Epilogue

Epilogue
Hope
25th Birthday

"Happy birthday to you!"

I wake up feeling a little body jumping on me, a sweet voice singing joyfully and tiny claps echoing around the room. I open my eyes to find little Ethan, almost four, bouncing on my belly, his mouth in a tiny grin, black hair like his dad’s messy and sticking out in every direction. His sky-blue eyes shine happily as he spreads his arms toward me.

"Alabel, mommy." I turn my head to see my princess Evelyn, almost two years old.

I laugh at the mess of dark brown strands tied up on top of her head. Her diamond-blue eyes look at me playfully, her mouth shaped like a perfect heart blowing kisses as she lies atop my hand.

When Ethan asked for a little sibling, I discovered I was pregnant with Evelyn. She came as a surprise—my birth control failed because of medication, and her dad’s fire was fast and precise in a single night, giving me the two most precious treasures in the universe.

I’ve lived long years by Michael’s side, ruling the underworld and facing the challenges our organization, friends, and family endured—always together. He, the king, and I, his queen. Fulfilling every promise he made me, including the most special one: that my birthdays would always be surrounded by love, and one day I’d wake up with our children jumping on my bed.

"Thank you, my loves." I pull the little ones into my arms.

Both giggle as I move my head between them, tickling their necks. Ethan smells like eggs, and Evelyn like flour. Michael did a great job cleaning our little angels, but I can already predict what will happen next.

I hear the door open and see my husband walking in with a beautifully frosted pink cake, straight and topped with candles. The flames flicker as he walks toward me, a smile lighting up his face. His pajama pants hang low on his waist, chest bare. Evelyn jumps down from the bed, and her father catches her, balancing the cake. Ethan presses his head against my chest.

"Happy birthday to you," Michael begins, and the kids join in, singing while swapping R’s for L’s and fumbling their tongues. I can’t resist Ethan’s cuteness—I squeeze his cheeks and nibble his nose. He giggles, hands gripping my neck.

"Palpaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai soltoro a mamãe vilo calcochlo. (Daddy, help, mommy turned into a dog!)" he says through laughter, tears welling in his sky-blue eyes.
"I qelu talbien (I want too!)" Evelyn says.

I stretch out my arms, letting Ethan spin to the other side of the bed, and Michael hands me our daughter. I attack her belly with tickles as Evelyn giggles. Their laughter is the most perfect, calming melody I know—I couldn’t go a single day without hearing my children’s voices.

"Now it’s daddy’s turn." Michael places the cake on Ethan’s lap and picks up Evelyn. "Share her with me, princess." He tosses our girl in the air, catching her, enjoying her joyful laugh before placing her beside her brother.

"Just a lil’ bit, daddy," Ethan says. "Let’s eat the cake."

I adore how he tries so hard to speak correctly and still mispronounces most words. Ethan admires Michael and loves him with all his heart. He’s always trying to imitate him in the way he dresses, walks, and talks. I can’t handle how cute they look when Michael and Ethan wear matching suits.

I think my husband feels the same way when he sees me in matching outfits with Evelyn—the love overflowing in his eyes could fill a container. And the kisses he gives us… it’s hard to resist when Michael is sexy, but when he’s being affectionate and a doting dad, I feel like dropping college to have a third child and relive the image of Michael putting a baby to sleep.

I’m three months from graduating, and my life is complete chaos, but when I get home to see my little angels running to my legs and we eat with their dad, it’s all worth it. The world’s chaos stops existing, and family moments last an eternity.

"Happy birthday, my queen." He brushes his lips lightly against mine, just a small touch. "Happy birthday."
"Thank you, my love." I stroke the stubble on his cheeks, smiling. I blow out the candles.

"Your family will be here in an hour—let’s enjoy our little party a bit more."
"You’re right."
"Are you nervous?" He furrows his brow.

It’s the first time I’ll celebrate my birthday with them since I got married. My relationship with my mother has been great; she’s present and loves the grandchildren. But my birthdays used to be delicate moments I preferred to avoid. Slowly, we reconnected through calls and video chats, and now I finally feel ready to have her by my side on this important day.

"Yes, but it’ll be fine. I have you all," I kiss him.
"I quelo bejo! (I want a kiss!)" Evelyn jumps into my lap, pushing her dad aside and raising her arms to him.
"Yes, my little jealous one." He laughs before kissing her cheek repeatedly.

"Cake, mommy," Ethan calls. "We help daddy."
"Did you? Tell mommy about this adventure."
"Oh, daddy did soooo much work!" Evelyn says, raising her arms to show how big her dad’s job was. "Fazia tuldo ellaro. (Work, he did everything wrong.)"
"I can’t believe it, daddy—you did that?" I grimace at my husband.
"Ethan spilled flour on Evelyn, and while I was cleaning her, Cheese—our cat—dropped eggs on Ethan."
"What a mess."
"Ilpoltante que deu celto (important that it worked out)," Ethan says, sounding like a little man. I squeeze his cheeks, unable to resist his cuteness.

"Let’s see if the cake tastes good." I grab the tray and cut the first slice. I hand it to Michael, who smiles and winks at me, then give pieces to my little ones, and we eat together.

Time flies as I bathe Evelyn while Michael cleans Ethan. I dress my girl in a pink dress and put on one matching hers. We go down to the living room, and I see Michael and Ethan dressed alike in beige shirts, brown blazers, and matching pants. The sunglasses finish it—I laugh at how cute they look.

My husband wraps his arms around my waist before kissing me. The doorbell rings, and I see my mother and father enter, accompanied by Black and Steve with their wives and children. For the first time, I’m surrounded by my family—both my parents and the one I created with my husband.

My mother comes to me with a huge smile. I open my arms, eager to hug her. Fear, resentment, and worries are gone from my heart. The scars will always be there, but they can’t hurt me anymore, and I will never let my happiness be stolen again.

"Happy birthday, my daughter," she whispers in my ear. My eyes water as I smell her and feel the love radiating from her.
"Thank you, mom." I stroke her back.

I don’t want to let go.

Small arms wrap around my legs. I look down to see Ethan staring up at me mischievously.

"Vovó num polde monopoliliza a mamãe (Grandma can’t monopolize mommy)," he says, pouting, jealous down to the last strand of hair.
"What do you mean, cutie?" She crouches to his level. "Grandma wants a hug from you too." She stretches out her arms, and Ethan grabs her.

"Happy birthday, Hope." My father squeezes me quickly before the little jealous one pushes him away.
"Can I have my turn?" Black asks, opening his arms. I squeeze between them, enjoying my brother.
"Talboooooooom! (Okay!)" Ethan shouts, and I laugh.
"I’ll just be a second, Ethan," Steve says before pulling me toward him. True to his word, he lets me go in less than a second.
"You can’t have mommy." Ethan grabs my leg possessively. "She’s mine and daddy’s."

"Bianchi," my father squeezes Michael’s shoulder, "we need to talk about what you’re teaching my grandson."

Everyone laughs, especially when Michael winks at Ethan and makes an OK sign.

"There’s no secret." He comes to me, placing his hand on my waist and on Ethan’s head. Evelyn runs to stand by her dad. "Ethan is learning as a child that our women are untouchable to the world."

I look at my husband, laughing and happier than ever. When we met, I thought of myself as someone who brought despair, who didn’t deserve happiness because I caused pain. Today, I see that I have always been his hope—for a future of love and care, which we achieved together.

END!