Epilogue: The Black Rose

Christian took furious steps back inside the office premises and Ana tried to speak to him again, “Not now, Ana!” He said sternly, so done with all the drama, and rushed to the elevator. But something caught his eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. His steps halted as he swiftly turned to look at the pair of silver heels lying leisurely near the reception.

He furrowed his brows and recognised it as he recalled Mishka wearing the same in the morning. “Where is Mishka?” He almost shouted, his voice echoed, and his eyes peered at Ana for an answer.

“She was here but left…. After…” Ana stuttered.

“What after?” Christian asked, fearing the worst. “Damn it, say!!”

“She left when she spotted Lia with you in the conference room,” Ana revealed, and Christian’s face lost all colour, and for a split of seconds, he couldn’t process anything.

“Why didn’t I know she was here?” He looked for an explanation.

“She came to give you a surprise,” The receptionist said and Christian’s eyes darken. He took a few steps back and ran outside, calling her number.

Mishka was writing something, sitting in her usual spot. Her eyes glanced at the mobile screen and she saw Christian’s name flashing, but she turned her face away and continued to write.

Christian rubbed his stubble in desperation and tried to call again, but she didn’t pick up. He then called Mishka’s driver, and he informed Christian that they had reached home. “This shouldn’t have happened like this,” He muttered and the next moment, the driver appeared with his Red Audi.

The driver stepped out and Christian dismissed him. “Get away, let me drive!” He spat, quickly getting inside, and the car disappeared within seconds.

The black clouds hovered over the sky, and soon it started raining heavily. Christian was driving at the top speed while dialling Mishka’s number again, but no response.

The rain never brought any good news in their life. Christian had a frightening feeling recalling the past. It was raining when he stepped out of the chemical factory holding unconscious Mishka in his arms; it was raining when she slit her wrist, and today, it was raining again.

The loud thundering from the sky stopped the trails of his thoughts and he focuses on driving, gulping the lump that formed in his throat.

“Don’t do anything wrong, Mishka. Give me a chance to explain everything for once!” Christian mumbled to himself, driving to the Knight mansion at the topmost speed.

***

Luke came running to the hospital and stopped right outside the ward where Dr Ken was talking to another doctor about Vera. “What happened? Is Vera alright? Why did you say it’s an emergency?” Luke asked a series of questions and he felt his heart pounding loudly inside his chest.

“She had another seizure and we are sorry... but,” Dr Ken paused.

“But… what?” Luke choked and rubbed his stubble. “Fuck, what happened?” He screeched, unable to take the suspense.

“See it yourself!” He opened the door of Vera’s ward, looking down at the floor, while Luke looked at him dumbfounded and stood rooted in his place.

“What happened, Ken? You are scaring me,” He muttered and Ken shook his head in no.

“See it yourself. I am too shocked to reveal this,” He said again, and Luke rubbed his face, taking a step inside the room.

He gulped nervously, and his eyes travelled to the bed, but it was empty. He knitted his eyebrows and slowly his eyes moved from the bed to the window, where he saw a woman standing in a pink hospital gown. Her wavy golden hair cascaded down up to her waist, and she was looking out of the window.

“Vera!” He called in a whisper, but it was loud enough for the woman to hear. The woman turned. Her dark brown eyes, the same as Christian's met with Luke. Vera smiled, the smile Luke waited for years to see.

Luke looked at her with slightly parted lips and he slowly slipped to his knees with his face down on the floor. The nurse standing next to Vera helped her to reach Luke and she slightly bend to hold his shoulder.

“Luke,” She said softly and Luke cried, listening to her melodious voice years later.

“I am sorry,” He said, and Vera had tears in her eyes, knowing exactly why he was sorry. “I am very sorry, Vera. I took away seventeen years of your life. I am sorry.” He kept on apologising while Vera repeatedly asks him to get up.

“Stand up, Luke. Please!” She said, and he sniffled, slowly standing up, taking her in his warm embrace. She, too, hugged him back with a wide smile on her lips and slowly rubbed his back to calm him.

It felt like an eternity when he finally broke the embrace and cupped her cheeks in his hand, staring into her eyes, “I missed you,” He said, taking her lips in a long kiss. “You are still as beautiful as you were seventeen years back,” He said, caressing her cheek.

“But I see Luke Knight has grown old,” She chuckled, tracing the greys spikes around his temple. “Take me home, Luke. I can’t wait to meet everyone, especially Mishika,” She pronounced her name with a little difficulty and they both chuckled.

***

Christian entered the apartment, and it appeared awfully silent. He called for Mishka, but no response came. He quickly rushed upstairs and opened Eric’s room to check inside. The room was perfectly set and there was no trace of any person. Christian closed the door and took long strides towards his room, next to Eric, and as soon as he twisted the knob, his eyes widened.

The room was a complete mess. A torn maroon dress was lying on the dishevelled bed. His eyes then travelled to the floor, and he found their wedding photo frame crushed.

He walked further inside the room, checking the bathroom and balcony, but Mishka was nowhere in the sight. He felt helpless, calling her number again, and Mishka’s mobile started ringing.

Christian’s eyes snapped back in the direction of the desk, and he spotted her mobile on the desk with a black rose working as a paperweight for the letter beneath it. Christian picked the rose, scrutinising it, and then picked the letter to read.

Dear Christian,

My life was always unpredictable and full of surprises, One day I woke up and my parents were gone, one day I woke and found my brother gone, one day I woke and I was in London, and the next day, I found myself marrying a stranger. Life never gave me a fair chance to think rationally before taking any decision. Everything always happened so suddenly that I had no option but to accept it.

Now, when I look back, I feel I had an option. I should’ve sold myself to that politician for a night to save the orphanage and my brother. At least his intentions were clear. He just wanted to sleep with me in an exchange for setting the orphanage free and paying my brother’s medical bills. Unlike you, who was scheming against me since the start. If I had taken the decision to go back to him rather than jumping in the river, I wouldn’t have been standing here today!

Since the day I’ve married you, I’ve heard servants gossiping about how they fear that the destiny will repeat itself and I’ll be next Vera. I always wondered why they say like that but now I have answers. You are following exactly your father’s steps. Maybe he had a pure reason, but you planned to deceive me from the beginning. You all used me for your selfish reasons and I’ll never forgive any one of you.

Why did you do this to me, Christian? Just once, just for once, tried to tell me the truth. I would’ve set you free. Why did you play with my emotions? Why use used me for your own selfish reasons? Why you use me emotionally and physically? I want to wait for you to ask these questions, but I know you’ll lie again and I’ll fall into your trap.

Anyway, these questions have no relevance now. You got everything you desired. It doesn’t matter if you shattered me in the process. Now you have what you wanted, and my reason for living is with me.

The second copy of the divorce papers is here. You can submit them and set yourself free. I am taking Eric with me as I don’t want him to be raised by some woman like Jennifer and end up becoming another Christian Knight, destroying another Mishka. Don’t worry, we won’t ever come back to claim anything.

Lastly, I know you’ll never, but still... Never try to search for me because I’ll never let you find me. I wish you good luck with Lia, hope everything goes as you had planned since the beginning.

The Contract Marriage ends...

Yours Never,

Mishka

The letter and the black rose fell from Christian’s grip and he stormed out of the apartment hurriedly. It was raining heavily, leaving him completely drenched, and his eyes searched for Mishka around their apartment.

He rushed to the Knight mansion and stopped by the guards to ask about Mishka, but they knew nothing. Christian banged his fist on the metal gate and swiftly turned to leave, coming accidentally in front of a car that was about to run into him.

“Chris?” Luke screeched, stepping out of the car while Christian’s eyes were searching Mishka.

“What happened?” Luke asked walking to him, but he didn’t give an answer, and jogged away, missing the sight of his mom, who was sitting right next to Luke in the passenger seat.

“Chris!” Vera shouted for him, stepping out of the car as well, but her voice didn’t reach him and he disappeared.

“What happened?” She looked at Luke and he gave a ‘I don’t know' look.

“Let’s get inside first,” He said, taking the last glance where Christian disappeared, and their car entered the metal gates of the Knight mansion.

***

“Why Luke ask all of us to be present here? What’s going on?” Rony asked as they waited hours for him to appear. “Let me call him!” He said.

“No need to call. I am here,” Luke appeared in the living room, and everyone gave him a bored look.

“Seriously, Luke! We have to do so many arrangements for tomorrow and you are making us wait for you.” Rose rolled her eyes. “Now tell us, what on earth was so important to hold this family meeting?”

“See yourself.” He smiled and turned to look back at the entrance. Every eye followed him and stopped at the main door. Vera stepped into a beautiful blue halter dress, and everyone froze on their spot, catching her glimpse.

The toy car fell from Daniel’s hand and he looked at Vera as if he has seen a ghost while Leo’s lips trembled as he saw her walking toward him.

“Dad!” She breathed, holding his hand and Leo sniffled, unable to form a word.

“I can’t b-believe you are s-standing in front of me! A-are you really here?” Leo said, squeezing her hands and embracing her.

Rony came behind Leo, and Vera’s deep blue eyes stared at him. She stretched her hand out with a warm smile playing on her lips, and Rony grasped it, giving a light squeeze. They both just looked at each other without a word, as if their eyes were talking.

“Where are Mishka and Eric?” Vera asked, looking around the house.

“Oh, yes!” Leo nodded and turned to the servant. “Call them,”

“Mishka isn’t at home!” Daniel chipped in and everyone turned to him, “Oops… I am sorry. She asked me to give this letter to you and I forgot,” He said, retrieving an envelope from his back pocket and handing it to Leo.

Luke and Vera looked at each other, and Luke sensed something wrong. “Where did Mishka go?” He asked Daniel.

“I don’t know, she left with an uncle. I have never seen him before.” Daniel stated. “Sadly, she took Eric with her. I wanted to play with him,” He pouted. While Leo sat on the couch with a loud thump, and his forehead covered in sweat, reading the letter.

“Call Christian right now,” He growled and everyone was left baffled.

***

The black clouds were growling in the sky, indicating storms not only in the city but in his life too. Christian was puzzled, sitting inside the car. His mind froze, but the next moment, he retrieved his mobile phone from his trousers and opened the tracking app, and it showed that she was moving towards the airport.

“Fuck,” Christian muttered, throwing his mobile on the passenger seat. “Why are you doing this, Mishka?” He muttered, slamming his fist on the steering wheel. “You really think I won’t follow you to India? No matter where you go, I’ll always find you.” He said confidently and started the engine, soon hitting the highway.

The rain was turning tempestuous, and Christian could hardly see anything on the road. His heart was thumping against his chest, fearing about Mishka and Eric, and the next moment he spotted a car really close to his. His eyes went wide, and luckily he dodged the near-fatal accident, but the next moment another car crashed into his car.

The impact was so brutal that Christian’s car flipped a number of times, and it was almost impossible for the person inside the car to survive.

***

The black car stopped outside the airport and Mishka stepped out with Eric in her arms. The man unloaded her luggage and Mishka took it from him.

“Thank you so much for arranging everything at such short notice,” She choked while thanking him and the man nodded.

“But I would still say, Don’t go. I’ll help you, we’ll fight against them,” He said.

Mishka smiled bitterly, “I am tired, I don’t have the energy to fight with them, and I know I’ll lose the battle against Knight’s power and money,” She replied. “I want to disappear and never come back here. I just want to put an end to everything which started a year ago.”

“I understand. But never forget that I am always here for you,” He assured and Mishka nodded, turning away.

Eric was in her arms and her eyes bulged out when she realised he was playing with her tracker pendent. “How can I be so stupid?” She thought and quickly removed the tracker from her neck and threw it in the nearby trash bin.

She turned to look back for the one last time and smiled, “Goodbye, London!” She said inwardly, while on the other hand, cops sealed the accident spot and the emergency help took Christian’s body covered in blood out of the crashed car.