Chapter 32
The next day,
the sun was beginning its descent,
casting a warm,
amber glow over the estate gardens when a sleek black car pulled up the long driveway.
Khloe was standing near the rose bushes,
holding Liam by his tiny hands,
helping him practice his steps on the soft grass.
Hearing the sound of the engine,
she looked up,
her heart racing with excitement as she saw the car stop in front of the grand entrance.
The door opened,
and Marcus stepped out,
looking immaculate as always,
but his eyes immediately scanned the grounds until they found her.
He did not wait for the driver to get his bags,
nor did he speak to the staff who had gathered to welcome him back,
he walked straight toward the garden with long,
purposeful strides.
Liam noticed him first,
letting out a loud,
joyful squeal,
his little arms waving wildly in the air as he recognized his father.
"Dada!"
Liam cried out,
a sound that made Marcus stop for a fraction of a second,
his heart melting entirely at the sound of his son's voice.
In that moment,
something wonderful happened,
as Liam pulled his hands away from Khloe’s grip,
balancing on his own two feet for the very first time.
Khloe held her breath,
not moving a muscle,
her eyes wide with wonder as she watched their son take one unsteady step forward.
Then another,
and another,
his tiny feet moving across the grass,
his eyes locked entirely on Marcus who was watching in absolute awe.
Liam took five full steps all by himself,
laughing hysterically,
before losing his balance and tumbling forward into the grass right at Marcus's feet.
Marcus knelt down instantly,
scooping the little boy up into his powerful arms,
lifting him high into the air while Liam giggled with delight.
"You walked,"
Marcus whispered,
his voice tight with an emotion he could barely control,
his eyes shining with a rare,
beautiful pride.
"He did it for you,"
Khloe said,
walking up to them,
tears of happiness glistening in her eyes as she looked at her family.
Marcus brought Liam down,
holding him with one arm while his other arm reached out to pull Khloe tightly against his side.
He buried his face in her neck,
breathing her in,
feeling a profound sense of completeness that he had never known in his years of wealth and power.
"I am home,"
May you like
he murmured against her skin,
"and I am never leaving for that long again."
