Allegedly Yours

Epilogue

(Six years later)

The corridor of the Archer Mansion echoed with the laughter of a young child. A little boy, around six years old, darted around with boundless energy. His face lit up with a wide grin as he tried to evade his grandfather, James, who was playfully chasing him. "Here I catch you!" James declared with a booming voice, scooping the child into his arms. The boy squealed with laughter, wriggling to break free.

"No, Grandpa! It’s cheating!" the child protested, his baby voice tinged with a mock seriousness that only added to the charm of the moment.

James chuckled heartily, holding his grandson close and twirling him around. "Cheating or not, I’ve got you now!" he said, planting a kiss on the boy’s cheek.

"Hayden, get down here and get ready!" His mother’s voice echoed through the house, a mix of urgency and warmth. She stood at the bottom of the stairs, hands on her hips, eyes scanning the hallway for any sign of him. "You don’t want to be late, do you?" she added, a teasing smile playing on her lips as she tried to coax him out of hiding.

"But I want to play more with Grandpa!" Hayden called back, his voice carrying a playful whine. He peeked out from behind the living room door, where he had been deeply engrossed in a game of cards with his grandfather. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he clutched a handful of cards, unwilling to let the fun end just yet. Grandpa chuckled, ruffling Hayden's hair. "We'll finish up later, champ. You heard your mom—time to get ready!"

Hayden pouted but eventually shuffled over to his mom. Nyrah quickly changed him into a fresh set of clothes, smoothing down his messy hair. “You’re getting so big, just like your dad,” she teased, but her eyes flicked to the clock, her smile dimming slightly. “Looks like your father’s running late again,” she muttered.

Just as the words left her mouth, the door creaked open, revealing Aston with a sheepish grin, holding a beautifully wrapped gift box. Hayden’s face lit up instantly. “Dad!” he shouted, racing over. Aston scooped him up effortlessly, spinning him around before planting a kiss on his cheek.

"You're late," Nyrah chastised, crossing her arms but unable to hide the smile tugging at her lips. Aston set Hayden down, watching as he darted off, full of energy, leaving the two of them alone in the room.

Aston closed the distance between them, pulling Nyrah close. "I had to make sure I found the perfect gift," he murmured, his voice low and teasing. "Besides, I couldn’t resist getting a little extra time with you before the party."

Nyrah rolled her eyes but leaned into his embrace, her annoyance fading away as she felt his warmth. "Just don’t make it a habit, Mr. Archer," she whispered, playfully tapping his chest, before he captured her lips in a quick, tender kiss.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Mrs. Archer,” he whispered back, his gaze full of affection.

Aston's playful grin widened as he began peppering Nyrah's face with soft, quick kisses. First on her forehead, then her cheeks, and finally her nose, causing her to giggle and squirm in his arms.

"Aston, stop!" she laughed, trying to push him away, but her laughter only encouraged him. He held her tighter, trailing kisses along her jawline, making her melt into him.

"Never," he murmured against her skin, his voice full of warmth and mischief. "You’re too irresistible."

Nyrah couldn’t help but smile, her earlier frustration melting away under the affection of the man she loved. "You’re impossible," she whispered, but her tone was filled with affection as she let herself be lost in the moment, enjoying every single kiss he showered her with.

Nyrah gently pushed him away, laughing as she caught her breath. “Enough, Aston. We also have to go,” she said, though her eyes sparkled with affection.

Aston pouted playfully, but the grin on his face betrayed his amusement. “Fine, fine. But you can’t blame me for wanting to steal a few extra moments with my beautiful wife.”

Nyrah shook her head, still smiling as she straightened her outfit and checked her reflection in the mirror. “You’re lucky you’re charming,” she teased, adjusting her hair one last time.

“Only because I have the most beautiful woman by my side,” Aston quipped, slipping his hand around her waist and pulling her close for a quick but tender kiss on the lips.

“Now, let’s go before Hayden gets all his clothes dirty again,” Nyrah said, finally managing to pull herself away, though not without one last loving glance at Aston.

In an hour, they arrived at Alabaster Mansion, the grand estate looming before them as their car approached the entrance.

Moments later, Zale approached with a little girl nestled in his arms. She was around four years old, her bright green eyes sparkling with excitement, a mirror of her mother’s.

Nyrah’s face softened as she reached out to take the girl into her arms. “Happy Birthday, little princess,” she said, kissing the girl’s cheeks gently. The child giggled, her tiny hands reaching out to wrap around Nyrah’s neck.

Zale smiled, watching the affectionate exchange with a proud look. “She’s been looking forward to seeing you all day,” he said, his eyes warm with admiration for both Nyrah and the birthday girl.

“And how are you, champ?” Zale asked, kneeling down to Hayden’s level. His eyes sparkled with genuine warmth as he ruffled Hayden’s hair.

Hayden beamed up at him. “I’m great! Are we going to play?”

Zale chuckled, “Absolutely. There’s a whole lot of fun planned for today. But first, I’d like to tell you a story about your dad.” He smirked at Aston, who shot him an annoyed glance. Even now, Zale never missed a chance to tease Aston, and today, he had decided to regale Hayden with tales of his father's childhood antics.

As Zale entertained Hayden with tales of Aston's childhood, Aston decided to have a bit of fun himself. He scooped up little Ava, who giggled at the unexpected attention, and began regaling her with exaggerated stories of how strict and formidable Zale had been as a senior in school.

“You know, Ava,” Aston began with a mischievous glint in his eye, “your dad Zale was quite the terror when he was in school. He would make everyone tremble just by walking into the room. The teachers were scared of him, and he had a reputation for being the toughest senior around.”

Ava’s eyes widened in amazement. “Really? Was he mean?”

Aston grinned. “Oh, very mean. He used to set impossible challenges for the younger students and would never let anyone forget who was in charge. It took a lot of bravery just to be around him.”

Zale, overhearing Aston’s tall tales, rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but laugh at Aston’s antics. “You’re telling her those stories now? Really, Aston?” he called out, shaking his head.

Zale seized the opportunity to turn the tables on Aston, crouching down to Hayden’s level with a grin.

“Hayden, did you know that your dad was so focused on his studies in college that he didn’t know anything else?” Zale said with a mischievous glint in his eye. “He was always buried in books and had no idea about the fun stuff we were doing. No sports, no parties—just study, study, study.”

Hayden’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? Did he never play games or have fun?”

Zale nodded, feigning seriousness. “Exactly. Your father was the definition of a bookworm back then. I had to drag him into any sort of fun or adventure. But don’t worry, he’s made up for it since then.”

Aston, overhearing Zale’s playful jabs, shook his head with a chuckle. “Oh, come on, Zale. I was focused, that’s all. Not my fault you had too much free time.” Hayden giggled, clearly enjoying the banter between the two.

Nyrah surveyed the array of dishes spread out on the table, her eyes lighting up at the sight. “Alessa, this looks amazing,” she said, a smile spreading across her face. “You’ve outdone yourself. Everything looks perfect.”

Alessa beamed with pride, her eyes scanning the beautifully arranged spread. “Thank you, Nyrah. I wanted everything to be just right for Ava’s special day."

The two women continued to arrange and adjust, ensuring everything was in its place, while the lively sounds of the party filled the mansion's huge yard.

As the birthday song filled the air, everyone gathered around the beautifully decorated cake. Zale lifted Ava up onto a small stool so she could reach the cake more easily, while Aston cradled Hayden in his arms, his eyes fixed on the little girl.

Ava’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she prepared to blow out the candles. With a determined puff, she extinguished all four candles, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd. The room was filled with the joy and celebration of her special day.

Zale handed her a knife, and with a little help from him, Ava cut the cake, carefully lifting the first piece and offering it to her father.

As everyone enjoyed the birthday festivities, Nyrah stood on the periphery, her heart swelling with happiness. The scene before her was a testament to the beautiful life she had built with Aston: the laughter of their children, the joy shared with friends, and the love that had deepened over the years. She marveled at how quickly time had flown, feeling as though she had traveled through the past six years in a dream.

She felt a single tear of joy welling up in her eye, but before it could fall, Aston was beside her. He gently wiped the tear away with his finger. Startled, Nyrah looked up at him, a smile tugging at her lips.

“You’re here,” she said, her voice tinged with surprise. “Where’s Hayden?”

“He’s probably busy playing with Ava,” Aston replied, his eyes tender as he cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead.

“I want to share a secret with you,” Aston continued, his tone serious but loving. Nyrah, curious about what could be left unsaid between them, leaned in.

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Nyrah,” Aston began. “I’ve reached a point where I can’t imagine my life without you. I’d be dead without you.”

Nyrah's heart tightened, and she interrupted softly, “Aston, please don’t talk about dying.”

Aston embraced her, his arms wrapping around her tightly as if to merge their very souls. He spoke into her hair, “Do you know when I first realized it was true love?”

Nyrah pulled back slightly to look at him, intrigued. “When?” she asked.

Aston’s gaze softened as he recalled the memory. “Remember the day you were late for your exam and collided into me?”

Nyrah nodded, her heart fluttering at the memory.

“You were about to fall, and I caught you,” Aston continued, his eyes locked with hers. “The way you looked at me, in that moment, was when my heart first recognized true love. You wore vanilla perfume that day, my favorite scent.
Nyrah nodded, her heart fluttering at the memory.

“You were about to fall, and I caught you,” Aston continued, his eyes locked with hers. “The way you looked at me, in that moment, was when my heart beated so fast the very first time.”

The sincerity in Aston’s eyes and his words resonated deeply with Nyrah. She felt a profound connection to that past moment, realizing that their love had always been there, growing stronger with each passing day. The future seemed uncertain, but in that shared embrace, they both found solace, knowing that their bond was unbreakable and their love, timeless.

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It was evening when Aston and Nyrah were returning home. The sky had turned ominous, with dark clouds looming overhead, signaling an impending storm. The car crawled through heavy traffic, Hayden gazing out the window. His eyes landed on a small flower shop, but it wasn’t the flowers that captured his attention—it was the little girl standing beside them.

As the car idled in traffic, Hayden suddenly felt an urge to get out. Aston initially declined, concerned about the weather and the traffic, but after Hayden’s persistent pleading, he relented.

Hayden approached the girl, feeling nervous and unsure of what to say. She noticed him and asked in a sweet, innocent voice, "What do you want?"

Hayden hesitated, his eyes drifting to a beautiful blue rose in the basket beside her. "I liked that rose," he finally admitted, blushing as the girl smiled at him.

"That one costs 10 dollars," she informed him, and Hayden’s face fell with embarrassment. He didn’t have any money.

"You want it?" she asked again, and he nodded shyly before confessing, "Umm, I don't have any money."

The girl glanced around to make sure her grandmother wasn’t watching. After a brief moment, she took the blue rose from the basket and handed it to him. "This is for you," she said, her smile warm and wide.

Hayden hesitated, still feeling guilty. "But I don’t have money. Wait, let me ask my dad."

The girl shook her head, still smiling. "It's alright, keep it. But you should go now. I’ll get in trouble if my grandma finds out."

Hayden reluctantly turned back toward the car, clutching the rose. As he reached Aston, who was busy talking on the phone, he held out the flower.

"God, where did you get this, Hayden?" Aston asked, putting away his phone as he noticed the rose.

The driver interrupted, urging, "Sir, please get inside. The traffic is clearing, and it’s going to rain soon."

Aston scooped Hayden up into his arms, still curious about the flower, as they both climbed back into the car. The first drops of rain began to patter against the windshield, as the car slowly moved forward, leaving the flower shop—and the kind little girl—behind.

If only he knew, the rose he held so dearly would give birth to another tale—his tale. Fate, with its mysterious ways, would soon intertwine his path with hers, setting the stage for the biggest accident of his life: Her.

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Hello everyone, I hope you’ve all enjoyed the journey of Aston and Nyrah.

I’m thrilled to announce the second book in the *Revengeful Love* series: **Accidentally Yours**.