Page 109 of Of Vows and Betrayal

“Thank you for making me the happiest man in the world,” I murmur.

She smiles, her eyes shining with love. “And thank you for making me the happiest woman.”

As we lie there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the city of London continues to sparkle around us, a testament to the magic of our love and the promise of a beautiful future together.

Epilogue - Ophelia

Five years later

The 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.”

---