Chapter 22: Home at Last
Jay's POV:
The mansion felt lighter, but the air was still thick with tension. Ella was behind bars, the knife, the lies, the manipulation—all finally gone. But my chest still ached. Not from fear, but from guilt and anger, and the realization of how vulnerable Kaiz had been.
Kaiz was curled up on the couch, eyes wide as he played quietly with his blocks. He didn't know the full truth yet, but I could see the unease in his little movements.
Keifer knelt beside him, whispering gently, trying to comfort him. "Everything's okay, Kaiz. You're safe now."
Kaiz looked between us, his small voice trembling. "Mumma… Papa… are we really safe?"
I held his tiny hands in mine. "Yes, sweetheart. You're safe. No one will ever hurt you again."
Keifer added, brushing Kaiz's cheek with his thumb: "We promise. You're our family now."
Later, we sat in the study, the tension thick between Keifer and me as we prepared for the truth to come out.
"I can't believe this…" I whispered, staring at Kaiz. "She kidnapped him from an orphanage?"
Keifer nodded grimly. "Yes. We checked the records. Ella wasn't his guardian. She took him when he was barely a toddler. That's why she had no authority, why she tried to control him."
Kaiz, sitting between us, frowned. "But… she said she was my Mumma…"
I swallowed hard, hugging him tightly. "Sweetheart, she lied. But we'll make it right. You're safe now, and we're your real family."
Keifer's hand found mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "And we're going to adopt him. Officially. No more fear, no more secrets."
Kaiz's eyes widened, his small hands clutching ours. "Really? I can stay with you forever?"
"Yes, little man," Keifer said firmly. "Forever. You're ours now, and no one can take that away from you."
Tears pricked my eyes as I held him close. He giggled, hugging both of us in a tangle of limbs and laughter. For the first time since we rescued him, Kaiz looked truly happy.
Later that evening, Kaiz had drifted off to sleep on my lap, and I finally had a moment to breathe.
Keifer sat beside me, his face softening as he watched us. "You know," he murmured, "I never imagined this would feel like home. But with you and him… it finally does."
I leaned against him, brushing my cheek against his chest. "It does. We've all been through so much… but now we're together."
Keifer pulled me closer. "And nothing will break this. I promise, Jay."
Kaiz stirred in his sleep, mumbling something about Mumma and Papa. I smiled through tears. Our little family—me, Keifer, and Kaiz—was finally complete. Not a deal, not a compromise, not a temporary arrangement—but a home.
And for the first time, I believed that this time, love wasn't complicated. It was ours.