𝚃𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙽𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝙴𝚗𝚍𝚜.

Epilogue

Lily Carter

Two years have passed since that unforgettable day in the forest, and life has been a whirlwind of joy, challenges, and beautiful moments. Zaeden and I got married in a simple, intimate ceremony surrounded by our closest friends and family. The day was perfect, filled with laughter, love, and the promise of a future together.

Now, as I sit in our cosy living room, I watch our two children playing on the floor. Our daughter, Emma, with her bright eyes and infectious giggle, is the spitting image of me but has inherited Zaeden's mischievous personality. She's always up to something, whether it's hiding her toys in the most unexpected places or trying to sneak an extra cookie when she thinks no one is looking. Her laughter fills the house, a constant reminder of the joy she brings into our lives.

Our son, Ethan, on the other hand, looks just like Zaeden with his dark hair and intense gaze, but he has a calm and thoughtful nature. He's the one who carefully arranges his toys in neat rows, who sits quietly with a book, lost in his little world. Yet, there's a spark of curiosity in his eyes that mirrors my own, a thirst for knowledge and understanding.

Zaeden walks in, carrying a tray with two steaming cups of tea. He sets it down on the table and sits beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "How are our little troublemakers doing?" he asks, his eyes twinkling with affection.

I smile, leaning into him. "They're perfect, just like their father," I say, watching as Emma tries to stack blocks while Ethan knocks them over, both of them dissolving into fits of giggles.

Zaeden chuckles, pressing a kiss to my temple. "And just like their mother, full of love and determination."

Suddenly, Emma decides it's time for a game of hide-and-seek. She grabs Ethan's hand and they both dash off, their laughter echoing through the house. Zaeden and I exchange a knowing look, and with a playful grin, we join in the chase. We find them hiding behind the curtains, their giggles giving them away. Zaeden swoops in, scooping Emma up into his arms while I catch Ethan, tickling him until he's breathless with laughter.

"Gotcha!" Zaeden exclaims, spinning Emma around. She squeals with delight, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Ethan, still catching his breath, looks up at me with a wide grin. "Mommy, can we play again?" he asks, his voice filled with excitement.

I laugh, ruffling his hair. "Of course, sweetheart. But this time, you have to count."

As we play, the house is filled with the sounds of laughter and joy. The worries and challenges of the past seem distant now, replaced by the simple, beautiful moments we share as a family. Zaeden and I steal glances at each other, our hearts full of love and gratitude for the life we've built together.

Our wedding was a simple affair, just as we had always wanted. Surrounded by the people who mattered most, we exchanged vows under a canopy of twinkling lights. Sam walked me down the aisle, his eyes filled with pride and love. Chris and his family were there, along with our closest friends, all of them cheering us on as we took this next step in our journey.

 Amidst the chaos and love, I had been working on a special project—a secret room for our children, a gift they would discover when they were older.

The room was tucked away in the attic, accessible only through a small, hidden door. Inside, I had created a cosy space filled with soft cushions, fairy lights, and shelves lined with their favourite books and toys. But the most special part of the room was the wall where I had been pasting pictures of Emma and Ethan, capturing their sweetest, funniest, and most embarrassing moments.