Whispered Shadows

Epilogue

Four Years Later

Noa

The sun is warm on my skin as I sit at the patio table in my parent's backyard, a glass of iced tea in my hand and the sound of laughter filling the air. The scent of burgers and ribs sizzling on the grill mixes with the floral fragrance from my mom's blooming hydrangeas. It's one of those rare, perfect afternoons where everything feels just... right.

I glance across the table to where Gia is sitting, her legs tucked beneath her on the cushioned chair.

There's color in her cheeks again—a soft rosiness that wasn't there when we first got her back. She's laughing at something Asher just said, her head tilting back as her dark waves catch the sunlight. Asher, for his part, looks downright smug, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, clearly pleased with himself for making her laugh.

I smile to myself, sipping my tea. The two of them think they're subtle, but the stolen glances, the playful banter—it's obvious to anyone paying attention.

Ryder noticed too. He caught my eye a minute ago and raised an eyebrow in their direction. I just rolled my eyes, but honestly, I'm rooting for them. Gia deserves to be happy, and if Asher is the one to help her rebuild her life, I'm all for it.

"Earth to Noa." Ryder's voice pulls me from my thoughts. He's sitting beside me, a spatula in hand, his FBI badge nowhere in sight. His dark green eyes are bright, and his lips quirk into that crooked smile that always makes my stomach flip.

"What?" I ask, pretending I wasn't spacing out.

"You want cheese on your burger or not?"

"Of course I do."

"Extra cheese," Gia pipes up from across the table. "She always wants extra cheese. Don't let her lie to you."

Ryder grins. "Noted." He leans down to kiss the top of my head before heading back to the grill, and I can't help but watch him for a moment. His dark curls are shorter now, trimmed neatly, but he still has that same effortless confidence that makes him impossible to ignore.

Four years ago, I never could have imagined this—any of this. Ryder, Gia, Asher, my parents... all together, all happy. It feels like we've been through lifetimes of chaos to get here, but now that we have, I'm determined to hold onto it.

My parents, standing arm-in-arm by the flowerbeds, are laughing at something Ryder's saying as he flips the burgers. Seeing them together, genuinely happy, feels like a gift. Gia and I decided to take time off school and come home for a while, and I think it's what all of us needed—to just be a family again.

"Noa," Gia says, nudging me with her foot under the table. "What's with the dreamy look? You thinking about Ryder again?"

"Shut up," I mutter, though my cheeks flush.

"Oh, she totally was." Asher smirks, leaning his elbows on the table. "You're making it too easy, Noa."

Gia laughs again, and I roll my eyes, but I can't even bring myself to be annoyed. This is what normal feels like—teasing, laughter, love. It's everything I've been craving since the moment my world was turned upside down.

Ryder comes back with a plate stacked high with burgers, setting it down in the center of the table. He slides into the seat beside me, resting a hand on my knee under the table. His touch is grounding, a quiet reassurance that he's here, and he's staying.

As we all dig into the food and the conversation flows, I take a moment to just... breathe. The shadows of the past are still there, lingering at the edges, but they don't feel as heavy anymore. We've all found a way to move forward—to rebuild.

Gia catches my eye from across the table, her smile warm and genuine. I smile back, and in that unspoken way, only sisters can, we share a moment of gratitude—for this life, for each other, for the chance to finally be happy.

As Ryder leans in to steal a fry off my plate, I realize that for the first time in a long time, I'm not looking over my shoulder or waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The laughter around the table is infectious, and I can't help but join in, leaning back in my chair and holding my stomach as Gia teases Asher about his inability to barbecue without setting something on fire. Ryder is pretending to be offended on Asher's behalf, but his grin gives him away.

"You'd burn water," Gia quips, her smile wide as she brushes a strand of her dark hair over her shoulder. She's glowing in her yellow sundress, the soft fabric catching the sunlight and making her skin seem even richer and more radiant. She looks like a painting come to life—happy, free, and so far removed from the version of her we rescued a few years ago.

My mom, standing by the kitchen door with a pitcher of lemonade, chimes in, "This is wonderful, but when's Lila getting here? You two are inseparable these days." She winks at me, and I roll my eyes playfully, but I can't deny the truth in her words.

I can't help but smile at her. After tons of therapy for all of us, my mom is finally back to being my mom. She is happy which is something I never thought was possible.

Lila has been a rock for me in ways I never expected. What started as a shaky alliance after the ordeal with Paige has grown into one of the strongest friendships I've ever had. We've been through too much together not to come out of it bonded.

"She's on her way," I tell my mom with a grin. "Probably taking forever to pick an outfit."

As if on cue, the gate creaks open, and Lila steps into the backyard. She looks effortlessly chic, as usual, in a white top tucked into a light jean skirt, her black curly hair framing her face perfectly. She waves, her bright smile lighting up the space as everyone greets her.

"Sorry I'm late!" she says, setting a small box down on the table. "Traffic was a nightmare."

"No excuses," Ryder teases, standing to give her a quick hug. "We saved you a burger."

Lila slides into the seat beside Gia, and they start chatting immediately, their laughter mingling as Asher tries to join in, only to get teased by both of them. My heart feels full watching them all—this makeshift family we've created.

And then my mind drifts, just for a moment, to the past. To Paige.

She's behind bars for the rest of her life, where she belongs. Justice was served, but more than that, I feel free from her shadow. Her obsession, her cruelty—it doesn't have power over me anymore. It never will again.

"Noa," Ryder's voice cuts through my thoughts, and I blink back to the present to find him standing in front of me, his hand reaching toward mine.

"What are you doing?" I ask, laughing as he pulls me to my feet.

He doesn't answer right away. Instead, he drops to one knee.

The backyard goes silent.

"Oh my God," Gia whispers, her hands covering her mouth.

Ryder looks up at me, his green eyes steady and full of warmth, and suddenly, it's like the world narrows to just the two of us.

"Noa," he begins, his voice soft but strong. "These past four years have been the best and hardest of my life. I've watched you fight, heal, and find joy again. You've brought light into my world in a way I didn't even know I needed. And I can't imagine a single day without you."

My breath catches, and tears spring to my eyes as he pulls a small velvet box from his pocket and opens it. Inside is a delicate ring, a simple gold band with a sparkling diamond.

"Will you marry me?"

For a moment, I'm frozen, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the moment. Then I nod, tears spilling over as I choke out, "Yes."

Ryder grins, slipping the ring onto my finger before standing and pulling me into his arms. The cheers erupt around us—Gia and Lila's squeals mixing with Asher's whoop and my mom's happy tears.

"I love you," Ryder whispers into my hair, holding me tightly as if he never plans to let go.

"I love you too," I whisper back, my heart feeling like it might burst.

I am surrounded by the people I love most, I'm just... here. And I'm happy.