“We’ll end here today,” Kyle commanded, holding onto Ashlee firmly. She was giggling uncontrollably, bubbling with a strange excitement.

Everyone started to rush back to the lockers to change. Heather approached Kyle and Ashlee, a soft, sly smile on her face that still managed to look a little too menacing.

“Hey, guys.” Heather looked at them with the same mischievous eyes.

“What is it now, Heather?” Kyle groaned in frustration. He didn’t want Heather to ruin Ashlee’s smile again. It had been so long since they’d found peace and happiness.

He wanted no more drama.

“Oh! Seems like you don’t want to see me,” Heather shrugged, noticing Kyle shifting his gaze away from her, toward the sky or the trees around the forest. “Anyway,” she sighed, “I’m just here to apologize for my behavior last night. I shouldn’t have been rude to Ashlee.”

“Luna!” Kyle corrected.

“Right, Luna. I apologize for what I did. I hope you can forgive me one day if it’s not too much to ask, and maybe we can start fresh, with less tension and more stability,” she said with a faux-regretful expression, masking her true intentions to get closer to Ashlee.

“It’s alright. As long as you regret it, you are forgiven.” Ashlee’s soft heart could never say no or be harsh to those who let her down. Kyle wasn’t thrilled to hear her let it go so easily, but he was still proud of her.

He was proud that his girl could endure everything and have the heart to forgive. He could see her fitting effortlessly into his family with grace.

“Thanks for that. I’ll leave you two alone, then.” Heather gave them a tight, bright smile. Ashlee returned it, but Kyle didn’t trust Heather’s sudden change after all these years.

“Let’s go,” Ashlee whispered, grabbing Kyle’s arm and pulling him along.

“What is it?” Kyle chuckled as he took a seat at the dining table. All he could do was watch her overflowing with excitement.

Ashlee went into the kitchen and returned with a tray fresh out of the oven. With oven gloves on her small hands, she looked so tiny and adorable, a cat-like grin on her face as she brought over what she had baked for him.

“What’s this?” Kyle asked, curiously eyeing the dish she placed before him with a fork and knife.

“It’s Cranberry-Apple Lattice pie,” she said, putting the tray back in the sink. She joined him to watch him eat what she’d made especially for him.

“What’s that?” Kyle looked puzzled at the pie.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never had this?” Ashlee looked more surprised than he did. How could he not know about something this delicious?

“It’s famous in California,” Ashlee added, hoping it would jog his memory.

“Uh-huh... is it edible?” he smirked, teasing her.

“What do you mean? It’s only my second try making it. I’m pretty sure I didn’t add poison—unless you keep getting on my nerves,” Ashlee rolled her eyes at his constant grinning.

“How was your first try?” Kyle asked, clearly suspecting a story. He knew it must’ve been a funny experience for her to be so secretive about it.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Just eat, you jerk! Or I’ll take it away.” Ashlee reached to snatch the dish from him, but Kyle grabbed it before she could. He did want to eat what she had made.

“Did I say I don’t want to eat?” Kyle scoffed, rolling his eyes at her. She laughed at his playful stubbornness.

He took a spoonful and acted uncertain about the taste, all while Ashlee watched him, waiting for praise. He couldn’t resist teasing her.

“How’s it?” she asked as he made an exaggerated, cringing face just to annoy her. She playfully punched his shoulder.

“What’s going on, lovebirds?” Esyn entered with an empty water jug, amused to see the couple enjoying each other’s company.

“It’s this strange thing Ashlee made and forced me to eat,” Kyle mumbled, his mouth full of Ashlee’s pie.

“Spit it out!” Ashlee slapped his arm, and he chuckled, clearly delighted to have gotten on her nerves.

“I’m sorry, sorry.” He swallowed the pie and turned to Esyn, “My girl made me the best pie I’ve ever had. What did your husband make for you?” Kyle boasted to Esyn.

“My husband made this for me. Want to compare?” Esyn raised her brows, grinning as she pointed to her pregnant belly.

Ashlee blushed, hearing Esyn’s response. How could she be so blunt?

Radulf entered, coughing softly, delighted to see his family together. Ashlee smiled, rushing to the kitchen, while Kyle stiffened, and Esyn fell silent.

Radulf took a seat, one chair away from Kyle. His expression turned somber as he looked at his children. Seeing their smiles fade at his presence was disheartening for him.

“Here you go, old man,” Ashlee said, placing the same pie she’d given Kyle in front of Radulf. He looked at the pie with the same curious expression as Kyle.

“This looks different but nice,” Radulf commented, warming Ashlee’s heart.

“Try it,” she encouraged, waiting eagerly for his review.

Radulf took a bite. “Oh!” he exclaimed.

“What? Is it really not good?” Ashlee furrowed her brows in confusion.

Kyle and Esyn exchanged bewildered looks. What was happening? Weren’t they on bad terms?

“It’s heavenly good,” Radulf finally remarked, taking another spoonful.

“Thank you for that. Your son didn’t agree, so I thought I messed it up,” Ashlee sighed, giving Kyle a pointed look.

“My son?” Radulf glanced at Ashlee, who nodded. Radulf chuckled, “Ignore him; he doesn’t know a thing about taste.” Radulf whispered, and both burst into laughter, bonding over mocking Kyle.

Esyn and Kyle were utterly stunned. Had they stepped into an alternate reality?

‘Are we dreaming?’ Esyn mind-linked Kyle. Kyle could only stare in shock at his father being friendly with Ashlee. How could this be?

“Dad,” Esyn spoke, drawing Ashlee’s and Radulf’s attention. “What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” Radulf replied, focused on his pie. It had been ages since he’d enjoyed something this delicious.

“This.” Esyn gestured to the newfound friendship between Radulf and Ashlee.

“What’s wrong?” Radulf feigned innocence. He knew his kids would be surprised, but he just wanted to be kind and look forward to grandkids.

“I...” Esyn couldn’t even form words to express her confusion.

“It was a nice treat, kiddo,” Radulf said, patting Ashlee’s head. “Now I need to go see my wife, or she’ll kill me for being late for our day out.” He chuckled.

‘Did Dad just make a joke, or am I hearing things?’ Esyn mind-linked Kyle.

‘I think he did,’ Kyle replied, finally breaking his silence.

“Alright. Have a great time,” Ashlee chuckled, taking his dishes back to the kitchen as Radulf left them alone again.

“What just happened?” Esyn asked, every word laden with shock.

“What?” Ashlee laughed, taking Kyle’s empty dish.

“How did... what... what did you do to Dad? He was acting like the world’s villain this morning. How did he change so fast?” Esyn rephrased, her face full of confusion and curiosity.

“Nothing. We just had a small talk, and he was nice. I don’t know.” Ashlee laughed and returned to the kitchen with Kyle following her.

“What’s going on, Ashlee?” Kyle pressed, suspecting it wasn’t as simple as she said.

“Nothing’s going on. He just felt guilty for not being there for his family before, and now he wants to make it up to them by being more present. What’s wrong with you?” She raised her brows in confusion.

Hearing her say that, he embraced her tightly. He now understood what Ashlee had done—for him, for all of them.

With a sigh of relief, he whispered, “What did I ever do to deserve you?” He held her close, cherishing the moment.

Meanwhile, Hagatha laughed as she watched Kyle whispering to Ashlee. “What did you do? You should be thankful to me, foolish beast!” she hissed, watching him cling to Ashlee.

“What a revolting sight,” she sneered, brushing her hand over the fire globe, erasing the scene from her view. She couldn’t stand to watch them any longer.

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