionate about interior design, and New York was the perfect place to build her business. But on the other hand, the thought of her leaving and starting a new life all on her own worries me but I have to remember that she needs this.

So, I put on a brave face, “Lana, that’s incredible!” I said, reaching out to pull her into a hug. “I’m so proud of you! But New York?” I asked again, my voice softer this time.

“I know,” she whispered, her voice catching slightly. “But I can’t stay in New Jersey anymore. Everywhere I look, I see reminders of what we went through. It’s time for me to move on, to build something new for myself. And besides,” she added, forcing a smile, “it’s not like we won’t see each other. I’ll visit all the time, and you can come to New York. It’s not like I’m disappearing.”

I pulled back, blinking away the tears that threatened to fall. “I get it, Lana,” I said, squeezing her hand. “You deserve this, and you deserve to be happy.”

She nodded, her own eyes glistening. “You do too, Anya. We’ve been through hell but look at you. You’ve got a beautiful life now, and soon you’ll have a little one. You and Jacob are building something real, something good.”

“Thanks, Lana,” I whispered, my heart swelling with emotion. “But we’ll miss you. You’ve been my rock through everything.”

“You’ll always be my best friend,” she replied with a tearful smile. “Nothing will change that.”

Just then, the back door opened, and Jacob walked in, wiping his hands on a rag. He saw the two of us sitting together and smiled warmly. “What’s going on in here?” he asked, making his way over.

“Lana’s moving to New York,” I said, glancing at her with a smile.

Jacob’s eyebrows shot up. “New York, huh?”

Lana grinned. “Yeah. It’s time. I need to do my own thing, on my own terms.”

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