Chapter 200: I Began And Ended With Spades.

Ace – Point of View

Finding a surrogate was easy because Ashley volunteered. It was a sore topic for me, because I knew she was still trying to absolve herself of the part she played in my father’s death. She tried her best to convince us. Marlene also volunteered, which made everything much more complicated. Marlene and Ashley were two peas in a pod who had played certain roles in my family’s life.

Spades and I cast a wider net. Camilla was the perfect Ob-Gyn. She had a list of credible and perfect candidates. Mom also helped. Tatiana and Valentina also helped. Everyone helped in choosing the right person to carry our babies. I didn’t want to use any of our friends because I didn’t want to complicate things, but Marie showed me it could be easy.

Spades and I went on an extra healthy journey, making sure our body was the right fit for the potential child. Ashley and Marlene were doing it for the wrong reasons, so we turned them down. No one could blame me for extra paranoia. Spades was the best part of my life, and I was very protective of the family we were building.

We had been close to choosing a young woman when Viola decided to carry our baby.

“Let’s not make a big deal out of this. I love you both very much. Danielle and I don’t want children, but you obviously do. You have both played important parts in my life in the past years. I want to pay back in a way you obviously and desperately need. I will carry your baby.” She had said it one evening randomly.

And that was it. I was too happy to argue. I was also glad that two of our best friends had contributed to our happiness.

It was a beautiful day when we found out that Viola was pregnant, with twins, meaning she was carrying two children that belonged biologically to us. I never thought I would ever find happiness like that again. I had thought the rest of my days would be bleak, but Spades had given me everything; he helped me build friendships which turned out to be the greatest gifts of all.

Understandably, we showered Viola with attention, and we weren’t the only ones. Our family has grown bigger and tighter. Everyone was happy for us. Viola and Danielle moved into the estate. I convinced Camilla and Ana to spend some months with us. I was nervous about being a father.

The pregnancy journey brought Spades and me closer. I thought it was impossible to love him more, but I did. I loved the shape of his face. I loved his smile. I loved how attentive he was to Viola. I loved how excited he was to be a father. I loved how cruel a leader he was when the need arose. I loved how protective he was of our family. I loved how he loved me. There was nothing like it. I was loved, and our love had produced something beautiful.

The day Viola went into labour was very scary. I had been in a meeting in St Petersburg while Spades was at home with her, alongside our friends. I had thought I would miss the birth of my fucking children. To make it worse, a storm began in earnest, keeping me away from my family. I didn’t care about the storm. I held the fucking pilot at gunpoint and made him take me home. Thankfully, the storm stopped halfway, and I made it home on time.

Viola was in labour for hours, and we were by her side. I’d never felt fear like that before. Spades, Camilla, Danielle and I were in the labour room with her.

I was on my knees as our daughter finally slipped out, screaming at the top of her lungs. Our son came out a second later, caught by Spades. He wasn’t screaming like his sister. Instead, he was crying softly, fascinated by his father.

In more ways than one, my life began the day my children were born. Somehow, foolish me thought I could never love again, but the sight of my children carved a new heart in me, a heart that only beat for them.

Our children were christened. We named our son Vladimir Maxim Marakov-Ivanov, and our daughter Yelena Milena Marakov-Ivanov.

Thankfully, Viola recovered wonderfully. She nursed the children for the first couple of days as needed. She relinquished every right to us, and I made it worth her while. She and Danielle didn’t want our money, but I gave her enough to ensure she would never lack again.

Spades and I had a lot of sleepless nights in the first year, but we cherished every moment. Soon, our children were running around the house, screaming at the top of their lungs. Surprisingly, Milena took my personality, and Vlad took Spades. I didn’t care. I loved them than I thought was possible. I protected them. My husband’s reputation preceded him. Everyone knew not to fuck with us.

Soon, we became some sort of myth because of how we kept to our circle. Our children grew beautifully and away from the public’s eye.

They never lacked companionship because as the years passed, our family grew fuller – Caine and Marie had their first child a year after, a daughter, Karina Romanova. Karina grew to be the perfect embodiment of her parents, having her mother’s grace and her father’s quickness. Camilla and Ana adopted a baby a few years in, a special boy who was named Lucien. Cateleya and Levi had their first child, an amazing girl named Anastasia, continuing the family tradition of matriarchy.

It was odd to see how far I’d come from where I started. It was ironic that everything started with the shoe shiner I met decades ago.

Our marriage grew stronger as the years passed by, standing the test of fate and time. Just like my father said, it was also revolutionary, bringing about a new dawn to the Bratva.

I began and ended with Spades.

(Hello, My loves!

Sad, but our journey must come to an end. Thank you all so much for your love and support. You have all contributed in making this adventure an unforgettable one for me.

Until we meet again, in another adventure, stay safe, stay happy, and keep on reading!

Lots of Love,

Alpha.)