Chapter 41
Epilouge/ Six Years Later
“Let’s go, Kyrin!”
My voice rose above the cacophony of the gym, blending with the shouts and cheers of enthusiastic spectators, but I knew he heard me.
He always did.
The scoreboard flashed, sneakers squeaked across polished wood, and the air hummed with the electric energy that descends when something monumental is unfolding… or when someone is destined for greatness.
And Kyrin? Oh, without a doubt, he embodied that greatness.
I leaned forward on the bleachers, my heart racing just a bit too quickly as I watched him maneuver down the court with a fluidity that was both quick and confident, andhealthy.
That word alone still did something to me.
Reflecting back to six years ago, I’d been uncertain we would ever reach this moment. And now here he is, out on the hardwood, orchestrating plays, taunting his opponents with his charm, and breaking hearts… both on and off the court.
When I say the girls loved him, I mean they practically worshipped him. Every time he touched the ball, a chorus of ecstatic screams erupted from the stands; the kind usually reserved for celebrities, not a high school sophomore. Teenage girls in the stands whispered, pointed, and fixed their hair like Kyrin might look their way. And the boys? Oh, they couldn’t stand it. They were a mixed bag; half looked at him with envy, wishing they could be as talented, while the other half aimed desperately to guard him, and still couldn’t keep him in check.
I smiled to myself. “That’s my brother."
Seated to my right was my and Domino’s five-year-old son, bouncing like he had a fortune riding on the game, his wide eyes riveted on the court.
“Mommy, that was a good shot!” he exclaimed.
“It was, baby,” I replied softly, planting a gentle kiss on the crown of his head.
To my left, Domino sat with our three-year-old daughter, Diora, who was resting comfortably in his arms, her tiny fingers wrapped around his chain as tight as she was wrapped around his heart.
Diora was my complicated, stressful,almost-took-me-outblessing, yet… our beautiful reminder that not all good things come easily. The pregnancy with her almost broke me, physically and emotionally. There were nights of fear, complications, and moments where I questioned everything. But looking at her now? Yeah… she was worth every drop of sweat and tears that had fallen during both the pregnancy and the delivery. Still… that experience taught us one thing real clear:
We were done. Two was enough… actually, more than enough.
Domino glanced at me, catching my eye for a second. And just like that, everything else faded.
After six years, Domino still admired me like he was still discovering layers of me while remaining enamored with what he found. I knew that if we were alone, he’d remind me real quick I was still his, and not through words, but by action.
I couldn't help but smile slightly, shaking my head in disbelief.
One moment, I was resolute that I would never deal with a man like him; the next, I was married, raising his children, and building a life that I hadn’t even realized I needed.
Life is funny like that. You think you know how your story’s supposed to go, and then it rewrites itself… completely.
Not long after Diora was born, we moved back to Charlotte into a multi-million-dollar home tucked off in Lake Wylie. The area was quiet, gated, and far enough removed to feel like peace but close enough to still feel like life. Kyrin wanted a normal high school experience, and for once, I didn’t argue.
While Mexico was beautiful, safe, and well-structured, it never felt likehome. But sitting here in the gym, surrounded by loud parents, and Kyrin somewhere in the middle of it all? Yeah… this felt like home.
Domino handles most of his business from Charlotte now. He flies out to Mexico only when necessary—boss meetings, major decisions, and things that couldn’t be handled over a call. Other than that, he’s present… more than I ever expected a man like him to be.
My life doesn’t even resemble what it used to be. The girl who once worked two jobs just to stay afloat was long gone. Before my father passed, he put security and policies in place that ensured I would never have to struggle another day in my life… whether Domino and I made it or not. Be that as it may, I still needed purpose, so I finished my healthcare degree. And from that, I built something that meant more than money ever could.
Kyrin’s Heart.
It’s a research center dedicated to children living with heart disease—a place where parents don’t feel rushed through appointments or talked at instead of talked to, where questions are answered fully, not brushed off with “we’ll monitor it,” and where children are seen beyond charts and numbers.
We have specialists who actually listen, quiet rooms for families who need a moment, and resources laid out in a way that makes sense when everything else feels overwhelming. I make sure no one walks in feeling lost… and definitely doesn’t leave that way. It’s not just about medicine; it’s about reassurance and giving people something solid to stand on when everything feels uncertain.
