Chapter 97

Chapter 97
Epilogue

Nathan is serving his sentence, the consequences of his actions finally catching up to him.

Justice, having been delayed for so long, has finally been delivered to him.

The man who caused so much pain to Bianca and her family, killing her father and almost killing her, is finally surrounded by iron bars of a cell on a life long sentence.

Elena remains locked away by Damein personally in a secluded chamber in an offshore facility.

Her world is now one of isolation as she lives all by herself.

Leo has vanished, leaving the city entirely, choosing to step away from the life of chaos and betrayals.

Amid all of this, Bianca and Damien have carved out a life together that is unshakable with their companies merging together for the better.

So after all the battles they fought, the pain they endured, the betrayals and the near-death experiences, all that, is now converging into a bond that is as resilient as it is passionate.

Bianca, once forced to flee, to hide, and to rebuild her life from the ashes of her past, now stands firm, the embodiment of her new identity. Lyra Elton, the CEO of a flourishing empire, is no longer a shadow of Bianca; she is a force in her own right, respected and admired by all.

She is fully in control of her destiny and knows what she wants and plans on getting it.

Damien, for his part, has emerged a better man than he was when he first arrived at the city.

Because of Bianca, he now sees the world as a better place and not just a stepping stone.

The past year has been a revelation for him, teaching him patience, humility, and love...

So now together, their future awaits them, wide open and filled with promise. Only time will tell the adventures, challenges, and triumphs that lie ahead.

But one thing is certain: whatever comes next, they will face it as one.

Aftermath

Three Years Later

Bianca’s POV

Morning sunlight streamed through the wide glass windows of the mansion, spilling across the walls of my bedroom.

The air was filled with the scent of baby lotion and freshly brewed coffee.

My son, Arnold, struggled in my arms as I struggled to button his tiny shirt.

“Hold still, troublemaker,” I said with a laugh.

He giggled, his voice light and soft. “Mommy, I wanna wear the blue one, not this one!”

“This one is blue,” I teased. “It’s just not superhero blue.”

He frowned seriously, crossing his arms. “Daddy said he’s taking me on a rollercoaster ride. I need to look cool.”

That made me pause for a second. His “daddy” was still a word that hit me differently every time.

I smoothed his shirt and crouched to meet his eyes. “You’ll look more than cool,” I said, tucking his collar neatly. “But you have to promise to be good for your father this weekend, okay?”

He nodded eagerly. “Yes, Mommy. But… Mommy?”

“Hmm?”

His voice dropped to a whisper. “Why don’t you and Daddy live together?”

I blinked, caught off guard by his question. My hands froze on his shoulders.

“It’s… complicated, sweetheart.”

He didn’t look fully convinced, but like most children, he accepted the answer because it came from love.

I stood, brushing off invisible dust from my robe, and forced a smile. “So, I’ll come pick you up Monday, alright?”

“Okay, Mommy.” His grin returned in full force. “Daddy said he’ll take me on the big ride this time, not just the small one!”

I smiled softly. “You guys have fun then.”

Before I could say more, the doorbell rang.

Arnold’s eyes lit up instantly. “Daddy!”

“Go get your shoes,” I said, already knowing he wouldn’t.

He bolted toward the door instead.

I followed, trying to steady my heart as the door opened… and there he was.

Damien.

He looked devastating in his usual tailored black shirt, he had his sleeves rolled up.

His expression softened as his eyes landed on our son.

“Hey, buddy,” he said warmly.

“Daddy!” Arnold launched himself at his legs, and Damien caught him mid-jump with ease.

I couldn’t help the tiny smile that curved my lips. He’d gotten good at this.. the balance between CEO and father, I haven't.

Arnold babbled on about the rollercoaster, his excitement was unmatched.

Then Damien’s gaze lifted… locking on mine.

“Son,” he said softly, setting Arnold down, “why don’t you wait for us in the car? Alex is there.”

“Okay!” Arnold darted off, still bubbling with excitement.

The moment he left us, the air shifted.

We stood there, just… staring at each other.

“See you at work,” I finally said, my voice quieter than I intended.

He nodded once. “See you at work.”

I don’t know who moved first. Maybe both of us did. But the next moment, Damien’s hand was on my waist, and my fingers curled into his shirt, and we were kissing… deeply, and hungrily.

His lips were warm, familiar, grounding against mine. Everything else… the noise, the chaos… melted around us.

Then…

“Ewwww!”

Arnold’s small voice sliced through the moment.

We broke apart instantly, turning toward the door where he stood.

He stood there, his hands on his hips and his face tinged in mock disgust.

“Gross! Daddy, you kissed Mommy again!”

Damien chuckled lowly, the sound rough and amused. “What can I say, buddy? I missed her.”

I rolled my eyes, though a laugh escaped before I could stop it. “Okay, okay, go before you miss your ride.”

Arnold ran back, humming happily as he headed to the car.

Damien lingered at the doorway, his expression soft. “He’s growing fast.”

“He has your stubbornness,” I teased.

“And your fire,” he shot back with a grin.

For a few seconds, we just looked at each other again… two people who weren't ready for marriage, and still somehow found a way to coexist as Co parents.

He finally stepped back. “I’ll bring him home by Monday.”

I nodded. “Drive safe.”

He hesitated as if wanting to say more, then he simply whispered, “You look beautiful, Bianca.”

“Lyra,” I corrected out of habit, though my voice betrayed me when I said it.

He smiled knowingly. “Bianca, Lyra… doesn’t matter. You’re still you.”

And then he was gone.

I stood by the door for a while, watching the car pull out of the driveway.

Watching them leave, it reminded me of how far we'd come together.

When I turned back inside, the silence of the house hit me again.

This time, it felt peaceful.

I walked to the window, watching the bright morning sun.

And somewhere deep inside, I knew my father would be proud.

Because for the first time in a very long time…

I was proud too.