Epilogue
Jiro
F our months.
It’s incredible how time can reshape a life. The summerhouse, which once felt like a mere structure of bricks and wood, had transformed into a sanctuary, a home. And it was all because of Hope .
Every evening, as I’d drive back from the estate, the anticipation of seeing her would bubble up inside me. The way she’d infused every corner of our home with her essence was nothing short of magical. The soft glow of the fairy lights she’d hung on the patio, the scent of her favorite lavender candles wafting through the rooms, and the sound of her laughter echoing in the hallways made the summerhouse come alive.
Mornings, though, were a different challenge altogether. Extracting myself from the warmth of our bed, from the cocoon of her arms, was a herculean task. The soft press of her lips against my shoulder. Her gentle murmurs urging me to stay just a few minutes more made every sunrise a battle between duty and desire. I finally understood those knowing looks Hoka used to give me when he talked about Violet. The ones that said, “You’ll understand one day.” And damn, did I understand now.
Hoka never missed an opportunity to tease me about it. “Look at Jiro,” he’d chuckle, “completely wrapped around Hope’s little finger.” And the truth was, I couldn’t even argue because it was true. Every smirk, every joke about me being whipped, was met with a proud nod. Because if being utterly and irrevocably in love with Hope meant I was whipped, then so be it.
In these four months, I’d learned that love wasn’t just about grand gestures or passionate nights. It was about the quiet moments, the shared dreams, the mutual respect, and the unwavering support. It was about coming home to someone who made every challenge worth facing.
As I stood on the balcony, watching the sun dip below the horizon, a pair of arms wrapped around me from behind. Hope kissed my back, her breath warm against my skin.
“Lost in thoughts?” she whispered.
“Just thinking about how lucky I am,” I replied, turning around to pull her into a tight embrace.
She smiled, her eyes reflecting the last rays of the setting sun. “Me too, my warrior. Me too.”
I kissed the top of her head. “How’s Yuko?”
She rested her head against my chest. “He’s good. He’s asleep. Hoka and Violet just needed some alone time tonight. She asked me if I could keep him. You don’t mind, do you?”
I let my hands roam down her body and squeezed her shapely ass. “You know I don’t. I love the kid. But they don’t need that to get it on. I’m sure they just wanted him out so they could do it on every flat surface of the house.” I chuckled. “I swear they’re going to have triplets by how hard they’re trying to get pregnant again.”
She laughed, and hearing the melodic sound filled my heart with so much happiness and love I was surprised it was still in my chest. I was ready to do anything to hear it, and I didn’t care how silly. I liked doing it.
“You know that’s not how it works, right?”
I shrugged, kissing her lips.
“Even if it is the case. They need to do that now. Alessandro and Lily are coming next week with their son, so their privacy will be gone for a while. Oda is coming, too. I offered him the guest room.”
“I see we’re going from baby to angsty teenager,” I joked.
“Oda is older than me.”
I rolled my eyes.
She kissed my chest through my shirt. “Plus, I don’t mind having Yuko here. It’s good practice for when we have our own.”
The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying. The idea of little feet running around our home, of Hope cradling a tiny version of us, was something I hadn’t allowed myself to fully imagine. But now, with her words hanging in the air, the picture was vivid and, oh, so tempting.
She looked up, her blue eyes searching mine, probably sensing the whirlwind of emotions inside me. “Too soon?” she asked with a playful smirk, her fingers tracing patterns on my chest.
I cleared my throat, trying to find my voice. “No, not too soon. Just… unexpected. But a good kind of unexpected.” I paused, taking a deep breath. “I’ve dreamed of a family with you, Hope. Of us teaching our kids to ride bikes, of family vacations, of bedtime stories. It’s just… hearing you say it out loud makes it feel more real.”
She giggled, her nose crinkling in that adorable way I loved. “Well, Mr. Saito, if you play your cards right, you might get your wish sooner than you think.”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Is that a promise or a challenge?”
She leaned in, her lips brushing against mine. “Why not both?”
We both laughed, the sound echoing in the evening air. The world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us lost in our shared dreams and hopes for the future .
Pulling back slightly, she rested her forehead against mine. “You know, Jiro, every day with you feels like a dream. And if this is what our future looks like, then I can’t wait to live every moment of it.”
I smiled, my heart swelling with love. “Neither can I, my love. Neither can I.”
As the evening deepened and the stars began to twinkle, I held Hope close, her steady heartbeat a comforting rhythm against my chest. The past had been a tumultuous storm, filled with regrets, shadows, and ghosts that haunted my every step. But in allowing myself to face those demons, to seek forgiveness and find redemption, I had discovered a peace I never thought possible.
Hope shifted in my arms, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my chest. Every touch, every whispered word, was a testament to the love we shared. She was my anchor, my guiding star, the balm that soothed my wounded soul. With her, the weight of the past felt lighter, the future brighter.
I looked down at her, her eyes reflecting the moonlight, and a profound sense of gratitude washed over me. She was my solace, my refuge. Hope, my lover, my heart, my everything. And soon, she would be my wife, the woman I’d build a life with, the mother of our children.
The ghosts of the past had been laid to rest, and in their place stood a future filled with promise and love. With Hope by my side, I was ready to embrace every moment, every challenge, every joy. For she was my everything, and together, we would write our own story, one filled with love, laughter, and endless possibilities.