Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 82~

~Raelyn~

I woke up late in the afternoon on the couch, where I had been the night before. My body ached all over, and I felt the weight of the world pressing down on me. Colby was beside me, looking at me with concern.

"Good morning sweetheart, how're you feeling?"

I winced in pain as I sat up carefully, "I've been better." He kissed my forehead as he moved a piece of hair from my face.

"It's time to go look at the house we found last night," he said softly, his voice filled with worry.

I had no idea about house hunting, so I just nodded, feeling tears welling up in my eyes.

Colby smiled at me sweetly, trying to reassure me. "It's going to be okay, baby girl," he whispered, but I could see the concern in his eyes.

I moved slowly, every movement sending waves of pain through my body. Holding Aspen helped a little, her tiny warmth giving me some comfort. We sat down for breakfast, but I could barely eat. I picked at my food, still feeling scared, on edge, and broken. I sniffled, holding Aspen close to me, trying to find some solace.

After breakfast, we all got dressed. Colby had to help me with my clothes because I could barely move. Every movement was agonizing, and I couldn't stop sobbing. "I'm sorry, Colby," I whined. "I'm sorry for complaining."

He held me close, his voice gentle. "You have nothing to apologize for, Angel," he said, his arms wrapped around me. "It's okay to feel this way."

I sobbed into his chest, shaking with pain. When I was finally dressed, Colby got Aspen and Blake dressed too. We all got into the cars, ready to go see the new house. Devyn, Corey, Jake, and Tara were in Corey's car, while Liam, Isa, Katrina, Sam, Colby, me, and the kids were in Katrina's SUV.

As we drove to the promising new home, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread. The pain, both physical and emotional, was overwhelming. Colby reached over and squeezed my hand.

"We're all going to be okay, Rae," he said, his voice filled with determination. "I promise." I nodded as I leaned my head on his shoulder.

~

We pulled up to the house, and my jaw dropped. It was a massive, modern two-story building with 15 bedrooms and 17 1/2 bathrooms. Everyone in the crew was buzzing with excitement.

"Wow, this place is incredible," Sam said, stepping out of the car.

I held Aspen close as Colby helped me out. "It's like a dream," I whispered, still in awe.

The realtor greeted us warmly and began the tour. "Welcome! Let's start with the main living area," she said, leading us inside.

As we walked through the house, I couldn't believe how perfect it was. The living room was spacious with floor-to-ceiling windows, letting in a flood of natural light. "This would be perfect for family gatherings," I said, imagining all of us together here.

Katrina nodded. "And look at that kitchen! It's huge," she added, her eyes wide with excitement.

Corey and Jake were already exploring the backyard. "There's even a pool!" Corey shouted back to us.

We continued through the house, each room more impressive than the last. The bedrooms were all spacious and beautifully designed. "I can already see the kids loving it here," Devyn said, smiling at Blake, who was running around excitedly.

When we reached the master suite, Colby looked at me with a grin. "What do you think, Angel? Can you see us here?"

I nodded, tears welling up in my eyes. "It's perfect, Colby. It's everything we've ever wanted."

The realtor showed us the final few rooms, and we gathered back in the main living area. "So, what do you think?" she asked.

"We love it," Colby said, squeezing my hand. "We'd like to make an offer of 15 million."

The realtor's eyes widened. "That's wonderful! I'll get the paperwork started right away."

We spent the next few hours finalizing everything, and by the end of the day, the house was ours. "I can't believe we did it," I said, feeling a mix of excitement and relief.

Colby wrapped his arms around me. We're going to be so happy here, Rae. I promise."

Everyone was buzzing with excitement as we left the house. "Let's start packing! I can't wait to move in," Jake said, his enthusiasm contagious.

As we drove back, I looked at the crew, my family, and felt a sense of hope. We were starting a new chapter, and I knew, despite everything, at last, we were going to be okay.