Chapter 20 - AN UNWRITTEN TOMORROW
|
Six months later.
The gentle crash of ocean waves echoed along the pristine white sands of Harbor Cove. Warm afternoon sunlight bathed the wooden porch of a cozy, shingle-roofed cottage perched high above the tide.
Elena sat on a wide porch swing, a sketchbook resting on her knees. She wore a simple white linen dress, her dark hair blowing gently in the sea breeze. Her face was bright, healthy, and entirely free of the shadows that had once consumed her life.
On the lush green lawn below the porch, nine-month-old Leo was sitting on a soft blanket.
Marcus stood a few feet away, crouched down on the grass, holding out his hands encouragingly. “Come on, buddy. You can do it.”
Leo giggled loudly, pushing himself up on his chubby legs. He wobbled uncertainly, his tiny arms balancing in the air like a little bird. He took one slow step toward Marcus, then stopped.
The baby turned his head, looking up at Elena sitting on the porch.
With a joyful squeal, Leo ignored Marcus entirely and took three fast, wobbly steps straight toward the porch steps where Elena sat, laughing as he tumbled safely onto the soft grass right near her feet.
Marcus laughed out loud, a rich, genuine sound that echoed across the quiet beach. He walked over and sat on the bottom step, looking up at Elena with a look of profound warmth and unspoken devotion.
Over the past half-year, Marcus had visited every weekend. He had never forced himself into her life. He had brought groceries, helped repair the porch, played with Leo, and listened quietly whenever Elena felt like speaking. He had courted her not with money or power, but with patience, humility, and absolute respect.
Elena closed her sketchbook and walked down the steps, lifting Leo into her arms. The baby instantly pressed his warm cheek against hers.
Marcus looked up at her, the golden hour light reflecting in his dark eyes.
“He’s getting so fast,” Marcus said softly, reaching out to gently touch his son's toes. Then his gaze drifted up to Elena’s face. “Are you happy here, Elena?”
Elena looked out at the vast, endless blue horizon of the ocean, feeling the quiet warmth of the child in her arms and the gentle presence of the man who had spent months trying to earn back her trust.
She smiled—a real, beautiful smile that reached her eyes.
“I am happy, Marcus,” Elena said quietly.
She turned her eyes back to him, leaving the unspoken question hanging in the sweet coastal air between them—a quiet invitation to a future they were building together, one humble day at a time."""
chapters = [ch11, ch12, ch13, ch14, ch15, ch16, ch17, ch18, ch19, ch20]
for idx, ch in enumerate(chapters, 11):
words = len(ch.split())
print(f"Chapter {idx} word count: {words}")
Kết quả chạy mã
Chapter 11 word count: 362
Chapter 12 word count: 324
Chapter 13 word count: 328
Chapter 14 word count: 338
Chapter 15 word count: 313
Chapter 16 word count: 307
Chapter 17 word count: 325
Chapter 18 word count: 312
May you like
Chapter 19 word count: 326
Chapter 20 word count: 449
