Epilogue
“This is too much,” Helen whispered, her voice filled with awe as she took in the sheer luxury of the villa. She felt like she had wandered into a movie set, everything so perfect, it couldn’t possibly be real.
Raj chuckled and took her hands, gently pulling her toward the back of the villa. “You haven’t even seen the view yet,” he teased. “Brace yourself.”
When he pushed open the doors, Helen gasped, her breath catching in her throat. Before her, stretched out in all its glory, was the Adriatic Sea—endless blue, meeting the sky in a perfect line. “This is beautiful!” she said, a little breathlessly, her fingers curling around the railing as though she needed something solid to hold her upright.
Raj smiled behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “You know, it’s not every day I get to impress you.”
Helen sighed contentedly, leaning back against him, smiling as she felt his warmth. “This isn’t necessary,” she said, looking over her shoulder at him. “I would have been just as happy back in Lativa.”
Raj grinned, his voice playful. “Yes, but this way, we don’t have to wake up early. No stampeding feet of Angela and her bevy of dogs and cats first thing in the morning.”
Helen snorted at the thought. “Oh, trust me, I know. The amount of chaos she causes with those four dogs and three cats could be classified as a natural disaster.” She thought of Angela, who had made it her life’s mission to rescue every animal she came across, dragging them home with a determination that no one could rival. “And the palace is a zoo. Plus, she’s seemed to have adopted her cousins—Laith, Rafi, and Zayn—along with the menagerie.”
“No more animals,” Raj declared firmly, turning Helen around so he could kiss her lightly. “Do you understand? No more!”
Helen laughed, the sound light and carefree. “I believe I should be saying that to you. You’re the one she has wrapped around her little finger. All she needs to do is blink those pretty brown eyes and you turn into a puddle.”
Raj groaned, a mock expression of despair on his face. “I know I’ve got a lot of catching up to do after the four years I missed, but seriously, she knows exactly how to get to me. I’m like putty in her hands. If she ever gets a hint of that from me, it’s over. She’s going to start making requests like she’s royalty.” He straightened up, his sigh dramatic. “But no more. There will be no more creatures in our apartment.”
Helen lifted an eyebrow playfully. “No more?”
“None!” Raj’s tone was firm, his posture rigid with resolve.
Helen smiled and, with a teasing glint in her eye, placed his hand on her still-flat stomach. “Not even...” she trailed off dramatically, feeling the weight of her words. “A sibling?”
Raj froze. His eyes moved from her stomach to her face, then back down, as if he might somehow see through her skin and confirm her words. His voice was barely a whisper, thick with shock. “Helen, are you...?”
“Yes,” she said, the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I confirmed it this morning with a pregnancy test.”
Raj’s face went blank. He stared at her for a moment—his brain clearly scrambling to process what she had just said. Then, without any warning, he just... dropped. Like a sack of potatoes. He crumpled to the floor in a heap, eyes wide in utter disbelief.
Helen stared at him, her mouth agape. “Well, that’s not how I saw this announcement going.”
She blinked, about to call for his guards—maybe even an ambulance—when Raj suddenly sat up, blinking as if he’d just woken from a nap. He looked around, confused for a split second, before his eyes landed on her stomach again. His hands shot out, grasping for a chair nearby, and he slowly, cautiously, lowered himself into it.
Apparently, the news of her impending pregnancy had sent her big, strong, masculine husband into an absolute swoon. Who woulda thunk it?
Helen stood there, utterly flabbergasted, her arms crossed over her chest. “So… this is how you handle good news?”
Raj blinked up at her, his face still pale, as if the shock had yet to wear off. He opened his mouth as if to say something but only let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. “I—I’m fine. I’m just... I didn’t expect that.”
Helen couldn’t help but burst into laughter, her hands on her hips. “Well, you certainly didn’t handle that well, did you?”
Raj looked up at her, still dazed, but this time a slow, sheepish smile spread across his face. “I’m going to be a father again?” he asked, his voice full of wonder.
Helen knelt beside him, her heart warming as she touched his cheek. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice soft. “We are going to be parents. And this time, you’ll get to experience the whole pregnancy thing right along with me.”
Raj pulled her close, lifting her chin so their faces were just inches apart. His eyes sparkled with something new—joy, excitement, and a bit of nervousness. “I love you,” he said, his voice full of sincerity. “I love you so much.”
Helen’s heart melted, and she smiled, leaning in to kiss him gently. “I love you, too,” she whispered, her lips lingering against his.
And as they stood there in the villa, surrounded by beauty and the promise of a new life, their world seemed just a little bit more magical. The chaos, the animals, the future—it didn’t matter. They had each other, and that was all they needed.
A message from Elizabeth:
So what did you think about an older “secret heir” story? Was it okay? I enjoyed writing about Angela’s love for a strong female character – and yes, this will show up in other stories!
Before you continue on to read the excerpt from Marianna’s story, could you take a moment to leave a review for me?Here’s a QUICK LINK to the review page – and I thank you!