chapter 43: Happily Ever After

Autumn
If betrayal had a face, that would definitely take the look of Dante Regine��handsome and friendly from outside, filled with a backstabbing personality inside.
"Why did you do this, Dante?" I was in the torture cell. I wanted to meet him for the last time before handing him to Aubree. Brianna was already getting love from her.
"I am so sorry, Autumn," he cried.
"Your sorry won't heal everything. If I didn't faint out of high fever that day, I would be lying dead. And you have the audacity to say sorry." I wanted to beat him to death, but I wasn't able to. He was my best friend. I loved him a lot. "I gave you everything. Yet, you wanted to ruin me because of your greed."
"L.L, I ��"
"You should've told me that you wanted to rule the gang, Dante. I would have happily handed it over to you. Why did you take the wrong route?"
"I am sorry. Please forgive me."
I wiped my tears, which I didn't notice until I felt the alkaline taste over my lips.
"Goodbye, Ex-bestie," I mumbled and got out of the room. Ian was waiting there for me.
"How are you?" he asked, with a worried look plastered on his face.
Without answering, I hugged him. "How could he do this? I still cannot believe it's him, Ian."
"It's okay, wifey. Life is uglier than chocolates." I smiled through my tears. His comments never failed to amuse me. "Listen, come to our new base at midnight. Aubree would bring you. I have to stay here for now. I'll see you there."
I hummed in response. Tonight, we were merging the gangs. The two gangs which were owned by Lennox were under us now. So, we will become the most powerful mafia in the world. It was a huge success for us. For uniting the gangs, we decided to launch a new name and a new base.
"At last, you agreed to keep a new name, you selfish bastard."
"That's your husband you're talking about, L.L. Besides, I decided to obey you when you were kidnapped right in front of my eyes. It's better to get ruled by you instead of seeing you getting ruled by someone else."
I smiled and gave a peck on his lips before leaving. "See you tonight."
Our six-months contract ended two weeks ago. I decided to stay in this marriage and that was it. We were husband and wife forever.
I was driving the car. My phone chimed all of a sudden. The call was from Isabel.
"Yes, Al?"
"Vi, where are you? I am waiting for you at the hospital. Come soon. I am so excited to find out if I am going to be an aunt or not. I just hope I am!"
"I am on my way."
Recently, I've been feeling sick. So, I took a pregnancy test and it turned out positive. Isabel saw the kit and wanted to confirm my pregnancy by a doctor before we spread the word. Even I wanted to be sure before telling Ian.
Sometimes, the pregnancy kit didn't work. I didn't want myself in that situation where I assumed myself being pregnant through the test and spread the news; only to find out it was false when I saw a doctor.
Today, I had an appointment with Sabrina. I didn't want to call her home, so I decided to go to her chamber.
As soon as I reached the hospital, I saw Isabel was waiting for me outside. "Finally, you are here!" she squealed.
"You're too excited. I hope it doesn't turn into a disappointment."
"Oh, shut it." She pulled me inside.
Sabrina did my check-up. After we were done, I sat next to Isabel. She gave a heartwarming smile.
"Congratulations, Autumn! You're two weeks pregnant," said Sabrina.
"Yes!" Isabel screamed. "I am going to be an aunt! I am going to be an aunt!"
I had tears well up in my eyes. I was pregnant and I had a new life growing within me. I was going to be a mother.
I wonder how Ian will react when he finds out.
"Al, don't tell anyone yet. First, I will tell Ian."
She nodded. "Do me a favor. Record his reaction. I really want to see his face."
I let out a laugh as I murmured, "I hope he doesn't faint."
I was on my way to the new base. It was already midnight. I couldn't talk with Ian the whole day and I missed him badly. Currently, I was in the car with Aubree, Ada, and Isabel.
"Eve, I found a nice guy for you. Just think about getting married. He's the perfect guy. He himself sent a proposal for you," Ada let out. "He is handsome and smart. His name is Rayond Simule."
"Doesn't he own the Simules' Fashion Industry?" I asked and she nodded.
I knew Rayond Simule. His father was dad's business partner. To think of that, Rayond was quite smart and really handsome. I met him once in my life and his aura was intriguing. He and Aubree would really be a perfect match.
Aubree was hot-headed, while he was calm. Aubree would die for revenge, while he thought it was a waste of time. They were fire and ice.
"They will be a perfect couple, mom," I said. "Ev, you should meet Rayond. He is so cool!"
Isabel plugged her earphones out. "Did I hear Rayond Simule, the hot billionaire?"
I responded, "You did."
"Oh my god! You should totally see him, Ev. He��" Aubree interrupted her in between.
"No means no. I don't want to get married."
"Well, then..." Ada trailed off but the smirk on her face didn't go unnoticed by me. She glanced at me and I winked. We had to do something soon.
We reached the base. It was more beautiful than the previous one. The interior was modern. While we got inside, everyone greeted us.
"There you are." Ian kissed my cheeks. "Everyone got here already. You are late."
"Sorry, babe."
We headed inside a room, which looked like a meeting room. I sat opposite to Ian, while important people of the Silver and the Shadow were present there too.
"So, today we decided to merge the gangs forever. Unity is strength and we have to remain united forever," spoke Ian.
I announced, "In order to avoid the rifts, we agreed to give a new name to our gang. I hope you don't have any problem."
"Did you fix a name?" Reece, the Shadow Executive asked. "And what about the new post of everyone?"
"The list of everyone's posts is with me. I shall tell you about your positions," Steven let out.
"What about the name of the gang?"
Me and Ian, we glanced at each other before mumbling, "The Ace. It will be the name of our gang hereon."
All of them agreed to the name. Everyone started rejoicing. I took this as an opportunity to pull Ian in a corner.
"What's the rush, Wifey? We can do it later on. I cannot do it in our new base, that too behind a pillar." He wrapped his arms around me.
I brought my lips closer to his ear. "I am pregnant." I waited for a reaction. When I saw his face, it held no emotion. It was a blank look. "Babe, say something."
Was he so shocked that he couldn't even open his mouth?
"Ian..."
"I am gonna be a father. Oh my god!" he let out. "I am really going to be a father! I��you have no idea how happy you made me today. We are going to be parents!"
"I know! The thought makes me want to cry in happiness." I didn't know why I started crying again. Pregnancy hormones made me emotional.
Ian wiped my tears and kissed me before whispering, "You've completed me, Autumn."
I was blessed to have Ian in my life. Firstly, he completed me. Secondly, he was the love of my life. Thirdly, I just had to make three points before we had our happily ever after.
Epilogue
Ian
If pregnancy made a woman this moody, I swear I would always wear a condom.
"Ian freaking Beckett! Where is my pastry?" my five months pregnant wife called out for me.
She wanted to eat chocolate pastry, made by me. I never thought I had to face this day. I was not only seeing, but also touching the chocolate. My life became surrounded by chocolates, like my kitchen countertop.
The entire mansion was empty. Only I and Autumn were here. The whole staff was on leave, given by Autumn to make me work. Meanwhile, the other family members went to England, to meet Rayond Simule's family and fix Aubree's marriage. Since it was not right for Autumn to travel, we didn't go. Besides, my mom had a rough time convincing Dad and I agreed for the marriage ever since I saw the glare Autumn gave me when I was against it.
"Whatever I am doing is for you, babies. Both of you have to love me more than your annoying mother," I mumbled. We were about to have twins. We didn't want to know the gender. We wanted it to be a surprise.
After I finished decorating the top layer, I took the plate and headed towards the dining area. My beautiful wife was sitting on a chair; drinking her chocolate milkshake which was also made by me.
"Here is your pastry, wifey." I placed the plate in front of her.
She looked at it and glanced back at me. "Are you sure you made that?" she asked and thought for a while. "You really made it beautiful."
I took a seat next to her. "You have complaints if I make it nicely. You have complaints if I don't make it nicely. What do you want me to do?" I asked, clear frustration dripping out of my tone. I was tired of her tantrums.
She rolled her eyes. "I am carrying our children and you are being the annoying one. How nice!"
I bit my lips and remained silent. If I continued talking, we would end up arguing and she would cry, which was the last thing I wanted. Pregnancy hormones were really more annoying for the one who was tolerating the tantrums. But I could do anything for Autumn and the babies.
Autumn took a bite of the pastry. Meanwhile, I waited for her to finish. I wanted to know her opinion. It was necessary for me to know whether she liked it or not.
When she continued eating without saying a word, I frowned. I just watched her eating the pastry with a blank reaction on her face.
My attention was diverted when dad texted me.
Dad:
How is everything going?
Ian:
Worse, Dad. I am surrounded by chocolates. Ugh.
Dad:
That's the fate, son. Your mom couldn't eat chocolates because of you. Now, you are surrounded by them. XD
I could imagine dad's laugh through the text. He was enjoying my condition. Of course!
"Ian, what is your problem?" Autumn snapped at me all of a sudden. I put my phone on the table. "Your wife is pregnant, and you are using the phone!"
I deadpanned, "So? The husbands of pregnant wives shouldn't use phones?"
Instantly, her eyes became watery. Soon, tears started streaming like a canal through her eyes. "I just want your attention. After all, I am the one carrying the babies. Not you!"
I sighed. "Autumn..." I cupped her cheeks. "Is something bothering you?"
She placed her head in the crook of my neck, crying continuously. My heart clenched at her condition. I hated it when she cried. So, I rubbed her back, trying to comfort her.
"You don't find me beautiful anymore, do you?" she let out.
I furrowed my eyebrows. "What? Why would you think that?"
"You find other women beautiful now. Because all the women are beautiful, but me. I am ugly."
I suppressed my laughter hearing her words. If I laughed, she would choke me to death.
"You are a silly girl. Who said you are not beautiful?" I made her look at me, pulling her chin upwards. Her green teary eyes looked into my blue ones. I hope our children will get her beautiful green orbs. I said as I wiped her tears, "You are the most beautiful woman in the entire universe."
"I am not Miss or Mrs. Universe. Then how can you say that?"
I smiled. "My heart is the universe of my life and you are the most beautiful girl residing in there."
She grinned at my response. "You always become cheesy at the right moment and I love it."
What? When I became romantic, it looked cheesy to her? It was my real feeling, not any cheesy dialogue from a movie.
"You are insanely crazy, Autumn," I mumbled and pulled her into a deep kiss. She wrapped her arms around my neck and sat on my lap.
"I am horny," she whispered.
I chuckled. I carried her into our bedroom in the bridal style and placed her on the bed. I started kissing her deeply.
"I love you so damn much."
"I love you too," she murmured in between the kisses.
Who said happily ever after didn't exist? It did, and we were one of the lucky ones.
Our love was contracted, for the sake of the gang. But we stayed together for the sake of love.
--- The End ---