Chapter 98
2364words
Los Altos | Solentra | Alonzo Voss-Sinclair Estate
Sunlight spilled through the large windows of Solentra, dust motes dancing lazily in its warmth. The estate was quiet, save for the soft shuffle of tiny footsteps across the marble floors. Keiran, now ten years old, darted past the grand staircase, a flash of dark hair and boundless energy, calling out for his fathers.
Kristina stood near the kitchen island, washing the plates and occasionally sipping her coffee, steam curling from her mug. She watched her son with a fond smile, the way he moved—confident, curious, and full of the spark he had inherited from both Eli and Lucian.
In the study nook just off the living room, Lucian and Eli sat side by side, papers spread across the table. Lucian’s dark blazer was thrown casually over his shoulders, Eli’s sleeves rolled up. They worked together with the easy rhythm of a decade-long partnership, quietly reviewing reports and schedules, though their attention was only half on the pages in front of them.
“Daddy Lucian! Daddy Eli!” Keiran’s voice rang through the room. “Can we go to the ice rink?”
The two men exchanged amused glances, folding the papers neatly. Lucian leaned back, hands clasped together. “Nothing urgent left on our end, I think,” he said softly.
“Yeah,” Eli added, smiling down at the same documents. “All caught up. Nothing that can’t wait.”
Keiran bounced on his heels, excitement making him practically vibrate. “Please! Can we go?”
Lucian reached out, ruffling Keiran’s hair. “Let’s check with Mom first. Make sure she’s free.”
Eli nodded, leaning back in his chair. “Agreed. Nothing pressing for us today, so it’s all about her schedule now.”
Keiran grinned, practically skipping the few steps toward the kitchen. “Mom! Are you busy?”
Kristina looked up from her coffee, smiling at the sight of her little family gathering around her. “Umm… not really. Why?”
“Can we go to the ice rink? Please?” Keiran asked, eyes wide and pleading.
Kristina set her mug down and glanced at Lucian and Eli, who were standing nearby, papers forgotten in their hands, exchanging quiet smiles. That look told her everything she needed to know—they were already on board.
“Well,” Kristina said finally, letting a playful smile spread across her face, “I think we can go.”
Keiran whooped in delight, spinning on his heels and sprinting up the stairs toward his room.
Kristina rose, following him to help him change into his winter clothes. Lucian and Eli chuckled, falling in step behind her as they headed to their master bedroom to get ready as well. The morning air was bright with energy, the whole family moving together, ready for a day of snow and laughter.
The mall was alive with the rush of holiday shoppers, the air buzzing with laughter, footsteps, and the faint jingling of festive music drifting from every corner. Stalls overflowed with ornaments, wrapped gifts, and twinkling lights, while families and friends wove through the crowds, carrying shopping bags and steaming cups of cocoa. Keiran, cheeks still rosy from the cold of the ice rink, darted ahead of Lucian and Eli, weaving between people with a grin that mirrored the chaos around him.
“Hold up, champ,” Eli called, matching his pace. “Let’s not get lost in all this madness.”
Lucian’s hand brushed over Keiran’s shoulder, steadying him as they approached a display of gadgets. “Which one caught your eye?” he asked, nodding toward a colorful stand.
Kristina walked nearby, letting them take the lead but staying close enough to guide and laugh along. “You two are always so worried something might happen to him,” she said quietly, shaking her head in amusement. “Relax. He’s faster than both of you combined.”
Eli shot her a mock glare. “We’re just being careful,” he said.
Lucian smirked, letting the words slide. “Someone has to make sure our son doesn’t disappear in the crowd.”
Keiran, oblivious to the gentle teasing, pointed excitedly at the gadget display. “Over there! Can we see that?”
They spent the next while wandering from store to store, checking out small gifts, picking up a few for family and friends, and laughing at decorations. Kristina stayed close, sharing in the excitement, laughing at Keiran’s enthusiasm, and occasionally reminding him to slow down. Whenever Eli or Lucian fretted about bumps or crowds, she would roll her eyes subtly but smiled fondly, letting them keep their playful “protective dad” roles.
Eventually, they passed a phone store, the sleek displays catching Eli’s attention. He crouched slightly beside Keiran, pointing to one of the devices. “How about this one, Keiran? Do you like it?”
Lucian leaned down as well, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. “Would you like this one, Keiran?”
Keiran’s grin remained unshaken. “Yes… but Mom says I’m not allowed to have a phone until I’m fifteen,” he said proudly, as if this were a badge of honor rather than a restriction.
Kristina laughed softly at his seriousness. “I’m just enforcing the rules,” she said lightly.
Lucian chuckled, ruffling Keiran’s hair. “Well, she is the boss.”
Eli smirked. “Exactly. You follow the rules, champ. She’s the boss for a reason.”
Keiran laughed, a bright, ringing sound that echoed over the hum of the mall. “She’s the best boss!”
The four of them continued down the busy corridor together, weaving through shoppers as their laughter blended with the festive chaos. Kristina stayed close, hand brushing over Keiran’s shoulder now and then, keeping him in sight but letting him enjoy his little adventures, while Eli and Lucian exchanged amused glances, still ever-watchful but sharing the joy of the moment with her.
After a few more stops at various stores, Keiran tugged at Kristina’s hand. “Mom, can we see that one?” he asked, pointing toward a small stall of handcrafted ornaments.
Kristina smiled and followed, letting him pick out a few delicate pieces, her fingers brushing his as she guided him safely through the crowd. Eli and Lucian trailed just behind, each keeping an amused but watchful eye on their son.
“This one would look perfect on the tree at Solentra,” Kristina said, handing Keiran a tiny snowflake ornament.
Keiran’s eyes lit up. “Can we get it?”
“Of course,” she said, smiling. Eli and Lucian both nodded, and Keiran practically skipped to the counter to pay, proudly handing over the coins Kristina gave him.
Soon, their shopping bags full and the winter afternoon stretching ahead, Kristina glanced at her partners. “You two okay? Nothing urgent we need to finish?”
Lucian shook his head, grinning. “Nothing that can’t wait. This is the priority.”
Eli chuckled. “Agreed. A rare weekday without work breathing down our necks. Let’s enjoy it.”
With a collective nod, they moved toward the exit, the sunlight spilling across the mall’s plaza as the bustle of shoppers continued around them. Keiran ran ahead, scarf trailing behind him, Kristina catching up with him to adjust his mittens, while Eli and Lucian followed, chuckling quietly at their son’s endless energy.
By the time they reached the car, the chatter of the city and the holiday music had become a backdrop to their laughter. All four of them climbed in, the backseat filled with small gifts and the quiet anticipation of the drive home, the warmth of the morning lingering as snowflakes began to drift lazily from the sky.
Saturday | December 24, 2022
Los Altos | Solentra | Voss-Sinclair Estate
Solentra glowed softly in the winter evening, its windows framed with twinkling lights and wreaths, the air rich with the scent of pine, cinnamon, and roasting chestnuts from the kitchen. Inside, laughter and warm conversation flowed through the halls, a living testament to years of family, love, and tradition.
For over a decade, Eli, Lucian, and Kristina had built a life together, and every December 24 had become a sacred rhythm: a Christmas Eve gathering at Solentra, complete with Ash, Vex, and Sebastian.
Three years after Eli, Lucian, and Kristina’s sacred ceremony in 2012, Sebastian married, marking a significant milestone in his personal life. Although Ash and Vex had begun to build their own lives, both chose to remain close to the trio, remaining loyal to Eli, Lucian, and Kristina.
In 2017, Harold Sinclair passed away quietly, his loss mourned with solemn respect. Only months after Harold’s death, Maxim Thorne also passed, leaving behind the leadership of The Legion. Before his passing, Maxim had formally transferred the title of CEO to Sebastian, ensuring a smooth transition and continued stability—something Sebastian had initially resisted, feeling it was meant for Kristina or Eli, and reluctant to leave the trio just yet. But Maxim reminded him that Eli and Kristina were one with Lucian, and that Sebastian’s loyalty and dedication made him the rightful heir to the role.
Sinclair Dominion officially became Voss-Sinclair Dominion, a name that had grown to represent both family and enterprise. This change was formalized after Keiran’s birth and the finalization of Eli’s second-parent adoption, ensuring the legacy of their family—both in life and in law—would be secure.
Tonight, the estate was alive with the comfort of tradition. Keiran, now ten, ran through the grand hall, trailing the faint sound of bells from the tree, while Kristina adjusted ornaments with careful hands, the glow of the fireplace reflecting in her eyes. Lucian and Eli, in easy camaraderie, checked on last-minute details of the evening’s preparations, offering quiet guidance to Ash and Vex as they arranged the table and polished silverware.
Sebastian moved through the room with practiced ease, laughing quietly at Keiran’s antics. His own children—two little girls, five and three—tried to keep up with Keiran, darting between the adults with squeals of delight. Ash’s wife, gentle and efficient, helped Kristina with ornaments and small touches around the room, while Vex’s partner flitted between the children, keeping them from toppling a precariously stacked pile of gifts.
“This feels like home,” Kristina murmured, leaning against Lucian’s shoulder as they watched the scene unfold.
“Always has,” Lucian replied, brushing a hand over her arm, then glancing at Eli with a small, contented smile.
The trio shared a quiet understanding—the work, the history, the losses, and the love—all culminating in this night, the night before Christmas, where family, friends, and tradition intertwined.
Keiran’s laughter echoed again as he held up a small, glittering ornament. “Look! Can we put this on the tree?”
Kristina nodded, smiling. “Of course, champ. Let’s make this Christmas a memory to keep forever.”
Outside, snow began to fall gently over Solentra, dusting the estate in a soft white blanket, as inside, the warmth of family and tradition wrapped everyone in a quiet, unshakable peace.
Late Evening
The house was quiet now, the soft glow of the fireplace casting warm shadows across the living room. Outside, snow continued to drift lazily onto the grounds of Solentra, blanketing the estate in silence. Keiran slept soundly upstairs, nestled between his blankets, dreams filled with snowflakes and ornaments. Ash, Vex, and Sebastian’s families were tucked into their own rooms, the gentle hush of the night settling over the house.
Kristina, Eli, and Lucian sat together on the rug in front of the fire, legs stretched toward the warmth, mugs of cocoa cradled in their hands. Kristina leaned back slightly against Lucian, a teasing smile curling her lips. “I think we’ve officially become boring parents,” she murmured, her tone light.
“Boring?” Eli protested, his voice half-laugh, half-disbelief. “I think we’re perfectly… traditional.”
Lucian smirked knowingly, one hand resting lightly over Kristina’s, the other brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. “Tradition has its merits,” he said softly, eyes flicking between the two of them.
Kristina laughed quietly, shaking her head. “It’s the quiet that gets me. No chaos, no missions, no crises… just… us.”
Eli’s gaze softened, the firelight reflecting in his eyes. “I could get used to this,” he admitted, leaning back and taking a slow sip of cocoa. “It’s… peaceful.”
“And it’s ours,” Lucian added, tilting his head toward Kristina. “All the chaos led us here.”
Kristina rested her head lightly against his shoulder, and Eli leaned closer, so that the three of them formed a small, unbroken circle of warmth and quiet affection. Their intimacy had shifted over the years—not the blazing intensity of new love, but a softer, deeper current that ran just as strong. Every glance, every touch carried the weight of a decade of shared life, trust, and devotion.
They sipped their cocoa in companionable silence, the fire crackling softly, the world beyond their little circle fading. Here, in this warm, quiet room, they had everything: love, family, and a peace hard-earned and wholly deserved.
Kristina let out a contented sigh. “Merry Christmas,” she whispered.
“Always,” Lucian said, brushing his lips to her temple.
Eli’s hand found hers, fingers intertwining naturally. “Merry Christmas,” he echoed.
And in that quiet glow, with snow falling outside and their family safely asleep, the three of them simply sat together—lovers, partners, and now, forever, home.
Even in the stillest moments, love and family carry the brightest warmth.
Author’s Note
Dear readers,
As this story comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who joined me on this journey. From the first chapter to this quiet Christmas morning at Solentra, your support, enthusiasm, and encouragement have meant the world. Writing this novel has been a labor of love, and sharing it with you has made it even more special.
I hope you’ve laughed, cried, and cheered along with Kristina, Eli, Lucian, and Keiran, and that their story has left a warm place in your heart. Stories are never truly finished—they live on in the hearts of those who read them, and I am endlessly grateful that you chose to let this one live in yours.
I also hope you continue supporting my future novels and join me in more adventures and heartfelt stories. If you enjoyed this journey, please feel free to like, leave a comment, and share your thoughts—it truly means so much to me and helps keep these stories alive.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
With love and gratitude,
Maria Sofia 🖤
