Chapter 86 Chapter 86

Chapter 86 Chapter 86
Lucien took a slow, hesitant step towards Cynthia and Aurora. His eyes were hollow. He was broken, his knees wobbled with every step he took.

Only they could provide him with the kind of calm he was looking for.

But as he reached them, Cynthia took a small step back. His heart hammered against his ribs louder than it ever had.

"Cynthia," he breathed out in a crackly voice.

"Don't," Cynthia whispered, holding Aurora's hand tightly. "Lucien, please. Just stay there."

She took another step back when all she wanted was to throw herself in his arms.

Lucien froze in his tracks, his hands half-raised in the air, completely shattered by her reaction.

"Wh- why?" He asked in a broken voice.

Cynthia took a deep breath.

"Adrian is still out there, Lucien." She said, her voice shivering, "What if he came for us again? I can't fight him"

Aurora held her hand tightly. She can't see her mother crying. She has always seen her mother smiling and fighting everyone who tries to hurt her.

"No! Cynthia, after fighting the world you cannot break at the end" Lucien took a step back "It was only because of your fighting instinct that we are here, that I could expose my father and ... And send Adrian away"

Cynthia froze. She blinked twice to be sure she didn't hear anything wrong.

He took a deep breath and took another step ahead but this time Cynthia didn't back off.

"How can I let him roam freely when he kidnapped my daughter. Hmm?"

Lucien's eyes dropped down to Aurora, who looked up at him with a soft smile on her tiny lips. He blinked at her.

"Yes, mommy" Aurora smiled. "He came to me through the back door. He asked me to be a good girl for some time so I could meet you. He kept his promise." She smiled. "He also fed me. AD kept me hungry." She pouted.

"Where is Adrian?" Cynthia asked.

"The place where he should be" Lucien came back.

Cynthia's eyes narrowed as she looked at it with confusion.

"Mental Asylum" Lucien told her "He needs medical help, Cynthia. I found one of his houses full of your pictures, your stuff that he was taking while you were asleep. The walls of that house were written with your name and a lot that I can't even tell"

A loud gasp escaped Cynthia's mouth as she took a small step back. It was because of all the weight that she was carrying.

"Cynthia, please forgive me and give me one chance. I am not left with much now in terms of money but I promise to protect you and my kids with my life."

Cynthia's eyes filled with tears. She never wanted money. She just wanted to live a simple and peaceful life with her kids and Lucien.

Suddenly Lucien dropped to his knees and took her hand in his.

"Cynthia, will you marry me?" He asked all of a sudden "Today, right now?"

Cynthia's eyes widened.

He reached out for his backpack and pulled out a small box. He opened it slowly to reveal a shining ring.

Aurora gasped, placing her tiny hands over her mouth.

"Please, Cynthia, I want my family. I can't live without you anymore"

Cynthia couldn't say anything. She just stared down at the ring box blankly.

Seeing her mother hesitate, Aurora squirmed out of Cynthia’s grip. Her little shoes clicked against the floor as she took a few steps toward Lucien. She reached out with her tiny fingers and patted his jaw.

Lucien smiled and controlled his emotions.

"Mumma please" Aurora turned to Cynthia with a small pout on her lips "Say yes to dadda"

Cynthia's body froze as she heard Daddy from Aurora's mouth. The little girl has spent so many years with Adrian, but never has she called him her father. She has accepted Lucien as her daddy within a few months.

Lucien couldn't say anything anymore. He just stared into Cynthia's eyes, begging her to accept it.

Cynthia looked at her daughter, then at the man who had torn down his entire world just to hand her child back to her. With a choked sob, her knees gave out. She collapsed into Lucien's arms.

Lucien locked his arms around both of his precious ladies. He took them into a bone-crushing hug. The three of them held each other as if the world didn't matter.

For a long moment, nobody moved as the sound of their shared breathing filled the hall.

When Lucien finally pulled back, his eyes were still bright with unshed tears, but a soft, breathtaking smile rested on his lips. He looked down at Aurora, who was grinning from ear to ear, her tiny fingers still gripping the lapel of his jacket.

"Alright, dresses are waiting for my queen and princess" Lucien said kissing their foreheads one by one "Both of you go with the nurse and change your dresses."

Cynthia smiled and stood up. It didn't surprise her at all. She knew Lucien.

Cynthia slowly walked beside the nurse while Aurora jumped in excitement as if this were the best day of her life.

"Don't take too much time. I can't wait anymore" Lucien said from behind making Cynthia blush.

While both of them went inside, Lucien made sure Adrian and his father had reached the places where they belonged. He may not have his empire with him anymore but he still holds power to make sure they never come out.

Thirty minutes later, Cynthia came out adorned in a beautiful white wedding gown which both of them selected the day she went shopping with Adrian to the boutique.

Lucien couldn't breathe for a second. He had always dreamed of this day and today when Cynthia was standing in front of him, he couldn't believe his eyes.

To him, she looks like an angel who has that down in heaven just for him.

He extended his hand and without missing a beat, she slipped her hand into his. Lucien stares at her with wide eyes, without blinking. Cynthia blushed, biting her lips.

"Don't" Lucien warned her "or I will not be able to wait for the night"

Suddenly, a soft voice caught their attention. It was their little bundle of joy, Aurora. She was dressed in a clean small wedding gown herself with a tiny flower crown resting on her dark curls. She took her job as the ring bearer very seriously, keeping her eyes glued to the platinum bands resting on the cushion.

Even the priest smiled at the little innocent child when she came up to the aisle and stood beside her parents, patiently waiting for her job to be done.

Lucien held Cynthia's hand as the priest started reading the vows.

"Do you, Lucien Vaughn, accept Cynthia Vale to be your lawful wife?" The priest asked.

"I do" Lucien said without any hesitation

"Do you, Cynthia Vale, accept Lucien Vaughn as your lawful husband?"

"I do" Cynthia replied.

Aurora stepped forward on her tiptoes, carefully lifting the ring from the pillow and handing it to Lucien. He slid the shining ring onto Cynthia's finger with his eyes locking onto hers with a silent promise. Cynthia took the second ring and slid it onto his finger.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Lucien, you may kiss your bride." The priest announced.

Lucien didn't wait a single second. He stepped closer and cradled her face, his thumbs gently wiping away the tears on her cheeks. He leaned down and claimed her lips in a deep, slow, and breathtaking kiss while his mother became the witness.

It was a kiss that tasted of sweet relief, of a long-awaited homecoming, and of a brand-new beginning.

They got so lost in the kiss that they forgot about everything else.

"Me! Me! Don't forget me!"

A tiny, protesting voice interrupted them from below, accompanied by a sharp tug on Lucien's trouser leg.

They both broke the kiss, laughing softly as they looked down.

Aurora had dropped her velvet pillow and was standing between them with her arms stretched high in the air and her little lips pouted.

"We could never forget you, strawberry," Lucien chuckled.

In one smooth motion, he scooped her up into his strong arms and pulled her up between them. Aurora wrapped her tiny arms around both of their necks, giggling hysterically as she brought her face close to theirs.

Cynthia and Lucien leaned in at the same time and planted a soft, lingering kiss on each of Aurora's chubby cheeks, while Lucien's other hand went for Cynthia's stomach and the cameraman captured the perfect moment for them.

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It's not the end...