Chapter 120

Epilogue 2 Ashley Walters pov My graduation ceremony was due in a few days. My university fellows were stunned when they discovered that I was married to Justin. Justin had gotten back his dean position, thanks to my dearest brother-in-law Keith.

Two years back, after the announcement of will by Grandpa, Sarah’s mom passed away. Steward Garner… I mean Grandpa was very upset about her demise. She had been a good daughter-in-law and shared a very good bond with him before Leigh Walters arrived to announce her pregnancy.

The woman could not have enough guts to leave Ashton Garner, so she suffered throughout her life.

She could never develop that special bond with her kids. She could never express her hatred for her husband to anyone. The woman was so mentally disturbed that she could never take a stand for her son when Ashton forced him to marry a girl. All the pent-up anger and frustration in her made her heart weak.

Dragging myself to the present, I looked around and smiled. It must be the first time in the history of weddings when the bride and groom were not present for their official first dinner. They did arrive initially but fled away after hugging and thanking their very few guests. The only people left behind were immediate family and closest friends.

Holding Justin’s hand, I was meeting everyone trying to spend some quality time with all my loved ones.

A few minutes back, Aniya and Eve were talking wildly about something but now Aniya was nowhere in sight while a man who might be a business associate of Justin was trying to make a conversation with Eve.

Evelyne! My beautiful friend who deserved a beautiful ever after.

Justin and I were talking to someone from the business fraternity when I saw Marwick trying to run after Mashal quite awkwardly.

“Honey. I need to go.” I whispered in Justin’s ear. My husband didn’t want to let me go but I needed to help Marwick with my baby girl.

“Mashal!” I called the naughty toddler who had crawled under the table making Marwick somewhat frown at her.

She was laughing like crazy at my big brother who was crouching down near the table and was trying to decide if he should get under it after her or not.

“You will be a very good father.” I didn’t know why those words escaped my mouth.

“Good girl! Come out to Maweek!” My big brother looked funny trying to coo a little girl who used to call him Maweek. He would be a great husband too.

Gosh! Now where this thought crawled into my mind?

“He is cute!” I heard an amused voice behind me and turned to find Layla Hayat’s eyes glued to Marwick, “Sad that he is not available for commitment!”

That’s great! My brother kept things crystal clear between them. That was so honest of him. Sweet!

“I am so sorry. I needed to go to the bathroom!” Sarah appeared out of nowhere and took Mashal from Marwick’s grip.

“Mommy. I want sefee!” Mashal said with a pout.

“Selfie is my department, love,” Layla said good-naturedly and reached out to hold Mashal. When she left, my eyes followed her perfect figure and then trailed to my brother whose eyes were on his phone screen.

One year ago, he came back after looking for his wife around the world but no luck. He didn’t show it, but I knew he was heartbroken.

His icy blue eyes said it all.

Ashton who had returned to his hometown after his wife’s demise, was quite happy at his son’s misery.

He was a sick man, indeed.

‘You will find her, Marwick!” I placed my hand on his arm and felt him go still under my touch.

“She is right, Marw.” Sarah interjected, “I am sure she will be back in your life and you both can come up with something that is feasible for you two.”

He raised his eyes from his phone screen and passed a glance between his sisters but didn’t utter a single word.

“Maybe…” Sarah hooked her arm through his, “It is quite possible that she is here with us, standing at some distance, enjoying your discomfort but not liking the idea of revealing herself.” Sarah said in a mischievous voice.

“Ah,” Marwick rolled his eyes and smiled a little, ‘You are following our little sister’s footsteps for thinking that everything is like a movie. Psst!” he clicked his tongue inside his cheek.

‘You know what, my dear brother?” I hooked my arm through his free arm on the other side and smacked my lips, “What if she is working in your office already?

Imagine your wife working in your office while you are crazily looking for her in the whole wide world.”

He smirked and looked at me, “This is not possible. We have a policy of a thorough background check, little one. So, no chance!” he clicked his tongue again.

“But this is fate, big brother.” I cocked up a brow. Leaving his arm, I stood before him and placed my hand on my hip, “Anything can happen, Marwick. Fate can throw any curve ball towards you.”

He groaned and turned his head sideways towards Sarah who was nodding her head at me, “I so agree with you, Ash.” “My sisters have gone crazy.” He muttered before leaving, making both of us chuckle.

“We are planning to move away.” Sarah was still looking at Marwick’s back when she broke the news to me.

“W…What?” I handed over my empty wine glass to a passing waiter and looked at her, “Where did this come from?” “Keith and I were planning it for quite some time. Property business is thriving in Europe more. So, I think the move is for the good.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, “I… I will miss you, Sarah. And … I …” I looked at the innocent face of Mashal who was busy taking selfies with Layla, “I will miss this little angel.”

I tried to stop it but still, a tear managed to tickle down my cheek.

“Hey hey hey!” Sarah immediately hugged me, “We still have six months, girl. Stop feeling miserable. It will only take a six-hour flight to come and see us. You will always be welcome to be a part of Mashal’s life, silly girl. Or who knows, we might drop her at your place for some aunt and niece bonding.” She kept patting my back for comforting me.

“In fact, you can come there after nine months and help us in taking care of her.”

She suggested meaningfully and started chewing her lower lip in between her teeth.

I pulled back, managing several creases on my forehead, “What would happen after nine months?”

When she didn’t reply and kept looking at me, my eyes went wide.

“Oh, Gosh! Really?” she nodded her head and smiled sheepishly.

“Congratulations! I am so happy!” I hugged her again, “And yet so emotional!” I expressed shakily, pouting my lips in an attempt to hold myself from crying. She slapped lightly on my shoulder and straightened up, “Stop being emotional. It’s time you bring a baby of your own. You will be an exceptional mom.” ‘You sure about that?” “Sure, about bringing baby?” “No, silly. Sure, about being an excellent mom to my kids.”

We both laughed at that.

“We just discussed it last night,” I tried to convey it to her without blushing, but I guess that was hard to happen, “Justin and I have decided to try for a baby and…” “And?” “And he is taking me on a world tour.” I confided in her and got a hoot from her big mouth in response.

“Sarah!” I quickly covered her mouth with my palm, “stop it!” I hissed and laughed when she rolled her eyes with muffled sounds.

‘You have messed up my lip color!” She smacked her lips and made a pout. So, this was life. I could never get tired of gossiping about meaningless things with my sister. And soon she would be leaving. I would miss Mashal and Sarah and Keith too. He was a perfect brother-in-law.

“Someone is upset!” I heard my husband’s voice and smiled. Turning to him, I didn’t say anything and hugged him to me. At this point, I didn’t need to give him any explanations about anything.

For him, I was an open book and we both could understand whatever used to go inside our heads.

“Justin Deluca. Take me home. I can’t wait to make love to you.” I told him in a low voice and closed my eyes.

His body and his arms around me used to remind me daily … that I was home.

***

Sarah’s pov “Thank you, Marwi, for accompanying us to the Deluca Mansion.” I must have thanked my maid for the umpteenth time. She was a pretty, little woman in her late twenties.

“Oh, it’s nothing, Ms. Sarah. I am with you people for the past two years. This is the least I could do.”

She said and started hanging my dresses in the room closet.

When Keith came inside, I stood up and went ahead to hug him, “Hey love.” He kissed me and then leaned down to kiss my obvious belly.

“How is he doing there?” “He is good. How about you? Mashal is down, playing with her aunt.” I informed my beloved husband.

“Oh, I know. I met her on my way up.” With that, he lifted me up and carried me to the bed not caring that a maid was there, “Stay here. Don’t go anywhere.”

“But I was going out to bring you some coffee,” I said wiggling on the mattress when he put me down.

“I don’t want coffee.” He held my face, “I just need to sit with you before I attend an online meeting in Justin’s office. Should I bring something for you before the meeting?” Good old caring Keith.

As always.

This fellow used to treat me as if I was not pregnant but sick. All he wanted to do was not to let me set foot on the floor.

After handing over my favorite cookies, he gave my lips a quick peck and left the room for his meeting.

‘You are lucky to have got a husband like him, Ms. Sarah.” Marwi had a drool on her face.

“Oh, Thanks.” I smiled and started opening the cookie pack.

“How it all started?” She asked while folding Mashal’s laundry.

“Started what?” “The love story. How you met him? I mean I know I am prying.

But you two look so cute and so perfect when you are together. I want to believe in love when I look at you two. Soon you will be going away to Europe. Please tell me. How this love story started.” “Oh, it was nothing serious.” I waved my hand in the air, “We all were childhood friends. He had this crush on me that I never knew. Later we started dating and that’s it.” I shrugged with a smile, “After that, there was no turning back.” “Oh,” she clasped her hands dreamily, ‘You are so lucky.”

I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. The girl always had this dreamy look whenever she used to witness my closeness with my husband.

“Indeed!” ‘Your husband is lucky too!” “Maybe.” I wanted to laugh at her face.

Right now, she was acting so much like a teenager. So much like Ashley.

After arranging the closet, she left the room so that she could go to Mashal who was downstairs with her aunt Ashley.

Lately, I had been feeling sleepier due to my pregnancy hormones. Holding a yawn, I walked to the window and opened the blinds to look at the vast lawns.

As always, I was back at Deluca Mansion because we had sold out our furniture and house. Keith wanted us to live in a furnished villa on rent but Justin and Ashley, both invited us here. I looked down and smiled when I saw Justin and Ashley running around on the grassy grounds, along with Mashal. But when Marwi reached them and took away Mashal for her afternoon nap, Justin got busy whispering something in Ashley’s ear.

It must be something romantic and dirty because her face had turned beet red. Dear Marwi. You want to know how it all started? I wish I could tell you how much I love my husband and my kids. I wish I could tell you it’s never easy to forget about your first love.

The way he looks at her and worships her. Sometimes it all becomes too much for me. But I keep smiling. Because on the other side, it’s my lovely sister and my childhood friend, my first crush. My first love.

Dear Marwi. I wish I could tell you why I am leaving this place. My sister deserved my time, and I gave it to her. I let her in and let her enjoy the company of my husband and my daughter. To make her feel welcome in my family and let her know how it feels to tease your brother-in-law and spoil your niece.

The couple is just back from the world tour, and I am sure they will soon be having a baby. But my dear Marwi. It hurts. It still hurts.

While talking silently to Marwi, I frowned and touched my cheek only to find wetness there.

Crap! Why was I crying? I started wiping my face with the back of my hand. Dear Marwi. You were asking me how it all started. Do you want to know how it all started? Let me tell you, dear.

It all started when …

My Fiance Fell For His Virgin Maid.

THE END.