Chapter 20: Happily Ever After

The sun shone brightly over the small backyard, where balloons in pastel colors swayed gently in the breeze. It was the twins' fourth birthday, and the entire space was alive with laughter, music, and the excited chatter of children running around.

Emma stood by the dessert table, arranging cupcakes while keeping an eye on her youngest, Lily, who was toddling around. At just over a year old, she had already mastered the art of charming everyone with her giggles and wide-eyed curiosity.

"Lily, no!" Emma called out as the little one made a beeline for the chocolate fountain. Jae swooped in just in time, scooping her up.

"Caught you, little troublemaker," Jae said, holding Lily up and blowing raspberries on her belly. She squealed with delight.

Ethan and Noah, now older but just as mischievous, were busy showing off their new superhero costumes to their friends. They darted between guests, yelling, "Save the world!" and narrowly avoiding knocking over a table.

"Boys, be careful!" Jae called, but his voice held more amusement than warning.

Emma joined him, leaning into his side as they watched their family. "Can you believe how far we've come?"

Jae smiled, wrapping an arm around her. "Not in my wildest dreams. But I wouldn't change a thing."

The past few years had been a whirlwind. Jae had managed to balance his career with family life, stepping away from the intense spotlight to focus on music production and mentoring younger artists. He found joy in the quieter side of the industry, where he could still create without sacrificing time with Emma and the kids.

Emma's blog had evolved into a full-fledged platform. Her stories about parenting, married life, and her love for K-culture resonated with readers worldwide. She even published a book, which quickly became a bestseller.

They often joked about how their love story felt like a fairytale, but both knew it was the little, imperfect moments that made it truly special.

As the party wound down and the last of the guests left, Jae gathered the family in the living room.

"Okay, everyone, I have a surprise," he announced, pulling out a small box.

"What is it?" Ethan asked, bouncing with excitement.

Jae opened the box to reveal a set of plane tickets. "We're going to Jeju Island for a family vacation!"

The kids cheered, and Emma looked at Jae, her eyes wide. "Jeju? Really?"

Jae grinned. "It's time we took a break. Just us. No distractions."

A week later, the family stood on a sandy beach, the waves gently lapping at their feet. Ethan and Noah were building a sandcastle, while Lily sat happily in Jae's lap, playing with a seashell.

Emma snapped a photo of the moment, her heart full. She turned the camera toward herself and Jae, capturing a selfie with their kids in the background.

As the sun set over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Emma took Jae's hand.

"We've built something beautiful, haven't we?" she said softly.

Jae kissed her forehead. "The most beautiful thing in the world."

Emma smiled, squeezing his hand. "You know, I used to think happy endings only happened in stories. But then I realized... happy endings are just the beginning of something even better."

Jae laughed, pulling her closer. "Trust you to make everything sound poetic."

"And trust you to turn my life into a real-life fairytale," Emma teased, her voice filled with love.

As their laughter mingled with the sound of the waves and the children's giggles, Emma felt a deep sense of peace. They weren't perfect, but they were perfect together—and that was all she ever needed.