Epilogue

Epilogue

*Several years later…*

ELLIE

The kitchen windows were wide open, letting in the warm summer breeze, along with the sound of laughter coming from the pool area, where Jack and Zara were supervising the children, while Anna and I watched Will cook.

Looking at my friend, who was staring at her husband’s bare, tanned back with a certain fascination, I smiled, finding it amusing that she still looked at him the same way, even after so many years.

But I couldn’t judge her, because I was sure I did the same with my husband, who had become even more delicious and irresistible over the years. Speaking of my husband… Where was he?

Picking up my phone, I was about to send a message asking if he was on his way when Sophia suddenly burst into the kitchen, running, followed by her younger brother, Max.

Laughing, the two of them ran past me, their red hair soaked.

“Careful! You’re going to slip!” Jack shouted, appearing at the window as the two rounded the counter. “And you’re getting the whole floor wet.” He sighed, hands on his hips.

“Come back here!” Zara appeared behind her husband. “Sorry, Ellie. I’ll make them clean it up.”

“Don’t worry,” I reassured her.

“That’s why I say we should stick with just one,” Anna murmured after they left, making me laugh.

“You know you want another,” Will teased, turning to us after turning off the stove.

“Keep trying, maybe you’ll convince me someday, Harris,” she teased, circling the counter to caress his chest.

Smiling, I looked away and returned my attention to my phone, feeling like a third wheel.

“Thank God…” Zoe said, entering the kitchen. “I’m glad it’s Will who’s cooking.” She smiled, approaching me, her hands on her seven-month-pregnant belly.

I would never get used to seeing her pregnant, let alone how the hormones were affecting her, making her seem scarily gentler.

“Are you okay? Where are they?” I asked.

“They’re coming.” She stopped beside me. “And I’m hungry, so I hope Will’s finished lunch.”

“Where’s my boy?” Bennett shouted, entering the kitchen a second later, making me smile.

Ethan followed shortly after, stopping behind his brother, and when his gaze met mine, he was also smiling—because we both knew exactly what was coming next.

Passing by me, Bennett stopped just before the window, crouching down the moment our little Henry appeared, running toward his uncle’s arms.

Watching the scene, I felt my heart melt from so much cuteness. Since the first time I held him in my arms, he had become the most beautiful thing in the world to me.

And now, two years later, sometimes I still couldn’t believe he was ours—that we made him. But watching him grow and realizing we were capable of raising him together made me proud—and because of that, I had no more doubts that we could do anything together.

“Who’s your favorite uncle?” Bennett asked, standing up with Henry in his arms.

“Definitely not you,” Will interjected, jealous.

“Back off, Harris, you already have yours,” Bennett retorted, just as Ethan stopped beside me, only to kiss my shoulder before heading toward his brother.

“And soon you’ll have yours too…” he said, taking his little look-alike, against his brother’s will. “Who’s Daddy’s big boy?” he asked, making our son laugh.

“Daddy!” he smiled, his sweet voice and brown eyes—just like his father’s—shining with joy.

“That’s right!” Ethan encouraged, tossing him up the next moment, making him laugh even louder and my heart stop as well.

“Careful,” I warned.

“Looks like your mom’s worried…” he said, approaching me. “Even knowing I could do the same with her, without dropping her,” he teased, locking eyes with me.

“Okay,” Zoe said. “I’ve heard enough.” She passed by me, dragging Bennett along to the outside area.

“I think we should check on ours too,” Anna suggested, doing the same with Will, while he grumbled something about William already being quite grown.

“Are you having fun?” I asked, turning my gaze to Henry in his father’s arms, trying to fix his messy blond hair—also inherited from his father.

He nodded, smiling at me with slightly rosy cheeks, perhaps from the laughter and the sun.

“I think Mommy will have to reapply the sunscreen.”

“Daddy.” He shook his head, refusing and clinging to Ethan.

“You’re really a daddy’s boy, aren’t you?” I teased, tickling him.

“Mommy…” he said between laughs.

“Don’t be jealous,” Ethan teased when I stopped. “I’ll always be your little boy,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss me. “Now… want to go back outside to play with the others?” he asked, turning his attention to our son.

Henry nodded eagerly, so Ethan set him down, allowing him to head toward the exit.

Following his small, hurried steps, we stopped just after passing through the door, watching him run across the grass toward the other children.

“He’s growing up so fast…” I commented, watching his little blond hair shine under the sun’s rays.

“Yes, it feels like it was just yesterday we were in that hospital,” Ethan reflected, hugging me from behind.

Smiling at the memory, I relaxed in his arms.

“Even though he’s your spitting image, I hope he’s not as terrible as you,” I teased.

“Well, I wouldn’t mind having a little version of you, just as terrible as you…” he whispered. “Maybe we can make one later, after everyone leaves… a little mommy’s girl… What do you think?”

“Maybe… someday… but for now, I’d love it if you repeated what you did with your mouth yesterday,” I whispered back.

“Do we have to wait until tonight?” he teased, pressing his hips against me.

“Yes… and only after confirming he’s asleep. You know… after that incident, we need to be more careful.”

“He’s already a big boy… maybe it’s time for his first night at the grandparents’ house.”

“He’s only two…” I laughed. “You’re terrible…”

“And you’re beautiful…” he kissed my neck. “And you’ve given me so much more than I could ever dream of… Thank you.”

“I feel the same,” I smiled, letting my head rest on his shoulder.

“I love you,” he whispered, looking at me with the same passionate gaze as always before kissing me softly.

“I love you,” I whispered back.

And so, with his arms around me, watching our friends and their children playing with our son, I didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world, because I was finally home.

In the arms of the one who was always and always would be my *home.*

*My perfect bastard.*

*The End.*

✽ ✽ ✽

**Acknowledgments**

To my loyal readers around the world, thank you for enjoying my work and for your patience with the delays.

I apologize in advance, but I know that if you’re still here, it’s because you understand that the writing process takes time. So, thank you very much. I am infinitely grateful to each one of you. It’s your comments and kind words that encourage me to keep going.

I hope you enjoyed following Ethan and Ellie up to this point, because I loved telling their story to you. It’s not an easy goodbye, but I promise to strive to bring you more stories to fall in love with, just like I did.

If you’ve finished reading and want to tell me what you thought or stay updated on my upcoming releases, contact me through my Instagram: @maryd.sant — I’d love to hear everything you felt.

To the haters: Just stop reading. ;)

Thank you.

Sending lots of love wherever you are.

Mary D. Sant.

✽ ✽ ✽

For those who follow me on Anystories/Readink:

I will resume *The Hot Tie of Fate soon.*

And for those who enjoy a gripping Dark Romance, get ready: my new book will be available shortly.

*The Masked Obsession*

It all started with a light on in the cabin at the foot of the mountain. A forbidden glimpse. A silent desire.

An act of voyeurism that awakened something uncontrollable in him: an obsession that would take over everything.

She didn’t know his name. Didn’t see his face. Only felt the presence. The voice. The command. And she obeyed.

Months later, they meet again — a CEO, disguised by an expensive suit, a powerful name, and eyes she doesn’t recognize… Impenetrable. Untouchable.

She has no idea that the man behind the mask is the same one sitting in front of her.

The same one who never forgot what he saw.

The obsession, dormant until then, awakens as if it never left.

He wants everything. Control, body, attention. And he will take it.

Even if he has to destroy everything around him.

Even if he has to destroy her.