Epilogue Ella
A few years later…
T he sound of a pebble hitting my balcony doors had me placing the romance book I was reading face down on my blanket. With a frown, I headed out of bed and towards the source of the noise.
Cade was away for business with Vance and Josh. I decided to visit my parents’ home with Knight so I wasn’t alone in our shared penthouse.
The summer wind blew through my long black strands as I stepped out on my balcony, the skirt of my dress flaring behind me. It was a beautiful evening with the sun slowly begging to set, colouring the sky’s canvas in remarkable shades of gold, pink, and blue.
The balustrade was overflowing with orange begonias, their sweet scent bringing forth a bout of nostalgia. An adorable pair of hummingbirds flittered around the blooms, drinking their nectar.
“What are you smiling at, Ella?”
I jolted at the unexpected, familiar voice ringing so close.
“Cade?” Frowning, I peered around, seeing him nowhere in my surroundings.
Was I beginning to imagine Cade because I missed him?
“Down here, pretty girl.” His tone was laced with mischievousness.
Oh, God. No, that wasn’t my imagination at all.
I ran to the edge of the balcony and glanced down, my mouth falling open in surprise. A chuckle escaped me when I realized he’d positioned a ladder against the structure and was slowly climbing the rungs towards me.
“What are you doing here?” My cheeks hurt from how hard I was smiling. “I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow.”
“Business concluded early.” He finally reached the last step and paused, placing his hands on the balustrade and leaning forward to kiss me. “And I was desperate to get back to you.”
I kissed him back, grasping fistfuls of his dress shirt. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” he mumbled against my lips. “So much.”
I nuzzled his cheek. “Is there a reason why you’re climbing up to my balcony like Romeo?”
“Yeah, actually, there’s a reason for it, Juliet.”
“Oh?” I hiked a brow, feeling giddy. “Tell me.”
The breeze mussed his dark hair and he pushed it back, smiling at me heart-meltingly with those dimples on display. Even after all these years together, he never failed to take my breath away.
He was so handsome, my dark prince.
“Ella, the first time I saw you standing on this very balcony, you looked like a goddess to me. I was awestruck by you. I’d never seen a more beautiful girl in my life and your sweet smiles and playfulness revived something inside of me that had been dead for so long. You brought me back to life.” He grasped my cheek with one hand. I turned my head to kiss his palm, warmth unfurling in my chest. “Falling in love with you was inevitable. I knew since we were sixteen that I wanted you to be mine forever. Every year since, I’ve fallen deeper for you. I could write an entire book to express how much I love you and it still wouldn’t be enough to convey my feelings. You’re my ride or die, my soulmate, my pulse, mi vida . I would die for you, kill for you, live for you. In this lifetime and all the ones to come.” A tear trailed down my cheek as I watched him flip open a small velvet box, revealing a stunning orange diamond nestled in a yellow gold band. “Ella Ximena Cordova, will you marry me? Will you be my wife and make me the luckiest man on earth, mo chuisle ?”
It felt like I waited my whole life for this moment.
“Yes, Cade.” I grabbed his face with my trembling hands, sniffling. “Yes, I will marry you!”
“Thank God,” he joked. “Not that I had a doubt, of course.”
I laughed, but it was watery.
He slid the ring on my finger, taking a second to admire it.
“It’s perfect. I love it.” The unique diamond glittered under the setting sunlight. I glanced at him, full of love and hope and excitement for our future. “I love you, Cade.”
He leaned forward to kiss me again. “And I love you, Ella.”
I finally got my Vegas wedding.
Cade looked devilishly handsome in a navy three-piece suit poured over his tall, muscular body, his dark brown hair styled artfully, and pure reverence shining in his sky-blue eyes.
My white dress was short, ending just above the knees, with a sweetheart neckline that awarded it an elegant and timeless look, created by Maison Sereno. My ensemble was complete with my long black hair curled to perfection, a veil with both our names embroidered, a crown and jewelry made of endless diamonds and pearls, and a white leather jacket resting over my shoulders—the same one that I’d bedazzled years ago with the words Mrs. Cade Killian Remington .
All our friends and families were present. My girls looked gorgeous in matching orange bridesmaids’ dresses and the boys all wore matching blue ties. Including Shaun, who was Cade’s best man and doing the most, clapping and whooping the loudest. If he hadn’t paired us together on Initiation Night all those years ago, maybe Cade and I would not be here today.
Darla was my maid of honour and I was so thankful that the universe brought us back to each other. The last few years were filled with joy, laughter, and many girls’ trips around the globe, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
And despite how happy she looked for me, I couldn’t help but notice how her smile was laced with a bit of wistfulness. It broke my heart that she may never have this. Her marriage was recently arranged to one of the most corrupt men in Montardor. Zeno De la Croix reigned the city’s underworld and I was afraid he’d eat my best friend alive.
If I could have done something to prevent it, I would have. I was forever protective of Darla.
“You look incredible,” Cade whispered to me, holding on to my hands as a fake Elvis Presley officiated our wedding. “I can’t take my eyes off you.”
The look on his face when he’d first seen me in my dress was seared in my mind. I’d remember it even when I was lying on my deathbed.
“Thank you.” I blushed under his praise. “You look incredible, too.”
We finally said our vows and exchanged our rings. The matching gold bands were engraved with the words You and I on top. Except the underside of mine was embossed with CKR and his with EXC . If ever we removed our rings, the initials would still be creased in our skin. Another way of branding ourselves as belonging to one another. On top of the tattoos we already possessed. Including the one I got years ago on my ass cheek that said Property of Cade . That was perhaps my querido’s favourite one on me.
“You may now kiss the bride!” Shaun hollered before Elvis Presley got a chance.
Cade closed the distance and kissed me with eagerness. Banding an arm around my waist, he dipped me back, causing me to giggle and wrap my arms around his neck.
Everyone cheered as we basked in the moment of finally being married.
Even though we didn’t need a piece of paper to certify that we belonged to each another.
We always had.
We were soulmates. We were fated. We were written in the stars.
“We forgot to sign a prenup,” I murmured when he straightened us and rested his forehead on mine.
Cade Killian Remington, my husband, smirked in that bad boy manner that was so reminiscent of our teenage years. “There’s no end for us, Ella. Remember?”
“How could I forget?” I teased and kissed his lips. “I’m trapped with you.”
“Forever,” he promised.
The End