Chapter 110

Amanda stood outside the classroom, feeling the warmth of the afternoon sun on her face. The familiar sounds of campus life filled the air—students chatting, laughter echoing from somewhere nearby, and the rustle of books and papers. It was all so normal, so beautifully ordinary, that she almost couldn’t believe she was a part of it again.

Her fingers brushed the strap of her bag, and she let out a slow breath. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. **Normal**. That was the word she kept coming back to. It was strange how quickly life could shift back to something resembling what it used to be—how quickly she could slip back into the routine of classes, studying, and coffee breaks.

Amanda had spent the last few weeks reacclimating, trying to find herself again in the world she had once known so well. And while the shadow of everything that had happened with Nathan and Ghost still lingered in the back of her mind, she was beginning to feel a sense of peace. Her nights were no longer haunted by the same fear. The constant tension that had once gripped her was beginning to ease.

She looked down at her phone and smiled at the text from Ron.

**Ron:** *Meeting just finished. See you soon?*

Amanda typed out a quick reply. **Amanda:** *On my way.*

She tucked her phone into her pocket and started walking across the campus, her steps light with excitement. The day had finally come. Today, she was going to tell Ron the news—news that had changed her world all over again.

As she made her way to Ron's office downtown, Amanda’s heart beat a little faster. The pregnancy was still so new, the realization only hitting her fully in the past few days. She’d known something was different for a while, but the confirmation had brought with it a whirlwind of emotions—joy, disbelief, and a little bit of fear.

She hadn’t planned for this, but now that it was real, she felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. It was as if this was the missing piece—the final step toward the life she and Ron had always imagined. They had been through so much together, fought side by side through the darkest moments, and now they had a future to build, something to look forward to that wasn’t shrouded in danger or uncertainty.

Amanda reached the tall glass doors of Ron's office building and walked inside. The receptionist greeted her with a familiar smile, recognizing her immediately.

"Good afternoon, Amanda," the woman said. "Ron’s in his office. You can head up."

"Thanks, Sarah," Amanda replied, giving her a nod before making her way to the elevator. Her pulse quickened as she ascended to the top floor, her mind already racing with thoughts of how she would break the news. She could hardly wait to see the look on Ron’s face.

The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and Amanda stepped out into the sleek, modern hallway that led to Ron’s office. His company was thriving once again after all the chaos, and he had seamlessly returned to his role as CEO. Despite everything, Ron had found a way to bring stability back into his life—and into theirs.

As she approached his office, Amanda felt her nerves start to dance in her stomach. She opened the door quietly, finding Ron standing by the large window, his back to her. He was deep in thought, staring out over the city, but when he heard her enter, he turned with a smile that lit up his entire face.

"Hey, you," he said, crossing the room to meet her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in for a kiss. "How was class?"

"Good," Amanda replied, her heart swelling at the feel of his arms around her. She had missed this kind of normalcy—coming to visit Ron after her courses, talking about their day as if there wasn’t a world of chaos waiting just outside their door.

Ron studied her face, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You look like you’ve got something on your mind. Is everything okay?"

Amanda took a deep breath, her hand resting gently against her stomach. "There’s something I need to tell you."

Ron’s expression shifted, concern flickering across his features. "What is it?"

She smiled, unable to keep the joy from shining in her eyes. "I’m pregnant."

For a moment, Ron just stared at her, his mouth slightly open, as if trying to process the words. Then, a slow grin spread across his face, and his eyes filled with a mixture of disbelief and happiness.

"Are you serious?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Amanda nodded, her heart racing. "Yeah. I found out a few days ago. I wanted to tell you as soon as I could."

Ron laughed, a sound so full of relief and joy that it made Amanda’s heart soar. He pulled her into his arms again, holding her tightly as if he never wanted to let go.

"We’re going to be parents," he said softly, his voice full of wonder. "I can’t believe it."

Amanda rested her head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "I know. It’s crazy, right? But it feels… right. After everything we’ve been through, it feels like this is where we’re supposed to be."

Ron pulled back slightly, looking down at her with a serious but tender expression. "I want you to know, Amanda, that whatever happens, I’m going to be there. For you, for our child. No more running, no more danger. Just us, building a life together."

Tears welled up in Amanda’s eyes, but they were tears of happiness, of relief. She had never imagined she would find this kind of peace after everything that had happened, but here it was—right in front of her.

"I love you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Ron leaned down, kissing her softly. "I love you too, Amanda. More than anything."

As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, Amanda felt an overwhelming sense of contentment. The past would always be a part of them, but now they had something even greater to look forward to. A future together—one filled with hope, love, and the promise of new beginnings.

And for the first time in a long time, Amanda felt truly at peace.