Chapter 244 EPILOGUE I.

Chapter 244 EPILOGUE I.
Isabella. TWO YEARS LATER. 

“Alright, guys, we are done here now, and make sure you catch the early flight back to New York tomorrow.”

The professor’s voice echoed across the hall, and for a moment, I just sat there, letting it sink in.

Done.

A whole week of intense lectures, networking, presentations, and barely sleeping, all wrapped up just like that.

A small giggle slipped out of me before I could stop it, light and almost disbelieving, as I quickly gathered my things, sliding my laptop into my bag, stuffing my notes in without the usual care I would have taken on a normal day. I just wanted to leave. I wanted to get back.

To him.

I pushed my chair back and hurried out of the hall, the buzz of students still talking behind me fading as I stepped into the bright French afternoon. The sun hit my skin instantly, warm and soft, and for a moment, I paused just to take it in.

France.

If someone had told me two years ago that I would be here, attending a fashion conference, actually building something for myself, I would have laughed in their face.

But here I was.

About a year and six months ago, I had fallen in love with fashion in a way I did not expect. It started small, just curiosity, just interest, and then suddenly it became something I could not ignore. I enrolled in a fashion school, threw myself into it, and now....I was here.

Living it.

Growing.

Becoming something more.

And still.....missing him like crazy.

I walked into my hotel room not long after, closing the door behind me with a soft sigh as I dropped my bag onto the chair. The quiet wrapped around me instantly, and for the first time that day, I let myself relax.

I peeled off my clothes slowly, my body aching in that satisfying way that came after a long, productive day, then stepped into the shower, letting the warm water run over me.

My eyes closed.

And just like that, my thoughts went straight to Luca.

They always did.

It had only been a week.

Just one week.

And yet it felt longer.

It felt wrong.

Like something was missing from me.

Life with Luca had been.....overwhelming, chaotic, intense, and somehow still the most beautiful thing I had ever experienced.

We still argued.

A lot.

Loud, dramatic, stubborn arguments where neither of us wanted to back down, but somehow, we never let it break us again. We always found our way back.

Always.

He was still controlling.

Still possessive.

Still toxic in ways that would probably scare anyone else.

But me?

I loved him.

I loved every complicated, messy part of him.

And I trusted him.

Completely.

I stepped out of the shower after a while, wrapping a towel around my body before walking back into the room and dropping onto the bed with a tired sigh. My hair was damp, my skin still warm, and for a moment, I just stared at the ceiling.

Two years.

So much had changed.

His surgery.

That alone had been terrifying. He had delayed it for too long, pushing it back like he always did with things that mattered, but when he finally went through with it, it had been successful. I remembered how tightly I had held his hand before they took him in, how my heart felt like it would stop if anything went wrong.

He made it.

He always did.

He had cut down on smoking and drugs, not completely, but enough that I could see he was trying. Even just last month, after one of our arguments, he had disappeared for hours, only for me to find out later that he had slipped back into it for a moment.

We were still working on it.

Together.

And me?

I had changed too.

I cut my hair shorter, something that had shocked him so much at first that he just stared at me for a full minute without speaking. I dyed it brown, pierced my nose and ears, and even got a tattoo on my waist that says ‘Own Me Daddy Luca’ that had nearly driven him insane when he first saw it.

Vivian had woken up from her coma about a year ago. That alone had shaken everything. She and Luca were still figuring things out, slowly rebuilding something that had been broken for so long. He was still distant with her, but there was effort there. Luca became the most feared now and sometimes it got risky but I have refused to let my fear overshadow my trust in him. 

And Smith.

I smiled faintly to myself.

He died in prison a year ago.

Everyone called it natural causes.

I knew better.

Luca did not leave loose ends.

Daniel was still in prison, serving life, exactly where he belonged.

I reached for my phone, unlocking it as I rolled onto my side, scrolling through my messages. My lips curved into a smile when I opened Jun’s chat.

Jun never changed. He was still working for Luca and still hellbent on not involving himself in our storm. Preserving his head like he used to say. 

“Isabella.”

“Can you come back home and control your man?”

“He is not letting anyone breathe.”

“He keeps going around torturing people.”

“The whole house is suffering.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. Luca bought a house or rather a mansion near the club and I moved out of Daniel’s house to live with him. He dedicated a whole section for my fashion activities and then I have a library and a game house. 

Luca without me for a week was chaos.

I opened Luca’s messages next, and just reading them made something warm spread through my chest.

“I’m flying to France tomorrow morning.”

“I miss you, Queen.”

“One week without you feels like torture.”

“I want you so badly.”

My smile widened before I even realized it, and without thinking twice, I pressed the video call button.

He picked up immediately.

Of course he did.

His face appeared on the screen, frowning, his brows pulled together like he had been waiting for this call and was already annoyed that it took this long.

I giggled.

“Relax, baby. I’m calling you now.”

His expression did not soften immediately, but I could see it in his eyes.

“I have been waiting,” he said, his voice low. “Why are you smiling like that?”

“Because I’m coming home tomorrow.”

That did it.

His entire expression changed instantly.

“What?” he asked, sitting up straighter. “You said three more days.”

“I know,” I said, grinning. “But we finished early. So I’m taking the morning flight.”

He leaned back, a slow smile forming on his lips.

“Do you want me to send a private jet?”

I rolled my eyes immediately.

“Absolutely not. I’m not trying to attract attention.”

He groaned. “Fine. Just get back here as fast as you can.”

I narrowed my eyes at him slightly.

“Don’t lie to me. Did you take anything?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“No pills,” he admitted. “I smoked once. Don’t start. I missed you.”

I softened instantly.

“Fine,” I said quietly. “I missed you too. I got you some perfumes. I think you will like them.”

He shook his head slowly, his gaze intense.

“I don’t want perfumes. I just want you here.”

My heart melted.

“I will be there soon.”

He shifted slightly, then smirked in a way that made my cheeks warm.

“You have no idea what you’re doing to me right now.”

He switched his camera to his shorts and holy fuck, my man was hard. I almost moaned loudly at the sight of his cock pent up in his shorts. 

He showed his face and rasped out. “See? It has been hard since I heard your voice.”

I shook my head and giggled. “You are so shameless, Luca Vitrano.”

“For you,” he said simply. “Only for you. I love you.”

My voice softened without effort.

“I love you too.”

He exhaled, then said reluctantly, “I have to go out now. Show me boobs.....please! I can go insane honestly.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Luca?” I laughed at his demand. 

He groaned. “Because I want to see boobs? My girlfriend’s boobs?! Wait, where is your ring?”

Yeah, six months ago, he gave me a promise ring. Not an engagement one because I told him I would kill him if he did that. Marriage is a no for me, right now. 

I froze.

Then glanced around quickly.

“Oh.....I forgot to wear it this morning.”

His expression darkened immediately.

“Bella.”

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, laughing softly. “I will put it on. Relax.”

He stared at me for a second longer before shaking his head.

“You are impossible.”

“And you love me,” I shot back.

He smirked. “Too much.”

I blew him a kiss.

“Come get me tomorrow, okay?”

“I will be waiting,” he said. “And put your damn ring on.”

The call ended, but the warmth stayed.

I reached for my bag, pulled out the small box, and slid the ring back onto my finger, staring at it for a moment.