Chapter 401. Almost There!

Nicholas’s POV

My eyes dance with a quiet, unguarded joy as I watch my mate move so effortlessly among my family. Apphia sits curled comfortably on one of the cushioned chairs in the sunroom, sunlight spilling through the tall glass windows and bathing her in a soft glow. She’s laughing—really laughing—and the sound does something profound to me. It loosens something tight in my chest, something I hadn’t realized was clenched so hard.

She gestures animatedly as she speaks, her hands moving as if she’s painting pictures in the air. My mother listens intently, smiling in that gentle, approving way she reserves only for people she truly likes. My siblings are relaxed around her too—Knox leaning casually against the armrest, Lily perched cross-legged on the couch, watching Apphia with a curiosity that’s finally softened into warmth. Even my father, stoic as ever, looks… content.