Bonus Epilogue （Chapter 1）
Bianca
The sun hangs low on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of gold and crimson as we sail through the cerulean waters of the Mediterranean. I’m perched on the edge of the deck, my legs dangling over the side, feeling the gentle sway of the mega yacht beneath me. It’s surreal to think that just a few years ago, I was a girl chasing dreams in Miami, and now I’m here—married to the man I once thought I’d lost forever.
Constantine joins me, a glass of champagne in hand, his dark hair tousled by the breeze. He flashes that signature smile—the one that still makes my heart skip a beat, even after all these years. “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re trying to steal my drink.”
I raise an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Me? Steal your drink? Never! I’m just making sure you don’t spill it overboard. We wouldn’t want a tragedy like that to ruin our anniversary.”
He chuckles, the sound rich and deep, and takes a sip. “Tragedy? You mean a fate worse than losing the finest champagne in the Mediterranean?”
I laugh, clinking my glass against his. “To the finest champagne, then. And to the finest man.”
He looks at me over the rim of his glass, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Careful now, Bianca. Flattery will get you everywhere, but I draw the line at back rubs.”
“Back rubs? Oh, come on! If I can’t flatter you into a little pampering on our anniversary, what’s the point?” I take a sip, letting the bubbly fizz dance on my tongue. “I could tell you I still remember how you used to give me the worst back rubs in high school, but I won’t.”
“Hey, I was a teenage boy! I was lucky if I didn’t accidentally tickle you instead of actually massaging your back,” he retorts, feigning offense.
“Right, and here we are, a decade later, and you still owe me that proper back rub.” I set my glass down and lean back, crossing my arms playfully. “You’ve had plenty of time to improve.”
He moves closer, our shoulders touching. “Well, you’re in luck because I’ve been taking notes. My back rubs now come with a full-service experience.”
“Full-service? I’m intrigued,” I say, leaning in closer, a grin spreading across my face. “What does that include?
“First, I get to give you a shoulder massage while we sail around the world. Then, I might serenade you with a terrible rendition of ‘ Baby, I Love You ’ , your favorite song, as the sun sets,” he says, his voice low and mock-serious.
I can’t help but burst into laughter, the sound mingling with the gentle lapping of waves against the hull. “I can’t wait to hear that. It’ll be the highlight of my life. Better than the time we thought we could eat an entire pizza by ourselves.”
He smirks. “Nothing beats that, especially when you cried because you were too full. It was a moment of true love.”
“True love or true stupidity?” I tease back, nudging him with my shoulder.
“Definitely true love,” he insists, leaning closer, his expression softening. “Because here we are, sailing the world, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
My heart warms at his words, and I can’t help but lean in for a kiss. It’s sweet and lingering, a perfect reminder of why we’re celebrating this moment together. “You’re right, but we should probably finish this champagne before we get too sentimental.”
“Agreed,” he replies, raising his glass. “To us, to this moment, and to many more adventures ahead.”
I tap my glass against his again, the sound crisp and clear in the warm evening air. “And to back rubs, of course.”
“Especially back rubs,” he laughs, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “I’ll make sure they’re five-star quality.”