Epilogue II

Dalia

Two years later…

S itting in my office at Ivanov Holdings, I’m caught up in a FaceTime call with Emma and Laurel, who are now two years old and ridiculously adorable.

Emma, with her dark curly hair bouncing as she giggles, is the spitting image of me. Laurel, on the other hand, has Lev's sharp, gray eyes and his strong-willed personality. Their toddler babble fills the room, and it’s honestly the best part of my day.

"Alright, my loves, Mama will see you tonight," I tell them, blowing kisses to the screen which they try to catch with their little hands—a game that never gets old. Marissa, our nanny who’s been with us since the girls were six months old, signs off and tells me not to rush home. She knows I have dinner plans with Lev.

Ending the call, I can't help but feel a rush of warmth for my little family. I gather my things, already looking forward to the evening.

I stride into Lev's office, but the room is empty, his desk untouched since this morning. A little pang of disappointment hits me—where could he be?

Just then, Vanya passes by the doorway. I wave him over, my brow furrowing with concern. "Hey, Vanya, have you seen Lev today?"

Vanya pauses, his expression thoughtful as he pulls out his phone. "Actually, no," he says, scrolling through his messages. "And now that you mention it, he specifically requested not to be disturbed all day. Said he had some important business to take care of."

A knot forms in my stomach. In our world, important business can mean anything, and it’s not always good. As the wife of a Bratva kingpin, I've learned to brace myself for all possibilities. Worry is a constant companion I wish I could shake off.

Vanya, noticing my sudden quiet, switches topics. "Oh, and Dalia, don't forget the meeting next week about the office building purchase in LA."

I snap back to the present, nodding. "Thanks, Vanya. I’m all over it," I assure him, though my mind is still partly on Lev.

Leaving Lev's office a touch more worried than when I entered, I decide to head out. There's nothing more I can do here, and sitting around waiting isn't my style. Whatever Lev's tangled up in, I have to trust he'll handle it like he always does.

Just as I'm about to call Lev, my phone buzzes with a text from him. It’s just an address, stark and mysterious. I text back immediately, my fingers flying over the screen.

You're being awfully cryptic , I type, a smirk playing on my lips.

His reply comes quickly.

The best surprises are just that way .

Alright, Mr. Mysterious, I'll be there soon , I shoot back, excitement bubbling inside me. Tossing my phone into my purse, I can't help but shake my head, amused. Lev never fails to keep things interesting.

I stride out to the parking lot, slide into my Lexus SUV, and fire up the engine. As it hums to life, I check my phone once more. There’s an email from my parents. It’s short, like always, my dad commenting, The twins are very cute .

I smile, heartened by these small yet significant overtures. Things with my parents are thawing slowly—baby steps, but steps, nonetheless. I'm hopeful that it won’t be too long before they’re ready to visit in person.

With a deep breath, I pull out of the parking lot, the evening ahead promising yet another unexpected twist in the ongoing adventure that is life with Lev. Whatever he's got planned at that mystery address, I'm ready for it.

I pull up to the location, finding myself in front of a quaint, albeit slightly run-down brick warehouse in Wicker Park. It's got charm, I'll give it that, even if it does look like it could use a little love.

Noticing Lev's Porsche parked out front adds a flutter of anticipation in my chest. I grab my purse, stepping out of my SUV, and head toward the tall, steel doors of the warehouse. Pushing them open, I step inside and am greeted by a surprisingly tidy interior, with rows of sturdy shelves that look new.

Curiosity piqued, I make my way into the main area. The moment I step through the threshold, I stop dead in my tracks, my mouth dropping open in shock at the sight before me.

As I step further into the main room, what hits me isn't just any surprise—it's a jeweler's dream. A fully decked out jewelry workshop sprawls before me, its shelves and tables gleaming with newness. My purse nearly slips from my shoulder as I stare wide-eyed.

Lev stands amidst the shimmering equipment, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Surprise," he says, his arms opening slightly as if to embrace my shock.

I rush closer, my heels clicking eagerly on the concrete floor. "Is that a dual-sided polishing wheel?" I gasp, darting from one piece of equipment to the next. "And—oh wow, you've got a laser engraver here too!"

My fingers trace the edge of a high-end metal press, and I turn to him, excitement bubbling over. "And this—this is a micro welder! Lev, this is professional grade stuff. How did you—?"

Lev's smile widens. "I thought it was time for you to have a space of your own, to create whatever you want, without any limits."

I circle a beautifully crafted workbench, its surface pristine and waiting for creativity. "This is incredible. You've thought of everything, even the ultrasonic cleaner!" I shake my head in disbelief, already imagining the pieces I could create here.

Lev steps closer, his presence grounding amid the whirl of possibilities surrounding us. "Only the best for my brilliant wife.”

Lev watches me zip around the workshop, a gleam of pride in his eyes. "You know, you've been all hands on deck—balancing work, our girls, life. I don't want your own dreams to get lost in the shuffle.”

I stop in front of him, looking around at all the shiny new tools, feeling a sudden surge of emotions. "Lev, this is incredible," I admit, feeling tears prick at the edges of my eyes, "but honestly, it just makes me want to cry."

He furrows his brow, stepping closer. "Why?"

"Well, look at my life!" I gesture helplessly. "With the kids and the job, my plate’s already overflowing. Where would I fit this in?”

He grins as if he’s anticipated this very meltdown. "I figured you might say that" he says, a hint of mischief in his gaze. "That's why I came prepared with a backup surprise."

I raise an eyebrow, curiosity piqued despite the chaos of my emotions. "And what would that be?"

"You’re fired."

I blink, thrown for a loop. "Fired?"

"Yep, fired," he confirms. "From Ivanov Holdings. It's high time you ran your own show, don’t you think?" His smile widens. "Consider this workshop your new office."

He gestures around the room, his eyes shining with excitement. "Now you can set your own hours, be your own boss. Take a day off to hang with the kids whenever you want. Hell, keep up those weekly lunches with Elena and Maura without worrying about a meeting or deadline."

The reality of what he's done hits me hard, and tears well up, my voice caught in my throat. He's not just given me a workshop; he's handed me freedom and my dream on a silver platter.

He continues, a proud glint in his eyes, "Think of me as your patron of sorts." He chuckles, squeezing my hands gently. "After the way your pieces sold out at Claude’s, it's clear people can’t get enough of your work. I’m just here to support you in feeding that demand."

I'm overwhelmed, every emotion tumbling over the next. "This is... I don't even know what to say."

"Just say you’ll make some stunning jewelry, and maybe let me take you out to show it off now and then," he replies with a wink, drawing a laugh through my tears.

His confidence in me, his support, it’s more than I could have ever asked for.

"Baby, this is unreal, thank you so much!" I manage to say between the sniffles.

"Anything to make you happy, my love.”

Then, with that devilish smile that always spells trouble—and fun—he looks down at me. "Now, how about we christen your new empire here? What do you say?”

I can't help but grin back, caught up in his playful vibe. "You mean start the machinery or make a baby?"

He chuckles and dips his head to whisper against my lips, "Why not both? Let's aim for a little gem. Maybe call her Ruby?"

I burst out laughing, loving the ridiculousness of it. “That’s going to be one expensive jewel, Mr. Ivanov.”

“To make you happy, my love, I’d pay any price.”

He seals our deal with a kiss that's deep and promising, the kind that makes me forget about the world outside.

As we part, breathless and more in love than ever, I think to myself, 'Yeah, this is definitely how you start a happily ever after.”

The End