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Epilogue

Valeria

Three months later

T he cold sun shone brightly, coloring the spacious garden in all shades of yellow and orange.

I watched Zara playing catch with Bluff, my lips stretching into a smile when she laughed and screamed joyfully.

The book on my lap was opened, but I hadn’t read a word yet because I relished the view of my baby girl enjoying life.

Since that dreadful evening when Zyon killed Chester, everything changed, but it was much different than I anticipated.

The reality of what happened fell on me a couple of days later when I woke up in the middle of the night, screaming and sweating.

I was an accomplice to murder. I could end up in jail.

The realization only intensified the feeling of guilt that, together with the fear, gripped me in their deadly embrace.

So, I decided to start therapy, and last night was the first night I didn’t have a nightmare. I spoke with my therapist three nights a week, and I had one group session every ten days to share my experiences of living with a gambler, cheater, and abuser.

In the beginning, I was scared to tell anyone about my marriage, but the support group was full of women who went through similar things. When I heard their stories, I chose to share mine, too, and before I could stop myself, the words poured from my mouth like a waterfall .

It was liberating. Zyon was terrific in supporting me through my healing process, but sometimes, I doubted he understood what I was saying.

However, surrounded by women who endured the same shit, I felt heard and understood.

It unimaginably helped me to slowly move on from the humiliation, manipulation, and pain Chester had caused.

There was a long road ahead of me, but I was on the right path.

“Bluff, stop !” Zara laughed, pulling me from my thoughts. The massive dog tickled her on the ground, lay on her, and licked her face while she tried to push his huge head away with all her might.

My baby girl was so happy since Chester disappeared.

Her night episodes ended more than five weeks ago.

She wasn’t scared of people anymore. She became confident and strong, claiming she wanted to be like Zyon’s mother when she grew up.

I was slightly jealous, but when I met Valentina, I instantly acknowledged I wasn’t in the same league.

The woman was simply a fabulous role model with her outstanding charity work, which focused on unprivileged kids, a modeling agency, and impeccable style.

“Bluff, c’mon !” Zara whined, making me smile at her pointless fight. The dog was much heavier than her and didn’t look like he wanted to stop harassing her. He made her his new toy.

I closed the book, attempting to help her, when a loud whistle echoed through the garden.

Bluff immediately stepped away from Zara, turning toward the house’s back entrance.

His ears perked up, and his tail slashed the air in exciting wagging.

Zara had to pay close attention to it so it didn’t hit her because it could cause her a nasty bruise.

Zyon leisurely walked down the three stairs, allowing me to admire his elegant outfit: a black suit, a black button-up shirt, and the same-colored coat.

His hair was flawless, as usual, and he wore his signature slightly arrogant smile.

My eyes traced his broad shoulders and huge biceps pressed in a fitting fabric, my imagination going wild when I remembered how his muscles felt under my hands.

“Having fun, girls?” Zyon asked, stopping beside me. I was wrapped in a thick blanket because the temperature wasn’t very friendly, but Zara spent all her free time with Bluff, and I didn't want to leave her unsupervised.

“I’m trying not to catch a cold,” I complained, looking at a grinning Zara. She again ran around the garden while Bluff chased her .

“She can be outside alone,” Zyon pointed out, taking my cold hand and hiding it between his warm palms. “No one will steal her away.”

“You never know.” I gave him a stern look but smiled when he rolled his eyes. We lived in a fortress surrounded by guards. He would have caught a dragon to watch over us if he could.

Not that we needed it. After cleansing the city, Zyon had everything under control. He was untouchable. No one dared to go against him. From the high-profile politicians and business people to the low-key drug dealers, everyone literally licked his feet.

New York still had the two-week-long chase of the leaders of Italian crime lord families at the forefront of their minds, and no one wanted to bring the madness back.

Zyon’s army circled the city, erasing everybody who stood in their way to their goal.

The news called it the darkest times of the underworld, but no one was brought to justice for the missing and dead individuals.

The police formed a special team to investigate the murders, yet without the desired effect.

Everyone knew that Zyon Zhumagulov was behind the attacks, but they couldn’t prove it.

Zyon spent days at the police station, but detectives had nothing on him or his brothers.

Malin faced charges for speeding on the highway, and Dorian received a parking ticket.

That was all the police came up with after three months of work.

He and his people left no evidence that would lead investigators to them.

They ensured no one would ever come to the bottom of this.

“Come inside,” Zyon suggested, looking at a jogging Zara on the other side. “She doesn’t need us and…” he smiled secretively, motioning toward the door, “I have a surprise for you.”

“What surprise?” I raised an eyebrow doubtfully because the last time I heard that word, he bought me a lingerie set that cost more than a car and destroyed it after two minutes of me wearing it.

“Come and find out.”

He grasped my hand and led me into the house, a playful smile dancing on his enticing lips. I followed him into the living room with a view of the garden, noticing the file on the coffee table. Zyon took it, chewing his bottom lip like an adorable little boy who got a new toy .

“As of today, Zara is officially my daughter,” he announced solemnly, handing me the papers confirming his words. My heart missed a beat when I scanned the documents, seeing the name Zara Christina Zhumagulov written right beside mine and Zyon’s.

For the past three months, I used my father’s surname again, and with Zara’s name changed, the last piece of Chester’s memory was gone. I couldn’t be happier about this surprise. It was the best news ever.

“Congratulations,” I whispered, overwhelmed by emotions. My strained voice was barely heard.

“Thank you, mon c?ur.” Zyon erased the distance between us, pulling me flush against his chest. I giggled, resting my hands on his shoulders. A lump formed in my throat, but I quickly forgot about it when he was so close to me.

“I believe now is the right time to do something about your last name, too,” he said, gently pecking my brow. His fingers brushed a strand of hair behind my ear while he continued to kiss my cheek.

“What?” I breathed, my heart skipping a beat. Did he just suggest…

Zyon smiled shyly, which was very unusual for him. He stepped away, reaching into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. He pulled out a small, black velvet box that gave me goosebumps.

“My jeweler made it only for you,” he revealed, opening it. A massive diamond ring sat proudly in the middle, stealing all light and attention. “No other woman will ever wear the same.”

As if that mattered to me. The man I loved with my whole heart just showed me the most beautiful ring, looking like he was mentally preparing to ask me the question. If he did that with a bent nail, I wouldn’t mind.

Raising my eyes from the ring, my teary gaze connected with Zyon’s passionate one. His shiny, dark irises stared right into my soul when he dropped to one knee. I inhaled a shaky breath, my hands flying up to cover my mouth. It was really happening.

“Valeria Lenders,” Zyon started, my heart almost collapsing from the excitement. “I love you, and I wish to spend eternity with you. Will you become my wife? ”

I wanted to scream a loud, thrilled yes from the top of my lungs, but it seemed too easy. Why not tease him a little?

“Your third wife, you mean?” I asked, a broad smile stretching my lips so wide my cheeks hurt.

“My last wife,” Zyon replied, certainty and promise dripping from every syllable. “I will never love another woman like I love you, mon c?ur. Don’t torture me, please. Say yes.”

"I'm not sure, my love." I pursed my lips, pretending to think. "There are so many things that need to be taken into consideration. It's not an easy decision."

Zyon looked at me as if I had lost my mind. I barely suppressed a laugh at his expression, but before I could add anything more, the sliding door opened, interrupting us.

“What’s going on?” Zara asked, her eyes widening when she saw Zyon kneeling before me with a ring in his hand.

“I’m trying to propose, but your mother keeps avoiding the question,” Zyon complained, giving me an irresistible pout. It wasn’t proper behavior for an adult man, but it always worked on me.

“I want to try the ring,” I replied nonchalantly, stretching my arm toward him. “I need to see if it fits.”

I wiggled my fingers impatiently, my heart nearly breaking through my ribcage when Zyon put a perfectly fitting white gold circle crowned with a giant diamond on my ring finger. I forgot to breathe when the light fell on it, coloring it like a rainbow.

“It’s beautiful, Mommy,” Zara whispered, staring at my hand in awe.

“Exquisite,” I breathed, my gaze colliding with Zyon's expectant face. The poor man still knelt on the carpet, awaiting an answer.

"Not as exquisite as you, mon coeur," he said, the glowing admiration in his dark eyes hypnotizing me. "Nothing in this world is a match for you, and I'll be the happiest, luckiest bastard under the sun if you decide to tie our lives together. Will you marry me?"

For a moment, the world around us stopped existing. Zyon completely enchanted me. He captured me in a web created from love and a promise of never-ending happiness .

Since I’d lived with him, I blossomed. He had endless patience with my light anger issues and instability, which were consequences of the trauma.

He was supportive and understanding. He was always there when I needed him.

He proved every single day how much I meant to him.

And not only me, he loved Zara, too. Even if I tried, I couldn’t find one reason to give him a negative response.

“ Mom ,” Zara whined, breaking the spell between us. I turned to her, blinking the daze away. “Say yes.”

“Oh.” I giggled, realizing I had already said it in my head over a hundred times, but not out loud.

“Yes.” I gave my full attention to Zyon, smiling happily. “I will marry you.”

“Finally,” he exhaled, acting like a heavy boulder had been lifted from his shoulders. Zara jumped on the couch, clapping her hands excitedly while Zyon rose to his feet and kissed the top of my hand.

“I’ll have a priest ready in an hour,” he announced, taking me completely by surprise. “We’ll get married tonight.”

“Wait, what?” I yanked my hand from his hold, staring at him as if he had told me we were moving to Antarctica.

“What about the dress?” Zara asked, frowning at him. “Mom needs a nice, long, white dress.”

“And cake,” I added, crossing my arms over my chest. Zyon’s dark eyebrows shot up as he looked between me and our daughter.

“Don’t forget about friends and family,” Zara reminded him, hopping from the couch and taking a pen and paper.

“Can’t we just move on to the important part?” Zyon sighed, his pleading glance instantly melting my heart. He grasped my elbow and embraced me, ignoring Zara’s giggling. “I don’t want to wait any longer, Valeria. Whether you like it or not, you’ll become my wife tonight.”

“But…” I tried to object, but his index finger pressing against my lips silenced me .

“I don’t care about the dress. I’ll marry you in pajamas,” Zyon stated, his eyes swirling with love and determination to make it happen.

“I’ll have someone bring you a wedding cake, even if they had to steal it from a real wedding reception.

And believe me, our closest people will come.

” He leaned closer, cupping my face with his large palms. “You’ll marry me today, Valeria.

I swear to God, you will lie in bed tonight as Mrs. Zhumagulov. ”

“What about my dress?” Zara asked, disturbing Zyon’s intense monologue. He exhaled loudly, a smile crossing his face.

“Wear pajamas, too, princess,” he replied, casting me a sharp look when I opened my mouth to protest.

“Perfect!” Zara screamed, jumping to her feet and trying to curl her arms around us. Her happy face was squeezed between Zyon and me, beaming at us. “We’ll be a real family!”

“Pajamas family,” I corrected her, laughing. I couldn’t be happier.

A nd that was how our happily ever after started, with a quick wedding, stolen cake, and being surrounded by the people who meant everything to us.

Alice stood by my side as always, shaking her head at the unexpected event. Zyon was so quick to organize it that no one had time to dress appropriately.

My best friend and bridesmaid wore her black and white gym set, laughing when others joined the show.

Dorian showed up in green scrubs and a white doctor's coat.

Malin signed the papers as the best man in a motorcycle suit, and I kissed my newlywed husband in my flannel pajama set that perfectly matched Zyon's.

The only person who dressed like it was a real wedding was Zyon's mother, Valentina. She stood beside Zara, who held her favorite rabbit, and exchanged happy smiles with everyone.

That night, I lay in bed as Mrs. Zhumagulov for the first time, wanting to do it daily until death tore us apart .

However, knowing Zyon, he would surely take care of that part, too. He would never let me be, not even after our time on earth was done. He proved countless times that his obsession with me was incurable. And I knew our love would survive anything, even death itself.

There would never be an end for us.