Ryder held Isobel close until her laughter softened into quiet tears against his chest. He brushed them away with his thumb, kissed her hair, and then pulled back, eyes still lit with disbelief and fire. The triumph he felt wasn’t just about the ride, the score, or even the test results—it was about surviving, together, and finding joy in a world that had already tested them beyond measure.

“C’mon,” he said, grabbing her hand. “This ain’t news I can keep to myself. Wren and Rose ...