Chapter Three

Natalie didn't want to be found; all she wanted to do was to live her life peacefully with Ryan who she knew was the right choice for her. She didn't think that her mom would allow Natalie to live her life the way that Nat wanted. Ryan knew that Natalie didn't want to hear from her all her family except Catherine, who Natalie thought of as her mom as opposed to her biological mom. Natalie had always wanted to live in Miami and now thanks to falling in love with Ryan, that dream had come true in a special way.

Five long years had passed since Natalie had vanished from Vegas. During that whole time she'd been in Miami and was in a loving relationship-turned-marriage with Ryan. Unbeknown to Natalie however, her mother had located. The female felt relief that her daughter was still alive; she wasn't sure though if her daughter would speak to her after what had happened in Vegas with Damon, who still denied abusing Natalie.

Ryan knew the whole story of the abuse since Nat had told him about it and Ryan knew that she was so much better off with him in Miami. He didn't want to lose her, knew that he wouldn't be able to bear it if he lost the love of his life. He was prepared to fight for his wife, even if it meant a messy fight with Alexa. He knew that Natalie alone could decide where she wanted to live, but he was sure that she'd stay with him. He knew that she felt safe with him and their love was unconditional; they were also both excited about the arrival of their baby who was due in six months.

Natalie knew that her mom would make her go back home but she was going to refuse because she wouldn't give up her life with Ryan for anything.

"Damon was so evil and he denied everything when I told Mom. And she believed him over her own daughter! She called me a liar, but I never lied, not ever. I had no one to turn to and so I ran away. But maybe now she'll realise that I was right all along. But then again, maybe she won't . My life has changed so much since I met you and I'm so glad that I ran away; so much so that I don't want to leave you or ever lose you.

"I don't want to lose you either," Ryan replied, embracing her. "I love you with every part of me."

"I love you too and always will," his wife replied, smiling as Ryan rubbed her baby bump and sighed, knowing that he

was just as excited as her about the arrival of baby Wolfe.

As he thought about the baby, he realised that it was fate that had brought him and Natalie together, knew that it was fate that had made her enter his life. Ryan hoped that Nat's mom would leave her alone to live her life as she wanted. He wasn't sure whether her family would like him or not, but it didn't really bother him as he knew that Natalie loved him with all her heart and he loved her; that was all that mattered. It made Ryan's heart flutter just thinking of it.

Every day when he'd get back from the lab, he'd find Natalie on the sofa asleep. He would place a soft kiss on her forehead and watch her sleep peacefully in the evening sun. Every day it made Ryan love her more and more, even though he didn't think it'd been possible to love her more than her already did. He felt so lucky to be with her and he never wanted their love to end.

Will Natalie's mom drive a wedge between Ryan and Natalie by doing something horrible?