I shake my head. “I think if we did that, I wouldn’t walk for a week.” The soreness already becoming apparent as the pleasure wears off.
He chuckles. “Fine. What shall we do today?”
“Can we go out?” I ask.
He raises a brow and looks down at me. “Out where?”
I shrug. “Just go out for a walk in the city, do some shopping, get some lunch. You know, normal things that couples do.”
“We’re anything but a normal couple, Eliza.”
“I know, but I’d like to pretend.”
He smiles then and nods. “Whatever you want, baby girl.” He kisses me and I let myself drown in my happiness, knowing that if I dwell too much on how this all started, what he did, it’ll quickly shatter. Slowly, I’m starting to melt the ice around his heart, but I’m also blocking out the terrible, almost unforgiveable things he’s done, because for some inexplicable reason, I love him.
32
EPILOGUE
ELIZA
Eighteen months later…
Can there be a happy ever after for someone who was forced into marriage to a man who seemed to be so utterly heartless? A man whose sins against me were and still are unfathomable.
It’s hard to believe as I sit next to that same man with our baby in my arms that I’m starting to believe it’s possible. Or maybe he’s just corrupted me. Broken me so many times I no longer know what true happiness should be. I know longer remember the girl I was before Adrik Volkov stormed into the Estrada mansion and stole everything from my family, including me.
And yet when it came to it, the villain in my story turned out to be the person I least expected. Thiago was desperate enough for his crown to take me out and I still haven’t recovered from that moment. My brothers have tried to contact me, but I can’t face either of them after what happened.
Lila has been to visit, as I know for sure she’d never hurt me. And she can’t believe what Thiago did, but she also can’t believe that I want to live my life with the man that killed our papá, either.
Adrik’s darkness has a root so evil I can hardly imagine it, but I can’t explain that to Lila. Does that excuse his behavior? Probably not, but somewhere along the line, Adrik not only stole me, but stole my heart.
It’s been difficult to deal with Lila, but I’m thankful that Adrik has let me return to medical school to finish my degree. And, I intend to do a residency in Chicago as long as I get accepted into the program.
He lifts little Anastasia up to her feet and bounces her on his knee. We named her after his mother. It only seemed right, as it’s clear that she was important to him, but etched into his memory horrifically. Our little girl is a way for him to honor his mother and try to heal the wounds that have torn him apart since he was six years old.
“I think someone’s getting tired,” he says, glancing at me. “Is it time for bed yet?” The look in his eyes is one that sends shivers down my spine. Even now, after things have changed between us, I find it hard to look into them and not be affected.
I glance at my watch. “Yes, I’ll get Mariana to put her to bed.” I stand and then take our baby girl from him. “Come on, Ana, time for bed.”
She makes a little noise of protest as I walk her away from her dad in search of Mariana. “Don’t worry, you’ll see him tomorrow, sweetie.” I carry her to the room down the hall where Mariana is reading. “Hey Mariana, would you mind putting Ana to bed for me?”
She smiles and shakes her head, setting down her book face down to keep her page. “Of course not. I’d love to.”
Mariana stands and takes her from me, smiling gleefully at our little girl. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you ready for bed.”
I kiss my daughter on the head. “Be a good girl for Mariana. I’ll see you in the morning.” I watch as Mariana takes her away, leaving me standing alone in the little sitting room where I always loved to read.
“Are you going to be a good girl, though?”
His voice has the power to unravel me as a tremor races down my spine. “I’m always a good girl.”
He walks toward me and sets his hands on my shoulders as his lips skate over the pulse in my neck. “Such a naughty liar you are.”
I arch my back and feel the hard press of his cock against my buttocks. “I’d never lie to you, daddy,” I reply.
He groans and runs his hands down the length of my body. “I’ve been thinking about having you all fucking day.” Adrik spins me around and kisses me deeply, his tongue thrusting greedily into my mouth as his grip tightens on my hips.