Chapter 18
The weeks that followed were filled with a quiet,
beautiful routine that Marcus had never imagined experiencing.
The corporate world still demanded his attention,
but he managed it entirely from his study,
refusing to leave the estate for more than a few hours at a time.
He became an active participant in Liam’s daily care,
learning how to feed him,
how to soothe him when he cried,
and how to change his tiny clothes.
The staff was amazed to see their formidable employer walking the hallways at midnight,
rocking a crying infant to sleep with an endless patience.
Khloe watched him change,
her heart melting more and more each day as she saw the love he possessed for his son.
One evening,
after Liam had finally fallen asleep in his crib,
Marcus and Khloe sat out on the massive balcony attached to their suite.
The night air was warm,
scented with the blooming jasmine from the gardens below.
Khloe held a glass of warm tea,
staring up at the stars,
feeling a profound sense of contentment.
"I never thought my life would look like this,"
she admitted softly,
turning her gaze to Marcus,
who was watching her with an intense,
unwavering focus.
"What did you think it would look like?"
he asked,
leaning back in his chair,
his long legs stretched out before him.
"Simple,"
she smiled faintly,
"quiet,"
"maybe a little lonely."
"I certainly never expected to marry a billionaire tycoon and fight a corporate war."
Marcus laughed softly,
the sound rich and warm in the quiet night.
"Life has a strange way of rewriting our plans,"
he mused,
standing up to walk over to the railing,
looking out over his vast property.
"I spent thirty years building an empire,
thinking that was all that mattered."
"But now,
I realize that everything I built was just a foundation for this,"
he turned back to look at her,
his eyes full of a deep,
unmistakable devotion.
"For you,"
"and for Liam."
Khloe stood up,
setting her tea aside,
and walked into his open arms,
pressing her face against his chest.
"I love you,
Marcus,"
she whispered,
saying the words out loud for the very first time.
Marcus stiffened for a fraction of a second,
the weight of her words hitting him with a massive impact,
before his arms tightened around her with a fierce,
protective force.
"I love you too,
Khloe,"
he replied,
May you like
his voice thick with an emotion that shook him to his very core.
"More than my own life."
