EPILOGUE

EPILOGUE

NOW
Layla did everything she promised herself she would back when she was a stubborn teenager. She became rich on her own. She didn’t get the chance to go to college, but she made sure other kids like her, kids who struggled, had the chance she never did.
Her dreams changed. Her life changed.
It wasn’t the way she thought she would live. At twenty-six, she was already married and had two kids clinging to her skirts. And now, fifteen years later, she was finally going on a honeymoon with her husband.
Lilly was twenty-one. The same girl whose animal paintings once looked like confused blobs now proudly called herself an artist and wanted to follow her mother’s path. Luna, calm and quiet Luna, was searching for colleges. She was her daddy’s girl through and through.
Zaley had taken a much-needed break. He didn’t retire, but he slowed down. For the first time in his life, he let himself stay home, doing absolutely nothing, just loving his girls and resting. Life had always been a race for him. It stopped the day Layla became his wife.
“Girls,” Layla said as she folded the last of her dresses into the suitcase. “If he doesn’t treat you like your dad treats me, then—”
“Dump him,” Lilly and Luna said at the same time, voices sharp with confidence.
From the living room, Zaley’s voice thundered back: “Hey, hey, hey… no dating boys in the first place!”
“Yes, Dad,” Luna replied
But Lilly wasn’t letting that go. “You dated Mom when she was eighteen.”
“That’s different.” Zaley appeared in the doorway, arms crossed. “Our lives were different."
Layla raised her brows at him.
“Mom, please take your husband away,” Lilly groaned dramatically. “He’s ruining my dating life. The other day, he scared my boyfriend—”
“Ex,” Zaley corrected, without missing a beat.
“Yeah, ex, because of you! You pointed a rifle at him! Remember?”
“That asshole didn’t even bring you flowers,” Zaley snapped. “What kind of boyfriend takes my daughter out empty-handed? Oh, wait—I know. The kind who becomes an ex.” His mocking smirk made Lilly groan louder.
“If he’s not like my dad, I’m not dating them,” Luna said quietly, repeating her mother’s rule with absolute conviction.
“You’re making this worse, sis!” Lilly muttered, flopping onto the couch. “Mom, please. Take him.”
Their suitcases stood ready by the door. Zaley, however, was standing in front of his daughters like a general briefing his soldiers before a dangerous mission.
“Call me every day,” he ordered, pointing at Lilly.
“Dad, I’m twenty-one,” she groaned, “I should be the one reminding you to call me if you get lost.”
“You think this is funny?” Zaley narrowed his eyes. “Every. Single. Day.”
“Fine,” Lilly muttered, snatching her phone. “I’ll call. Happy?”
His gaze shifted to Luna, who was standing beside Layla with her summer camp forms clutched to her chest.
“You,” Zaley said, voice firm, “call me every night. I don’t care what time it is.”
“Daddy, it’s just camp,” Luna whispered softly. “Not a war zone.”
“Camp is worse,” he countered instantly. “Too many people. Too many boys. Don’t—”
“Don’t talk to strangers, don’t take candy, don’t walk alone,” Lilly interrupted, reciting in a monotone like it was scripture. “I’ve heard this since I was, like, five.”
Zaley scowled. “Clearly not enough, if you’re mocking me.”
Layla, leaning against the doorframe with her bag, chuckled. “Leon, stop interrogating them. They’ll be fine.”
“They’d better be fine,” he muttered, still glaring at Luna. “If you’re late to a call, I’m driving straight to that camp.”
“Relax, Dad.” Luna smiled softly. “Go spoil Mom for a month. We’ll hold the fort.”
That softened him. Finally, Zaley turned to Layla, and just like always, everything in him quieted. His rough edges smoothed out when he looked at her. She slipped her hand into his, her thumb brushing his knuckles.
“They’ll be fine,” she said gently. “They’ve had the best example of love to grow up with.”
Zaley kissed her hand, the same way he had on their wedding day, then looked back at his daughters with one last dangerous glare.
And with that, they finally left for the honeymoon they’d been denied for half a lifetime.
The moment the door closed, Luna’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I’m so happy for them,” she whispered, and Lilly immediately hugged her.
“Don’t cry,” Lilly murmured. “You’re a big girl now.”
Luna sniffled. “I just… I always felt like Dad loves her more than us. And I think that’s the best thing ever. He always chooses her first.”
“That’s because it’s Mom,” Lilly said, her voice softening. “The incredible Layla. She practically stalked him when she was just a teenager. She somehow made herself his only family. Dad is the best because of Mom.”
They both stared at the closed door, silent for a moment.
They knew if their father ever had to choose between saving his daughters or saving his wife, he would save his daughters. But he would die with his wife.

THEN
Leon carried a weary Layla on his back as she chattered about everything under the sun.
“Even if my dad miraculously appears,” she muttered, “I won’t let him walk me down the aisle."
Then she tilted her head just slightly. “You should walk me down the aisle.”
Leon stiffened for a heartbeat.
She giggled softly. “But you should also stand at the end of the aisle. How can you be in two places at once? You’ll have to find a way.”
Leon kept walking along the shore, letting the waves crash against
his feet.
“Say yes.” Layla insisted.
“Okay,” he whispered.
“No kids until I’m thirty-two.”
“Okay.”
“No dating other members while I’m in college and you’re at work.”
“Why would we do that? Care to explain?” he asked, amusement tugging at his lips.
“I don’t know… maybe for the thrill of it. So, no. This is it. We are it. Say yes.”
Leon nodded, steady and sure.
Her hands tightened around his neck, “Don’t ever leave me. I only have you.”
“Never,” he promised. And though he didn’t say it aloud, the truth was clear: she was his only. His everything. The very reason he breathed.
“I’ll buy you a penthouse. You don’t have to overwork…”
And on she went, weaving her dreams aloud.
Leon smiled quietly to himself. Whatever the future held for her, he would be there, cheering her on, guarding her steps, making sure every one of her dreams came true. Because Layla deserved nothing less than the best.

AUTHOR'S NOTE-
Dear readers,
Thanks for being here and completing this story.
Books helped me cope with life. And I hope this book helps someone when they need it to distract themselves from the harsh realities of life.
I'm still thinking about writing about Kade and Seline's story.
But I'm not sure. If I did, it would be a standalone.
Before I go, I want to say this: I wrote THE CONQUEROR during the worst phase of my life, and it's your love for this novel, your feedback, good and bad, that has kept me floating.
Thank you so much for that.
Love
~ C