Chapter 41 - Last Chapter

Isabella turned paper white pale when she locked eyes with the one she missed dearly, her heartbeats accelerated, her pulse started running wild. She blinked a few times, believing that she might be hallucinating.

‘Is he really here, in front of me?’

She waited for him the first days, she hoped, she really hoped that he would follow her to the UK, but with each day that passed, her faith subsided, he never even contacted her since she left.

The more she thought about it, the more she concluded it was absolutely outrageous that he behaved as if they were mere strangers. Perhaps they were, but they still shared, even for a few days, the same last name, and not to mention the intimate moments.

She was hurt, disappointed and ashamed for being so silly, so weak.

Edmund forgot how to breathe when his eyes found the one that stole his heart in a matter of days, the one he never stopped thinking about, the same one that was the subject of both his worries and his fantasies.

“You look beautiful!” His gaze directed to her was the epitome of devotion.

She suddenly became self conscious of the clothes she was sporting, a pair of white shorts that showed off her long tanned legs and an oversized red top, that she was confident it matched the color of her cheeks the moment he complimented her.

“No… no I don’t! My hair is messy and I’m wearing no make-up! Don’t even look at me, just look… look the other way!”

He dissolved into laughter, and it came from the heart. It was liberating, making him wonder when was the last time he smiled so genuinely.

‘Is she even aware of how breathtaking she is?’

“Why are you laughing?” The hot color burning her cheeks reached her hairline. “And why are you here?”

‘Ohh, God, stop embarrassing yourself, Isabella! This is his home, he did not come here for you!’

“Never mind. Don’t answer that!” She added. “Noah and Luisa are resting, but I’m sure they will be happy to see you.”

“And you? Are you happy to see me?” His heart skipped some beats while waiting for her answer.

‘Why do I feel like a teenager? Is it because she makes me feel so alive?’

She tried to forget how ridiculously good looking he was, or how his soul sucking eyes had the power to penetrate her thick walls with a single glance, but it was all in vain now that he was in front of her.

And most of all, she tried to forget how he was not hers, how easily he tossed away the document that was binding them together. How cruel it was for him to send her away alone after all she had been through.

“No.” She answered honestly, her response felt like a slap in his face.

It took Isabella a lot of effort to push their memories in the back of her head for him to return and ruin all her hard work. Of course her efforts were not quite successful, but she at least managed to make peace with the idea that he was her past, not her present or her future.

Edmund swallowed the newly formed lump in the throat. “I see. I was hoping for a different answer.”

A month ago, when she was flying alone in his private jet, she promised to herself that she would never let a man confuse her the way he did. She experienced a rollercoaster of emotions in such a short time, so each night when she cried herself to sleep, she reinforced that promise.

“Why would you expect something else from me? We are nothing, I received the annulment through your lawyer, you didn’t even bother to check on me. Why would I want to see you again? You are of no importance to me.” Her voice came out alien to her own ears, her tone was not even close to what she desired.

While she wanted to sound cold and composed, her body betrayed her, she sounded hurt and angry, yet all he caught was her words, not the way she said them.

‘I am of no importance to her?’

There was something wild in his regard, or so she thought. Something possessive and raw. Dangerous.

“Are you sure?” He snapped out of control and pulled her in his arms.

He lifted her chin with his fingers, trailing her mouth with his thumb. “Are you sure you did not miss me the way I did?” He took her mouth in a fervid assault, exploring her mouth hungrily.

Isabella was reluctant at first, but it didn’t take long before she responded, giving free rein to her suppressed feelings and melting into his arms. They broke the kiss only when their lungs screamed for air.

She caressed his face.“You missed me?”

“Like crazy.”

“Then why did you ask for the annulment?” She narrowed her eyes at him.

“I thought that was what you wanted.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Was it not?” He inquired, confused.

“I… I don’t know. Yes and no?”

“And it was the proper thing to do. It was an awful agreement. Sooner or later you would have accused me of taking advantage of the situation with your sister, and you would have been quite rightfully to do so, I might add. I dreaded that moment with every inch of my body.”

They actually made sense, his arguments. Not for a second she thought of that. There was a glimpse of hope rising in her heart, but she was too afraid to let it grow stronger.

“And why did you chase me away? Why did you come here after a month of absolutely no contact?”

He ran his hand through his hair nervously. “I was stupid, Isabella. I was confused. After Regina toyed with me, and after all that happened with Moira, I came to the conclusion that I’m not very good at reading people. So when you asked for annulment, I thought that it was what you really wanted. I thought that.. I don’t know… that I might see feelings where they aren’t, like I did before. I became insecure.”

His vulnerability display was a side of him she was not aware existed. It pulled at her heartstrings to watch him in pain.

“Oh, Edmund! You were not wrong. I do care for you deeply. I love you! In fact, I never thought that one person could love another the way I love you! It scares me for it gives you so much power over my entire being! I’m scared that you would not love me back, and that I would never be whole again!”

“My love!” Tears were shining in his eyes. “I love you even more! I didn’t come earlier because I was afraid I'd crumble to pieces if you would reject me. It’s difficult for me to admit it, but that was the reason, even if I gave myself the excuse that I had to attend business meetings. What happened with Moira drove the stocks to plummet, so I had to work hard to restore the faith in our good name. But that was not the real reason I stood behind, it was that I couldn’t bear you leaving me.”

She was beaming with happiness. “I didn’t know you had this tender, romantic side. I deemed you cruel and possessive when I met you.”

“I am cruel and possessive, this tender side is for your eyes and ears only!”

A huge smile crossed her beautiful features. “I could live with that!”

“And could you live forever by my side?” He got down on one knee and fished an exquisite custom made jewelry box from his pocket. “Would you marry me, Isabella?” He opened the box, revealing a breathtaking, perfectly crafted engagement ring, with a unique diamond design.

Her hand flew to her mouth, while her entire body was shivering like a leaf.

‘Is this a dream? Did I fall asleep at some point and my mind created this?’ She shook her head. ‘No, my imagination is not this great.’

She dropped herself in her knees as well, taking his hands into hers. “Yes, I do! I do want to marry you!”

She took his face in her hands and kissed him, his lips tasted sweeter than ever.

Edmund picked the ring out of the box and placed it on her finger, as a sign of his love, devotion, and not ultimately, as a sign that she belonged to him. This time it was willingly, and it was bound to last forever.

* * *

5 YEARS LATER

“It’s your turn!” She attempted to push him off the bed, but it was like seeking to move a rock.

He tried to blink away the dizziness. “You’re lying, I changed her diapers last time!”

“I’m so tired.” She pouted, knowing that it worked each and every time, she discovered her superpower a while ago and since then, she shamelessly took advantage of it.

She was indeed exhausted as she refused to hire a nanny for her daughter. A mistake, she thought, but she was stubborn to admit it. Maybe later on, she would come to accept help from a stranger, but not at the moment, her sweet baby needed her mommy and her daddy.

“Are you trying to prove that I’m all wrapped around your little finger?” He raised his brow at her.

Her lips formed into a huge smile, her eyes only half opened. “Now you are lying, it’s Ava that has you all wrapped around her little fingers. She’s daddy’s princess, I can already see that!”

“I wonder where our six months old daughter learned the art of manipulation…”

Isabella acted all innocent. “It might be written somewhere in her genetic code, I wouldn’t know. Certainly, not from me. I’d never do that.”

“Yeah, right. Fine, I’ll go, but only if I get a reward!” His tone was suggestive, and she knew exactly what he wanted in return.

“Done. And I think that you just proved she got that manipulation trait from you.”

“No, love, you’re mistaken! I’m a businessman, and in business, it’s all about giving and taking!”

Isabella was no longer listening, she dozed off after she whispered the last words.

Edmund Stark never believed that he would be in a position to change a single diaper in his life, nor he imagined that he would sing music for children to his beautiful daughter, but time proved him wrong.

His wife loved to challenge him, and he loved her and his little angel deeply, there was nothing he would not do to please them.

“Daddy loves you, Ava!” He whispered to the baby that was cooing in his arms.“Daddy will protect you forever! Don’t forget what I always tell you, you are not allowed to date until you are eighteen!”

He gently pressed a kiss on his princess’ forehead, before returning her to her bed.

He laid down in the bed, next to a sleeping Isabella. ‘What about my reward?’ He shook his head in disappointment. ‘It’s not the first time she does this!’

It was a secret pleasure of his to watch her sleep peacefully by his side.

“I love you!” He leaned over and peeked her lips, with care not to awake her.

“I love you too!” She whispered, drifting back into the dreamland.

THE END