46. Happily Ever After
"Hey, where are we going?" I asked, noticing he missed a turn that led to our home.
"On a long drive." He replied, running one of his hands through his hair.
I rested my head on the window pane, smiling softly. "Okay, sure."
Silence fell between us as he drove for the next several minutes.
"Aiden?"
"Yes, little one?"
"Can we set up a swing at our penthouse too?" I asked, grinning at the end.
He chuckled softly. "Yes, we can. It was in my mind, but then it slipped."
I grinned from ear to ear. "Set up two this time. One for you."
He sighed heavily. "Okay, little one. Anything for you."
I chortled. "Did you seriously just agree to that?"
He smiled. "The things I do for you."
I couldn't stop smiling. "Hey... I wanted to discuss something with you."
"Yes?" He inquired, keeping his attention on the road.
"My internship at the hospital ends in a few months. I'm planning to start residency after that." I told him.
"Okay?"
I played with my fingers. "So, it's going to be tough. I'm talking having to step in at crazy hours, numerous night shifts, very tight schedules. Do you think you can handle that?"
His face became tense, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. "So you basically will have no time for me?"
I became nervous. "N-no, I will, but, um... you'll have to compromise as well..."
"Why do you even have to work?" He asked with a frown.
I gaped at him, taken aback. "What do you mean, Aiden? You know I love working, and it's important what I do. I save lives."
"Women belong in the kitchen." He spoke bitterly.
My eyes almost jumped out of their sockets, my heart hammering in my chest at the stark change in his behaviour. I could not wrap my head around the fact that he could even think that, let alone say it out loud.
He parked the car somewhere that I could not make out in the dark and could not even focus on because he had sent my heart and mind into a turmoil.
He turned to look at me, the serious look on his face dissipating before he laughed. "Put your eyes back in your orbits, little one. I was messing with you."
It took me a couple of seconds to fathom what he had said.
I gasped in disbelief, punching him on the chest, causing him to laugh some more. "You're unbelievable! I hate you!"
"You don't mean that," he said, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles. "My pretty little doctor, I'd be damned if I stood in the way of your dreams. Go out there, achieve all that you want; I'll be there clapping for you and supporting you no matter how hard it gets."
My heart fluttered, the warmth of his words melting me. "Thank you..."
He squeezed my hand. "Don't thank me... I don't want to be an obstacle in the way of what you want. We'll always be there for each other in our ups and downs. We will celebrate our accomplishments together, because that is what people in love do."
I smiled, nodding.
"I have a condition though." He said, switching to serious mode.
"What?" I laughed softly.
"You won't forget to give me plenty of kisses no matter how busy you are." He demanded.
I chortled, throwing my head back. "Alright, my dear fiancé. You have a deal."
His eyes shone with admiration as he stared at me.
"So, where are we and why are we here?" I inquired after I was done laughing with glee.
Without replying, he undid his seatbelt and got out of the car, walking to my side and opening the door for me. Stepping out, I realised we were in front of a lake.
"Do you plan on drowning me here?" I joked.
"No, first I will shoot you, then I will cut up your body into a hundred pieces, then I will throw those pieces in the water.
" He said murderously in my ear, earning a laugh from me.
Had he said those words to me back in time when I actually feared getting murdered by him, I would have passed out and made the task easier for him.
"I thought we could sit here and chat." He said, holding my hand as he led me to some rocks.
I grinned. "Can we sit on these?"
"Sure." He said, catching me by surprise as he suddenly lifted me up and placed me on one of the rocks before joining me.
"The moon is so pretty tonight." I said in awe, watching the full moon brighten up the sky and giving a diamond glow to the water.
Aiden placed his chin on his palm as he stared at me. "My fiancé is prettier."
I giggled, blushing.
"I can't wait to be married to you." He said, putting an arm around my waist.
I sighed dreamily, resting my head on his shoulder. "Yeah, me neither... Aiden?"
"Yes, little one?" He replied lovingly.
"It's all really over, right? We can have our happily ever after now?" I queried.
He gave me an exaggerated kiss on my temple. "It's over," he assured me gently. "And that," he pointed towards the sky. "Is the start of our beautiful happily ever after."
I stared ahead, confused about what he was referring to until all at once, the dark night sky lit up in a dazzling display of colours as fireworks went up.
I sat mesmerised as the colours seemed to dance high up, as if choreographed just for me and him.
As if the sparkling display was indeed a prophecy of our happily ever after.
———
After a long day at work, Aiden and I lay cuddled up in bed, talking about our day. His hand stroked my waist before moving to my naked thigh as he told me about his latest project.
It had been ten months since we had officially become husband and wife, and life had been sweet and wholesome ever since. He was the perfect husband, and I realised I could never have had better.
"So, have you signed the deal yet?" I asked him after hearing him talk about the project.
"We sign it tomorrow." He told me.
I nodded, looking down at our bodies pressed against each other. "Aiden?"
"Yes, little one?" He asked, caressing the side of my face.
"I've gained weight." I said matter-of-factly, palming my abdomen.
"I knew there was a reason your thighs looked hotter." He joked, making me snicker.
I slapped his chest playfully. "Can I ask you something?"
"You can ask me anything."
I drew circles on his chest with my index finger as I searched for words. "Do you... um... do you want to... have kids?"
He stiffened as the words left my mouth, and I felt myself filling up with remorse.
"I... know you haven't always been... um... too fond of the idea..." I trailed off softly.
He relaxed a little, taking a deep breath. "I never really thought about it."
I hummed, nodding, continuing to mindlessly draw circles over his chest.
"But... now that I think of it... how about a little girl who has your eyes and your smile?" His words made my eyes snap up to meet his that held a glint of warmth. "And your heart too, of course," he added. "As long as the child is nothing like me, we're good to go." He snickered.
I giggled softly and momentarily. "Yeah, no offence, but I don't think I can handle another person in the house with your attitude."
He laughed a melodious sound, making me gawk at him with stars in my eyes.
He kissed my forehead, his hand travelling down to caress my thigh.
"Wanna work on making a baby now?" He teased, smirking.
I smiled, biting my lip. "We don't need to..."
He made a disappointed face. "Why not? We just talked about it, and I know you love babies, so spread your legs for me, little one."
I giggled. "No."
He raised an eyebrow. "No?"
I shook my head, smiling. "Nope."
"You don't want a baby with me?" He feigned sadness.
"We don't need to make a baby, Aiden." I asserted.
His face become serious. "And why is that?"
"Because we already made one."
"What?"
"I'm pregnant." I revealed, instantly sighing afterwards as I got the weight off my chest.
He looked at me as if I had grown another head, eyes wide. "Y-you're what?"
"Pregnant." I repeated nervously.
"Are you... oh my God... are you serious?" He was flabbergasted.
I nodded, rolling my lower lip into my mouth before releasing it. "Two months pregnant..."
He blinked rapidly, falling silent before speaking up a couple minutes later. "You've been pregnant two months and you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't know. I found out today." I told him.
He fell silent again. "We're having a baby?"
I nodded readily.
"We're having a baby." He repeated incredulously.
A minute later, a big smile broke across his face, causing relief to wash over me. The next thing I knew, he was enveloping me in a bone-crushing hug, laughing joyously.
I couldn't help but laugh excitedly as well, glad that he wasn't pissed.
"You're carrying our baby." He grinned, his expression a mixture of disbelief and excitement, pulling back.
I smiled back. "I hope it's a girl... I want to name her Olivia."
His smile faltered a little. "You want to name her after my sister?"
My smile fell. "I'm sorry. I thought—"
"That's a wonderful idea." He cut me off, rubbing my shoulder, restoring my smile.
"Also, Aiden?"
"Yes?"
"I, um, gave you half the news." I said nervously.
"What do you mean?" He asked, confused.
"We're having babies... twins." I revealed, biting my lip.
He blinked at me, absorbing the new information. "You're kidding..."
I shook my head. "We're going to have two babies... and it's best if they don't take after you, because can you imagine your attitude times two?"
His mouth hung open. "Oh my God...."
I ran my hand over his arm. "Are you still happy?"
He let out a small laugh of disbelief before pulling me into another tight hug. I revelled in the warm and cozy feeling as he rubbed my back.
When he pulled back, he had a huge smile on his face that relaxed my heart. He palmed my abdomen, gently rubbing it. "I'm going to take such good care of you, I promise. I'll protect my family with my life this time."
I smiled at him, squeezing his bicep. "I know you will. I know that no harm can come to me and our babies as long as we have you."
He sucked in a breath, nodding, and I knew that his mind had once again travelled back in time to that living room.
"Aiden," I said softly, caressing his face, pleading him with my eyes to keep his thoughts in the present. "You are going to make an excellent father... you're going to be their shield and strength."
He nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. I watched as happiness once again entered his somber eyes.
He kissed my cheek lovingly. "Thank you for giving me a family again, Aysel."
My heart fluttered in my chest as I tried holding back tears. "Thank you for... donating your sperm."
He laughed loudly, and I couldn't help but join him, before hugging him again.
"Aiden?" I pulled back.
"What? You suddenly remembered we're actually having triplets?" He asked playfully.
I laughed. "No... I was saying that if we have two girls, I also have a name in mind for the other one."
"What is it?" He asked with a smile.
"Aydriana." I told him excitedly.
His smile grew. "It's perfect."
Grinning, I threw my arms around him again, feeling overcome with serenity, gratitude and happiness.
And that, is the story of how a troubled, traumatised and heartless CEO fell in love with a kind doctor who brought colour and life to his dark world.
The CEO now had a new family that he protected and cherished with his life. His wife and his two adorable daughters, Olivia and Aydriana.
And so, they lived happily ever after. The bossy, scary CEO and his pretty, little Doctor.