Arya tilted her head, her face scrunching in deep four-year-old contemplation. Then, she smiled brilliantly, showing off a row of tiny, perfect teeth. “No. Because I have you. You know how to do everything.”
I wiped a stray crumb from her chin, a profound, unshakable warmth expanding in my chest. Four years ago, a man tried to declare her a worthless asset in a corporate ledger. Today, she was entirely whole, deeply loved, and fiercely protected.
“You are the absolute best Arya in the entire world,” I whispered, kissing her forehead.
She giggled, grabbing my index finger with her small, warm hand. Together, we turned our backs on the past and walked out into the brilliant, golden light of the future.
