Chapter 163

SAGE

The bright lights of the carnival glowed like a dream against the night sky, casting a warm, golden hue over everything in sight. The air was filled with the scent of buttery popcorn, sweet cotton candy, and the distant sizzle of frying dough. Laughter and excited screams from the nearby rides blended into the music playing from the carousel, creating an atmosphere of pure magic.

We had completely lost track of time.

Harper and Cooper were running ahead, their small hands clutching onto colorful balloons while their giggles echoed through the cool evening breeze. Their excitement was contagious, and before I knew it, I found myself letting go of my worries, even if just for a little while.

“I think you just set a record for riding the Ferris wheel the most times in one night,” I teased as Harper tugged me towards another game stall.

“It’s my favorite!” she exclaimed, bouncing on her toes. “Everything looks so pretty from up there!”

Titus chuckled beside me, shaking his head. “It’s a miracle you’re not dizzy yet.”

Cooper, standing by his side, smirked. “She’s dizzy in the head every day, so it doesn’t count.”

Harper gasped dramatically, her little hands on her hips. “Take that back!”

Cooper simply stuck his tongue out before turning back toward Titus. “Let’s go to the shooting booth! You said you were good at it, right? Prove it!”

Titus smirked, ruffling Cooper’s hair. “Oh, you’re challenging me now? Alright, let’s see what you’ve got.”

I stood back, watching as Titus effortlessly won round after round, handing his prizes to the kids. Harper hugged a giant stuffed bear tightly, while Cooper now had a toy sword strapped to his waist. Their excitement only grew with each win, and I could see the way they gravitated towards him so easily, as if they had known him forever.

For years, I had worked so hard to keep them away from him. To keep them safe. But now, as I watched them laugh and play together, I couldn’t help but wonder, had I been wrong?

“Are you alright?” Titus’s deep voice broke through my thoughts.

I blinked up at him, realizing he had closed the distance between us, his gaze filled with curiosity.

forcing a

for a moment before nodding. “Come on. Let’s go one more round on

excitement, running ahead toward the towering

reached for my hand, his grip firm yet gentle. “Let’s go, Sage. Just enjoy

time in years, I let myself do just that. Even if deep

pointed at the colorful

“Alright, alright. But only

pleading eyes. “Please?

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4 Mar

Chapter 163

was no way I could say no to those faces. “Fine, but just one ride

onto the golden pole of my horse while sneaking glances at Titus, who sat between Harper and

let myself imagine that it was true,

more rides. Time slipped away faster than I realized, and before I knew it,

head back,” I finally said, checking the time on

Cooper pouted but didn’t argue, their

excitement of the day finally caught up with us. Harper, who had been fighting off sleep for the past hour, let out

glanced down, curiosity flickering in his gaze, only to

A silent request.

without hesitation, he bent

face into the crook of his neck. Within seconds, her tiny breaths evened out, and her

me,

She trusted him.

safe in

Cooper, who

you, too?”

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