Page 92 of Power

Leon was by my side.

Our days unfurled like a gentle stream, flowing effortlessly as we navigated life together. Each shared glance deepened our connection, weaving intimacy into a beautiful tapestry of love, each thread spun from raw passion and the softest whispers that lingered between us.

Somehow, we managed to find a balance that left both of us physically and emotionally satisfied.

Leon was an amazing person, a fantastic lover, and most importantly, he had become a great friend to me. He was precisely what I needed in my life. Selecting him as my husband was the perfect decision.

I shuddered at the thought that I had even considered Dominic Lucianos as a possibility. After Dominic had rudelyinterrupted our wedding, his brother reached out. He tried to make amends for his brother’s rogue behavior, insisting they were already trying to oust him from the family before I’d killed him.

I accepted their apology, but I did not extend my hand any further. I wanted nothing to do with any of them. His brother was much more intelligent because he didn’t press the matter any further, keeping his distance from me and my family.

I reached down and petted Leo’s head as she lay at my side. My sisters had their babies, and I had my loyal dog. She was just what I needed right now, and Leon too. But soon, there would be one more addition, which was why I was staring so adoringly at my sisters this morning.

My hand fell on my lower abdomen, a soft, dreamy smile spreading across my face as I considered just how perfect my life had turned out to be.

CJ dashed across the terrace once more, with Laya in pursuit. The moment she retrieved him and set him down, he beamed at her, releasing an adorable giggle.

“CJ!” Laya exclaimed with joy.

Avra clapped her hands and shouted, “Oh my God.”

“Yes, CJ!” I cheered. “Go! Walk!”

He let go of Laya’s hands and did just that, taking three more steps before he fell on his butt. He looked back at us, surprised by what he’d accomplished.

The three of us jumped to our feet, clapping and cheering. Laya rushed over to him, picked him up, and spun him around. Tears rolled down her face.

“Oh, you look so happy!” I said, going over and gathering them both in a big hug.

“I’m crying because my job has just gotten much harder!” CJ wiggled and squirmed in Laya’s arms, but she held onto him. “How am I ever going to be able to keep up with him now?”

“Uhh. I just realized I’m next.” Avra put Juno into the baby carriage next to her.

“Yes, you are,” Laya replied, giving her a pointed look. “And I’m going to laugh at you, just as you’ve done to me this whole time!”

“Hey, it was good-natured,” Avra protested.

I pulled away from Laya and CJ, figuring this was the best time to share the news I’d been keeping to myself for far too long.

Keeping secrets from them was nearly impossible, but this one had been excruciating.

I took a deep breath and glanced at their expectant faces. My heart raced in my chest, and I fiddled with the hem of my shirt, feeling the weight of unspoken words.

“You guys,” I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper, as if the very act of speaking it would make it more real. I hadn’t shared this yet, not even with Leon, and the air thickened with my uncertainty.

“It looks like I’m going to be next.”

They stopped, cocked their heads, and stared at me.

“Next for what?” Avra shook her head. “I’m confused.”

I laid my palm on my stomach, raising a brow, waiting for them to catch on.

“Oh my God! Calista!” Laya shouted. “Are you pregnant?”

Tears formed as I spoke those words for the first time. “I’m going to be a mother, just like the two of you.”

They rushed over to me, hugging me with pure joy.

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