Epilogue
Elena
"Carter."
No response.
"Carter, I know you can hear me."
Elena stood in the center of her massive dressing suite, staring in utter disbelief at the dark charcoal cabinetry that had somehow materialized overnight along an entire wall of her pristine wardrobe.
Her fiancé looked up from a plush leather bench, a perfectly tailored designer jacket draped casually over one arm. Not a single hint of guilt crossed his billionaire face.
"Good morning, beautiful."
"You changed the wardrobe."
"I improved the wardrobe."
"We agreed on cream, Carter."
"We agreed your vintage couture collection was expanding beyond all reasonable territorial limits."
Elena pointed an accusing finger at the offending dark wood. "They don't match anything."
"They match my side."
"Your side wasn't supposed to have a side. This was my sanctuary."
"It has a co-signer now."
She narrowed her eyes, stepping closer. "You planned this. You had builders in my house while I was at the Waldorf Fashion spring showcase."
"Our house."
"You had builders in our house."
"There you go. Progress."
His mouth twitched into that familiar cute smile.
Elena hated when he did that. Mostly because the second he smiled, her brain short-circuited and she completely forgot what she was supposed to be yelling about.
Carter stood up, effortlessly crossing the room, and slipped his hands around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest.
"You've been awake for exactly eight minutes," he observed, his deep voice humming against her skin.
"You counted?"
"I was there. I timed it."
"You completely ignored my interior design plan."
"You make it sound like I committed a federal crime."
"You did. It's a breach of trust."
"Fine. I'll have my lawyers call your lawyers."
Elena rolled her eyes, letting her hands rest on his shoulders anyway.
"William is our shared lawyer, Carter. He'll charge us a ridiculous hourly rate just to tell me you're wrong."
"You mean tell you I'm right."
"See? This is exactly why we're arguing."
A low, rich laugh escaped him, warm and entirely unfair.
"You're impossible, Evans"
"And yet you're marrying me."
"That decision is still technically being reviewed by the board," she teased, lifting her left hand just enough for the diamond ring to catch the light.
"Of course it is."
Carter looked at the ring, then at her. The serious expression lasted all of two seconds before it gave way to reluctant amusement.
"Fine," he said with a dramatic sigh. "If the board insists, I'll make a concession."
Elena folded her arms. "And what does that mean?"
"It means the contractors are getting another call. The dark cabinets come out, your cream wood goes in, and the sanctuary survives."
His hand settled on her waist, pulling her a little closer.
"But I get a proper display for my watches, and you have to admit—at least once—that I'm an incredibly generous fiancé."
She laughed. "I'll think about adding that to the prenup."
His mouth twitched.
"Brat."
The word came out with so much affection it never qualified as an insult.
Elena grinned. "You keep saying that like it's a bad thing."
"It is a bad thing."
"You love it."
Unfortunately for him, she was right.
Carter shook his head, already losing the argument. Again.
Before he could kiss her, a distant, resonant chime echoed through the mansion, signaling that the heavy iron gates at the end of the driveway had just opened.
Elena glanced at her diamond-encrusted watch and sighed. "They're early. The engagement celebration doesn't start for another three hours."
"Three hours early? They've been waiting for this party longer than we have."
That actually made a genuine laugh escape her. "Fair point."
Taking his offered arm, she let her silk morning gown trail elegantly behind her as they walked out onto the sweeping grand balcony overlooking the main hall. Looking down, Elena felt a sudden, fierce wave of warmth.
A year ago, her life had been a cold, transactional nightmare controlled by her aunt and a toxic ex-husband.
Now, her company was at the absolute top of the fashion world, her past was safely behind bars, and she was looking down at a room full of people she had chosen.
Their found family had already made themselves completely at home.
William was at the mahogany sideboard, pouring himself a generous glass of twenty-year-old scotch without a shred of shame. Near the fireplace, Carter’s younger sister, Caroline, was stretched out gracefully on a velvet chaise, chatting away with Aaron and Ivy.
Elena noticed that Aaron barely seemed aware of anyone else in the room. Every few seconds, his gaze drifted right back to Ivy with the exact same fiercely protective, lovesick look he’d had since the day they got married a year ago.
Near the windows, Nick leaned against a marble pillar, a glass of champagne in hand.
For a fleeting, unguarded second, as the resident rogue of the group watched Aaron and Ivy’s quiet romance, something deeply thoughtful and wistful crossed his face—like a man who was finally realizing that the bachelor life wasn't nearly as satisfying as having a home.
Then he caught Elena looking from the balcony.
The vulnerable expression vanished instantly, replaced by his signature, charmingly arrogant grin. Nick raised his glass to her in a silent toast.
Elena smirked back, then nudged Carter's arm, nodding toward the grand piano where Alex and Maya were standing.
They were holding their champagne flutes with rigid, flawless posture, fiercely pretending not to be interested in each other while carrying on a low, intense conversation.
Nobody in the room was pretending not to see what was going on anymore
"Twenty dollars says Alex breaks down and asks Maya to the Winter Gala before the weekend is over," Elena whispered as they began descending the grand staircase.
Carter glanced at his stubborn friend, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "You're giving him too much credit."
"You think it'll take him longer?"
"I think he'll crack and ask her before dessert."
Elena laughed, the sound bright and easy.
By the time their feet hit the bottom marble step, William was already waiting for them, lifting his glass high.
"To the future Mr. and Mrs. Evans," William announced loudly.
The entire room erupted into cheers and raised their drinks.
"May your walk-in closets somehow survive this corporate merger."
The room dissolved into a chorus of sophisticated laughter, though Caroline cheered a little too loudly.
Carter’s large hand found hers, squeezing tightly. His palm was warm, familiar, and completely certain.
Elena looked around her living room. At the friends drinking her expensive alcohol, at the sister who adored them, and at the ridiculous, beautiful chaos of the life she had fought so hard to reclaim. Finally, she looked back up at Carter.
"Still want to call off the wedding?" he asked quietly, his dark eyes softening into something so full of love it made her breath catch.
Elena smiled, leaning into his side. "Not a chance."
His smile softened, pulling her just a little bit closer.
And standing there, completely surrounded by the madness of the people she loved most, Elena realized something beautiful.
Happiness didn't feel like a fragile, temporary luxury.
It felt permanent. It felt loud, a little ridiculous, and exactly like home.
The end.