Forbidden Deception (Deception)

Epilogue

I can’t believe the sight in front of me.

No wonder Rafael has been nervous and jittery ever since the proposal just a few moments ago.

My feet sink into the warm sand, getting between my toes, but all I can focus on is the crowd in front of me. We made it back onto the small island that Rafael gifted me, and everyone I love is here.

Rafael’s comforting hand on my back makes it all real. I’m not imagining anything.

They are all really here.

Remo holds Lavinia, and Aurora in her ruffled cream-coloured dress with a contagious smile stands next to him. Ambrose in a white dress holding a baby boy that is the exact replica of Helia with her blonde hair, Helia wears a linen matching piece, a tattooed hand in his pocket while the other rests on Ambrose’s shoulder. Kamari and Ruel, one of the youngest and most famous British footballer who is also Aurora’s friend, are here, too, holding a canon each.

Two figures are running out of the mansion behind the crowd and a third walking leisurely. It’s Mikko and Erian, with Khyros walking behind them. I catch Steve catching up to them too.

I find Medora standing there in a gorgeous off-white dress in contrast to all the tattoos on her skin and her black hair. She’s grinning at me, and my heart dips when I spot Danyi holding a long canon in her hand.

“Rafael…” I trail off, and two party poppers go off above us.

I look up, goosebumps trailing over my arms as I watch all the colourful confetti fall above us. My heart soars into the sky.

My hands shake as I lift one to cup Rafael’s cheek, my eyes swarming with tears.

“No crying. We’ve got lots to celebrate.” He winks at me with a smirk, swiping my tears away and pulling me along with him towards the small crowd waiting for us.

“Congratulations!” everyone screams, including Remo, who says it quietly but does so nonetheless.

Remo.

My brother. My sweet, grumpy brother.

A different kind of emotion overtakes me, one so powerful that I am having a hard time keeping myself in check.

None of this would be possible without him. Absolutely none of it. He is the one who spent over a decade looking for me. He is the one who had locked our parents away for trying to ruin my life. He is also the man who is actively looking past his animosity with Rafael for my sake, so I can have my happy ending.

A happy ending that isn’t complete without him.

Fresh tears fill my eyes, then I run towards him.

Remo gives Lavinia to Aurora in time for my arms to wrap around him. I squeeze his big body, a sob slowly climbing up my throat.

A wide hand runs over the back of my head. Once. Twice.

“You deserve it,” he murmurs, and that has me close to sobbing.

How could I ever not be thankful for him?

“You are and will always be my everything, Remo. Thank you for putting your life on the line for me. Thank you for never giving up on me. For—” I hiccup, taking a step back and looking into his dark eyes.

He’s watching me, and though many would think he looks at me with no emotion, that is far from the truth. I see the torment in his eyes, and his hands that are holding my arms in place, flexing on my skin as if realising I am finally in front of him and doing well.

I didn’t know how to interact, how to talk to him when we first met. All I had was unconfirmed letters from him from time to time. My first year in his home had been hard. I put on a mask and tried to be someone I wasn’t.

I discovered my true self only this year, only when I opened up to Rafael, knowing he wouldn’t judge me, that he would take care of me as my brother did, even if from afar.

“For all that you did. You breathed life back into me, you know. I was aimlessly drifting through life, not knowing what life even was like. What could be the reason for someone like me to live? What was the point when I had no future outside of the walls of my school? Then you arrived and told me, showed me, that a family was waiting for me, my brother who had been looking for me for years.” I step away, clasping his hands and holding them to my heart while looking at Remo.

He sees the anguish in my eyes, his own twist and for the first time, I see something glisten in them.

“I–I want you to walk me down the aisle at my wedding. Will you?”

The question hangs in the air. The waves behind us lap at the sand in a soft rhythm, and the wind swirls around us like a soft hug.

Remo inhales deeply, looking away from me for a second. His shirt stretches across his chest, and I know, I just know, he is holding himself back from me. His eyes find Aurora, who smiles up at him, and his shoulders instantly drop.

He looks back at me, and the tiniest smile lifts his lips.

He nods. “I will.”

A heavy arm wraps around my waist, and Rafael tugs me into his holds. I finally feel like I have the chance to explore the depths of happiness.

Within a minute, everyone has me tackled into a hug, including Medora and Danyi and Kamari. We all go toppling down on the sand below us, laughing.

The weight of everyone makes it hard to breathe, and I find Rafael standing above me.

“Help me, will you?” I wheeze, lifting a hand.

He smirks, then grabs hold of it and kisses it.

“You aren’t getting up. Get back here.” Danyi grabs my hand and pulls, tucking it into her hold, and I groan.

“Guys! Please get up. I don’t want to die before my wedding,” I say with a giggle.

“No!” they all scream in unison.

I find Helia looking at me from my right, a mischievous grin on his face.

“Didn’t think Remo would ever let you get away with that, but he has a clear weakness when it comes to his family.” He shakes his head, but a small smile plays on his lips. “Can’t believe the dessert thief is getting married.”

I glare at him in return. “Can’t believe you are married to Ambrose.”

He laughs. “Oh, I am so lucky to have her.”

Rafael grabs my left hand, and Helia grabs my right, and they both pull me up.

My left arm gets tugged harder, then I am back in Rafael’s arms.

We all walk into the massive home on the island. The only one on it.

Everyone has decorated the inside of it, too. When we left, it wasn’t decorated at all. Now the living room is full of balloons and decorations.

‘Congratulations’ balloons line the far-left wall with an arched balloon tower. Just beside it is a white three-tier cake. To the right is a long dining table, lined with all kinds of foods and treats. Lavinia jumps down from Aurora’s arms and rushes towards me with a cookie.

“Sweetie?” Lavinia grins at me, lifting a white cookie with V and R on it. Her eyes are a perfect mix of Remo’s inky black and Aurora’s chocolate.

I pick her up, and she squeals, her white frilly dress bunching in my arms..

“Yes, will you share it with me?”

She breaks the cookie in half and hands me one, then offers Rafael one too. He leans forward and pinches her cheek, making her laugh.

“Me, too, huh?” He smirks, shaking his head and taking a bite in front of her.

She claps her hands with a grin and wiggles, so I let her go. She runs back to the sweets table, Aurora behind her.

Ambrose walks over to me, in block Versace heels and a dress, which is one of Aurora’s designs. Her baby boy sleeping in her arms wrapped in a blue blanket. He yawns and stretches his tiny hands.

“Knife.” She hands me one with a white bow attached to it and looks over at Rafael, who is talking with Helia, then turns back to me.

“You said something about not being able to find true love? Found yourself the most forbidden, lethal, and cunning man, didn’t you?” She bursts out laughing, her blond curls bouncing.

I playfully slap her arm.

“Excuse you. Have you seen your husband? He proposed to you because you wouldn’t have kids otherwise, then renovated his home to give you a walk-in closet and added rooms for your children. And you used to hate each other, didn’t you?” I lift a brow, crossing my arms.

Ambrose looks over at Helia, a few scars marring her skin. I remember when she wore long sleeves and covered her skin as much as she could, but ever since she met Helia, not only has she felt more confident, but she also has been able to accept darker parts of herself.

Rafael and I cut the cake and are once more swamped by our friends and loved ones.

Mikko and Erian take this chance to walk over, Khyros and Steve in tow.

“Congratulations,” Mikko grins but I swallow and Erian notices this because he walks over and gives me a side hug.

“Don’t. I promise you, we all forgave you when we found out. Not because Rafael loved you but because we loved you,” he says with a smile.

“That’s right, Venezia,” Steve nods, a bright smile on his face, his eyes switching to Rafael. He walks towards him and gives him a hug.

“I knew after the family dinner in Rafael’s house,” Khyros shrugs. “I took him to London by the way,” he continues.

“And we helped him decided to give the hard drive. He was going crazy without you and we all saw it,” Erian says, looking at Rafael talking to his father.

“Liya is upstairs because Jasmine spilled something on her dress but don’t worry, she didn’t miss your arrival,” Mikko grins.

With how casual and easy the brothers are, I feel even worse for doing this to them but they make it a point to stand beside me and make sure I know they don’t hate me. And my heart melts right there.

Rafael doesn’t seem to hate being here. In fact, he is plastered to my side and isn’t willing to stop touching me, despite Remo giving him death glares for touching me in front of him.

Rafael pulls me closer against him and places a kiss on my head, cheek, or even my lips in front of him.

All to spite him. Like I said, Rafael is loving it here.

“Fucker,” Remo mutters while walking past him.

“Rafael, stop provoking Remo,” I whisper yell.

Rafael merely shrugs but stops when he sees my narrowed eyes.

“You have been busy talking with Danyi, with Medora, and everyone.” He sighs, turning towards the open sliding doors.

“They will be spending the night here, too?” I ask, and he nods. “Don’t we have the third floor to ourselves?”

He nods once more. I lift a hand to his chest. “Then what’s the worry? Don’t think I expect you to sleep, Rafael.”

Rising on my tip toes, my lips brush against his ear. “I want a celebratory fuck.”

The hand on my hip tightens. Rafael’s eyes narrow while staring at the sunset in front of us. His jaw tics.

“Got you another present,” he whispers.

“Hmm?”

He turns to me, his nose brushing against mine. His eyes are deep, the fire in them flaring to life when his gaze falls to my lips. My mouth drops open, and I bite my lip, my heart racing, ready to jump out of me.

“Venezia, did I tell you that I am still a bit angry with you for leaving like that?” Danyi grabs my hand and rips me away from Rafael.

“Had it not been for your voicemail, I would have been even more upset. You know better than to just…”

I look over my shoulder at Rafael while Danyi pulls me outside towards the beach.

He pockets his hands, the late evening wind playing with the hem of his shirt, allowing me to get glimpses of his rock-hard chest. He runs a hand through his peppered hair, his sharp face. My mouth waters. My eyes do a sweep of his body, down to his bare feet. He is perfect, standing in our holiday home. My handsome husband to be.

He has never looked hotter.

My heart pounds even louder inside me, thrumming in my eardrums.

The anticipation for tonight builds like an incoming storm.

“—and then I was like, hmm, maybe we should go all cream, and you should wear white. Medora has been a bit quiet, but we got her to wear white for you. It was hard, but we did it. I didn’t know you knew Medora for that long and that she helped you. I’m glad you had someone,” Danyi continues while my eyes are stuck on Rafael.

He’s smirking at me now, the glow of the moon accentuating the features on his face; it brings out the warmth in his eyes, the softness of his lips.

“And did I tell you my parents are thinking of marrying me to someone?” That snaps my attention back to Danyi.

She laughs, shaking her head.

“What did you do?” I gasp.

“I ran away!” She laughs harder.

She finds me wide-eyed and shakes her head. “Don’t you worry. I moved into an apartment. Once this cools down, I will go back to them, though. I may or may not kind of like my neighbour…” She gives me a sneaky smile.

“Now…” She grabs my shoulders and turns me around.

My heart stops.

Right in front of me are burning letters made of wood standing in the sand.

It spells out one name.

Mrs Gustav.

Everyone cheers around me, and I turn to find Rafael walking towards me in all his handsome glory. He grabs my hand, and Danyi steps back. Music strums, and the instrumental version of a song starts to play but I can’t focus.

Rafael swoops me into a dance.

“I think the perfect way to end the night would be doing our thing, our dance,” he softly whispers to me.

My ears ring. My chest tightens. My lips are unable to form any coherent words.

Finally, I manage to whisper, “I love you, Rafael.”

“I love you, too. Thank you for coming into my life, Venezia.” He drops his forehead to mine, his eyes firmly on mine.

“Enjoy the night, enjoy the evening, enjoy your life, Venezia. There isn’t anyone else I would rather share my future with than you.”

The burning letters behind him take hold of my attention for a few moments.

“Everyone is here, Rafael,” I whisper, looking into his eyes, which are filled with love for me.

He’s only letting me see it. While he may have liked to do this alone, he knows how much all these people here mean to me. He stepped back to allow me this time, this moment, with all my loved ones.

“My love, my eternal love,” I whisper, grasping the ends of his hair.

I lift my chin and capture his lips.

I couldn’t have imagined a better happy ending.

Everyone cheers louder behind us and fireworks decorate the sky behind us.

THE END