Epilogue - Ophelia

Five years later

T he sun shines brightly over the churchyard, casting a warm glow on the bustling family fair. Laughter and music fill the air, mingling with the sweet scent of blooming flowers. I'm in the midst of arranging the last floral decorations for the flower contest, my fingers deftly weaving blossoms into a vibrant tapestry.

Derek strolls over, a grin on his face. "Need a hand?"

I laugh, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Always. You know me and my floral masterpieces. And with Midsummer Petals sponsoring the contest, I need to represent."

Javier's unwavering support never faltered, and the flower shop has blossomed into a chain of four shops. He was always there for me, cheering me on and assisting whenever he could.

Derek chuckles, helping me lift the rose arrangement .

"Where's my husband? Isn't he supposed to be with you?"

"He's on a mission," Derek says, nodding toward the playground.

I turn, and my heart swells with love, my breath catching at the sight. Javier stands tall, our three-year-old son perched on his shoulders, both of them with faces painted in bright colors. Our little boy, Alejandro, is Spiderman, and Javier, with his Iron Man face, looks every bit the doting father he is.

Javier wasn't initially inclined to name our baby Alejandro, as we had decided to leave all the past hurts behind and start fresh. But I thought we needed to rewrite the past. Where the Alejandro from the past died unloved and broken, this Alejandro would have all the love and care a child could ask for. Javier became the most loving and caring father I've ever met.

He spots me and waves, making his way over. Our son, giggling, reaches out as if to shoot webs from his tiny fingers. "Look, Mama, I'm Spiderman!"

I laugh, feeling a surge of joy. "I see that, my little superhero!"

Javier approaches, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "And I'm Iron Man, ready to save the day."

I reach up, ruffling our son's dark hair. "You two look like quite the team."

"Our superhero team," Javier says, leaning down to kiss me softly.

Alejandro tugs at Javier's shirt. "Daddy, can I go play with the other kids? "

Javier sets him down gently but keeps holding on to him. "You stay near the front where we can see you."

"Yes!" he shouts as he races off, his little legs carrying him toward the playground. We watch him for a moment, our hearts full.

"He's so full of energy," I say, wrapping my arms around Javier's waist.

He smiles, his hand resting on my belly. "Just like his mama."

I laugh, leaning into him and resting my hand on top of his. "I hope the one growing in my stomach is a girl. We need a superheroine added to the team."

Javier's eyes widen, and he looks at me with surprise and joy. "Wait, are you saying…?"

I nod, tears of happiness welling up. "Yes. We're expecting again."

He pulls me into a tight embrace, his lips finding mine in a sweet, lingering kiss. "This is the best news ever," he whispers against my lips. "Our family is growing."

I rest my forehead against his, feeling the warmth of his love surround me. "I couldn't be happier."

Derek joins us, a playful smile on his face. "You guys make parenthood look easy."

I grin, shaking my head. "It's anything but easy, but it's worth every moment."

Javier squeezes my hand. "Every single moment."

Alejandro runs back, his face flushed with excitement. "Mama, Daddy, come see! There's a balloon artist making superhero balloons!"

We follow him, hand in hand, to the balloon artist. The artist skillfully twists balloons into shapes, handing him a Spiderman balloon.

"Look, Daddy!" he exclaims, waving his new balloon proudly.

Javier chuckles, lifting him onto his shoulders again. "That's awesome, buddy."

As we walk through the fair, surrounded by laughter and love, I feel a profound sense of gratitude. Our family, our love—it's all I've ever dreamed of and more.

We pass by a table where Tiago is helping with the food stalls. He waves at us, a relaxed smile on his face. The choices he made a few years ago have brought him a different kind of fulfillment, one that suits him well.

"Hey, Tiago!" I call out. "Everything looks amazing!"

"Thanks!" he replies. "It's a team effort, you know."

I wink at him. "Well, you always were good at leading a team."

He laughs, shaking his head. "Yeah, something like that."

Javier leans down to whisper in my ear. "I love you, sunshine."

I smile, my heart bursting with happiness. "I love you too. Forever and always."

Together, we stroll through the fair, our son giggling on Javier's shoulders, and I know that our future is as bright and beautiful as the flowers blooming around us.

Corrupted Dynasties Book 2 is coming soon, and this time, the spotlight is on… Rafaele Lucchese! Get ready to dive into his world, where power, danger, and betrayal collide. You won't want to miss what happens next!