EPILOGUE — Life's Too Short For Grudges

The Hamptons, New York.

MYKAELA.

Wow. Just stunning. Every inch of this property was breathtaking, every view worth every penny.

The photos my brother sent me last week couldn't compare to the real thing. This place was paradise on steroids.

I should send him a big, pricey Thank-You gift for this much-needed vacation...in this private, safe, luxurious, and peaceful beachfront haven many could only dream about. The views looked like life-size wallpapers.

"I could get used to this," I sighed, talking to myself while my hands got busy with the pan and spatula. If I didn't have a hospital job and if Enzo could work from home forever, I would pack up our stuff and move in here first thing.

Too bad we weren't insanely rich like my brother.

This was the newest multimillion-dollar property on his list of assets, and on my birthday, Magnus offered to lend this vacation house all weekend. Actually he said we could "use it whenever" we felt like going here. But of course I told him Enzo and I didn't want to impose.

This elegant, brightly lit and spacious kitchen was my sanctuary. The infinity pool and well-maintained yard were also big selling points. Standing in front of the wide stove, I lowered the heat and savored the aroma of espresso and blueberry pancakes in the air.

As they grew fluffier in the pan, I smiled at how the early sun kissed the shoreline outside, casting a warm glow through the windows. I needed this. Enzo and I both needed this break.

This was a rare three-day vacation from the stressful demands of my training, and though at first he was hesitant to spend three days here, my groom-to-be eventually said yes.

Of course he would still be making and taking work calls whenever necessary, but spending our weekend here might just lower his cortisol levels to a considerable degree. It was Friday, the morning before my birthday, and right now he seemed engrossed in another emergency meeting with Dr. Chen and their team.

For several months now, their scientists and medical researchers had been extra busy conducting lab tests and non-human trials, while Enzo and his management team were consumed by the urgency to provide all the required licensing paperwork for their groundbreaking vaccine trials. If there wouldn't be any hiccups this quarter, they could start the first phase of their human trials before the end of this year.

I couldn't be any prouder of his achievements and their hard work. The weight Lorenzio carried on his shoulders was no joke. Thanks to modern technology and other people who fully supported his and Dr. Chen's vision and ambition, all of their efforts, time, and personal investments were finally paying off.

Just as I plated the last pancake, the soft hum of conversation on his tablet was replaced by the strident noise of his phone alarm, followed by the shuffle of footsteps, a loud yawn, and then the feel of strong arms hugging me from behind.

A familiar warmth pressed against my back. "Morning, love." Enzo kissed the side of my head, his voice deep and soothing. The tension in his voice throughout the online meeting seemed to have vanished.

I turned off the stove. My hands and forearms were still patchy with sprinkles of flour. I faced him after washing my hands. His blue eyes, half-covered by long lashes, studied mine with a tenderness that melted the stresses I'd been trying to manage with the help of my shrink's advice.

"G'morning, Mr. Tomassini." I handed him a plate with his favorites piled high in the middle. "Have a seat. Your breakfast is ready."

"Best chef ever. I'm gonna need to give you a raise soon, Doctor Nielsen."

I snickered, the scent of fresh pancakes lingering in the space between us. "Sooner the better."

After his fingers brushed against mine, he planted a soft kiss on my forehead and took the plate to the table. "Seriously, this looks too pretty to eat, B."

"Eat up. I don't wanna see any crumbs on your plate later." I sat next to him and grabbed the pitcher full of the cucumber-lemon juice I prepared.

He scoffed. "Funny that you say it like a threat."

I poured some juice into his glass, then into mine. Before I could touch the food on my plate, I flexed my wrists and looked at him with a spark of excitement. "Hey."

"Hi, love," he muttered, his dark brows furrowing a bit as he checked his phone, a reminder of the responsibilities tethering him to his devices every single day.

"Can we talk about the list now?"

"What list?" Enzo pulled a face, his posture wrinkling the front part of his gray V-neck shirt.

"The guest list."

"Right." He put his phone away. His eyes grew wide for a second. "Sorry."

"And the invitation."

"Yeah. I, er... I forgot to reply to Jill's message." He picked up his fork to stab one of the pancakes on his plate. "Been so caught up with the requirements, meetings, and..."

"It's okay." I knew how overwhelming his list of work responsibilities were at the moment, and complaining about it just to make him feel guilty wouldn't help either of us de-stress and enjoy our weekend here.

"Your mum called you again?"

"No. Jill. She just wanted to know if, you have any other ideas before she prints out the final edit." Thank God my sister was more excited than I was about the wedding preparations. Events planning wasn't my strong suit.

"The copy she emailed last night?"

"Yeah." I beamed and touched his left hand. "D'you actually like it?"

"Love it. Tell her not to change the font."

"Great." Whew. One item off the list now.

Enzo gave my hand a squeeze and began eating his breakfast after we said a quick prayer.

"So, I talked to Mom and Gaia, about the reception, programme, and the décor."

"Yeah? What'd they say?"

I took a sip of my cucumber juice. "They'll handle it with Mom's friend."

"Fantastic. You know I wouldn't know what to do if those were on me," he muttered, reaching for his cup of coffee.

"They're actually thrilled that I'm delegating. Don't worry 'bout it." I chuckled. "Suzy, Mom's wedding planner friend, offered to do everything for half the price. She said they can start the prep next week."

"Next week?" Enzo grinned and stabbed a few blueberries with his fork.

I felt something in my gut form a knot at the surprise in his tone. "Why? Too soon?"

"No. It's great."

"Oh. I thought you... Nevermind. So, yeah. I'll meet up with Suzy next week to check out the venues."

"Mm-kay," he replied, munching on a slice of pancake. "I'll phone Mommy Tilda later."

"Okay, and, um...there's something else."

After slicing a bigger bite of his meal, Enzo looked up from his plate to squint at me, as if impatiently waiting for me to elaborate. "What something?" he mumbled.

"I was, uh, thinking of inviting Alexei and Sacha," I replied, my voice not as firm as I wanted. An odd mix of determination and vulnerability nearly made me stutter twice.

Lorenzio's gaze softened when I broke eye contact first. "Magnus phoned you last night about it?"

I nodded faintly. My heart was beating faster than I anticipated. "Why?"

"He told you to invite them, too?"

"No. We chatted about the lawyer's new email. Then he asked me if I was inviting them." I took a breath, steadying myself for more specific questions. "I mean, I did promise Ilya I would send them an invitation at least." I didn't like breaking promises—no matter how insincere or cursory they were.

After everything that happened with Ilya's liver transplant, I felt like I owed it to him to at least try to keep my word. But I wouldn't mind if Alexei and Sacha declined. I wouldn't hold it against them. Sacha hadn't even met me in person yet.

Contrary to what I expected, Ilya didn't get upset after finding out that I lied to him. That I wasn't actually pregnant when we paid him a visit. And despite his beef with the Falcos and Enzo's family, he kept his promise to me.

My latest bank account statement and the new armored vehicle parked in the garage were just a few proofs.

Lorenzio's safety and security remained a constant worry of mine, but not as much as before. Especially months before I finally mustered up the courage to confront Ilya about it. Face-to-face. What happened in his estate in Senjak during our second reunion was a memory I'd definitely never forget.

After that visit, not only did he give me gifts I never asked for, Ilya also convinced my brothers to welcome me into the family with open arms, including Enzo. I wouldn't say our families had willingly resolved all of our issues during that three-day visit. But it was a pretty great start.

With his phone finally silent on the glossy dining table, Lorenzio made a face and licked his lip, prolonging a moment of slightly uncomfortable silence.

I held my breath until he gave a nod.

"Alright."

"Really?"

"We can email them an invite," he replied, his eyes showing a tad of concern, but mostly concession.

The relief immediately relaxed my muscles. I smiled at him. I couldn't resist pulling him into a hug. "Thanks."

His muscular arm tightened around me. It was his silent promise of unwavering support, a reassurance that he'd stick it out with me wherever our future would lead us, and I wouldn't trade the feeling for anything else.

Not even twelve million dollars from a 20-year-old trust fund that included prime real estate properties that probably cost more than the amount I was told.

"But you're sure the Falco brood won't mind?" Enzo squinted at me again.

"I don't think Miles told his mom and cousins about Alexei and Sacha." I sighed. Although Miles told me he didn't like how I was trying too hard to befriend my brothers—particularly Magnus—I still trusted my gut over my best friend's opinion of them.

Not just because they were my flesh and blood. They seemed to value strong family ties as well, and they were nice to me and Enzo back in Senjak even though I was a stranger. An outsider. A nobody in their clan.

Enzo and Miles also knew I'd always wanted a big brother. Someone I could look up to, besides my parents and my older sister.

Maybe God finally heard my prayers and decided to give me more than I asked for, because I'd been patient enough for two decades. Fortunately, my half-brothers also seemed to like the idea of having a sister.

"There's someone else I think we should invite," I murmured, staring at Lorenzio again. I grinned at his curious gaze.

He sat back and raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"Alodia."

Silence filled the space around us, the muffled sound of the waves hitting the shore the only noises in the whole dining room.

I bit on the inside of my cheek, my hand fidgeting beside my glass. I nearly winced at the hesitant look in his pale blue eyes.

"Alright. I'll phone her," was his breathy reply after glancing down at his plate.

"But if you don't really want to, we—"

"No. It's not an issue," Enzo mumbled with a faint shake of his head. "I'll talk to her next week."

"You sure, love?"

"It's alright. Really." He forced a quick, slightly awkward laugh and reached for my hand. "I'll convince her."

"Thank you."

He shrugged. "You know I can't say no to the boss," he quipped, smirking at me as he finished his breakfast.

I smiled back, my heart beating loud and fast while my palm rested on my still-flat belly.

For a second there I almost thought he would say no, mostly because our best man was his best friend—Alodia's almost-stand-in baby daddy. But I also knew how much Enzo's family mattered to him.

It was one of the reasons why I fell so hard for him. We shared the same values, strived towards the same goals, and were driven by the same ambition. I couldn't think of a more suitable partner in life.

He was the definition of an ideal husband. And more. Way more than I ever asked for.

Some days I still couldn't believe how I was able to convince this gorgeous man that I was the wife he'd always wanted, and that he should spend the rest of his life with me. On other days, I truly believed meeting him was an answered prayer.

Of course I still found myself questioning my choices at times, zoning out and just contemplating the future awaiting us. But after that weekend in Belgrade, it was like most of my thoughts underwent a much-needed reset.

The world was still chaotic, but at least now I felt better about myself. More emotionally well-adjusted. More capable of withstanding and surpassing the setbacks coming my way.

Now that I was already months into residency, I felt way more prepared, confident, and no longer feeling like a fraud half the time. I just needed to keep working on myself, put my strengths and weaknesses to good use, help people any way I could while the entire world raced to produce the first batch of vaccines that would hopefully eradicate the new virus.

In six months or less, with my brother's connections in the pharmaceutical and medical industry, Zione and another up-and-coming biotech firm would be able to fast-track the vaccine trials, which would facilitate mass production of safe and effective vaccines by early next year.

Meaning: a better, healthier, safer future for billions of people. A world our precious little angel and other children deserved.

Sure. The road ahead of us would be tough and risky at times. But as long as I kept praying, and as long as Enzo stayed beside me, anything was possible.

For the first time in a long time, I genuinely felt excited about what else life had to offer.

The End.