Epilogue

Epilogue
Serena's POV

People think forgiveness is an act of weakness and surrender. It is about forgetting or pretending the damage never happened.

But they are wrong.

What I have learnt is that forgiveness is not something you give to someone who breaks you. It is something you give to yourself when you are tired of bleeding from wounds that no longer own you.

For a long time, I thought forgiving Matteo would mean erasing everything he did to me, forgetting every pain he inflicted on me, letting go of the fact that he kept me caged in his house, but it was not like that.

Forgiveness did not erase the past.

It put it in its place.

That day in the hospital, when I woke up, I was expecting Matteo around, and he was there, but not the one who kept me caged to take his revenge. What stood before me was a man who had his brutal awakening.

He wanted me to forgive him, but instead, he chose to keep his promise.

He did the one thing I never thought he would.

He let me go.

That was the moment something inside me shifted.

I realised it was not only me who suffered in this relationship. He suffered too. Kayden was obsessed with me, and to get me, he ruined Matteo. He had to go through all the pain even when he was not wrong.

If I had enough courage in the past, maybe I would have saved him.

If he committed a mistake by not trusting me, I also chose to hide myself instead of standing for my love.

Before letting me go, he told me that he never married Violet, nor did he cheat on me. He was framed. He was also not behind Bryan's accident. It was Kayden. He got to know about the meeting, so he tried to kill Bryan to remove him from his way.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I felt his warm and big palms against my ankles.

Matteo was sitting on the floor near the couch with his head bent and his fingers pressing into my calves with careful pressure as if he was serving his Goddess.

A soft smile made its way to my lips. Since we have started our new life, he has started worshipping me practically. He showers me with so much love that I have forgotten what actual sadness means. He takes care of my every single thing.

“Harder,” I said calmly, not even looking at him.

Without a single word of argument or a line of irritation, he adjusted his grip and applied more pressure, exactly where I needed it.

I watched him from the corner of my eye. The same hands that once controlled empires, weapons, and lives now waited for my slightest reaction to ease up or push harder.

Before leaving him, I told him I could forgive him only if he gave up the mafia throne.

I still remember the look of shock on his face. I knew it was not just a throne but it was his identity, something he built with years of war, betrayal, and survival.

He went silent for a long time after that before asking if he accepted my condition, and if I would stay.

I didn't say yes, I just asked him to prove himself.

And here he is.

He not only let go of the throne but also showed me what true love meant. He showed up, took care of me, and changed himself. He has surrendered to me completely.

He is now calm and free in a way I had never seen before.

Now we live far from the city, away from noise, blood, and shadows. There are no guards outside the house, no weapons under pillows. Just quiet mornings and evenings that belong to us.

Matteo’s hands paused slightly, as if sensing my gaze.

“Is it okay?” he asked, softly.

I nodded.

“Yes. Don’t stop.”

And he didn’t.

But then suddenly, the pain came without warning. It was so sharp and deep that it tore through my lower abdomen. An intense scream ripped out of me before I could stop it.

“Ah—!”

Matteo froze.

His hands stilled instantly, and his head snapped up at me. “Sera?”

Another wave hit me, stronger this time, stealing my breath. I clutched the edge of the couch as I tried to take a deep breath but the pain only worsened.

“I... I think...” My voice broke. “I think it’s time.”

He was on his feet in a second. The fear flashed in his eyes. Another contraction hit me like a storm. I cried out in pure pain and his face drained of color.

And then he scooped me in his arms and rushed towards the door, "We are going to the hospital"

Every bump in the road sent pain shooting through me. I gripped Matteo’s jacket, burying my face against his chest as he drove faster than I’d ever seen him drive before.

"Breathe, Sera," he cooed at the same time, "Just breathe. I am here. Okay. I will not let anything happen to you"

By the time we reached the hospital, I was crying openly, and my body was trembling with each contraction.

I don't know what was happening around me. The only thing I was aware of was Matteo. I held onto his hand tightly.

“Stay,” I whispered. “Don’t leave. Please"

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said immediately. “I promise. I’m right here.”

Soon the doctor asked me to push. I applied all the pressure to it. Matteo was beside me all the time, whispering nothing sweet in my ears. I dug my nails into his skin so sharply that blood came out of it.

“You’re doing it,” he whispered over and over. “You’re so strong. Stronger than you know.”

"One last push, ma'am!" The doctor said.

With all the energy left in me, I pushed, and suddenly a cry cut through everything. It was sharp and loud.

The pain was gone, and for a second, my world stopped. Matteo rubbed my palms by taking them in between his and leaned down to kiss my forehead.

Our heads turned to the small bundle of joy in the nurse's arms.

“Congratulations. It’s a girl.”

And I burst into tears.

“A girl,” Matteo breathed in disbelief.

I know how much he wanted a baby girl. They placed her on my chest. She was so warm, tiny, and perfect. Her fingers curled instinctively against me as if she already knew I was hers.

“She’s… she’s beautiful,” he whispered “She looks like you,” he said hoarsely. “Strong already.”

Matteo stroked her back softly and instantly stopped crying.

I chuckled softly.

In that moment, everything else faded. The past, the pain, the blood, and the shadows we had escaped.

All that mattered was this.

Matteo helped me sit up and placed his daughter on his chest. He wrapped his arm around me and I placed my head on his shoulder.

"I love you, Sera. I love you more than you could think. Thank you so much for staying with me"

His eyes were moist.

"I love you, too" I mumbled.

He leaned down and captured my lips with his with our little bundle of joy in between us.

\~~~~~~

Author's note -

Hello guys,
I know you were not expecting this ending. But I had to end this story in a rush due to a medical emergency at my home. I thought it was better to give it an ending than to leave it incomplete.
I know some of you might feel that Serena came across as a weak or spineless heroine. That was never my intention. Those of you who have read my previous work know how I write my female leads. I’ve written over fifteen books, and strength has always been a core part of my heroines. Unfortunately, at this moment, I am not in a position to continue this story, so I had to end it here.

If you liked my writing, I request you to check out my other stories as well, you won’t be disappointed.

I’ll be coming back soon with a new story, Ex’s Sinful Possession.

For updates and to stay connected, follow me on Instagram:
ID: dayyyyydreamerrr

Thank you for your love and support. ❤️