Chapter 18 - THE LAKEFRONT ESTATE
Two years later.
Spring had arrived in Lake Forest, Illinois.
The new Blackwood family estate sat on fifty acres of lush green land overlooking Lake Michigan. The grand stone house featured wide open porches, high glass windows, and sprawling gardens filled with blooming white lilies and red roses.
On the manicured lawn, three-year-old Ethan was running around in a small pair of denim overalls, kicking a miniature soccer ball while Mikhail—now acting as his personal bodyguard and playmate—trotted lazily behind him, pretending to fail at stopping his goals.
"GOAL!" Ethan cheered, throwing his hands into the air.
On the covered patio, Lilianna sat in a comfortable rocking chair, cradling a newborn baby girl wrapped in a soft pink blanket.
Victor walked out onto the porch carrying two glasses of iced tea. He set the glasses on the wicker table, sat down beside her, and looked down at his daughter’s sleeping face.
"She has your eyes, Lilianna," Victor whispered gently, brushing his thumb against the baby’s tiny cheek.
"And she has your stubbornness," Lilianna chuckled softly. "She refused to sleep until three in the morning."
Victor smiled—a genuine, warm smile that had become a permanent part of his life since marrying Lilianna.
"What are we naming her?" Victor asked.
May you like
Lilianna looked out over the lake, watching the sun reflect off the clear blue water.
"Victoria," she said softly. "Victoria Maya Blackwood."
