Chapter 171: Defiance
I wake up with a start, my heart racing as panic briefly floods through me. Have I slept too long? Did something happen? The weight of exhaustion is heavy, but instinct kicks in, pushing me upright in bed. I rub at my eyes and blink into the soft glow of lamplight spilling across the room.
I’m alone in the bed.
The emptiness beside me sends a small wave of fear coursing through my veins. My eyes dart around, scanning every corner until they settle on the sofa near the window.
And there they are.
Thorne is lying back, stretched out on the couch, his broad chest rising and falling with the deep, steady rhythm of sleep. Nestled against him is Mimi, her tiny body sprawled on his chest, one hand clutching a fistful of his shirt as if claiming him entirely. Thorne’s large hand is draped protectively over her back, shielding her even in sleep.
I freeze, the sight hitting me square in the chest. It’s as if an arrow has been loosed directly into my heart. For a moment, I can’t breathe, can’t think. All I can do is drink in the scene in front of me.
Mimi’s tiny face is turned toward his neck, her soft, chubby cheeks pressing into his skin. A small patch of drool has soaked into Thorne’s shirt, and instead of looking annoyed or uncomfortable, he looks... peaceful.
I slowly slip out of bed, my bare feet padding silently across the room. Careful not to disturb them, I crouch beside the sofa, close enough to see the soft rise and fall of Mimi’s little body as she breathes. Her raven hair, a stark contrast to her porcelain skin, is mussed, and I gently reach out to smooth it, my hand trembling as I do.
This is the scene I’ve dreamed of for months, clung to through the darkest of nights. A tiny part of me had whispered cruelly that I might never see this—that the three of us together, safe and whole, was just a fantasy. And yet, here they are.
My husband and my daughter. My family.
I blink back tears, the raw emotion threatening to overwhelm me. Thorne shifts slightly, his hand tightening over Mimi’s back as if sensing my presence even in sleep. A soft sigh escapes him, and Mimi makes a tiny noise in response, her lips parting in what looks like a sleepy smile.