Epilogue

A Year And 4 Months Later

MARGARET: You know, Xavier. Sometimes. I truly wonder if you’re my brother.

Xavier’s lips twitched as he read the first line of Margaret’s text, his feet coming to a stop in the hallway for the first time in an hour. He brought the phone forward to his face and continued reading.

MARGARET: I haven’t even left for a month and you’ve already reassigned my position to someone else? Dear brother, I wish to suck out the blood from my body that I share with you.

He chuckled and typed back a text to her.

XAVIER: You seem unserious. I finally let you have the position after so many pleads and you ended up leaving it for a mere vacation with the girls? I suggest you live in that country forever.

MARGARET: It’s our mother’s fault for giving birth again after the doctor told her that I’m enough. You fucking mistake.

XAVIER: You're the bigger mistake. I can’t banter words with you right now, Margaret. For some reason, my wife has chosen to lock herself in the library since the morning. She said that she needed to read a book or two.

MARGARET: Oh, I said it. It’s your problem of course. Perhaps she’s tired of how overbearing you are.

XAVIER: Your brain is tired of your overbearing dumbness. I’M HER HUSBAND. And I’m not overbearing.

MARGARET: Spend more money on her then. You seem stingy these days.

Just as Xavier was about to type out a retort, a sharp cry pierced the air from the library where Elaine had locked herself. He immediately pocketed his phone and raced to the door, his fists beginning to bang on it. Loud wails seeped into the hallway where he stood.

“Elaine? Baby, what the hell is wrong?” He slammed his hand on the door, his voice laced with concern. “Open up.”

No response.

“Elaine Romano. Trust me, I’ll pull this door down if you don’t open it this instant. What happened to you all of a sudden?” Panic rose in his mind and fuck, he grew too impatient to keep coaxing her to open the door. And so, he raised his leg and kicked the wood, the door slamming to the wall beside it.

His eyes fell on his wife. She sat on the floor, bawling her eyes out, and before her on the floor was a fifteenth-century book and her phone. Fat tears streamed down her cheek and he lurched forward at the sight.

He grabbed her by the shoulders once he got to her and forced her to gaze at him. “What happened, baby? I’m here now, you can stop crying.”

He wrapped his hands around the back of her thighs and lifted her onto him, her legs on either side of his waist. “Talk to me, baby. I’m worried as fuck, now. Did anyone offend you? Is it a book? Or me? I promise to set things straight.”

But Elaine shook her head and her tears began to stream even more. She wrapped her hands around Xavier’s neck and pulled him closer.

“Xa… Xavier,” she cried.

“What happened? You’re not making things lighter.”

“It’s Ria, Xavier… It’s Ria.”

If Xavier had been frowning before, his frown deepened a million times more. “Ria? How is she making you cry.”

She pushed away from him slowly and gripped his shoulders, their faces a few inches away from each other. Her eyes glistened in excitement as she replied. “I got a call from Ria’s private psychiatrist hospital. They said that she’s finally normal and can return home now. I’m so excited.”

A month after the incident with George, Ria made a heartfelt apology and was welcomed back with forgiveness from everyone. But then, she got into depression, drug and alcohol problems, and a few mental issues. After much persuasion, she agreed to seek treatment abroad. Now that she was finally normal and could return home, Elaine couldn’t be more happier.

But Xavier didn’t seem to share her excitement. He helped her sit on the library table and groaned. “Ria is trouble. I’d rather that she doesn’t return.”

“What? You’re so mean to everyone,” she frowned.

Xavier shook his head and leaned closer to her, her breath fanning her ears as he whispered. “I’m mean to everyone but you.” His hands traced her inner thighs, his grip making her legs instinctively clench together. “Did you wear this dress of yours to make me beg?” He tugged gently at her satin short dress, his eyes locked on hers

She passed him a daring look in return and with a raise of her brow, she continued. “And if I did?”

“Then you’re getting it.”

Just as their lips were about to meet, a noise from downstairs broke them apart and Elaine jumped from the table, her eyes sparkling with sudden alertness. “I think they’re here.”

She didn’t wait a second before fleeing from the library, heading downstairs. As she reached downstairs, her gaze landed on Emily and her husband before settling on Beth and Rigel who sat on the couches, deep in conversation.

A warm smile spread across her face. Just months ago, Emily had tied the knot with her fiancé, and just like she wanted, Ria was present that day, the chief bridesmaid of the big day. Not only that, Beth and Rigel were on their wedding plans. Shocking, right? It also came as a shock to her considering that they were once sworn enemies. It was wondrous.

“Elaine,” Emily squealed, jumping up from the couch and rushing into her sister’s arms. “Look at you,” Emily exclaimed, stepping back to admire Elaine from head to toe. “You look snatched.”

“And you look perfect. How is my little niece?” She ran her hands through Emily’s stomach, a smile stretching on her lips.

“She’s troublesome even in my stomach.”

“Bethh.” As Elaine broke away from Emily, she ran toward Beth and pulled her into a hug. It happened that Beth had stopped working for her to start up a business and so they hadn’t been as close as before and so, they decided to set up a day for dinner.

“I missed you, girl.”

“I missed you more. You’re so pretty. Anyway, where is my goddaughter, little Izabelle?”

As if on cue, a certain baby’s wails echoed through the mansion, filling the air with distressed cries. Elaine’s hand flew to her forehead. She’d totally forgotten about her baby, her pretty little girl whose cries caused the servants to begin running around.

“I’ll be right back.”

With that, she raced upstairs to the beautiful nursery room designed by Xavier. She burst into the room, finding Xavier cradling their seven-month-old daughter in his arms. Her eyes met his, concern on her face. “She’s awake already?” She couldn’t help but frown. Ever since the baby was born seven months ago, they barely were able to have any sleep.

Sleep? They’d lost the feel of sleep.

She gazed down at the baby who had miraculously stopped crying to gaze back at them. Her eyes were identical to Xavier’s as they sparkled. The baby had betrayed Elaine. She’d taken Xavier’s whole features and nothing of hers. She was like the photocopy of Xavier.

“I think I’ve been outdone. She’s your mini-me,” Elaine muttered, her tone laced with affection.

“I won, I guess.”

Her lips twitched. “We should try for a boy next time.”

“How many more kids? Four?”

“Xavier, that’s a lot. Two more.”

He wrapped his hand around Elaine’s waist and pulled her close, their bodies pressing against each other. “And if we try one more after that, we’ll have four little miracles.”

And then he watched as his wife burst into laughter. He watched as she existed before him.

Loudly. Unapologetically. Lovingly.

She was blooming just the way a woman loved is meant to bloom.

Like a tulip in spring!

“I love you,” he professed, his lips brushing against her hair.

Now.

Forever.

She was the light in his darkness and he wouldn’t have it any other way!

THE END

*****

A/N

Dear lovely readers, I’m overwhelmed with emotions as I announce the conclusion of this book. I just want to let you know that your support has been invaluable. Thank you for loving Xavier and Elaine’s story. I’m truly grateful.

Before you leave this book for the next, I’d be grateful if you could spare a moment to leave a review or comment for this book to help push it to other readers.

I am most grateful for every chapter that you unlocked. You’ve filled my heart with joy and kept me going these past months.

Love and gratitude,
Suxi