"Would you like to take a shower?" she asked softly, her voice a soothing balm to his frayed nerves. He tightened his grip, his voice crackling with raw emotion. "I don't want to leave your side. I'm so scared... scared that if I close my eyes, you'll leave me again." The vulnerability in his confession broke her heart. "I will never leave you," she whispered fiercely, pressing a reassuring kiss to his forehead. "Especially not now that I know everything. Let me help you."
Gently, she guided him to the bathroom, helping him wash away the physical and emotional exhaustion of the night. Once he had sobered up and freshened up a bit, they crawled into bed together. Andrew held Stephanie so tightly it was almost painful, anchoring himself to her as if terrified she would vanish into thin air the moment he let go. Sleep finally claimed him, but Stephanie lay awake a moment longer. Stealing away to the hallway, she dialed Eric's number, keeping her voice to a quiet whisper. "He's safe," she murmured into the receiver. "Andrew is here with me, and he's going to be okay."
The next morning, the warm sunlight piercing through the curtains woke Andrew. He reached out blindly, only to find the bed empty. He stood up, his head throbbing with a heavy ache from the night before, and made his way to the bathroom. After splashing some water on his face to clear the morning fog, he followed the sweet aroma of breakfast into the kitchen to join her.
Slipping into his usual and favorite position, Andrew crept up behind her, wrapping his arms snugly around her waist. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet, familiar scent. "Good morning, Lily," he murmured sleepily.
"Good morning. How was your sleep?" she asked, leaning back into his embrace.
Andrew smiled against her skin, holding her close. "It was great... but I feel like something is missing this morning," he told her.
Stephanie paused, a look of pure confusion crossing her face as she tried to figure out what he could possibly mean. Turning around in his arms, she looked up at him. "And what is it?" she asked again.
Andrew grinned down at her, his eyes full of warmth. "A good morning kiss." His sudden, playful revelation instantly chased away her confusion, making her burst into a bright laugh.
"So I am going to give you a good morning kiss everyday," she asked softly.
"Mmm... and a good night kiss too," he replied with a smile.
"How about the days we don't see each other in the morning or evening?" she teased.
"Then you'll owe me," he laughed, pulling her a little closer. "But I'll try as much as possible to see you guys everyday."
He gently gathered her hair to one side, leaning down to press small, lingering kisses against her neck.
"Can I get my kiss now?" he urged, his voice dropping to a playful whisper.
Stephanie giggled at the sensation. She turned her head toward him and quickly pressed her lips to his in a fleeting moment.
"That was too quick," he protested with a grin. "It's a peck, not a kiss."
Steph giggled again, leaning back slightly. "Okay, I will give you a proper kiss next time. But for now, we are running late. How about you help our babies prepare for school?"
"Mmm..." he murmured. He leaned in to kiss her neck one more time, breathing in her scent before finally leaving the kitchen.
When they dropped the kids off at school and were on their way to Zoolab, Stephanie turned to him.
"Will you be going home after dropping me?" she asked.
"No. I will go to work," Andrew replied, keeping his eyes on the road. "I've told Eric to escort Mom to the airport."
The news didn't sit quite well with Stephanie. She frowned at him, and Andrew knew exactly why.
"Lily, don't look at me like that," Andy reasoned, defending his choice. "See the mess she has caused only within twenty-four hours."
"Andy, that is not right," Stephanie countered firmly. "She is your mother. No matter her mistake, you cannot just let her go back home."
It has been only a single day," Lily scolded gently, her voice carrying a sharp edge of concern. Andrew shook his head, his jaw tightening as he looked at her. "Lily, do not side with her on this. If it had not been for them and their constant interference, we would have been married long ago, and we would likely have more than two children by now. If they simply cannot bring themselves to accept you as their daughter-in-law, then that is their own problem to deal with. I refuse to give up on you just because of their disapproval," Andrew said firmly, his resolve unwavering. Stephanie let out a heavy, weary sigh, the weight of the situation pressing down on her shoulders. "I will not leave you, Andrew. I have already told you that, and I truly mean it from the bottom of my heart." Andrew took her hand in his, his eyes intense. "I won't let you leave. I cannot bear the thought of you walking away from me ever again. I want... I just..." He paused, taking a deep, steadying breath to calm his racing thoughts. He genuinely did not want to pressure her into making a choice before she was ready, but he could feel his patience rapidly fraying after so much lost time. More than anything, he desperately wanted to go to bed every single evening with her safe in his arms, and to wake up every morning with her face being the very first thing he saw when he opened his eyes. He knew deep down that she was intentionally delaying taking action on their marriage contract solely because of his parents' harsh attitude, because she wanted to avoid causing any further bitter family conflict. "What is it? Please, just tell me what you are thinking," she urged softly, searching his face for answers. But Andrew remained stubbornly silent, looking away as he fought back his emotions. "Andy?" Stephanie called out again, her voice softening into a gentle plea. "Lily... I truly do not want to force you into anything you are uncomfortable with, but these past six years of absolute loneliness have broken me. I know you suffered terribly during those long years, trapped with your own agonizing thoughts and forced to keep so many painful things entirely to yourself, but I want to make up for all of it and repay you for everything you went through. Those years spent apart from you... it was truly unbearable. The mere thought of never seeing you or holding you again tormented me to my very core. But finally, against all odds, I have found you again, and I want nothing more than for you to be mine completely."
I love you so much, Lily. I'm completely addicted to you."
His confession brought sudden tears to her eyes. The sheer sincerity reflecting in his gaze overwhelmed her heart with pure joy.
"I love you too," she whispered, leaning into him. "I promise you, as long as we love each other, we will never be apart."
A short while later, they pulled into the car park and spotted Fulbeth who just stepped out of his car. Both of them stepped out of the vehicle and exchanged warm greetings with him, but Fulbeth's expression remained strained. He looked between them, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to read their expressions. Their faces seemed far too casual, a telltale sign that they were actively trying to hide that something.
" Hey what's going on here? You look too casual. " Fulbeth asked, pointing out their expressions.
"I'll explain everything to you later," Stephanie replied gently, stepping forward. "But right now, my question is, why are you even here? You haven't healed enough to be back at work yet."
Fulbeth let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I just feel incredibly lonely sitting at home. Edna has been spending so much time at the firm lately."
Stephanie opened her mouth but she stopped herself. She couldn't bring herself to say that Edna was wrong for leaving him to his own devices. In fact, the woman had been incredibly selfless, taking excellent care of her cousin for weeks on end without a single complaint considering their past. Still, Fulbeth needed to rest.
"If you're bored, you should go over to the Arthur mansion instead," Stephanie suggested.
Fulbeth grimaced immediately. "You know how Mom is. That's the absolute last place I want to go right now."
"Ah, motherly love," Stephanie teased with a faint, sympathetic smile. "Some mothers really do know how to cause trouble, don't they?"
Andrew checked his watch, breaking into the conversation. "Okay guys, I have to run. See you later." He stepped closer to Stephanie, pressing a quick, affectionate goodbye kiss onto her cheek, before offering a warm smile to Fulbeth. "I'll come back to pick you up this evening, alright?"
He turned to leave, and Stephanie simply watched him go, a mix of affection and lingering worry settling over her as the reality of the long day ahead began to set in.