The soft hum of the engine beneath them created a gentle rhythm as Austin drove through the outskirts of the city, away from the chaos that had defined the last few weeks of their lives. Clair sat in the passenger seat, her hand gently caressing her rounded belly. The stillness in the car wasn't awkward but serene. The sun dipped low in the sky, casting golden hues through the windshield and bathing them in a warm light.
"You're unusually quiet," Austin murmured, glancing over at her with a soft smile.
Clair returned the look, her eyes glowing with the emotion that had settled between them. "I'm just taking it all in. Everything feels... quieter. The kind of quiet I've been craving."
Austin reached for her hand, threading his fingers through hers. "You deserve peace, Clair. After everything Isadora did, I won't let anyone come near you or the babies again."
She squeezed his hand gently, her heart swelling at the sound of his protective voice. "I know. And I believe you now more than ever."
Their drive led them to a secluded lakeside cabin that Austin had kept under wraps—his own private sanctuary. It was rustic, yet luxurious, with a wide porch that faced the glittering lake, tall pine trees offering shade, and fresh air that carried the scent of pine and spring.
"You brought us here for a reason," Clair said, stepping out of the car, her long dress swaying gently as the breeze caressed her.
"Yeah. I needed to give you a place where you don't have to look over your shoulder. Where you can breathe, love, and carry our children in peace."
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away and turned to him. "You're getting better at this romantic stuff."
Austin chuckled, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Don't get used to it."
She leaned into his chest, burying her face in his shirt. "Too late."
Inside the cabin, everything was warm and inviting. A fire was already crackling in the hearth. Austin had arranged for the place to be fully stocked—fresh groceries, her favorite snacks, soft pillows, warm blankets, and even a massage chair specially designed for pregnant women.
Clair explored the space with wonder, her heart fluttering. "You really planned this."
"I did," Austin said, watching her with an unreadable expression. "Clair, after everything, I need you to know something."
She turned to him, searching his eyes.
"You changed me. I never thought I could love anyone the way I love you. Not just the passion or the need—but the way you see me, the way you stand up to me, how you carry your strength with grace. You are my anchor."
Clair stepped closer, her hands rising to cup his face. "And you're mine. But Austin, I'm scared sometimes. Not of you. Not anymore. But of losing this. It still feels too good to be true."
He kissed her forehead gently. "Then let me prove it's real every day."
Later that evening, they sat by the fire, Clair nestled against him on the plush rug. Her head rested on his shoulder, and his hand stroked her belly. The babies kicked gently, a reminder of the life growing inside her.
"I wonder if they'll have your scowl," Clair teased.
Austin smirked. "God help them if they do."
"And the third one... the miracle one."
"She'll be the surprise that completes us."
Clair looked up. "You think it's a girl?"
"I know it. Just like I knew you were meant to be mine."
They made love that night with a tenderness that spoke volumes. No rush. No urgency. Just two souls tethered by something deeper than passion. Clair felt safe in his arms, her heartbeat syncing with his. There were no ghosts here. No shadows.
The following morning, Clair stood by the lake, a cup of tea warming her hands. The sunlight danced on the water as birds chirped in the trees. Austin joined her, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders.
"We can stay here as long as you need," he said.
"Just a few more days," she replied. "Then I'll be ready to face the world again."
"Together."
She nodded. "Together."
Far from the city, the FBI had gone silent, the media frenzy dying down since Isadora's death. Elias had taken the reins at Montgomery Enterprises while Austin remained by Clair's side.
For now, they had everything—peace, love, safety. And as Clair rested her hand on her womb, feeling the steady kicks and new flutter of life, she knew this chapter wasn't the end of their story.
It was the calm before the next wave.
But for now, she would let herself love him. Let herself grow into motherhood with confidence. And let herself believe that even men like Austin Montgomery could build a new legacy—not with violence, but with love.
And she would be the heart of that legacy.