Chapter 33

“Melissa Rose Atkinson, will you marry me?” I asked. Life had given us a second chance, and I was determined to seize it. To make things right this time. “This time for real?” I chuckled and so did she.

“Yes.” She giggled through the watery eyes. “I want to marry you, Sebastian Vanderbilt.”

I couldn’t stop grinning. I hopped towards her, and she wrapped her hands around my neck. I caressed her cheek, looking deeply into her shimmering eyes before stealing a soft kiss from her curved lips that curved in a smile against mine.

“I love you, Melissa,” I whispered, sliding the ring on her slim, long finger before I kissed her hand gently. “You give my life meaning. You and our daughter.”

Melissa took a breath, a tear escaping her eye that I tenderly wiped away. “I love you, Sebastian. More than anything.”

“Family hug!” Angel exclaimed and we both chuckled, resting our foreheads against each other before we turned to our most precious princess. I lifted her and held in my arms as we hugged. All three of us.

Sometimes we needed to lose something to see how much it meant to us. Perhaps, we had to lose each other to realize how much we loved one another. To see that our lives were black and blue without the other. Meaningless, colorless. People were like puzzles. They needed to learn a certain lesson to open their eyes to the things that they hadn’t seen before. With each lesson, they pick up the missing pieces and at the end of the journey, they were finally complete. Having Melissa and Angel by my side, I felt complete. I picked up the missing puzzle pieces in my life. Them. These two fragile women meant everything to me. These two women for whom I’d burn that vicious world to the ashes and build it all over again so that it would become their fairy tale kingdom. Melissa was my Queen, Angel was my Princess, and together we shall rule our empire called life.

Later that night, we came back to the hotel room, tucking Angel who fell asleep in my arms to bed. The evening was full of emotions, but she drifted to sleep with a smile on her face. I planted a tender kiss on her forehead, caressing her soft, deep brown hair. The sight of her sleeping so peacefully would never stop being one of my favorite things.

“Sebastian?” Melissa’s soft voice jolted me out of my reverie.

“Hm?” I turned to face her.

She pointed her head toward the living room area in our suite, and I followed. I looked at her, from head to toe, savoring another one of my favorite sights.

“Here.” She extended her fist toward me, handing me something. “It’s yours.”

I looked at the engagement ring I gave her the first time three years ago that she left in my hand, and then back at her.

“You kept it?”

“I did,” she whispered. “I wanted to throw it away so many times, but I couldn’t.” Her eyes darted between mine. “I knew that ring belonged to your mother. That it was one of the very few things you have left after her. I wanted you to have it back.”

I took a few steps closer to her, putting my hand on her cheek. She sank into my touch, her eyes shutting close briefly. “Melissa…” I whispered, at a loss of words. I thought she had thrown it away a long time ago.

“It was also reminding me of you,” she spoke tenderly, and her gaze met mine.

“Like my shirt; you wore it the other day at the hospital?” I couldn’t help but tease.

Melissa’s eyes widened and she chuckled. “You noticed?”

“I did.” I nodded, my thumb caressing her cheek.

“I could’ve figured it out. You’ve always been so observant.” Her brows furrowed as if in embarrassment. She overlapped my hand with hers, murmuring sultrily, “I guess I have never stopped loving you either. I tried to hate you. God knows I did. I failed.”

My teeth sank into my lip as it curved in a grin. “Our love never died. It only slumbered.” I took Melissa’s right hand in mine and slid the ring she gave me back on her finger. “You said it’s mine, but it belongs to you, Melissa. I told you my mother told me to give it to a woman who makes my heart bloom, petal by petal. It’s you. It’s always been you. Always will be.” I planted a kiss on her hand and her eyes welled up with tears once again.

“Sebastian,” she breathed.

“Hey, don’t cry.” I wiped the tear from under her eye, pulling her closer to me.

Her face was buried in my neck, inhaling deeply. “It’s always been you for me too.”

The knock at the door broke on our moment. I gently pulled away, touching Melissa’s hair away from her face. “It must be the room service. I’ve ordered champagne for us.” I smiled, heading toward to open the door.

My blood ran cold. In an instant, adrenaline-fueled every fiber in me.

“What the fuck. Charles?” I hissed, assessing the hallway covered with the blood of my men. Charles Moretti, my supposed ally was pointing a gun to my chest. Behind him five or more of his men. My gaze landed on the guy from the restaurant, Alex, if I remembered right. He had a gun pressed at the back of his head, all bruised. He looked at me with horror in his eyes.

“Sebastian, what is it?” Melissa’s voice made my heart skip a beat, reminding me she was here too. Our daughter was here.

“Don’t come closer, Melissa,” I warned, stopping her with my hand.

She furrowed her brows, concern painting her face.

Charles grinning in a twisted way.

“Come with us and nothing bad will happen to your woman and daughter. I want only you, Sebastian. But if you try any tricks, I’ll kill you all,” he threatened, his smirk widening as he pressed the gun to my chest with force.

“Sebastian.” Melissa started panicking.

“Melissa, please. Stay where you are and don’t do anything.” I glanced at her, it was visible she didn’t know what to do, and her heart was breaking. So was mine.

I quickly calculated all the possibilities in my head. My men were dead. Weston was nowhere to be seen. I had no choice but to do what Charles fucking Moretti say. I couldn’t have risked the safety of my family.

“I’ll go with you but if a single hair falls off her head, I’ll fucking bury you alive. Even if I had to come back from dead,” I hissed, staring straight into Charles’ eyes.

“Fine by me,” Charles replied before he signaled his men to capture me. I took a heavy breath and I looked at Melissa whose face was covered with tears. “I love you, Melissa. I’ll love you till the end of my days and even after that,” I said, knowing it might’ve been the last time I saw her.