Time To Man Up

Jerica returned, moving slowly but steadily, her hands resting lightly on her belly. Harold watched her closely, but his gaze wasn't just on her—it was on the way she looked at Jared. The warmth in her eyes, the way her smile softened at the sight of her husband, the way Jared instinctively reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. There was something undeniably beautiful about it. It was unspoken, effortless—love.

Harold exhaled, leaning back slightly in his chair as a realization settled deep within him.

Family.

For most of his life, that word had been empty. A vague concept, a label with no weight. His own family had been more about power and alliances than warmth or belonging. But seeing Jared and Jerica together, he finally understood what it truly meant. Family wasn't just blood—it was choosing someone, standing beside them, belonging to them in a way that went beyond words.