Epilogue
Abigail-Ann
“Some things are worth waiting for, and love is always one of them.”
~ Unknown
THREE YEARS LATER
M ikkel and I had done it all.
We traveled the world, exploring places that felt like they belonged to another era, untouched by time. We hiked the jagged peaks of Zhangjiajie in China, stood in awe of the endless salt flats at Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, and wandered through the ancient ruins of Petra. We found serenity on the pristine beaches of the Seychelles and marveled as the sun dipped below the fjords of Norway. Each destination brought us closer together, filling our lives with moments so magical, they hardly seemed real.
Through it all, Mikkel’s success never wavered. Elite Rides expanded to every corner of the United States, earning him a reputation as one of the most influential businessmen of his time. But, what amazed me most wasn’t his relentless ambition or the empire he built—it was the way he always made me feel like the center of his universe. He balanced his towering responsibilities and our relationship with a precision that left me in awe.
Of course, it wasn’t always easy. There were stressful days, moments when our lives felt like they were being pulled in too many directions at once. But no matter how overwhelming it got, we always found our way back to each other.
For my twenty-fourth birthday, Mikkel flew me to the set where Beauty and the Beast live action was filmed. Walking through the castle’s opulent halls, chandeliers glittering like something out of a fairy tale, I felt like I had stepped into the story I’d adored since I was a child. As if that weren’t enough, he took me to Disney World for a week, where we indulged in every Beauty and the Beast experience, from dining in the Beast’s castle to seeing the characters come to life.
It was a dream brought to life, and Mikkel, ever the romantic, said he wanted me to feel like the princess I’d always deserved to be.
As if the West Wing he’d built for me back home didn’t do that every single day.
Becoming an independent realtor turned out to be one of the best decisions I’d ever made. After finishing my apprenticeship, I set out on my own, working from home and building an impressive clientele, some of whom I could hardly believe had chosen me. The road wasn’t always smooth. There were setbacks that knocked me down and lessons I had to learn quickly. But the victories? I owned every single one of them.
Even with all this success, there was an emptiness inside me, one that nothing seemed to fill. Not the accolades, not the financial stability. When the world settled at the end of the day, I was still a woman facing battles no one else could see. No one except Mikkel.
We’ve tried so many times, hoping this time would be different. But each time, it’s the same story—a painful cycle of failure. Twice, I got pregnant, only to lose the baby. It’s become a cruel pattern of hope and heartbreak, leaving me exhausted and aching in ways I never imagined .
The first time, we weren’t even trying. When I saw the word “PREGNANT” appear on the test, a wave of pure, unfiltered joy washed over me. I wasn’t scared—shocked, yes—but deep down, I knew I could handle this. And I was certain the man I was about to share this journey with was nothing short of incredible. But then, five weeks later, that joy was ripped away from me in the cruelest way. I woke up in a pool of blood, and panic set in as we rushed to the doctor. The news that followed shattered me— shattered us . I had lost our baby.
I hated myself more than I thought possible. I felt like I had failed—like my body had betrayed us, our future. But no matter how much sadness Mikkel felt, he never let me feel anything less than his unwavering love. If anything, it grew stronger, as if he were trying to piece together the fragments of my broken heart.
With each failed attempt at conception and the agony of a second miscarriage, I felt myself breaking apart, my hope crumbling into despair. I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms as I fought to hold it together. I had learned to hide the tears, to bury the anguish threatening to consume me. But deep down, the pain never left—it festered, gnawing at my resolve.
I kept my appointments with Dr. Sang frequent, visited countless fertility clinics, endured endless supplements and injections. Mikkel spent thousands on the best reproductive endocrinologists worldwide, but nothing worked. Nothing eased the pain.
Mikkel had given me a life I never imagined, a love that could withstand anything. But I couldn’t give him the one thing I knew he wanted—a child. I saw the pain in his eyes after our second loss, in every negative test. Still, he never blamed me. He held me, telling me it wasn’t my fault, that we would get through this together.
My phone rang, displaying Azzaria’s name, and I hesitated before answering. “Hey!”
“Abi!” Azzaria’s voice was bright and cheerful. “The twins have been asking about you nonstop. They miss their Aunty Abi. They’re begging to talk to you.”
I forced a smile, even though she couldn’t see it. “I miss them too. ”
Before I could say anything else, I heard the excited voices of her and Dillon’s two year old twins in the background. “Aunty Abi! Aunty Abi!” they called out, their little voices full of joy.
A real smile finally tugged at my lips. “Hey, my loves! How are you two doing?”
“We miss you!” Catalina chirped. “When you comin’ to pway wif us?”
My heart ached at their innocent question. “Soon, I promise. We’ll have lots of fun when I see you.”
“Pwomise?” Caiden asked, his voice hopeful.
“Promise,” I responded, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “You two be good for your Mommy and Daddy, okay? And I’ll bring you something special when I come.”
They giggled, and I could hear Azzaria in the background, trying to calm them down. “Alright, say bye to Aunty, so she can get some rest.”
“Bye, Aunty! We wuv you!” they shouted together, their sweet, slurred words filling me with warmth and longing.
“I love you both too,” I whispered, holding onto that feeling as the call ended.
The silence that followed was suffocating as I thought about how happy I was for Azzaria. But, that happiness was often overshadowed by a sadness I couldn’t shake. I longed to be the one with kids, to share in their milestones and laughter. Instead, I was the one who couldn’t carry them to term.
All I could do was hope that someday, somehow, this pain would be worth it, but that hope felt so far away.
It had been four and a half months since we last tried—months of waiting, hoping, and battling the fear. But this morning felt different. I was off work, taking a much-needed mental health break, and Mikkel was home with me, rare moments away from his packed schedule.
“Are you okay, baby?” Mikkel asked, his hand wrapping around me.
I sighed. “I’m sleepy.”
“Get some rest, mi amor , 214 ” he whispered, kissing my cheek.
I didn’t have the words, so I kissed him deeply, then gently fell onto my back, my breasts shifting with the impact .
“I’m going to call Emilia,” he informed me. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I nodded again, my thoughts racing as nausea swept over me. My heart pounded as I quietly got up and headed to the bathroom. I grabbed a pregnancy test, hands trembling as I went through the familiar motions, trying to stay grounded despite the hope building inside me.
When the result appeared, I almost fainted.
Pregnant.
The word stared back at me, and I clutched the test to my chest, not even sure how to process the rush of emotions flooding through me.
I didn’t want to get my hopes up but I couldn’t help it.
What if we were going to actually have a baby?
“Mikkel!” I yelled, my voice shaky with disbelief. “Mikkel, come here!”
He was by my side in an instant, worry clear on his face as he saw me standing there, sobbing. I held out the test to him, my voice barely a whisper. “I’m pregnant.”
His eyes widened, and for a moment, he just stared at me. Then he lifted me into his arms, spinning us around. “We’re having a baby,” he said, his voice full of awe. “We’re going to be parents.”
I sighed, thinking of how this may be us getting happy for no reason.
“I don’t want u—”
He kissed the words out of my mouth. “I know what you’re going to say,” he started, cupping my face. “But, let’s not be negative. It’s okay to have hope, mi reina .”
Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Okay.”
We clung to each other, laughing and crying, overwhelmed with relief and happiness. But we needed confirmation, so we scheduled a doctor’s appointment for the next day, too anxious to wait longer.
We sat hand in hand in Dr. Sang’s office, the wait stretching endlessly. When we were finally called in, her calm voice and the gentle hum of the sonograph eased my nerves. Mikkel squeezed my hand, his eyes never leaving the screen.
Dr. Sang smiled. “Everything looks good,” she said, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. “You’re about twelve weeks pregnant.”
I blinked in confusion. “Twelve weeks? That’s three months, right?”
She nodded, adjusting the screen slightly so we could see. “Yes, that’s right. Sometimes early symptoms can be missed, but from what I see, you’re progressing normally.”
I stared at the screen, at the tiny flicker of life that had been growing inside me for three months without me even realizing it. Tears welled up, but this time, they were tears of joy. Mikkel leaned in, pressing his lips to my forehead as we took in the reality of it all.
Dr. Sang spoke again, her tone gentle but serious. “This is the furthest you’ve made it, so congratulations. However, there are some precautions we need to take to help ensure a full-term, successful delivery.”
“Anything,” I replied quickly.
Mikkel nodded. “Just let us know, Doc.”
She offered a small, understanding smile. “We’ll need more frequent check-ups, with ultrasounds every two to three weeks to monitor progress. Managing your stress is also crucial. Emotional or physical strain can have a negative impact, so we’ll work to keep that to a minimum.”
Mikkel tightened his grip on my hand, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my skin. “We’ll do whatever it takes.”
Dr. Sang continued, “I’ll also recommend certain supplements to support the pregnancy. And if you notice anything unusual—cramping, bleeding, anything—you come see me immediately.”
I nodded, absorbing everything she was saying. This was our chance, and I wasn’t going to take it for granted.
“I’ll give you a detailed plan,” she said, “but the most important thing is to listen to your body. Rest when you need to, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any concerns, no matter how small.”
Mikkel nodded along with me, his eyes never leaving mine. “We’ll be careful. I’ll make sure of it.”
Dr. Sang smiled again, this time reassuringly. “Good. ”
As we left the appointment, the sunlight seemed to shine a little brighter, but it couldn’t compare to the warmth in my chest. Mikkel gently guided me to the car, his hand resting on my back.
“Careful,” he mumbled, his voice laced with concern as we neared the curb. His arm wrapped protectively around me, as if the slightest misstep could harm me or our baby.
I smiled, teasing him. “Mikkel, I’m not fragile.”
“I know,” he said, but his brow furrowed. “I just want to be sure you’re okay.”
Once inside the car, he carefully adjusted the seatbelt over my belly, even though there was nothing to show yet. His sweet, thoughtful gesture made me reach out and squeeze his hand.
“I promise I’ll be careful,” I whispered.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair before turning to face me, his expression serious. “I’m happy, but also terrified. We’ve wanted this for so long, and now that it’s happening, I just don’t want anything to go wrong.”
“I know,” I whispered. “But we’ll do everything we can to keep this little one and me safe.”
Mikkel’s gaze softened, and he leaned over to kiss my temple. “We’re in this together. Whatever it takes.”
I nodded, a swirl of joy, hope, and a little fear stirring inside me. But more than anything, I was grateful to have Mikkel by my side.
“There’s one thing, though,” I said after a moment. “I don’t want to tell anyone just yet. Not your friends, not even our parents. At least not until we’re farther along. I just want to be sure.”
Mikkel met my gaze, his eyes understanding immediately. He nodded. “Of course, mi vida . 215 ”
“Thank you,” I breathed, relief washing over me. “It’s just... after everything, I want to be certain. I know it’ll be hard to keep it a secret, but—”
He cut me off with a soft kiss, his lips brushing against mine gently. “We’ll wait. We’ll do this at our pace.”
I smiled against his lips, feeling a sense of peace. “Three years later, and I’m still in awe of everything you do, and every word you say.”
He chuckled softly, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes. “I’m doing what any man would do for the woman he loves.”
“I love you, too,” I whispered, leaning in for another kiss. “So much.”
Mikkel exhaled, visibly relaxing. With one last glance at me, he started the car, and we drove in comfortable silence. Everything felt a little less heavy as we faced this new chapter together.