Happily Never After

Chapter 42

Epilogue

21 Years Later

Carter's POV

The car I'm sat in, slowly comes to a halt outside the oh familiar building that was my office twenty-one years ago.

It was in that office building that I got my first job and spent most of my working days in. It was where all the male family members of the Romero family worked. It was in there that I met my wife. My beautiful wife that I had loved, and still do love, worked.

The day Landon came into my office and went on an hour long rant about her and her friend in the elevator, was what made me go and find her. Normally, my brother doesn't rant about comments made by females about him, but they had sparked something inside of him that I had never seen before. It was sorta thrilling for me to see my brother act so angry and pissed off at what a woman thought of him.

The moment I found her in the meeting room of the sixteenth floor, my heart melted. She looked so worn out and stressed, I couldn't help but feel drawn to her. A part of me was actually scared to offer my assistance but I overcame that scary feeling and went for it.

With Sarah, I always went against what my mind was telling me. It kept telling me that she would only break my heart and that she was just like Kathy and every other girl I had been with. They were all the same but she wasn't and she proved me wrong on many of occasions even though she didn't know it. In the end, I followed my heart and it ended with us getting together.

Despite the fact that we got married weeks into our relationship, I always knew I'd love her no matter what and that we'd work. Which we did, don't get me wrong. I cherished every minute I had with Sarah. Even more now I wasn't with her.

When she told me she wanted a baby, I didn't know how to react to it. After my mum told me of the argument she had with her, I was skeptic about having a child but I always was. I never saw myself as a father and to hear that the woman I love suddenly had a change of heart, it shocked me. I vowed to make her happy and if she wanted a child, I was going to provide her with one.

The morning I found her in a heap on the bathroom floor, I didn't know what to do. Worry concealed me but I pushed it away and made sure I was there for her. Nothing else mattered to me other than her. Once it was confirmed that she was pregnant and had conceived during our first night together, it just made our relationship seem more precious.

Then, Leon, my perfect and only child Leon, was born. The day, just like the one I had met Sarah on, was just unforgettable. The moment I first set eyes on him, I had fallen in love all over again. I didn't think that the love I had for another human would stretch to any further than Sarah, but it did.

I love my family so much but at the end of the day, it's Sarah and Leon who own all of my heart. That was why leaving them was so hard for me to do. I knew I was ripping my family apart but it had to be done for their own safety. I was putting other people in my life first instead of me.

With a sigh, I put the tinted window of the car down as the crowd of photographers gather round the building entrance. Today's the day I promised myself I'd be here for. I'll see this even if it endangers my secret life.

I watch on as the glass doors of the building open and three figures, two men and woman, each smartly dressed, walk out of the building and stand before the waiting crowd. Cameras flash and shouting begins before the woman takes off her sunglasses and smiles. My heart stops for a mere second as I watch her. My Sarah. My wife.

Her lips move as she speaks to the crowd but I'm sat too far away to hear what she's saying. No doubt, it will be powerful like her words always were when in situations like this.

She stands in the middle of the two males who accompanied her out the building - one slightly older than her and the other much younger. I had to admit, for where I was sitting, she looked great in her tight-fitted white dress and black blazer. She always looked amazing in her working attire. One of the many things I love about her, she knew how to impress through her clothing items.

She stops speaking and turns to the young male by her right side. He steps forward to her and kisses her cheek lightly before she takes a step back from him, leaving him to speak.

His hair was dark brown and slicked back and his pale blue eyes were very clear to see. His perfect jawline matching with his perfect smile as he spoke. The simple black suit with white shirt and blue tie told me all I needed to know; he was my son. This was Leon.

He looked so much like I did when I was his age. The simplest movements he made, mirrored what I did when speaking to crowds of photographers and reporters. His grin comes in at the right times and causes me to grin along with him. He has them eating out of the palm of his hands. A true Romero male.

Minutes passed and before I knew it, Sarah had a document in her hand and held it in front of Leon as he signed it. Photographers snap away to get the perfect picture that would capture the moment of a new era in the family run business. A moment that will last a lifetime.

When the document was signed, they pose for pictures. All smiles, no grins.

"Sir, we really should get going before people get suspicious." My driver butts in, ruining my perfect moment at seeing my wife and son in person for the first time in twenty-one years.

"Just one more minute," I tell him, my thumb and index finger of my right hand, moving the wedding band I still hand round my ring finger on my left hand.

I watch Sarah closely as she holds Leon to her side by her right arm and hand. Her left hand was now placed firmly on her hip and I breathe a sigh of relief at what I was looking for. Her wedding bands. She still had them on after all this time. She never forgot that I was still alive.

"You can go now, John." I instruct.

John nods as starts the engine. I take one final glance at my wife and son, a smile crossing my lips at their happiness. I made them happy. I put my finger on the button to put the car window up but stop when Sarah catches my attention.

I look out the small gap the window now made as I spot her gaze fall to the car. Her chest rises slowly and falls quickly before she smiles and nods once at me. She saw me. I return her nod with a smirk and put the window up before driving off to continue the rest of my life in secret.

As long as she was happy, I know I did the right thing. It's just a shame that she didn't get her happy ending with me in her life that we had planned to have together.

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Happily Never After is officially done! Thank you to everyone who has been following Sarah's path to find Carter. It's been filled with drama as well as sweet moments. Thank you for voting and commenting. Hope you enjoyed the story.

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