Chapter 50

There seemed to have been a moment of confusion, the gunshot was fired but two people seemed to have been on the floor, the blood was oozing but a body laid on the floor almost lifeless.
Kel's POV
I've never seen someone that drives as slow as Williams. He drove as though there was no emergency whatsoever and to top it all there was traffic. Oh the agony of being stuck in traffic when you had a place you desperately needed to be. It was in times like this I wish that cars could fly and just land where you need to be or I could teleport. Crazy right, but right now it seemed like the best option but I had no power whatsoever. My whole body was itching from sitting and doing nothing about the situation. I felt like getting out of the car and running to the location. I had to see her, I had to make sure she's okay.
"Calm down Mr Adrios, from what I gathered your wife is fine."I don't know whether he was trying to calm me down because his tone sounded nothing like it, it seemed as if he was irritated.
"Well your wife isn't the one with a lunatic, I need to see her and know for sure that she's fine maybe I'd be calm then." I kind of snapped, how does he expect me to be cool, I think this is the first time I've lost my cool. No matter what I felt I always had a way to keep my cool but right now I didn't know how and truthfully didn't want to.
"My wife is late." It felt like cold water was poured on me, it definitely calmed me down. I wasn't expecting to hear that at all and the painful imagination of Shayan not being with me flooded my mind. I was going crazy with her not being with me, it wasn't even up to ten hours and he, he'd never see his wife again. I calmed down there and then, after all he said she's fine.
"I'm sorry about that." I stated softly.
"It's fine, it's been five years now. I understand what you're going through."
"I'm sure it's nothing compared to what you went through." I heard a soft chuckle which was surprising, I didn't think he was capable of doing so, especially not under this condition.
"It isn't." He answered and I just nodded my head in acknowledgement not knowing what to say.
"How did she die?" I dared to ask.
"Car accident, she was hit my a truck driver driving under the influence." Goodness that's sad, loosing someone wasn't an easy thing, even when I lost my father. The fact that we never got close or really had a talk about it still haunts me till today and his death still painful than to talk of someone that I love. The way his voice cracked when he talked, I hated to be the reason he remembered such a painful experience.
"I'm sorry for your loss. " I sadly said.
"Well... Life goes on." He said and I nodded. Although life would go on without Shayan in it, I needed her in it.
Jess came into mind and the stab of betrayal I felt was indescribable, at least Carlos's wasn't that painful. He was my friend and still yet the betrayal hurt badly realizing that he was the brain behind I and Shayan's break up. But this was Jess, my brother, my younger brother, it was unfathomable. The fact that he could be an accomplice to this was disheartening. What went wrong? Why did he do this? I really wanted to see him and talk to him. I get we're not really close but I didn't know of any animosity. If he wanted the company or anything he could have just come to me, there's no way I wouldn't have found something for him. But going behind me to try and get the company, hurting my wife in the process, putting us all in this situation was almost unforgivable. A part of me was deeply hurt and wanted to hear him out, figure out what went wrong but another part of me was fuming in anger and didn't want to have anything to do with him.
"What happens with Jess?" I dared to ask.
"He'd be dealt with according to the law." I don't think I could bear seeing him in jail, I didn't even know what to think anymore so I took his advice and calmed down. I took all things away from my mind and tried relaxing.
I thought of the vacation I had planned for Shayan and a small smile played on my lips. We were a family now, we're in this together. She can't dare leave me.
Finally, finally, finally, after an hour or so we got to our destination. I noticed Jess and the police cars parked a distance away. We were in front of an old warehouse that shipped cloths I think, I couldn't really make out from the worn out signpost that rust had caught up with. I heard the siren of an ambulance. Before we could step in I saw Shayan being carried out to a stretcher, eyes closed, blood on her body. What the fvck happened!
Shayan's POV
Carlos was shot in the leg but he was still holding on to me pointing the gun at me. I felt faint but still tried wiggling out of his grip. I nearly fell but he held on to me tightly.
"Drop your weapons, drop your weapons or I'd fvcking shoot her." I went as still as a statue.
Could he really do it, could he pull the trigger? If I thought my heart was beating faster before it was ten times worse now. A gun was pointed directly to my head, if he pulls the trigger my head will blow up with my brains scattered around the floor.
"Drop your weapon Carlos or we'd pull the trigger." The officer that seemed to be in charge spoke up.
The gun was pointed at Carlos, they were alert, ready to pull the trigger immediately they were commanded to.
"Pull the trigger and I'd shoot her. " his voice wasn't as tight as it was, he was straining his voice.
That was when I remembered the bullet in his legs.
"Let me go Carlos." I started kicking his legs, the one where he had been shot and he crouched down in pain, I quickly loosened myself from his grip and ran away from him. I heard the sound of gunshot, I turned to see Carlos laying on the floor unmoving a gun formerly pointed at me. My vision was already blurry but I could see the officers walking in our direction and I just closed my eyes to the world.
KEL'S POV
I marched my way to the stretcher and really took in her condition.
"What happened?" I found my voice after speechlessly staring at her. She looked pale already.
"She just fainted." An officer replied. "The blood on her cloth is Carlos." He clarified and I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding. She's fine.
There was a stretcher available for Carlos too, he was bleeding, he got shot in his legs and stomach, he was unconscious, it wasn't a good sight. I felt a tad bit of pity for him. He was once my friend and no matter the bad things he had done I didn't really want him to die even if it would give me peace of mind. Then there was Jess. He looked rough handled. His hair was all over the place and he looked shamed. He caught my eye and bowed his head in shame. I didn't even know what to say to him at the moment.
"We'd be taking them to the hospital now." The officer informed me and I told him I wanted to go with him.
I turned to see officer Williams talking to the officers giving them a pat on the back and I walked to them.
"Thank you for getting my wife back. I really appreciate it, if there's anyway I can repay you please let me know."
"It's fine Mr Adrios, we're just doing our job." Officer Williams said and I let out a small smile thanking him again before going with Shayan on the ambulance.
While in the ambulance I held Shayan's hand hoping for her to wake up and the nurse said she has probably been in shock and was stressed and it will take some time for her to wake. I called up my family to inform them that she was fine and everything was okay. The sigh of relief from everyone was refreshing. At least now things could be normal again.
She didn't wake up through out the ride and when we got to the hospital they admitted her and I had to fill in some paperwork. The nurse informed that she needed rest and I should wait outside for her. I nodded going to meet the rest of my family outside.
"Daddy." Evie called out reaching out to me from Tess's arms, I couldn't thank Tess enough. She acted like a second mum to Evie sometimes.
"How are you princess?" I asked carrying her from Tess.
"I'm sad. I woke up and didn't see you and mummy and Aunt Tess didn't want to tell me anything."
"It's okay princess. We are here now." I said soothing her.
"But I can't see mummy anywhere, where's mummy and uncle Jess?" She asked and I turned around to look for help, I don't know what to tell her.
"Evie sweetie come here." Sheila said beckoning to Evie but she shook her head.
"What happened to mummy, daddy?" She asked again and I sighed, she can be really adamant when she wanted something.
"Mummy was feeling stressed so now she's in the hospital." It wasn't exactly a lie, neither was it true.
"Ooh, can I see her?" She asked hopefully.
"No baby, she needs to rest. We'd see her when she's awake." I informed her and she slowly nodded.
Everyone was tired and in all honesty I couldn't wait for the day to end and see the awakening of a new day.
We made small talks around Evie's birthday, talking about the good and stirring away from the kidnap. Evie seemed to stop asking for Shayan then but got tired and slept again.
When she slept everyone seemed to have questions concerning how she was, what happened, what was going to happen to Jess and Carlos. My mom and Tess were devastated and disappointed. I was too, but not the way they were. It was really unexpected.
It was a little after midnight when Shayan woke up and we could finally see her. Evie woke up during this period and we all went in to meet her.
"Kel, Evie ..." She called out scanning us.
"Mummy." Evie rushed to Shayan's side and they were in a passionate hug and I could see the tears falling from her eyes.
"Baby it's okay now, you're fine." I joined in the hug and she continued crying, I couldn't say I understood what she felt because I wasn't in her shoes, she already had enough for a night, everyone has.
"Why are you crying mummy?" Evie asked worried, looking at me for any help.
"I'm just happy to see you all." She said wiping her tears with both hands.
Everyone took turns consoling her and hugging her and she kept on crying. We all spent the night in the hospital that day. She was discharged the next afternoon after a few tests had been carried out.
Going back home I knew we had a lot to talk about. The vacation was highly needed, everyone had to take a break. When we got to the room I noticed the way she took in the surrounding and sighed.
"I'm glad this is all done." She sighed sitting on the bed and I copied her.
"Me too. How are you feeling?" I gauged her reaction hoping it will reveal something.
"I feel like I just came out of something life-saving. I feel free although I look a mess. I know everything is alright now and there's this peace that comes with it. You have no idea how scared I was thinking that I'd never see my family again. I want to use this time to be there for them in anyway I can. Build relationships and help people." I was so proud of her and smiled. I was worried that it would have hurt her but I like that she's doing something positive about it.
"I'm so proud of you baby. I'm sorry for everything you had to go through these past few days. You're strong and I admire that about you. Just like you, I want to focus on my family too, build relationships. These past few years I've immersed myself with work, avoiding anything that would make me become attached and I've realized how wrong and selfish that was of me. I feel like I've grown so much these past few days and learnt a lot. Although I can't please everyone, I have to be there for them in any way I can. The support from our families was great, it's just sad that Jess had to be part of it but I hope to make amends on that. I love you with every fibre of my being Shayan, thanks for being part of my life." A wide smile appeared on her face it brought a grin to mine. I love seeing her smile most especially when I am the reason behind it. It just gives me this satisfaction and peace. I love her and I don't think I'd get tired of telling her, especially not when she gets to look at me with so much love and adoration and a beautiful smile on her face.
"I love you too Kel." I drew in closer to kiss her but she chuckled standing up.
"I'm a mess right now. I'm going to shower, want to join?" She teased with a smirk and a wink.
I returned the smirk and followed her, who passes on such an invitation, definitely not me.
#####EPILOGUE
I suggest listening to James Arthur certain things when you get to the middle of the chapter.
Shayan's POV
Kel gave my hand a small squeeze and silently begged me with his eyes to hear him out. I nodded as he gave me a quick kiss on the lips. I gave him a small smile which he returned and made his way out of the room patting Jess on the back.
There was a moment of awkward silence as he struggled to get his words out. I knew he had been trying to get my attention for some days but couldn't bring himself to talk to me and now that he finally mustered the courage to he was speechless.
"I don't even know where to start." The tone of regret in his voice didn't go undetected. "I'm sorry about what happened. It's something I'd regret for the rest of my life. I was blinded by greed, anger and jealousy. I wanted what Kel has, I felt inadequate and unloved and it made me do something I didn't even think I was capable of doing. I'm deeply sorry and I understand if you never want to talk to me again. I haven't necessarily been the best brother-in-law through my actions. I just hope that you presented n your heart to forgive me." He heaved a sigh of relief when he was done and looked down.
"Everybody makes a mistake Jess, it wasn't a good thing for you to do. But I'm glad you realize your wrong and you are willing to make it right. The change is what is important, I just hope you know now that you are loved and there's no reason for you to feel otherwise. Everyone is here for you. I forgive you, I've realized that holding grudges would only hold me back and keep me in the past and that's the last thing I want. Right now I just want to be happy, for everyone around me to be happy including you Jess." I finished and he looked up giving me a small smile.
"Thank you. I feel kind of free now letting it all out. Conveying how I feel. I've always kept it in pretending everything was fine. Now I know it's okay to let it out and ask for help. Kel is lucky to have you. You've always been everything to him. I'm glad that you both are back together now. Thanks for giving me a second chance, I promise not to ruin it." He promised with a smile.
It turns out his therapy was working and now he feels better about himself.
Now as we all sat at the table eating and drinking I realized the importance of family. Your family would always have your back no matter what, and in cases where they didn't, it was difficult on the child. Take Kel and Jess for instance. I'm glad that Evie got to know about Kel and now everyone is living harmoniously with one another. I deeply want to be a good parent to Evie, raise her to be a woman of standards who knows the importance of love and family. I want her to grow with love from everyone and I'm sure Kel wants that too because he never knew what paternal love felt like. It was in these moments I was grateful for my parents. They raised me well. Although we didn't have enough, we had a small, peaceful family. I didn't exactly like being the only child while growing up so it saddens me that Evie would be one too. I'd do anything to have a child and Evie to have a sibling but some things are just what they are. At least I had her, my little bundle of joy. She had been the one giving me hope, pushing me to strive for better. I love her with all my heart and I'm so thankful to be blessed with her. Tess was with her boyfriend Blake, the actor. He was away for a while for a movie and now that he was back they were making up for a lost time. And Mel, she was making it up to Jess, being there for him despite her job. Everyone was in love and happy.
"A penny for your thoughts milady?" Kel asked feigning a horrible British accent that got me laughing.
"No milord," I said almost nailing the British accent.
"You know, I don't mind you calling me that. It sounds sexy." I giggled, his tone was sexy and the way he looked at me was hot as if he was already undressing me. It was already causing multiple reactions within me and I badly wanted to straddle him but we were still in the middle of dinner. He smirked realizing the lines of thoughts that my brain has been in and I rolled my eyes.
I engaged with little conversations around me, Evie was sitting at my left while Kel was at my right. She seems to have been in a hushed conversation with Tess who was beside her. The two of them acted like they were up to something but I guess they were just talking about gowns. Tess has made a reputable name for herself, her latest collection being a big hit. Everyone wanted to work with her, even Evie was her little apprentice. She'd draw up pictures of a supposed gown and come running to show me, she seems to have taken a liking to fashion and Tess was grooming her. I was even wearing a gown the both of them had made for me.
The sound of a spoon hitting a glass was what caught everyone's attention. Kel was standing holding a glass filled with wine, everyone else's glass was also filled.
"I want to thank everyone for being here and want to cheer a toast to new beginnings."
Everyone chorused "to new beginnings" with a smile on their face and there was a secret smile on Kel's face that told me he was up to something. I couldn't wait to find out.
"I'd like for everyone to meet in the garden," Kel announced as he made his way in that direction.
Everyone stood up to follow and my dad came to my side.
"My little girl is all grown up now. Look at you having a family." My dad teased playfully squeezing my cheeks as I laughed.
"I'm not a little girl anymore dad. Evie's the little one." I said laughing.
"But you'd always be my baby. I'm happy that everything worked out for you Shayan." The sincerity in his tone and the way he said it made me happy. My dad was at the forefront of telling me that it would never work out and Kel and I would never be together. I'm glad that he has changed that mindset and things between us are okay.
"I'm happy to Dad." Honestly, I haven't been happier.
I walked with my dad to the garden as he made a joke about me wanting to get married to a prince in our secret garden with fairies gracing our wedding when I was little and I laughed. I'm sure that was Evie's fantasy now.
On getting to the garden, there was an array of white roses and at the far end stood Kel with a priest flashing me his million dollars smile as he watched me. I was still trying to wrap my head around what was going on when Evie handed me a bouquet of pink roses to match my baby pink flared gown.
"You're getting married in the garden." She whispered with a happy smile as she went back to sit with Tess.
Realization sunk in, we were getting married. Again. A smile played on my lips as tears threatened to escape, I couldn't believe this was happening right now. I've always wanted a small simple wedding and not the grand one we had, just both our families present.
My father took my hands as he walked me down the aisle. I couldn't still believe this was happening. Kel was full of surprises and the fact that I never even know about it till it happened is shocking too.
"Take care of my daughter Kelvin."
"Always Sir." My dad gave him a pat on the back before turning back to sit with my mom and locking hands with her.
I focused my attention on Kel now, his looks still manage to get me hot every single time. His brown orbs we're radiating nothing short of happiness, I'm sure mine was too. We were staring at each other silently communicating the words I love you. Our stare must have been too long and intense since the priest had to clear his throat to get our attention.
He presented the rings and it was time to say the vows, I haven't even had the chance to plan one.
"Shayan, my only love. I love you with all my heart, I've always loved you and would never stop loving you. I know this probably came as a shock to you and you weren't expecting this at all especially not in this setting. I remember the day at the park when you had said you believed in fairies and fairytale stories and how you wanted to get married in a garden with just your family and the presence of your fairies, nowhere you have it. Your wish has been granted by the fairies. " He chuckled and everyone else did. It's crazy that I still believed in a fairytale up to high school, I know.
"I know our story hasn't been anything compared to a fairytale and I'm not going to promise that it will be because life happens but I'm promising to be with you all the rest of my life. To cherish and love you. To stand by you. You give me peace that no one else could. You showed me how to love and I won't stop loving you. I'm dedicating the rest of my life to you and our beautiful family. You gave me a beautiful gift, our child..." I turned to look at Evie for a moment and she had a big smile on her face, enjoying the moment.
"Thank you for putting up with me and my mood swings, for seeing past my cold demeanour, for letting your light take away my darkness. I promise to love you in good times and bad, in sickness and in health and when we are old and have no hair on our heads. I love you mi alma" I laughed at the last part and wiped away the tears as he placed the ring on my finger.
It was my turn to say the vows now, I didn't even know where to start from as memories of us started flooding my brain.
" You never cease to amaze me Kel, it's like you give me reasons to love you more each day. So much has happened within the last few years but we still found our way to each other. I remember the times when I tried fighting off the attraction for you but they didn't seem to budge. You've been engraved in my heart, body and mind since then. I love every part of you, I like that despite all odds we are here now. I promise to be a good and loving wife to you. To love you on your good and bad days, to be there for you whenever you need me. Thanks for fulfilling every fantasy of mine, I'm sure the fairies are smiling right now. Although you used to act nothing like a charming prince, you're still my King. Thanks for treating me like a queen and her royal highness Evie. I love you with all my heart and don't think I'd ever stop."
I placed the ring on his finger and he didn't even wait for the priest to join us officially or tell him to kiss the bride before his lips consumed mine in a passionate kiss. I smiled through the kiss and didn't even bother that people were watching as I poured my whole heart and love into the kiss.
We pulled out but our foreheads were still touching. "I love you Shayan, forever and always."
It started as an attraction, an attraction we both had tried denying but the force pulling us was greater than us. I love him too, always and forever.