(Please play the song while reading Kade and Ayla's part 🥰)

My fingers faltered over the keyboard when I caught the white figure peeking through the shelves from the corner of my eye.

I suppress a smile and continue typing.

The soft footfalls echoed in the quiet room as the figure drifted through a different spot, effectively hiding behind the stacks of books before stopping once again.

I stopped typing, gasped loudly, "Oh no, is there a ghost in here?" I try my best to sound horrified.

The hysterical giggling is enough to give him away, though. I caught him ducked his head and I swiftly abandoned my spot before crawling quietly towards him. He was on his knees with his back to me, giggling to himself as his little hands hold the white sheet tightly over his small frame.

In one swift movement, I wrap him up tight and roar like a lion. "Got cha!"

Jax squeals, his laughters shattering the silence before jumping into my arms.

Spotting something on his hands, I double take and choke a laugh in my throat before I ask, "Sweetie, what happened to you hands?"

There were tracks of dirt and soil in his nails, and arms. Looking up, he smiles, and I catch my second laugh at the gap made by the missing top two front teeth.

I know he's my child but, by God, he is adorable.

He digs through his small crossbody bag and pulls out a bunch of deformed orange tulips. "I got you flowers, Mommy."

My heart warms and I hug him again and rock him, placing kisses on his forehead. "It's beautiful. Thank you."

"You're welcome." He points to my laptop and asks, "Are you done working?"

I glanced back at the table where I've been working on my next book. I just started last week and it was so good to be working again. I mean, it didn't paid much, but it was still something I was passionate about.

"Yeah. What do you want to do?" I rise from my feet and clasp his hand with mine.

"I have a mission." he proudly announced. "Daddy told me to pick you up." He tugs on my hand and I followed him obediently.

"What do you mean?" I asked, frowning.

We entered the bedroom and he points at the bed where a box wrapped in gold ribbon was laying on top. "C'mon, Mommy. You need to change."

I untied the ribbon and open the box to reveal a gorgeous champagne dress with heart neckline. My mouth quirk in amusement. "Jax, can you tell me what's going on?"

Jax was a smart boy. He was only four and a half years old but knew the value of a secret. So when he grins at me, his sparkling green eyes twinkling in delight, I knew he's not going to tell on his father.

"It's a surprise."

My goodness he look so much like Kade it's scary.

Same looks. Same attitude. Same everything.

Sometimes I wonder if this kid is even a little bit mine.

Being able to survive from the brink of death five years ago was so terrifying, but when I look at my son, I couldn't picture my life without him. He's completely worth it. He and Kade means everything to me.

Placing one last kiss on his head, I tell him, "Okay, fine. But we need to wash your hands first."

He reluctantly agree as I pulled him towards the bathroom where I make him sit on top of the sink and proceed to wash his hands.

Afterwards, he jumps down and look up at me with a serious expression. "I'll come back to get you. Promise me you'll wait for me here Mommy, okay?"

I hold back my laughter. "Got it."

"Awesome!" Then takes off like a rocket down the hall to his bedroom.

Chuckling to myself, I went to the bathroom, and start getting ready. I couldn't help but wonder what Kade had planned this time. Most often, he would surprise me with something for us two where he would spend the entire evening making me feel special in so many ways.

We've been married for five years and our wedding, although exclusive to family and friends, made the headlines. His grandfather has come around a few months after finding out that I was pregnant. Apparently, it was very important to him knowing his last name will be continued so he dropped all the prejudices he has for me.

My mind drifted back to the time when I woke up in the hospital, my head confused and my chest burning like hell. I remember Kade's bloodshot, agonized eyes to mine. Those emerald depths had never looked so relieved. He gasped in a breath, as though coming up for air. He blinked at me several times before he found his voice.

Later on I found out that I've been in a medically induced coma for three weeks due to complications in my lungs. Everything that happened flashed in my mind then and my first thought was our baby. He told me that our baby was fine and both of us were sobbing in the end. I never felt so grateful and relieved.

But the time leading up to my recovery wasn't easy. As the months went by and my pregnancy progressed, I was also dealing with trauma. For weeks, I would often woke up screaming from a horrible nightmare, my mind reliving the exact moment when Arabella's gun was pointed at me. The news about Nate's death has also been added to my grief. I promised myself right then that I would push myself to get better. For Kade, for our baby. And Nate's sacrifice will never be in vain.

It was a little after the fact that I found out what Kade has done. He had forbidden me and even refuse to mention her name as if she never existed, was never a part of our lives. He never said it outright but I understand the finality in his voice when he said that she was gone. He wanted to put my mind at ease so that I could focus on my pregnancy in peace, something I will be forever grateful for. And what a smooth ride it's been. With Kade by my side I couldn't have asked for better. He also took each of my nightmare and turned them into an erotic bliss until it goes away.

I stripped off my clothes and my eyes catch the sight of the diagonal scar at the top of my left breast in the mirror.

Ugly.

Long.

Faded.

My initial reaction when I first saw it was disgust. I was so insecure with my body that I started hiding it. I stopped wearing low cut shirts and I bought one-piece swimsuits that hid my chest. But Kade wouldn't have it. One time, he caught me crying in front of the mirror while I traced the scar with my fingers, he then proceed to show me just how much he loves every part of me. Every single day since then, he would woke up and peppered kisses around my scar until there were love marks around it.

He drives me crazy and I swear I fall for him a little more every day. If the former him was perfect, the new him after the incident was impeccable and outright dreamy. I fell in love with how he's strict as hell when it comes to my health. He's more religious about my appointments than I am. He would prepare my special food that my doctor suggested every morning and takes me on a run and watches me with that concern look. He's so caring and attentive, I actually have nightmares about a life without him.

I was putting on the final touches of my make up when a gentle knock comes on the door.

"Are you ready, Mommy?" Jax called out.

Taking one last look at the mirror, I padded towards the door and opened it. His eyes widen as he takes in my appearance.

"You look so pretty, Mom." he smiles, then tugs on my hand, leading me down the stairs.

"Thank you, Jax. Are you sure you can't tell me what your father has plan?"

He grins, shaking his head. "Nope. I made a promise."

"Hmm." He leads me passed the living room and outside the door. The sun has already set, almost nightfall, and the place was partially illuminated.

We turned a corner and I let out a gasp when I saw the pathway leading up to the garden was covered with fairy lights hanging on each sides.

"You go on, Mommy." Jax said, letting go of my hand. "Daddy is waiting for you."

Bending down, I place a kiss on his cheek. "You keep so many secrets young man."

He flashed me a grin before bouncing back happily inside the house. Knowing Kade, he must've bribed our son to keep everything hush hush.

Taking a deep breath, I started towards the pathway. I was amazed when a gentle soothing sound of violin began to play as I walk farther. My heart was thudding inside my chest but I didn't even have time to catch my breath when I reached the end of the path and the place came into view.

I stood at the entrance, gaping at the sight of lanterns that lit up a glass enclosed structure, a striking sight at the center of a wide darkened clearing. I realized then that I was staring at a greenhouse where an old warehouse had been before. At one side was a four-meter-high waterfall and different jungle flowers was beautifully scattered around the area. I look up and I was in awe at the sight of huge glass dome that was decorated with string lights and hanging along the vines of purple wisteria as dozens of beautiful butterflies flew freely in the air, creating a dreamy, magical ambiance.

A movement from my side caught my eye, and when I turn, the air left my lungs altogether.

My husband look devastatingly handsome in his dark tuxedo. His dark blonde hair, impossibly thick and ridiculously touchable, slicked back casually. He looked lethally sexy, with a refined edge of danger.

He let his gaze travel up and down my body. Although I couldn't hear anything but the pounding in my heart, I swore I could hear his hum of approval.

He sauntered towards me and I could only stare helplessly, riveted by the graceful movements of his chiseled body, that easy commanding stride which hinted at how amazing he was in bed.

Mine. All mine.

As if he can hear my thoughts, the corners of his lips pulling up to a treacherous smile, and I swallowed past the lump in my throat, my equally ravenous eyes sliding over him. I loved watching those eyes from up-close. They were so deep and intoxicating, and often made my head swim.

He held his hand out to me and I reached for it, my own trembling in anticipation of his touch. The brush of his skin against mine sent tingles of awareness racing through me, my heart soaring with happiness.

Kade looked at me with such love and scorching hunger, my breath caught. "You look sensational, Butterfly. From every angle."

Smiling back, "You don't look bad yourself, husband."

Chuckling, he drew me inside, pulling me close to place his lips softly over mine. The glass door shut behind me and he reached past me to lock it, shutting the world out.

I sighed against his lips, my hand clenched around a fistful of his jacket. "What was that for?"

He smirked, biting on my lower lip. "We're staying here tonight."

I looked up at him. "And Jax?"

"He's with Gemma." He glanced down at me with those intensely green eyes. "You're all mine tonight, Mrs. Sinclair."

My core clenched with anticipation. "I think I'd like that."

There was so much promises in the look he gave me, sending tingles down my spine.

"Did you like the place?" he murmured against my temple.

I turned my gaze, trying to take it all in once again. He'd shocked me numerous times like this before but what he did tonight was beyond amazing. Last year, Kade had someone made a barricade around this area and all along I thought he was just renovating it when it turns out he was building this greenhouse for me.

I pressed my nose into his throat. "I loved it."

He lifts my hand to his mouth and place a tender kiss inside my palm before leading me deeper inside the greenhouse to reveal a round boho bed with dome canopy drapes around it. It was stacked with pillows and sheets that looks absolutely cozy. Beside it is a tray of some of my favorite dishes and desserts.

"You're well prepared." I mused.

His arms wrapped around my waist and down to my ass, squeezing it gently. "Everything for my wife."

I watch him with a smile on my face. This side of Kade always gets me in a knot. He always managed to make my heart float. My heart always beat faster for him. He was just as crazy about me as he was when we first met. I didn't know how I'd ever doubted it myself. Though I had seen the world with different eyes back then. I thought what we had was just temporary.

How could I have known that I was being swept into my very own fairytale?

He's everything I want in life and more. For that reason alone, I move onto my tiptoes and plant a kiss on his cheek, startling him. "I love you."

His eyes got so soft, changed in an instant from confused and into that impossibly tender look that got me every time.

God, he's so beautiful.

It was later that night when we're both fed and had a few glasses of wine when a slow familiar song began to play in the background. Kade flashes me a smile before rising from his seat and held out his hand to me. "May I have this dance, Mrs. Sinclair?"

My eyes widen. "Oh, Kade, I don't know how to dance."

He gently pull me up from my seat, kissed my forehead again, and I caught the edge of his smile at the top of my vision. "You only need to follow my lead, Love. And we know all too well that if I lead, you know how to follow, even without experience."

A hot flush spread across my face at the double meaning of his words.

He pulled me into him, fitting me into the hard planes of his body as if I were meant to be there always. I felt that way when he held me. Safe. Treasured. Loved.

We began to slow dance through the music, our gaze locked on each other as the lyrics floats through the speaker.

"I feel like life was easy before I met you, because it didn't matter," he said in a rough voice, leaning his forehead against mine. "I was so consumed with one goal in mind and nothing else matters for me."

"But when I met you, you gave me a new purpose." he continues, and my heart began to raced. "Coming home to you," he murmured, his gaze on my mouth, "watching you take care of our son. You complete my life, Ayla. More than you could ever imagine."

"Kade..." I blinked away the tears that seemed to assault me on the daily, the feeling of overwhelming emotion that hadn't left me.

He gave me his softest smile, one hand rising to brush the one lone tear that had managed to make its way silently down my cheek.

He continued relentlessly, "I fell in love with you more each time I looked into the depths of your eyes and saw the other half of my soul."

There was no way to stop the tears after that. They came in a hot flood, blurring my vision and closing my throat.

He traced a tear down my face, giving me his fondest smile. "Sometimes, I have fear that I might screw it up at some point. That I wasn't doing it right like I promised when we made our vows."

Reaching up, I cupped his nape, running my fingers through the rough silk of his hair. "You couldn't be terrible at anything, even if you tried, Kade. You're perfect." Choked by tears, I swallowed hard.

I moved into him, pulling his head against mine. He nuzzled there, making me sway with the force of his affection. His mouth was a whisper away from mine when I spoke again. "You complete me too. There used to be this emptiness inside me. A void. You filled it. You gave me a family I've always dreamed of and so much more."

He kissed my cheek, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

It was inevitable that others, especially those who knew how we started, would look at us from the outside and wonder how and why it worked, and whether it should. But none of that matters now. The ghosts of our pasts was barely a shadow now. We might've been brought together by blood and vengeance, but in the end, it was love that held us together.

"Everyday with you and Jax was a gift. I love you." he whispered, before claiming my lips in complete abandon, and the earth stopped moving for the seconds our lips were joined.

"I love you too." My heart could barely take how much love I had inside me. It was strong, overflowing, and as it settled over me like a warm blanket, I wondered if it would ever get old. Chances were, it wouldn't. And I was okay with that. In fact, I was counting on it.

Soon the kiss that started out soft but as always our unquenchable hunger for each other quickly took it further. Soon he was gripping my hair and plundering my mouth within hot, breathtaking kiss that always held promise as he laid me across the bed.

He pledged his devotion with every kiss, and every thrust took him deep inside me, hitting the sweetest spots again and again, driving the ecstasy into me until I couldn't resist the onslaught.

I've long embraced the fact, that right there in the shelter of his arms, knowing that whether in joy or pain, Kade was one with me. Forever.

GUYS! 😭 I was literally an emotional wreck right now. It's always difficult to say goodbye at the end of a journey. And Kade and Ayla's story has been such a ride! But first of all, thank you to all the bad comments I received from Mad Love. I read them and they inspired me to do better with Corrupt. I hope I did it justice. I tried, at least. Haha

But most of all, a huge, HUGE thank you to all of you. Both the silent readers and the ones whom I often see in the comments. You all pushed me to do better and I will always be forever grateful for that. ❤️