Epilogue Six Years Later
Indie
“Mommy, can I wear my princess dress?”
I looked down at Italy, who was standing in the doorway of our bedroom with her hands on her hips. My baby girl. Five years old and already had more attitude than me and Aurora combined.
She had my eyes, light brown with gold flecks, and Stone’s bone structure. High cheekbones, full lips, and that same intense stare that could cut through you.
She was beautiful, and she knew it.
“Baby, we talked about this,” I said, walking over to her. “You’re wearing the dress Mommy picked out for you. The pink one with the flowers.”
Italy pouted, her bottom lip sticking out.
“But I wanna wear my Elsa dress.”
I crouched down so I was eye level with her.
“Italy Amelia Wright,” I said, using her full name. “We are having a very special dinner tonight for Mommy and Daddy’s anniversary. You wearing the dress I picked out, and you gon’ look beautiful. Understand?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. Just like her daddy.
“Fine,” she said, dragging out the word.
I kissed her forehead and stood up.
“Good. Now go find your brother and tell Daddy I said to get y’all ready.”
Italy ran off, her little feet pounding against the hardwood floors. I shook my head, smiling.
That girl was gon’ be the death of me.
I walked over to the full-length mirror in our bedroom and took myself in. I was wearing a custom piece from my own line—Indigo Rain.
It was a deep emerald green dress, cut to fit me perfectly, with a high slit up my left thigh and a low-cut back. I’d paired it with Giuseppe Zanotti heels and Cartier jewelry. My hair fell in loose curls down my back, my makeup soft but precise. Gold shadow, winged liner, a nude lip.
I didn’t have to second-guess it anymore. I knew exactly who I was looking at.
It was crazy to think how much had changed in six years.
Stone had kept his promise. He’d left the game before Italy was born.
It wasn’t easy because niggas didn’t just walk away from an empire like that, but he did it.
He handed the reins over to Antoine and Deacon, and he and Kenzo focused on going legit.
They expanded Velvet and Chrome, opened up a few more clubs, invested in real estate, started a security firm.
And me?
I’d launched Indigo Rain three years ago. What started as sketches in my design studio at the estate had turned into a full-blown fashion line. We’d been featured in Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar. And last year, Forbes named us one of the fastest-growing designer brands of the decade.
I still couldn’t believe it sometimes, but Stone believed in me. He always had.
He’d funded the entire operation, connected me with the right people, made sure I had everything I needed to succeed. And now, we were here.
Married for five years. Two beautiful kids. A life I never thought I’d have.
I heard footsteps behind me and turned around. Stone walked into the bedroom, and my breath caught. He was wearing a custom black Tom Ford suit with a crisp white shirt, no tie, the top two buttons undone. His diamond chain caught the light, and his AP watch gleamed on his wrist.
His waves were fresh, his beard was lined up perfectly, and those dark eyes—those same eyes that had unraveled me six years ago—were looking at me like I was the only woman in the world.
“Damn, baby,” he said, his voice low. “You look fuckin’ incredible.”
I smiled, walking over to him.
“You don’t look too bad yourself, Mr. Wright.”
He pulled me into his arms, his hands sliding down to my ass.
“You tryna start something before our guests get here?” he murmured against my ear.
I laughed, pushing him back gently.
“Behave. We got a house full of people about to show up.”
Stone smirked, that same dangerous, possessive look in his eyes.
“Aight. But after they leave, you mine.”
“I’m always yours, daddy,” I said.
He kissed me, deep and slow, and I melted into him.
Even after all these years, he still had that effect on me. Still made my heart race. Still made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered.
When he pulled back, I touched his face. “I love you,” I said.
“I love you, too, baby,” he said. “Now let’s go get these kids before Italy tries to put on that damn Elsa dress again.”
I laughed, and we walked out of the bedroom together.
Stone
The estate was bustling with activity. Brady had been cooking all day, and the smell of food filled the entire house. Ava had set up the dining room table with our best china, crystal glasses, and fresh flowers.
Everything looked perfect.
Just like Indie deserved.
I stood in the foyer as Kenzo and Aurora walked in with baby Kiana.
Aurora looked good. She’d always carried herself right, but motherhood had mellowed her some.
She wore a blue dress with her hair pulled back, nothing overdone.
Kenzo was holding Kiana, who was six months old and already had her daddy wrapped around her finger.
“Yo, what’s good, bro,” Kenzo said, dapping me up with his free hand.
“What’s good, Zo,” I said. “Y’all look good.”
Aurora grinned and leaned in to hug me.
“Happy anniversary, Stone,” she said. “Five years. That’s major.”
“Appreciate it,” I said.
Indie came down the stairs, and Aurora squealed.
“Bitch, you look amazing!” Aurora said, pulling Indie into a hug.
Indie laughed. “So do you! And look at my niece!”
She took Kiana from Kenzo, cooing at the baby. I watched her, and my chest pulled tight for a second. She was such a good mother. To Italy, to Maddox, and even to Ishmael who she’d raised like her own son.
A few minutes later, Ishmael and Destiny walked in. Ish was twenty-one now, finishing up his senior year at USC. He’d grown into a man—tall, confident, smart. And he looked at me like a big brother.
“What’s up, Stone,” Ish said, dapping me up.
I pulled him into a hug.
“What’s up, lil’ nigga. You good?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” he said. “Destiny wanted to bring y’all a gift.”
Destiny stepped forward, holding a wrapped box. She was a sweet girl; smart, respectful, and she kept Ish grounded.
“Happy anniversary, Indie and Stone,” she said, smiling.
Indie took the box and hugged her. “Thank you, baby. You didn’t have to do that.”
“We wanted to,” Destiny said.
Antoine and Deacon showed up next with Tierra. They were running the empire now, and they were doing a damn good job. I didn’t miss that life. Not even a little bit. Because this—my family, my wife, my kids—this was everything.
Indie
Dinner was incredible. Brady had outdone himself.
He’d prepared a five-course meal of shrimp cocktail, Caesar salad, filet mignon with lobster mac and cheese, and a decadent raspberry chocolate cheesecake dessert.
Everyone was seated around the long dining table, talking, laughing, enjoying the food.
Italy was sitting between me and Stone, and Maddox was in his highchair next to Stone, making a mess with his mac and cheese.
I looked around the table, my heart full.
This was my family. All of them.
After dessert, Kenzo stood up, tapping his glass with a fork.
“Aight, aight,” he said. “I wanna say something.”
Everyone quieted down, turning their attention to him. Kenzo looked at me and Stone, a rare softness in his eyes.
“Y’all know I ain’t the sentimental type,” he started.
“But I gotta give credit where it’s due.
Stone, you my brother. Been that way since we was kids.
I watched you go from nothing to all this, my nigga!
Everything we been through. Every obstacle.
Every close call. All of it led to this moment and I couldn’t be happier for y’all”.
He paused, his jaw tightening.
“Indie. My sister. You changed my dog for real. Made him a better man. Watching y’all build this life together...
leaving the game, starting businesses, raising your kids...
it showed me what was possible. It’s why I got my own family now.
I just wanted to say thank you. For saving my brother.
And in a weird way, me too. I love y’all man! ”
He raised his glass.
“So, here’s to five years of marriage, beautiful children, booming businesses, and a whole bunch of other fly shit. Y’all deserve it.”
Everyone raised their glasses, echoing his toast.
I felt tears prick my eyes, and I reached over to squeeze Stone’s hand.
Aurora stood up next, grinning.
“Okay, my turn,” she said. “Indie, you my best friend. My sister. And I remember when you first told me about Stone, I thought you were crazy as hell.”
Everyone laughed.
“But then I saw the way he looked at you. The way he protected you. The way he loved you. And I knew you’d found your soulmate.
Stone, you better than any nigga I ever thought Indie would end up with.
‘Cause, whew, Lord knows you done had some ain’t shit niggas,” Aurora said, looking at me.
I laughed, shaking my head. She turned to Stone.
“Stone, you take care of her, you take care of Ish, you take care of your babies. And that’s all I ever wanted for her. ”
She raised her glass.
“To Indie and Stone. The realest love I ever seen.”
More cheers, more clinking glasses.
Then Ishmael stood up. He looked nervous, but he cleared his throat and looked at me and Stone.
“I don’t even know where to start,” he said. “Indie, you raised me. You sacrificed everything for me. And Stone, you gave me a life I never thought I’d have. You gave me someone to look up to.”
His voice cracked, and I felt my own tears start to fall.
“Y’all taught me what love looks like. What family looks like. And I’m grateful every single day that I get to be a part of this. So, thank you. For everything.”
He raised his glass, his eyes shining. “To the best brother and sister a nigga could ask for.”
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I stood up and walked over to Ish, pulling him into a hug.
“I love you, baby,” I whispered.
“I love you, too, Indie,” he said.
Stone stood up and joined us, wrapping his arms around both of us. And for a moment, it was just the three of us.
The family we’d built from nothing.
Stone