The Fallen King | ✓

Epilogue

You guys really wanted an epilogue so here it is. Enjoy!

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Click.

"Good job you two," the photographer called to Liam and me when he finished taking the final shots for the day. "Stellar work."

We high-fived, giving each other identical smirks. "See you outside in twenty?" I asked, grabbing my water bottle.

He nodded, flashing me a goofy smile as we went our separate ways to get changed.

Although on the outside he appeared fine, I knew the breakup was still eating away at him. It was written in his eyes. Our banter had been slightly more subdued today than when we normally worked together and despite his best efforts, I could tell just how destroyed he felt.

He loved Winter with everything he had and I knew she felt the same towards him but it wasn't right for me to meddle in their affairs no matter how much I cared. It was their choice whether or not they chose to fix things and I'd do my best to support both of my friends either way, regardless of the outcome I wanted.

Above all, I only wanted them to be happy and would do my best to aid them in that endeavour as much as I possibly could.

Liam and I were meeting up with Maddie — but not Winter, partially for Liam's sake but also because she was currently in Sweden (the same place she had been for the past three months) visiting family, probably to escape and to give herself time to process everything — for lunch at our favourite cafe in Brooklyn.

Much to Maddie's relief I was sure, we arrived on time, the traffic thankfully not too dense for once.

What I didn't expect when we walked into the cafe was to see my boyfriend also sitting at the table alongside Maddie, waiting for us.

Axel and I had been doing long distance for the three-month span of our relationship, seeing each other whenever our busy schedules allowed so to say I was surprised to see him was an understatement. However, that didn't stop a massive grin taking over my face as I ran to him, getting enveloped into a tight embrace.

"I missed you, Freckles," he murmured into my hair.

"I missed you too," I said, pulling away and giving him a peck on the lips. "How come you didn't tell me you were coming?"

I sat down next to him, opposite Maddie and Liam, and he shrugged, grinning that signature Axel grin. "Surprises are more fun."

I laughed at that and it didn't take long for our whole table to break into lively conversation, all of us catching up on everyone's lives.

Liam told us about the progress he'd been making with the charity he'd been working with and the pride in his eyes was second to none. A few months ago, he'd started a campaign to support a charity for the education of children from poor backgrounds across Africa and the traction it had gained was phenomenal. Liam had helped them raise over two million dollars and he showed no sign of slowing down. Besides, putting so much energy into this campaign had been a welcomed distraction from his break up, even if he'd never admit that.

Maddie was doing better than before. She was stronger and healthier than she had been a few months ago and with every day that passed, I could see that smile returning to her face.

She'd gotten her ex into a lot of trouble when she'd finally reported that he'd breached their restraining order by contacting her. That small victory was what started the beginning of her newfound happiness that had slowly been returning day by day.

She was recounting to us the shoot she did last week for an A-list celebrity wedding and how enchanting the scenery was, going into some of the technical details of her job. Maddie adored photography and to see her feeling such joy from her work once again made the smile on my face permanent for the rest of the evening.