Chapter 13 - The Horizon Unbound
The year came to its natural, peaceful close under a blanket of soft winter stars.
On New Year's Eve, we didn't attend high-society galas in Madrid or extravagant celebrations in Dubai. Instead, the three of us—Isabella, Elena, and I—sat around a roaring stone fireplace in the living room of our San Sebastián estate, playing board games and drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows.
At midnight, as distant fireworks lit up the Atlantic horizon in bursts of red, gold, and green, Isabella ran to the open French doors of the patio, looking up at the sky with wide, starry eyes.
I walked up behind her, wrapping my heavy wool sweater around her small shoulders to keep out the winter chill.
"Happy New Year, princess," I whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
Isabella turned around, throwing her arms tightly around my waist and burying her face against my chest.
"Happy New Year, Daddy," she murmured happily. "Are we going to stay here forever?"
I looked past her, out into the dark, beautiful expanse of our estate—safe, protected, and filled with unconditional love.
May you like
"Forever and always," I promised her.
The past was buried under concrete and prison walls. The shadows were gone. And as I held my daughter close under the brilliant winter sky, I knew that no matter what storms might ever try to rise in the world beyond our gates, our foundation was unbreakable. We had finally found our peace, and nothing in this universe would ever take it away again.
