(Scarlett’s POV)


    The silence that follows Virginia’s dramatic exit is deafening. The celebratory joy from earlier disappears, tainted by her performance.


    After a long moment, James clears his throat. “We…should head home too.”


    ir nods, her eyes red with unshed tears. She kisses Lily’s forehead, then mine. “Take care, habibti. We’ll talkter.”


    I watch them walk away, their shoulders hunched. Only when I see their defeated postures do I realize…thest four years haven’t been kind to them. They aged overnight without my


    notice.


    When they’re gone, I turn to Jasper with a bitter smile. “Well, your little wife has already left. Aren’t you going to run after her?”


    He looks at me with an amused smile. “Aren’t you my wife? Where did this other wifee


    from?”


    His words leave me stumped. “We’re divorced.”


    “No, sweetheart. We’re not divorced until I sign those papers.” He takes Lily from my arms. I don’t stop him. She’s gotten heavier. Carrying her has now be an exhausting task. “And I have no intention of ever signing them anytime soon.”


    “You-”


    “Scar, right <i>now</i>, I’m more concerned about this little reindeer who’s about to fall asleep.”


    Lily giggles against his shoulder. “I’m not sleepy!”


    “No? Then would you like <i>to </i>see the Christmas parade?”


    Her eyes light up. “There’s a parade?”


    “There sure is.”


    Grabbing my hand, Jasper leads us to follow the crowd to Main Street, where floats decorated with twinkling lights roll past. He shifts Lily to sit on his shoulders, who ps at every marching band and waving Santa.


    His free hand hovers near my back, the gesture natural, protective, whenever the crowd presses close.


    < Chapter 97


    More Rewards


    After the parade, we stop at food trucks for hot chocte topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. Lily gets it on her nose, and Jasper wipes it away with his thumb, making her


    “Remember our first Christmas parade?” he asks, watching Lily run off to pet a dog dressed


    as reindeer.


    I do remember. We were newlyweds then, Virginia not yet in our lives. He’d bought me a red scarf, and wrapped it around my neck, iming I looked hideous with a red nose.


    “Jasper…”


    “What? It’s true.” He turns to me. “You look better with flushed cheeks.”


    Heat creeps up my neck. “Don’t.” I shake my head. “Not here. Not today. Today is about Lily.”


    “Right.” He intones, the smile fading from his eyes. His disappointment is stark as light. But I can’t be bothered to care.


    We’re here only because of Lily and only for Lily today, and I intend to keep it that way.


    As the sun is about to set, Avalon’s horse–drawn Santa sleigh makes its appearance.


    On Lily’s insistence, Jasper convinces the rider dressed as Santa to drive her through the


    snow–covered parks.


    By the time it’s over, she’s fast asleep, exhausted from the excitement. Jasper carries her out, stuffing a stack of notes in the fake Santa’s hands as he leaves.


    We walk back to his car in silence, Christmas lights reflecting off the snow, turning everything


    into a winter wondend.


    A strange peace settles between us. It’s funny. In the years we’ve known each other, this is perhaps the first Christmas we spent together without either of us doing much talking.


    Back at my apartment, Jasper carries Lily to her bedroom. She’spletely dead to the world, her reindeer face paint smudged but still visible.


    I watch him tuck her in, smoothing her hair back from her forehead. The tenderness in his movements makes my chest ache. This is what I wanted four years ago. A father who loved his child, a husband who spent time with me.


    “Thank you,” I say when he emerges from her room. “For giving Lily a memorable Christmas.”


    “Scar, I…”


    I don’t wait to hear what he wants to say, and go into my room, mming the door. That’s his


    :


    < Chapter 97 sign to leave.


    More Rewards


    Once alone in my bedroom, I peel off the burgundy sweater and gray scarf, hanging them carefully in the closet. After today, I’ll probably never wear the scarf again.


    Pulling onfortable pajamas, I fix on my hijab, and pad back to the living room.


    Jasper is gone. Thankfully.


    A strange mix of disappointment and relief washes over me. I smother the voice in my head hoping he’d stay and go to turn off the Christmas tree lights when <i>something </i>catches my


    eye.


    There under the Christmas tree are two packages. One small, one big. Both wrapped in silver paper with elegant ribbons.


    My heart squeezes. He must have ced them there while I was changing.


    The smaller package has Lily’s name written on it in his neat handwriting. Therger one says “For Scarlett” in the same careful script.


    I stare at the packages, which are, no doubt, Christmas presents for us, emotions churning in my chest like a winter storm.


    He had three years. Three years to love me, to treasure me, to show me what it means to be a family. After failing all those years, why is he doing this?


    I’m tired. And confused. And scared. I can’t give him what he wants, because I’m no longer


    the same Scarlett.


    But Jasper ke doesn’t seem like he’s going to give up. He seems determined to leave his mark in our lives, even if it means leaving us shattered and broken.


    I turn off the lights and head to bed, leaving the presents under the tree. I don’t have the energy to deal with them. To the conflicting emotions churning in my heart.


    Tomorrow. <fna05c> Updates are released by find[?]ovel</fna05c>


    Yes, I’ll return them back to him tomorrow.


    Tonight, I just want to hold onto the memory of Lily’sughter and the radiance in her eyes as


    she rode on the sleigh and sang “Jingle Bell.”