EPILOGUE
December
The clock ticked closer to midnight. Zach’s penthouse illuminated with warm lights and the soft glow of New York City beyond the glass walls. Guests were scattered across the room, champagne in hand, their laughter and conversation filling the air.
That’s when he arrived.
The man walked in with an air of precision. His blue-grey eyes swept the room, cold yet calculating, and his tailored suit fit him like a glove. A luxury watch gleamed on his wrist, catching the light as he loosened his tie with a measured pull. He exuded a quiet authority that made me instinctively glance toward Zach.
Sure enough, Zach noticed him immediately. He excused himself from his conversation and crossed the room with purpose. The two men exchanged firm handshakes, already in a conversation I couldn’t hear. Moments later, Trevor joined them, his expression tense. They exchanged a few words before Trevor walked back to me.
“ Amai ,” Trevor called, motioning subtly. “Can you grab Maria? Then meet us in Zach’s office.”
I nodded, slipping away from the crowd and heading upstairs to find Maria. She was in one of the guest rooms, fixing an earring in place when I delivered the message. Together, we made our way back down, weaving through the guests and heading toward the more private wing of the penthouse. Zach was already waiting in his sleek office, leaning casually against his desk as the man stood nearby, arms crossed.
The moment we entered, the man straightened, his cool gaze landing on us.
“Miss Su. Miss Pérez,” He said, his voice clipped, professional.
Maria’s eyes narrowed as she took in the stranger. “Hi.”
“So?” Zach asked.
“The DNA didn’t match.”
A tense silence fell over the room, thick enough to cut with a knife.
Maria blinked. “What DNA?”
Zach’s jaw tightened. “I asked him to compare your DNA to Ruiz’s.”
Maria’s brows furrowed in confusion.
“To see if she really was your mother,” Zach explained. “But according to him,” Zach gestured to the man. “You’re not.”
“I knew it…” She murmured, more to herself than anyone else.
“You did?” I asked, studying her expression.
“I knew something didn’t feel right.”
“Could she have been an adoptive parent or something?” Trevor chimed in, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed.
The man shook his head. “Impossible. Agent Ruiz was working full-time in D.C. during the years in question – there's video evidence to prove it. She had no ties to Miss Pérez until beginning an unrelated assignment in New York as an undercover child services worker.”
Zach stepped closer to Maria, wrapping a comforting arm around her waist. “It’s going to be okay, hermosa ,” He said softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
Maria leaned into his embrace, her arms wrapping around him tightly. “I know. I’m glad she’s not my mother,” She whispered, her voice barely audible.
“What now?” Zach asked, turning back to the man.
The stranger sighed. “I keep digging. I’ll try to find connections, but I gotta say, there’s not much to go on. Everything Ruiz told you – about molding killers from youth? Bullshit. You were trafficked, just for different reasons.”
Maria’s expression darkened, her hands tightening against Zach’s shirt.
“Why would Ruiz make that up?”
“Whatever the truth is, she didn’t want you finding it out,” The man replied, his answer directed at Maria. “She knew you’d look for answers.”
She nodded slowly, her jaw tightening. “It was her last attempt to throw us off course.”
Zach kissed her temple. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”
The weight of his promise seemed to ease some of the tension in the room. But as Maria pulled herself together, I couldn’t help but feel a chill run down my spine.
Trevor was the first to step forward. “I’ll walk you out. Unless?”
“Thank you, but I’m afraid I have other occupations tonight.”
“Thanks for coming by on such short notice.”
The man gave a curt nod.
As Trevor guided him out, I lingered behind, adjusting one of the ornaments on the hallway table. It wasn’t intentional, but the faint sound of Maria and Zach’s voices caught my attention.
“You told me the mouth swab test was just for a check-up,” Maria said, her tone half-playful, half-accusatory.
“I didn’t want to bother you with it again,” Zach replied, his voice lowering in what I could only have described as soft charm. “Especially if it ended up being a dead end.”
Maria snorted. “ Dead end .”
“You sure you want to study International Business? You should do stand-up.”
His teasing tone earned him a sharp elbow to the side. I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder in time to see him wince and laugh simultaneously.
Maria shook her head, though I noticed the soft smile tugging at her lips as Zach threw an arm around her.
They turned toward the living area, their conversation fading into the hum of the gathering as I made my way to rejoin Trevor. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen them exchange their characteristic mix of banter and affection, but something about it tonight felt… Anchored. Solid.
Trevor’s voice pulled me back, his hand softly touching my growing stomach. “You okay?”
I nodded, linking my arm through his as we watched Maria and Zach walk further into the grand living room together. “Yeah,” I said softly, a smile forming. “I think they’re going to be okay too.”
As we joined the party, the energy in the penthouse crackled with anticipation when the countdown began. The towering windows showcased the glittering skyline of New York City, fireworks poised to explode over the Hudson. Laughter and the clinking of champagne flutes filled the space, but my focus remained on the warmth of Trevor’s hand resting on my small stomach.
“Ten!” The voices of our friends rose in unison.
Trevor’s gaze flicked down to mine, something tender and knowing in his eyes.
“Nine!”
Zach and Maria were still across the room, swaying slightly as he murmured something into her ear, making her laugh and hide her face in his chest.
“Eight!”
Maria’s gaze caught mine over her shoulder, and a soft understanding transcribed between us before we both turned to our guys.
“Seven!”
Trevor’s fingers laced through mine.
“Six!”
A gentle squeeze.
“Five!”
I squeezed back.
“Four!”
His free hand cupped my cheek, thumb brushing my skin.
“Three!”
I tilted my head.
“Two!”
His breath fanned my lips.
“One!”
Our lips met, soft and certain, as the room erupted into cheers. Fireworks illuminated the night sky beyond the windows, golden light bursting across Trevor’s face when we finally pulled apart.
Although his eyes weren’t blue, every time they met mine, I was reminded of the ocean. A turbulent sea at night. So deep and dark I knew I’d never make it out now. But then something inside the darkness would spark and all I could see was the moon shining in the waves. And part of me didn’t want to reach the shore anymore. Part of me wanted to drown in him.
Being with him – around him – was like diving underwater. Absolute silence and tranquility. For once, my mind was quiet and my body was awake. Nothingness around me, until all I could see, smell, feel, hear, taste… was him. His arms holding me.
Until all I knew was him.
“Happy New Year, amai ,” I murmured, pressing one last kiss to Natalia’s forehead.
She rested a hand over mine, where it touched her stomach. “Happy New Year, koibito .”
I frowned, my lips turning into a proud smirk.
“I’ve been studying,” She supplied, before a soft pink blush took over her cheekbones. “ Aishiteru. ”
Something reached into my chest, squeezed and tugged.
My hand found its way into her heavenly hair and our lips met again. “ Zutto aishiteru. ”
Across the room, Maria and Zach were still making out, her arms wrapped around his neck.
I kept Natalia close as the cheers and celebrations continued around us. The penthouse was alive with music and laughter, but all I really cared about was the warmth of her hand in mine, the quiet excitement thrumming between us.
A few moments later, we made our way toward Maria and Zach, who had finally come up for air. Maria’s cheeks were flushed, her arms still draped around Zach’s neck as he murmured something that made her laugh softly.
When she noticed us approaching, she grinned. “So, what are your big plans for the new year?”
I felt Natalia glance at me, a silent exchange passing between us. Finally, she turned back to Maria, her smile widening. “We’ve decided to elope. We’re getting married in Hawaii.”
“Oh my God!” Maria gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Zach let out a low chuckle beside her, his grip tightening around her waist as she blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. “I’m so happy for you two.”
Natalia squeezed my hand, beaming.
Maria sniffled before clearing her throat. “Okay, okay. When is this happening?”
“After the party.”
Maria gasped again. “Oh, my God! Have fun! And take lots of pictures, so I can feel like I was there too.”
I caught Zach’s eye, and we exchanged a knowing look. He was already grinning as he pulled Maria in closer. “Plane leaves in a couple of hours.”
Maria and Natalia both froze, their expressions identical mixtures of confusion and shock. “What do you mean?”
I lifted a brow at Natalia, keeping my voice casual. “What? You didn’t think we’d get married without our maid of honor and best man, did you?”
Natalia’s lips parted, her breath catching.
Maria gasped, spinning back towards Zach. “ We’re going to Hawaii? ”
He nodded, his expression effortlessly smug.
And then all hell broke loose.
Maria let out a girlish shriek, and before I could react, she and Natalia were jumping up and down, clutching each other in excitement. It was impossible not to smile at them – the pure, uninhibited joy of sisterhood radiating off them was infectious.
“I have to pack!”
Natalia was already tugging Maria away. “I’ll help you! Come on, we need to match outfits!”
Before they turned the corner, they glanced at us over their shoulders. Maria blew Zach a kiss. Natalia’s smile was soft and sweet when she mouthed, I love you .
Zach and I smirked, watching the two of them disappear into the master bedroom.
“You do realize we just unleashed a storm, right?”
He clapped me on the shoulder. “Yeah, but it’s going to be one hell of a wedding.”
That, I knew without a doubt.
In just a few hours, I’d be on a plane. In less than a couple of days, I’d finally get to marry the love of my life.
Soon to be Natalia Valentina Su .
I thought about the past. The moments that had led us here. The quiet conversations, the late-night drives, the fights that only ever ended with us choosing each other again and again. The love that had rooted itself so deeply between us, steady and unwavering.
And now, we were about to start a whole new chapter – one that included a lifetime of waking up beside her.
She was the sand. I was the sea.
My soul always longed for her. The way the ocean waves reached for the shore. Over and over again.
Being with her – around her – was like finally gasping for life after drowning my entire life. Nothing else mattered apart from her. My heart finally beat with reason. Until all I could think, feel, love… Was her. Her in my arms.
Until all I knew was her.
THE END