Little Angel

Epilogue

Vivian Flammery.
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I used to believe that love could be simple, that it would come wrapped up neatly in a bow with no loose ends—a fairytale with a predictably happy ending. But I know now, after meeting Gabriel, the infamous mafia boss, that love is anything but simple. It is fierce and messy, as tumultuous as the very world we belong to. Yet despite the chaos, it’s the brightest light in my life, illuminating the path ahead even when shadows loom.

After our whirlwind romance and our very short girlfriend and boyfriend phase, we finally got married. I remember the day Gabriel and I stood at the altar and finally tied the knot, surrounded by friends and family, reciting vows of love and commitment that would bind us forever, and we both settled for nothing less than forever. It felt like fate had finally swept me off my feet, whisking me away into a cozy world filled with passion and promise. As I lifted my gaze to meet his when I walked down the aisle, the bright smile on his face that couldn’t be erased the whole day, my heart swelled as we exchanged vows under a golden canopy in a secret ceremony that felt as electric as a storm. I have never been happier than I am now, with my husband by my side, our two very happy girls, and a baby blossoming inside me.

Life had taken on a rhythm since I married Gabriel. One of sweet embraces, laughter, and dreams nestled closely in my heart. We started our honeymoon after Christmas. Our first Christians ever.

We spent our honeymoon traversing the globe—Paris, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro. Each place felt magical. Our honeymoon stretched into a month-long adventure, zigzagging across beautiful coasts and bustling cities, each destination adding another layer to our love. Gabriel wanted it to be longer. However, I began to feel a deep longing for home and my two daughters.

As much as I adored our time together, I missed my girls. The distance between us felt heavier as the days passed. Daisy and Hannah, my sweet daughters, are my very breath. We talked every morning and every night before they went to sleep, but nothing could fill the void of their hugs, so we decided to go back home, and not to forget, Gabriel also has his business to take care of.

The look of amazement on Daisy and Hannah's faces When I started to show the baby bump was amazing. Hannah's eyes were filled with sheer delight, imagining a world where she had a little brother or sister to dote on. Daisy, too, was relieved that she wouldn’t be the baby of the family any longer. Every night, they both stood by my bed, kissing my belly goodnight just like their father did. It was an overwhelming show of love, and I couldn't have felt more fortunate.

Gabriel has been attentive in ways I never thought possible, showering me with affection and undivided attention and, most importantly, dealing with my mood swings and my unnecessary demands—like once I woke up at 2 in the morning and wanted to eat ice cream but there were no ice creams in fright, so I started to cry. My poor husband huged me and said he would get it from the market, and he went and came back after one hour with mango flover ice cream, assuming that was what I wanted since it was my favorite, but I wanted chocolate and started crying again, so he went again and got it but found me already sleeping.

Lesson learned after that: there are always ice creams in every flavor in our fright.

But now, in the present, I’m facing a different dilemma. Gabriel, the mighty mafia boss known for his iron fist and ruthless demeanor both in the underworld and as a businessman, is sulking like a little boy in front of me.

“I am sure I can send someone on my behalf,” he says as I put the perfect tie knot around his neck—I have been doing it since the day we got married—his eyebrows knitting in indignation while he huffed and puffed theatrically. It’s almost adorable how he looks at me, as if expecting me to agree.