The MC President's Forsaken Wife (Zara and Knox) novel Chapter 357

Chapter 175-2

+25 Points

Sounds about right,” Evelyn snorts, shooting Locke a teasing glance. “When he first came up here five years ago to fix my roof after that big winter hurricane, he wouldn’t let me step out onto the back deck without three layers of coats and a pair of boots. He tried to rebuild the entire porch, framing in a snowstorm because he thought the steps were ‘too steep’ for me.”

“The steps were too steep,” Locke says, taking a massive bite of stew without breaking stride. “The wood was rotted, Evie, You would’ve put a foot through the floorboards by February

“They were fine,” she insists with a wave of her hand, though the affection in her eyes is unmistakable. “He nearly burnt down my kitchen that same week, too. Tried to make some sort of chili from scratch. Used three whole jalapenos and forgot to turn the exhaust fan on. The entire ground floor smelled like tear gas for three days.”

“I didn’t burn it,” Locke grunts, looking over at me with an unbothered smirk. “It had flavor. She’s just used to bland northern food.”

“It was biological warfare, and you know it.”

Watching them together is a revelation. Seeing how completely safe Evelyn feels in his presence – how she leans into his strength without an ounce of the fear that usually marks victims of severe trauma – and how deeply, naturally protective Locke is without ever being smothering, makes me fall in love with him all over again.

This is the man behind the MC cut: the solid, unwavering rock who built a fortress around the people he loves.

After dinner, Locke immediately takes over the dishes despite Evelyn’s vocal protests. He clears the table in two massive sweeps, grabs the dish soap, and turns on the hot water with an authoritative grunt that leaves zero room for argument.

“Let him do it,” Evelyn sighs with a fond shake of her head, wiping down the table with a damp cloth while Locke’s back is turned. “If you try to stop him, he’ll just stand in front of the sink like a stone wall until you give up and sit down.”

“I heard that,” Locke calls out over the sound of running water.

“You were meant to!” she retorts, gesturing for me to follow her into the adjoining living room.

Titan rises from his spot by the kitchen fire, shuffling over to walk alongside us. As Evelyn and I make our way to the couch, the massive dog presses his dense, heavy shoulder lightly against my knee, staying within arm’s reach before settling his giant head right on the cushion beside my thigh.

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Chapter 175-2

ལ་ད་

+25 Points

The hearth in the living room is crackling with a roaring fire, casting a deep, flickering orange glow

across the polished wooden floorboards, wool rugs, and dark leather armchairs. It’s insanely

elaxing and homey, and I sink into the sofa with a sigh.

“He looks happy, Zara,” Evelyn says softly, her voice dropping into a quiet, intimate register as the hum of running water and clattering dishes continues comfortably from the kitchen. “Real happy.”

“You think so?”

“I haven’t seen that look on his face… maybe ever. He carries a lot of weight, that man. Between the club, the business, and keeping everyone else safe, he rarely lets his guard down. But around you? He’s actually breathing.”

“He makes me incredibly happy, too. He’s my whole world, Evelyn. I don’t know what I’d do without

him.”

Evelyn smiles warmly, her dark gaze dropping down to where my hands are resting over my lap. Titan quietly rests his heavy chin across my knee, his tail giving one slow, heavy thump against the

rug.

For a fraction of a second, her sharp, perceptive eyes linger on the slight, unconscious way I’m holding myself: fingers spread slightly, resting protective, steady, and warm over my lower stomach. She notices the subtle posture of a woman shielding something precious inside her. She doesn’t say a single word out loud, but a soft, knowing spark glints in her eyes as she looks back up to meet my face. A quiet, profound understanding passes between us, woman to woman, without a single sentence spoken.

She knows. And the warm, approving nod she gives me says everything.

Before she can probe any further, Locke steps out of the kitchen, wiping his heavy hands on a white dish towel. He hangs the towel over a chair ruffly and walks over, unceremoniously sitting down right next to me on the couch.

He pulls me straight into his side, wrapping one heavy arm across the back of the sofa so his long fingers can casually play with the ends of my hair, while Titan happily leans his massive weight against both of our legs on the floor.

“Everything clean in there, house-elf?” Evelyn teases from her end of the couch, leaning back with her cup of tea.

“Clean enough that you don’t have to touch a sponge until Tuesday,” Locke says. He pulls me an inch closer, his chest warm and solid against my shoulder. “You warm enough, baby?”

“I’m perfectly warm,” I whisper, leaning my head against his bicep.

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Chapter 175-2

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We sit by the crackling fire for hours while the snow continues to fall heavily against the dark windowpanes outside. We sip warm herbal tea, sharing quiet stories, listening to the cozy pop of

e burning logs, the gentle, rhythmic snorts of Titan sleeping peacefully at our feet, and the

distant rumble of the ocean tide.

Wrapped up tight against Locke’s broad, warm chest, listening to the steady, strong beat of his heart under my cheek, I sink completely into his hold.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, but sitting right here in this snowy coastal haven, surrounded by love, safety, and family, I already have every single thing I could ever dream of asking for.

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