CHAPTER 19 THE BABY

In the aftermath of their passion, as they lay together in a tangle of limbs and tangled sheets, Madison turned to Michael, her voice soft and vulnerable. "Have you ever dreamed of being a dad?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "Do you still want a family, despite everything that's happened?" Michael was silent for a moment, his eyes distant and unreadable. "Yes," he whispered at last, his voice choked with emotion. "I have dreamed of it, more than anything." Madison took Michael's hand, placing it gently on her tummy, her gaze locked on his. "Then dream no more," she whispered, her voice filled with love and hope. "For this child, our child, is the legacy we both share. It's the legacy of love, of hope, of a future that's brighter than either of us could ever have imagined." Michael's eyes filled with tears, his hand trembling against the soft curve of her belly. "I don't deserve this," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. Madison smiled softly, her hand cov