32. Ella

32

ELLA

T he room falls silent as the words leave my lips.

For a heartbeat, there's nothing but the sound of my own breathing. Then all at once, the men react. Marcus's face splits into a wide grin, his eyes shining with joy. Theo lets out a cheer, lifting me off the ground in a bear hug. Ethan's expression softens, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, and Will, usually so composed, looks like he's about to burst with happiness.

"This is incredible news, Ella," Marcus says, his voice filled with soft love. He cups my face gently, his hands warm and strong.

Tears well up in my eyes, and I can't hold them back any longer. "I'm sorry," I whisper, my voice cracking. "I should have told you sooner. I was so scared…"

Theo shakes his head, his grip firm and reassuring. "No need to apologize. We understand why you kept it to yourself. But you don't have to do this alone."

Ethan steps forward, his hand resting on my stomach. "We're all here for you and the baby. You don't need to worry about a thing."

Will nods, his gaze steady and full of warmth. "We're in this together, Ella. All of us."

Relief washes over me, and I let out a shaky breath, finally allowing myself to believe that everything might just be okay. With my men around me, supporting me, I feel stronger than ever.

But there's still one last thing we need to do.

"I want to go home," I say to Marcus pointedly. "To all of you, and to Lily. But first, before the police get to Vanessa, I want to be there. I need to see her going down."

Marcus voices his concern. "Ella, you should rest. The law can handle Vanessa."

I shake my head, determination hardening my resolve. "No, Marcus, let me have this last victory. I need to be there when she's brought to justice."

He hesitates, then nods, understanding my need for closure. "Okay. But you stick close to us. No heroics."

I smile at that. "No heroics," I whisper back.

We strategize quickly, using the evidence we have to track Vanessa down. Her last known location is a high-end hotel in the city, one of her favorite hunting grounds. We pile into the car, the atmosphere tense but charged with a sense of purpose. This is it—the final mission.

When we arrive at the hotel, the lobby is bustling with activity. We split up to cover more ground, Marcus and I heading toward the elevators while Theo, Ethan, and Will keep an eye on the exits. The police should be here soon.

As we reach the floor Vanessa's suite is on, my heart pounds in my chest. Marcus looks at me, concern etched on his face. "You sure about this?"

I nod, steeling myself. "I'm sure."

We approach her door, and I can hear her laughter from inside mingling with the sounds of clinking glasses. I take a deep breath and knock. The laughter stops, and moments later, the door swings open. Vanessa's eyes widen in shock as she sees me standing there.

"Ella? What the hell?—"

Before she can react, Marcus steps forward, his voice cold and authoritative. "Vanessa, it's over. You are finished."

She tries to slam the door, but Marcus is quicker, shoving it open and stepping inside. Vanessa backs away, panic written all over her face.

"You have no proof!" she spits, her eyes darting around the room, looking for an escape route.

I step forward, holding up the folder of evidence. "Oh, we have plenty. You have no idea how satisfactory this is for me right now, Vanessa."

Her face contorts with rage, and she lunges at me, but Marcus intercepts her, pinning her arms behind her back. She struggles, but it's futile. Marcus is too strong, and she knows it.

Downstairs, Theo, Ethan, and Will arrive with the police in tow. They take Vanessa into custody, reading her rights as she screams and protests. I watch, a mixture of relief and satisfaction washing over me.

As the police lead her away, I turn to Marcus, tears streaming down my face. "It's over," I whisper. "It's really over."

He pulls me into his arms, holding me close. "Yes, it is. You did it, Ella. We did it."

The officers take our statements, and we head back to the car, the weight of the past few weeks lifting off my shoulders. We did it. Vanessa is finally going to pay for her crimes, and I can finally focus on my future with my baby and the men I love.

Back at the apartment, I collapse on the couch, exhaustion setting in. Marcus wraps an arm around me, and the others gather close, their presence a comforting blanket of warmth and security.

"Well, that's the end, finally. ," Ethan murmurs, his voice steady and strong.

Theo grins. "Finally."

Will, who is seated on the floor in front of me, wraps his arms around my knees. "We've missed you."

And it is here, in the midst of all this safety, that I know for sure. I've found a home and an infinite access to love for my child and myself.

"Ella?"

Lily's voice floats from the balustrade overhead. Behind her, I notice a distinctly disheveled nanny.

"Hi, my darling girl," I coo, getting up to meet her halfway. As soon as she is in my arms, she bursts into tears.

"Hush," I murmur into the soft spill of her hair. "I'm back, and I'm never leaving again."

Two months later

A buttery, golden glow spreads over the manor's garden where the promise ceremony is about to take place. Fairy lights are strung up in the trees, twinkling like stars. I stand at the edge of the garden, my heart pounding with sweet anticipation.

Lily, dressed in a little white dress with a crown of flowers on her curly head, skips over to me, her eyes wide with excitement. "Ella, look! Pewals!" she exclaims, holding up a small wicker basket filled with rose petals.

I crouch down, smiling at her. "You look beautiful, Lily. Are you ready to be the best flower girl ever?"

She nods vigorously, her curls bouncing, throwing a few petals around in her excitement.

I laugh, giving her a quick hug before straightening up. The men are already in place, standing near the makeshift altar we've set up. Marcus, Theo, Ethan, and Will—all are dressed in sharp suits, looking every bit the strong, protective, and caring partners they are.

The mere sight of them makes my heart swell in ways I didn't think possible. With soft steps, I make my way to the altar.

It's a simple ceremony, really—just a few friends to bear witness to this kind of love. Not everyone could understand, but that's okay. This isn't their story to tell.

Marcus steps forward first, taking my hand. "You look stunning, Ella," he murmurs, his eyes filled with pride.

I blush, glancing down at my dress—a simple yet elegant white gown that flows around me. "Thank you, Marcus. You clean up pretty well yourself."

He chuckles, squeezing my hand. "Ready to do this?"

"More than ready," I reply, my voice steady.

Lily starts her march down the makeshift aisle, scattering petals with enthusiasm. She reaches the altar and stands beside us, her face beaming with joy.

Marcus clears his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "We've gathered here today to make promises not just to Ella, but to each other. We're a family, and today we're celebrating that bond."

Theo steps up next, his gaze meeting mine. "Ella, you've brought light into our lives. We promise to stand by you, to support you, and to protect you and our baby. No matter what."

Ethan nods warmly. "We promise to be there for you, always. To share the burdens and the joys. To be the best fathers and partners we can be."

Will steps forward last, a glint of dry humor in his eyes. "And I promise to teach our kid all the tech skills they'll ever need. You know, just in case they need to hack into any security systems when they grow up."

I laugh, tears of happiness welling up in my eyes. "I love you all so much. I promise to be there for you, to support you, and to raise our child together. We're a team."

Marcus pulls out a simple gold band from his pocket, slipping it onto my finger. "We chose this together." He smiles before going all solemn on me. "With this ring, we promise to be yours, Ella—in good times and bad, in all seasons of sun and storm."

I blink back tears, my heart overflowing with love—quite literally. Lily hands me four rings, one at a time. I place them on the fingers of my partners. "And with these rings, I promise myself to you now, tomorrow, always."

"Always," Theo and Will say in unison. Ethan nods gruffly, and Marcus looks like a very happy Golden Retriever.

I've never been happier myself.

Lily tugs on my dress, looking up at me with wide eyes. She wants me to tell her she did good, the little angel.

"You did perfect, Lily," I say, scooping her up into my arms. "Thank you for being the best flower girl ever."

She giggles, throwing her arms around my neck. Marcus, Theo, Ethan, and Will step forward, each placing a hand on me and Lily. We stand there, a family united, ready to face whatever the future holds.

"Here's to us," Marcus says, his voice filled with emotion. "To our family."

"To our family," we all echo.