**Chapter 10: A New Life Unfolds**

Six years had passed since Ashley had taken the plunge and joined the dating app that would change her life forever. It was hard to believe that it had been that long since she had created her profile and started her journey towards finding love again. As she sat in her cozy living room, surrounded by the chaos of toys and laundry, Ashley couldn't help but feel grateful for the life she had built. Ender, now 9 years old, was sitting at the kitchen table, doing his homework and chatting with his dad, Travis, who was sitting across from him. Travis was a good man, but he could be hot-headed at times, and Ashley had learned to navigate his moods over the years. Despite his flaws, Travis had become a loving partner and a devoted father to both Ender and their 2-year-old daughter, Maddy. Ashley smiled as she watched Maddy play with her blocks on the floor, babbling away in her own little world. She was a precocious child, always getting into mischief and keeping Ashley on her toes. And now, Ashley was pregnant again, 9 weeks along and feeling a mix of emotions. She was excited to meet the new baby, but she was also nervous about how her family would adjust to the addition. Travis stood up from the table, his eyes locked on Ashley. "Can we talk?" he asked, his voice low and serious. Ashley felt a flutter in her chest as she nodded, wondering what was on his mind. She had learned to recognize the signs of Travis's anger, and she could tell that he was simmering just below the surface. "What's up?" Ashley asked, trying to sound calm. Travis took a deep breath before speaking. "I just got a call from my boss, and he's breathing down my neck about meeting our sales targets. I'm feeling really overwhelmed, and I don't know how I'm going to make it work." Ashley could see the tension building in Travis's body, and she knew that she needed to tread carefully. "Hey, it's okay," Ashley said, getting up from the couch and walking over to Travis. "We'll figure it out together, okay?" Travis nodded, but Ashley could tell that he was still stressed. She wrapped her arms around him, trying to calm him down. "We'll get through this, I promise." As they hugged, Maddy climbed onto Ashley's lap, demanding attention. Ender looked up from his homework, a curious expression on his face. "Is everything okay, Mom?" he asked. Ashley smiled and kissed the top of his head. "Yeah, sweetie, everything's fine. Just a grown-up conversation." As the evening wore on, Ashley couldn't help but feel grateful for the life she had built. It wasn't always easy, and Travis could be challenging at times, but he loved her and their children, and that was all that mattered. And as she looked down at her pregnant belly, Ashley knew that she was exactly where she was meant to be. She was in a loving relationship, with a family that adored her, and a new baby on the way. Life was good, and Ashley was excited to see what the future held.