Chapter 163 Epilogue 1

Chapter 163 Epilogue 1
SEVEN YEARS LATER

Irene sat alone on her chair, staring at the window while tilting her head to ensure she looked everything.

No. Not just good. Perfect.

That was exactly how the last seven years of her life had been.

Beautifully perfect.

Irene added one more dash of blush to her cheeks before looking towards the mirror.

Now she was ready.

"Mum, hurry up!"

A small, loud voice erupted, breaking the quiet and calm of Irene's room. Before she could come up with an answer for him, the door to her room was suddenly pushed open.

A small head appeared through the gap.

"Daddy is already waiting downstairs."

Irene held her breath as soon as she saw her little son.

A smile appeared on her face.

"Hold on, William," she muttered, returning her gaze to the mirror once more. "Tell your father to hold on."

William pouted, clearly not liking the way he had been sent to tell his father to wait, especially since his father wouldn't like that word even more.

He closed the door with a soft slam.

"I'm ready." Irene muttered to the mirror, her face beaming.

She gave herself one last look before leaving the room.

...

She descended the stairs slowly, dressed in a beautiful blue gown which swayed gently with every step.

Nelson's eyes were stuck on his wife the entire time she came down the stairs, staring at her like she was a different person.

Or rather, the same person.

His eyes burned with an emotion not only Irene recognized, but also everyone else around them, as that was the only emotion in Nelson's eyes whenever he looked at her.

Irene's lips hooked up as she saw the mesmerized look on her husband's face. Despite how many times he had seen her dress up, Nelson always managed to look at her like she was the most stunning person in the room.

Just before she got to the last two steps, his hand stretched out to her.

"Mrs. Clark." Nelson called.

Irene's eyes stared at his hand for a few seconds, then she grabbed that hand of his and stepped off the stairs.

"Mr. Clark." She teased, her lips spreading into a beautiful smile.

"You look amazing." Nelson mumbled, leaning in to place a kiss on Irene's forehead, and then down to her lips.

"Like always." She mumbled into the kiss.

William ran down the stairs to meet his parents being very sweet with each other, and he smiled, looking away with both hands covering his eyes, only that there was a huge gap between them which allowed him to see them anyway.

"Daddy, doesn't mummy look like a mermaid? A beautiful mermaid?" He asked, staring at Irene the same way his father stared at her, in awe.

Irene giggled at her son's words, which weren't far from the truth.

She had on a blue dress. A beautiful, long, backless and strapless one which accentuated her perfect curves and flowed down to her knees before breaking into a free finish.

It was stunning.

She looked stunning in it.

"She does." Nelson muttered, outwardly agreeing with his son before looking at him.

"Come along, William."

Nelson carried the kid from the stairs and began walking towards the car.

"We'd drop you off at Grandma's place before we go."

"Okay, Daddy."

Will rested his head on his father's shoulders.

Irene glanced at the two of them, a smile appearing on her lips.

Her boys.

For the last seven years, apart from Nelson, Irene had tried to do the opposite of whatever she saw in the vision. First, it was about college and what she studied, then in everything else.

The only other thing she timed correctly was William.

She wanted him back.

The exact same way.

He was one of the reasons she began loving her life back when she thought she was from another universe. That little kid had been one of the few beautiful things in the future she had seen, and as though God gave her his blessing, she got him.

Same face, same attitude, everything.

And she couldn't have been happier.

Seven years ago, she had been terrified of changing the future because she didn't know what would happen if she did.

Now, she had spent seven years living a life that wasn't supposed to exist.

A life with Nelson.

A life with William.

A life that belonged to her..

Everything almost seemed perfect, apart from the forever etching gaze Irene always felt behind her anything she went out. 

Maybe it wad her paranoia because it was getting close to that time, or maybe he was released already. 

She had tried getting newe regarding him, but Mr. Rogers kept that a secret. She didn't want to ask Nelson to find out whether or not he was still alive or in prison so he wouldn't catch on to her fears. 

That was why she chose to deal with it her own way. Never go out until absolutely necessary. 

After William was dropped off at the Walters Manor, the limousine took both Irene and Nelson to the event.

William stood at the entrance with his grandmother, waving at them until the limousine began moving.

Irene waved back through the window, watching him until he disappeared from sight.

"He's growing too fast." She muttered.

Nelson looked at her.

"You're already complaining?"

"Of course." Irene turned to him. "Soon he'll be taller than me."

"That won't be difficult."

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Are you saying I'm short?"

Nelson's lips twitched."I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to." He chuckled, reaching for her hand.

"You're perfect."

Irene smiled. "Better."

Even as a famous pianist, Irene barely attended parties, only going when she had no way of wiggling out of it.

Why?

Becau she didn't want the stalker to find her again. 

Maybe that was why the invitation was pushed to Nelson instead, while she was forced to attend.

She didn't like crowded places anymore.

Not because she was afraid of people.

She was afraid of what could be hiding among them.

For years, she had wondered whether the stalker would ever find her again. There had been no sign of him for a long time, but that didn't mean Irene had forgotten.

She remembered everything.

The fear.

The chase. The feeling of being watched.

And she wasn't willing to experience any of it again.

Nelson squeezed her hand.

"You okay?"

Irene looked at him and nodded.

"Yeah."

She rested her head against his shoulder for a moment.

With Nelson beside her, everything seemed easier.

After over half an hour, the limousine was pulled to a stop at a huge red carpet in front of the biggest party in the country.

Luna's engagement party.

Nelson got down first, then Irene.

She took a deep breath before stepping out of the limousine.

She had had years to walk on her nerves, so she no longer felt nervous at events or parties, but still having Nelson with her was a bonus.

"Let's go, Mrs. Clark."

Nelson hooked his elbow, and Irene placed her hand in his, walking side by side inside.

Whatever happened tonight, she would handle it.

She had already changed her future once.

She wasn't going to let the past ruin the life she had fought so hard to build.