One Wild Night

Chapter 966: Official Adoption

The rhythmic rise and fall of his breathing was soothing, and the warmth of his body wrapped around her made her feel safe and content. Yet, despite the peace of the moment, Amy's eyes remained open, staring at the ceiling, her mind buzzing with the inevitable goodbye that would come in the morning.

"Close your eyes," Lucas whispered, his voice low and gentle, as he patted her back. "You need to sleep."

Amy shook her head, her cheek brushing against his chest as she shifted. "I don't a want to. If I go to sleep now, morning will come soon, and then you'll have to go." She tilted her head to look at him, her expression tinged with sadness. "I'm going to miss you, Luca."

A soft laugh escaped Lucas as he looked down at her. He tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear and kissed the top of her head. "I'll miss you more, but I'll be back in a couple of months. It's not that long."

"It is long," Amy pouted, snuggling closer, her voice muffled against his skin. "Two months without you feels like forever."

Lucas chuckled softly, his chest vibrating beneath her. "You're cute when you're like this, you know that?" He leaned down and kissed her forehead, lingering there for a moment as if trying to pour all his affection into that simple gesture.

"Only when I'm like this? I thought I was always cute?" she asked with a yawn, and he laughed again.

Lucas watched as Amy's eyelids drooped, and she yawned, despite her best efforts to stay awake. "You're always cute. Now go to sleep."

She blinked up at him, her resolve faltering as the warmth of the bed and the comfort of Lucas' embrace started to lull her. But she fought it, struggling to keep her eyes open. "I don't want to fall asleep yet," she whispered stubbornly, though her body betrayed her exhaustion. Lucas watched her with amusement, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "You're fighting a losing battle, Amy." He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her as she curled into him. "But if it helps, I'll tell you a story."

"A story?" she asked, her voice thick with drowsiness but filled with curiosity.

"Yeah," Lucas said, his fingers trailing softly up and down her arm. "A story to help you sleep."

"No. Not to help me sleep. A story to keep me awake," she said, and Lucas smiled.

"Alright. A story to keep you awake."

"Okay," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she settled against him, her body growing heavier as sleep inched closer. "Tell me a good one."

Lucas thought for a moment, then began spinning a tale with their names, his voice soothing and steady. He spoke of a faraway land, of adventure and love between a Sir Lucas and a Princess Amy, weaving a story that made Amy smile sleepily.

As the minutes passed, her breathing deepened, and Lucas could feel her body go limp in his arms as she finally succumbed to sleep.

Lucas stayed still for a while, listening to the soft sound of her breathing, his heart swelling with tenderness as he kissed her forehead.

Slowly, he slipped out from under her, making sure not to wake her, and padded quietly across the room to his bag. Kneeling down, he pulled out the envelope he had received from Miley's mother the previous day.

He had been carrying around but hadn't yet had the courage to open, and he wanted to do that before leaving.

Lucas hesitated, staring at the envelope for a long moment before going to the living room. He tore it open as he sat down.

Inside was a letter, along with another document. He unfolded the letter first, his heart pounding in his chest as he began to read.

Dear Lucas,

I know this letter is a surprise. By now, you've probably moved on, but I felt I needed to write this, if only to apologize and let you know I'm deeply sorry. I know I was selfish and inconsiderate to have wanted to make such a request. It was unfair of me, and I regret putting that burden on you. Please don't hold it against Amy. She has nothing to do with my actions, and I hope you can forgive me for what I did.

I've left you some money as a thank you. I know you never asked for anything, but this is my way of showing my appreciation for the care you showed me. You are a good man, Lucas, and I hope you can heal from the pain Rachel caused you. You deserve to move on, to find happiness again.

One last thing. Please, take Amy out on a date. I'm sure by the time you're reading this, she's been through a lot, and I think it would make her happy. Help me clear up any misunderstandings that might arise with my parents too. I believe that you and Amy will find your way to each other. You'll be good for her, and she'll be good for you.

Rest assured, wherever I am, I'll be rooting and cheering for you both.

Take care of her.

With love,

Miley.

Lucas leaned back in his seat, and the letter trembled slightly in his hands as he let out a long breath.

Thinking about Miley, he felt a dull ache in his chest. Miley seemed to have been right about a lot of things. Perhaps she had seen something that both he and Amy had not seen. Miley had been right. He was healing from Rachel much faster than he would have thought possible, and with Amy by his side, he felt a sense of peace he hadn't known in years.

"You can rest in peace, Miley. Don't worry about Amy. I'll take care of her," Lucas murmured as he folded the letter neatly and placed it back in the envelope before returning to the bed.

He slipped under the covers beside Amy, pulling her close once more. Amy sighed contentedly in her sleep, and Lucas held her a little tighter as he kissed the top of her head and whispered,

"I love you."

Away from there, Kimberly was seated beside Ryan in the waiting room of the courthouse as the final documents of adoption were being processed.

Dawn fidgeted in her seat, her eyes darting between her mother and Ryan, curious but unaware of the significance of the moment.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Kimberly glanced at Ryan, who had one arm resting casually over the back of his chair, his demeanor as self-assured as ever. She studied his profile for a moment, still adjusting to the idea that this man- her husband of convenience- was about to officially become Dawn's

father.

"Are you ready for this?" she asked quietly, her voice soft but filled with emotion.

Ryan's smile widened just a touch, his gaze shifting to meet hers. "More than ready. This is the right thing to do. I'm all in, Kimberly."

Her heart swelled at his words, and she was glad that this union was paying off. At least, when it came to Dawn. Kimberly turned to her daughter, her heart overflowing with love as she watched Dawn's small feet swinging back and forth from her chair, her hands clasping her stuffed panda, Lucy, tightly.

The door to the judge's office creaked open, and their lawyer, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, stepped out with a stack of papers in hand. "Everything's ready," she announced, her voice laced with warmth. "You can come in now."

Kimberly stood, her legs feeling a bit shaky as she reached for Dawn's hand. Ryan stood as well, and together, the three of them walked into the judge's office, a small but bright room filled with legal documents and framed diplomas.

The judge, a gray-haired woman with glasses perched on the end of her nose, gave them a welcoming smile as they approached her desk.

"Mr. and Mrs. Harris, congratulations," the judge began, her voice formal but kind. "Today, we finalize the adoption of your daughter, Dawn, by Mr. Ryan Harris." Kimberly squeezed Dawn's hand tightly, glancing down to see the little girl looking up at the judge with wide, curious eyes. The word adoption hung in the air, and though Dawn didn't fully understand its significance, she seemed to sense the importance of the moment. The judge continued, explaining the legal formalities in a professional tone, but Kimberly's mind wandered as she watched Ryan. She still couldn't believe how far they had come. When she first agreed to marry him, it was a calculated decision-one based on stability, convenience, and securing a future for her daughter. But now, seeing Ryan standing there, ready to embrace the role of Dawn's father, something in her heart shifted.

At the end of the judge's speech, she asked Ryan to step forward and sign the final adoption papers. Kimberly watched as Ryan took the pen, his movements steady and deliberate. He signed his name with a flourish, and with that single signature, Dawn officially became his

daughter.

A wave of relief and joy washed over Kimberly, her emotions bubbling to the surface. She knelt down to Dawn's level and whispered, "Sweetheart, today is a special day. Ryan is

officially your daddy now."

Although Dawn couldn't understand what she meant since she had known Ryan was her daddy since the wedding, Dawn's eyes lit up, her gaze shifting to Ryan as if seeing him in a new

light. "Daddy?"

Ryan crouched down next to Kimberly, his face softening as he looked at Dawn. "Yes, Dawn.

I'm your daddy now."

Dawn's face broke into a wide, toothy grin, and she threw her arms around Ryan's neck in an enthusiastic hug. Kimberly watched, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes as Ryan wrapped his arms around Dawn, holding her tightly as if she were the most precious thing in

the world.

After the emotional moment passed, they thanked the judge and their lawyer before stepping outside into the bright afternoon sunlight.

Kimberly felt as though she were floating-light, free, and full of joy. This was what she had dreamed of: a family for her daughter, a stable home where Dawn would be loved and

protected.

When they arrived home, Dawn's governess was waiting for them by the door, ready to take her for her afternoon activities. Dawn clung to Ryan for a moment before reluctantly letting go, giving him one last hug before running off with her governess, chattering excitedly about

her new "daddy."

As the door closed behind them, Kimberly turned to Ryan, her heart full. "Thank you," she

said softly, her voice thick with gratitude. "You have no idea how much this means to me-

and to Dawn."

Ryan reached out, taking her hands in his. "I'm glad we're here," he said, his voice steady. "But now that Dawn is officially mine, there's something we need to discuss."

Kimberly frowned slightly, her heart skipping a beat at the sudden shift in his tone. "What is

it?"

Ryan's expression grew serious. "Now that Dawn is legally my daughter, I think it's time we cut her off completely from the Hank family. I don't want any connection with them- no scandals, no complications."

Kimberly's breath caught in her throat. Although she had no plans of letting the Hanks be involved in Dawn's life, but hearing it aloud from Ryan unsettled her.

She nodded slowly. "I understand. The Hanks are not interested in Dawn anyway. It won't be a

problem." Ryan's gaze softened slightly, but his next words came with an edge of finality. "I also want you to cut off that kid- Jamal. I know he's connected to the Hanks," Ryan sajd, since Genevieve had told him all about Dawn's friend, Jamal.

Kimberly hesitated. Jamal had been Dawn's only real friend before Genevieve came into the

picture, and she had allowed the friendship to continue for Dawn's sake. But now, with Ryan's request, she knew it was time to let go. "You're right," she said quietly. "Dawn has Genevieve now. There's no reason for her to keep in touch with Jamal."

Ryan smiled, pleased with her agreement. "Good. It feels like we have a real family now. No

outside influences. Just us."

Kimberly smiled too, though a small part of her felt a pang of sadness at cutting off Jamal

since she knew Dawn was sweet on him. Still, she knew this was the best decision for Dawn's future-and for their family.

"Yes," she agreed, her voice soft. "Just us."