'I Do' For Revenge-Chapter 257: New Beginnings

~LAYLA~

I woke up to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows and the steady rhythm of breathing beside me.

Axel.

We were back in our hotel suite, still fully clothed from yesterday. At some point after the doctor cleared me to leave, after the emotional exhaustion of confessions and tears, we’d simply collapsed onto the bed together.

There was no discussion, no awkwardness... just the need to be close.

His arm was around my waist, and his face was calm as he slept. I watched him in the morning light: his strong jaw, his dark eyelashes, and the tired lines that had formed on his face over the last few days.

My husband... the father of my baby.

As if sensing my gaze, his eyes opened. "Hey," he murmured.

"Hey."

"How are you feeling?" His hand moved instinctively to my stomach. "You? The baby?"

"We’re okay," I said softly. "A little nauseous, but okay."

He sat up immediately. "I’ll make you something. The doctor said you need to eat regularly."

"Axel, you don’t have to..."

"Yes, I do." He was already moving toward the small kitchenette in the suite. "Plain toast and ginger tea, right? That’s what the doctor recommended?"

I watched him bustle around, pulling out bread and searching for tea bags. This man, who ran a billion-dollar empire, was making me breakfast as if it were the most important task in the world.

"Found it," he said triumphantly, holding up a box of ginger tea. "The hotel must have stocked it after we got back last night."

The toast popped up, and he carefully brought everything to me on a tray: plain toast cut into triangles, ginger tea with a slice of lemon, and a glass of water.

"Eat slowly," he instructed, sitting beside me. "If you feel sick, stop immediately."

I took a small bite of toast. "You know, you’re going to be insufferable for the next nine months, aren’t you?"

"Probably," he admitted with a small smile. "But you love me anyway."

"I do," I said, and meant it.

We spent the morning in comfortable quiet. I ate what I could while Axel watched like a hawk, ready to grab the trash can if needed. But the nausea stayed manageable, and I managed to keep down the toast and half the tea.

"We should go see the Duke," I said eventually. "He’ll want to know we’re okay."

"He already knows," Axel said, showing me his phone. Several texts from the Duke: How is she? How’s the baby? Don’t let her overdo it.

I laughed. "He’s going to be worse than you."

"Impossible."

The estate was a flurry of activity when we arrived. Lawyers, accountants, and staff members hurried through the halls as the Duke worked to reclaim his life and restore order to his finances and general operations.

We found him in his study, surrounded by documents.

"Layla! Axel!" He stood immediately, coming around the desk. "How are you both? How’s my great-grandchild?"

I blinked. "We haven’t officially told you yet."

"My dear girl, I was in that medical room. I heard everything." He smiled warmly. "A great-grandchild! Your grandmother would have been so thrilled. She always wanted a house full of children."

He pulled me into a gentle hug. "This child will know only love. That’s your gift to them, breaking the cycle of manipulation and cruelty that plagued this family for too long."

Tears pricked my eyes. "Thank you, Grandfather."

"No, thank you." He held me at arm’s length. "You gave me my life back. You gave this family hope again. Now you’re giving us a future."

Axel cleared his throat. "How are things progressing here? With the estate?"

"Slowly but surely," the Duke said, gesturing to the papers. "Isabelle did more damage than I anticipated. She siphoned off millions, forged signatures on property transfers, and even sold off some family heirlooms. But we’re recovering it all, piece by piece."

"If you need help..." Axel started.

"I have all the help I need," the Duke interrupted kindly. "You two focus on Eclipse Beauty and preparing for that baby. Let me handle this mess." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Speaking of Eclipse," I said, "Helena sent an update this morning. The stock has fully recovered. We’re actually up fifteen per cent from before the contamination scandal."

"That’s because people love a comeback story," the Duke said. "And you, my dear, orchestrated quite the comeback."

"We did," I corrected, glancing at Axel. "Together."

The Duke noticed the look between us and smiled knowingly. "I’m glad to see you two have worked things out. I was worried yesterday."

"We’re working on it," I said honestly. "It’s not magically fixed, but we’re committed to rebuilding the trust."

"That’s all anyone can ask for," the Duke said. "Trust takes time. But you have time now. All the time in the world."

That evening, Axel and I stood on the terrace of the Duke’s estate, watching the sun set over the gardens. The city felt far away here, the chaos of the memorial and the scandal like a distant memory.

"It’s beautiful here," I said, leaning against the stone railing.

"My family used to spend the summer in this country when I was a child," Axel said quietly. "Before Charles destroyed everything. I don’t remember much, but I remember the countryside feel"

I looked at him, seeing the mixture of pain and nostalgia on his face. "Tell me about them. Your parents."

"They were happy," he said simply. "My father was brilliant but kind. My mother laughed constantly. They used to walk in the gardens every evening, just like we’re doing now."

And he went on and on, recounting sweet memories of his parents.

I processed this information, and an idea formed. "Axel, I want a real wedding."

He turned to me, surprised. "What?"

"Not the courthouse rush we did before. A real wedding. With vows that we write ourselves, with the people we love watching." I took his hand. "I want to marry you again, but this time, I want it to mean everything it should have meant the first time."

"Where?" His voice was thick with emotion.

"Here," I said, gesturing to the estate. "I want to start our marriage the right way. With the people we love, in a place that means something to both of us."

"Layla..." Tears gathered in his eyes. "You’d want that? After everything?"

"Especially after everything," I said firmly. "We started wrong, Axel. But we can choose to begin again.."

"Then that’s what we’ll do," he said, pulling me close. "We’ll have the wedding you deserve. The wedding we both deserve."

"And our baby will be there," I said, placing his hand on my stomach. "Maybe not showing yet, but there. A witness to their parents choosing each other, really choosing each other."

"Our baby," he repeated wonderingly. "I still can’t believe it."

"Believe it," I said. "Because in about eight months, everything changes again."

"Good," Axel said, kissing my forehead. "I’m ready for change. For new beginnings. For a future that’s not built on revenge."

"What is it built on?" I asked.

He looked at me, his eyes full of love and promise. "Love. Family. Trust. Everything that actually matters."