The journey was beautiful.... Even more than the destination.

~♥~

" I want a divorce!" Alaia yelled and I flinched, gulping down in fear while she looked at me red eyed.

She sat on the sofa with a huff, crossing her arms and I looked at her helplessly. Ducking her head down, she tried fighting back those tears which made its way to her eyes.

" Alaia..." I desperately called out, walking near her but she stopped me by showing her palm.

" Stay there Mr Johnson" she whispered harshly, tears rolling down her cheeks.

" bu-" I was cut off a loud bang.

I flinched and turned around and looked at the person who just knocked down a showpiece. I shook my head with an irritated look, gazing at my best friend who just interupted our conversation.

Nick, Jake, Macey and Laura came running to the hall and the sudden urge to bang my forehead was so bad that I wanted to hit my head with a wall.

" What happened Alaia? " Macey mumbled, munching on her chocolates.

Alaia's gaze snapped towards Macey who was busy devouring the sweet taste of chocolates, her eyes turned red.

" How dare you eat my chocolates!" she roared and everyone present there flinched, including me.

The chocolate fell from her hands and she looked at her wide eyed. Nick stumbled back in shock and Jake gulped visibly while Laura had an understanding face.

" Chocolate.... But... jeez! I am Sorry " Macey mumbled in confusion, scratching her head slightly.

" But why do you want to divorce Ashton?" Jake asked, recovering from the shock.

She looked at me with disgust and turned around to face them.

" He cheated on me..." she said, her eyes tearing up.

My eyes widened in shock, this time Laura stumbled back almost falling down but Jake held her in his arms.

They all looked at me shocked while Alaia burst out crying. I cursed under my breath and rushed to her, engulfing her in my arms.

I stroked her hair and she cried harder, hitting my chest and I winced.

Her punches are yet more powerful....

She pushed me hard and I stumbled back, falling on the ground.

" Oww! " I groaned as my back hit the floor.

" Ashton you cheated on her!" Macey exclaimed and I flinched, trying to sit up straight.

" Oww my back..." I muttered, rubbing my back which hurt badly.

" Who is that bitch! Huh.... Tell me Alaia. I will scratch her face " nick said furiously, eyeing me with anger.

This piece of shit!

" and don't worry...... I will do the honour of killing Ashton also" he added, breaking his knuckles.

I shuddered slightly, at their intense gazes. I looked at Alaia who was looking at nick with a confused face, tears still falling from her hazel orbs.

" whose face will you scratch and why?" she asked confused and wiped her tears away, with back of her palms.

" You only said right, that he cheated upon you so I will scratch that bitch's face " nick said and Alaia frowned.

" But there was no girl "

" there was no girl?" He muttered to himself, confused.

Suddenly his eyes snapped open and looked at me with horror filled eyes. I shifted back slightly, not really knowing what was coming.

" ASHTON YOU ARE GAY!"

Nick shouted and I gasped, looking at him horrified.

" WHAT!" Macey shouted and looked at me wide eyed, I opened my mouth to say something but another shout cut me off.

" WHAT THE HELL!" I turned around and saw carter standing on the entrance, looking at us wide eyed, with a bag in his hands.

Great.....

Just great!

Only he was left, I cursed under my breath, cursing every single soul..... Except my Alaia, Of course.

" My sister is married to a gay!" he said, horrified.

Oh God! Can I just jump off from a cliff or something like that!? Ugh..... I feel like tugging my hair out.

I looked at everyone flustrated, before anyone could even utter any other shit, I shouted

" I AM NOT A GAY, NEITHER I HAVE CHEATED ON HER!" the hall was filled with silence.

I glanced at everyone who stared back at me with a blank expression.

Suddenly, Alaia got up and snatched the bag from carter that he brought with himself while he kept frowning.
Opening it roughly, she took out the container and her eyes lit up.

" You are best carter! When my own husband cheated me, you brought me ice cream " she said emotionalally, wiping her tears away.

" Wait... What does that means now?" nick muttered to himself, scratching back of his head.

" She meant that I forgot to bring ice cream for her and that means I cheated on her " I said, crossing my arms.

Macey stumbled back but steadied herself by holding the arms of the sofa, Jake looked at me with sympathy and I shook my head microscopically at him.

Someday, even he might have tolerated these things. Laura had an understanding face and my gaze snapped towards nick who was surprisingly silent all this while.

" oh..... Means you are not a gay!" nick excalimed suddenly and I facepalmed, groaning.

I glared at him, feeling like strangling him to death. Alaia came and sat back on the sofa, with her coffee ice cream tub in her hands.

" I love you carter " she said, blowing a kiss in his direction.

Her eyes twinkled at the sight, she gazed at the ice-cream with uttermost love and affection.

" Dylan!" she called out and the little toddler came running out of the room with some sort of small showpiece in his hands.

" Aly!" he shouted, almost tackling her with his little arms.

Alaia laughed and I smiled a little, When Laura said that Alaia would become his favorite aunt then she was not wrong.

As time flew by, Dylan became more closer to Alaia and this small guy is hell possessive for her. I sometimes wonder when he will grow up, what if he does not even allows me to go close to her.

" What is this?" she asked, eyeing the little clay showpiece in his hands.

He beamed, looking at her with a cheeky smile.

" I made a toy for my little brother or sister " he said, pointing towards her four months pregnant belly and Alaia eyed him with tears.

" Aww my baby " she cooed, wiping her tears away and he frowned.

" Aly, why are you crying? Did anyone hurt you? Tell me, I will punch them " he said and reached up to wipe her tears away.

Alaia giggled slightly and Dylan smiled seeing her happy. A sigh escaped from my lips seeing their cute yet dangerous bond.

Dylan had once punched Nick because he had scared Alaia from behind and she had shouted in fear. This little boy became so angry that he literally punched him.

Though, his punches didn't had an affect on Nick but for a six year old kid, he is quite strong for his age and also Alaia's punching techniques were adapted by him so it made him more dangerous.

" Ice cream!" Dylan exclaimed as his gaze travelled down to her lap.

Alaia smiled opened the nodded, opening the container.

" Bring me a spoon" she said coldly, looking at my direction.

I frowned but.... Mood swings of a pregnant woman is way too dangerous.

I got up from the floor and winced slightly as my back hurt. I rubbed my back, grumbling few curses.

I felt a hand on my shoulders, I turned around and saw Alaia looking at me with tears.

" I am sorry... I don't know why I lose my temper. I am sorry, I pushed you" she rambled, tears breaming in corner of her eyes.

Oh God..... Such a baby she is!

" Hey! It's OK. See I am not even hurt " I said, engulfing her in my arms.

She sniffled, hiding her face into my chest. Suddenly I felt someone hitting my thighs, I looked down and saw Dylan hitting me with his tiny fists.

" You are bad! You made my Aly cry " he said, looking at me red eyed.

I gasped seeing his possessiveness for her, seems like she got someone who will forever protect her along with us. I smiled and ruffled his hair slightly while he pouted.

Walking behind Alaia, he hugged her from back and held her legs. She looked down and smiled.

Wriggling out of my arms, she kneeled down and hugged Dylan who happily reciprocated.

" I sometimes feel that I am invisible as my son doesn't even glances at me" Laura grumbled and Jake chuckled.

" Seems like your son loves Alaia more than us" he joked and Laura pouted, shoving him lightly.

" Guys!!!! Even we are here" they excalimed in unison and I flinched.

Turning around, I saw Nick whining along with Macey. I sighed and shook my head, these two husband and wife, I tell you!

I sometimes wonder, how do they even manage each other. Both are like kids and neither of them are mature enough.

" No one is giving us attention" nick muttered and I rolled my eyes.

My gaze shifted towards Macey who looked way too excited, she cupped her mouth looking at her phone screen.

" Let him go to hell! You all listen to me " she shouted, jumping up and down.

Nick frowned and held her hands to stop her from jumping and breaking two or more bone of hers.

" You won't believe!" she exclaimed, cupping her mouth and continued jumping.

Her strawberry hair bounced as she kept hopping like a rabbit.

" The publishers selected my book and want to invest in my another story " she exclaimed and I gasped, looking at her with a wide smile.

" I knew it! Such a talented writer my wifey is. Your story had to get selected" nick said proudly, patting her back and this time I could not agree more.

I looked around to see everyone smiling heartily.

" Congratulations!" we all said together and she smiled, closing her eyes in escasty.

" But what is the story name?" carter asked, plopping down on the single couch.

" The name of the title is LOST" She said and I nodded slightly, soaking in the new information.

" OK.... Title seems interesting" Alaia said.

" But what is this story about? You did not even told me what are you writing and when did you got this publishing news?" Nick asked in a breath and her eyes widened.

Macey held his hands and motioned her hands up and down, indicating him to breath.

" Calm down..... Breathe"

Nick took deep breaths and looked back at her with a questioning look.

" I was writing this story from last one year, though, it was emotionally wrenching so it took more time than my other normal stories and the publishers just messaged me " she said with a smile, tears breaming in her eyes.

Taking small strides towards Macey, Alaia hugged her and she smiled, hugging her back.

" I am proud of you Macey " she mumbled, hugging her tightly.

" Seems like another bestselling novel on the way " Laura piped in with a smirk.

" but what is this story about? Like.... Which genre?" Jake asked, plopping down on the other sofa.

" Something very different. A love story of a CEO " she said, dreamily, clasping her hands together.

" Wait.... Then I think I know what the story could be" Jake said, rolling his eyes and huffed slightly.

Macey quirked an eyebrow at him.

" That CEO must be a play boy, a Casanova type and the girl might be innocent. That guy's eye fell upon her and he wanted to have sex with her then he saw her innocence and fell in love with a bit of twist "

I chuckled slightly, what he is saying is the experience of online books he read on CEO's.

" What you are saying is absolutely wrong " Macey said, crossing her arms.

" The lead character is definitely flawed but not a Casanova, who changes girls like cloth. He respects girls and it is not a typical love story " she defended and I sighed.

Atleast someone looked at the good side of being an owner of the company or the bad boy CEO's are way too overrated. Not all boys are man whores.

" The female lead is not innocent, neither she is that typical timid girl. She is bold and fearless. " she said with a proud smile.

" Male leads name is Asher and female leads name is Ashley. Ashley is Asher's  PA, Ashley is not who she pretends to be " Alaia frowned a little, so did I.

Why does it seems so known?

" Ashley entered his life for a motive and Asher fell in love with her, the first time he saw her. Like love at first sight but she hates love and just has a motive to protect him." she said, looking at us with a nervous smile.

My eyes widened in shock, Alaia looked at her with mouth hung open.

" You didn't wrote mine and Ashton's love story, did you?" Alaia asked, looking at her shocked.

Macey laughed nervously and I facepalmed while everyone gasped at the new information.

" Hey! Your love story is such an unique story, the world needs to know this. " she tried explaining and added

" I think world deserves to know this story of our Alaia and Ashton. It will teach them that love is all about fighting and not sacrificing " Alaia smiled softly, looking at me with tears.

I nodded slightly, blinking my eyes.

" but I have a condition" Alaia said, seriously.

Macey gulped down slowly, looking at her intently.

" I want the first copy "

A smile broke out on Macey's lips and she nodded instantly, laughing a little. I breathed out with a smile, seems like it's the time to recremese those beautiful memories.

" Promise" she said with tears and hugged her tightly.

Alaia smiled and hugged her back, closing her eyes. Dylan, who was looking at everyone quietly as he did not understood a thing also joined them, holding Alaia's leg.

Nick awed and pouted, running towards them. Hugging Macey from back, he closed his eyes with a small and content smile on his face.

I chuckled, this best friend of mine is so in love with her.

Laura got up and joined the hug even carter and Jake joined in. I pouted, looking at the people who totally forgot me.

Suddenly, a face peeped from there and Alaia mouthed me to join. I smiled brightly and hopped on Jake, hugging him from back and joined the group hug.

" OK OK.... Stop squeezing me already" Macey mumbled but her voice came muffled due to all of us.

I laughed and backed off. Alaia sat back on the sofa and her gaze travelled beside her, my eyes widened. 

" My ice-cream!" She exclaimed, looking at the tub, the content inside was almost liquid now.

She gazed at the ice cream with tears in her eyes, I was about to go and console her but what nick said next made me want to bang my head somewhere.

" Hey, you can still drink it as cold coffee as it is a coffee flavored ice cream "

♥

" Ashton.... " she whined and I looked up from my laptop.

She pouted grumpily and folded her arms. I kept the laptop back on the table and she sat on my lap, wrapping her legs around my torso.

I chuckled softly and kissed top of her head as she snuggled closer to me.

" I am feeling sleepy " she grumbled, nuzzling her nose in crook of my neck.

I sighed and rubbed her back. Doctor did told me that she will be feeling very tired and sleepy, especially after first trimester.

" then go and sleep " I whispered, caressing her hair.

She looked up and stared at me with her hazy eyes.

" I can't sleep without you " she mumbled, again snuggling into crook of my neck and kept her hand upon my chest.

I shook my head and giggled, looking at my beautiful wife who was almost asleep on my shoulder.

I sighed in happiness, wrapping my arms around her waist. This word 'wife' it just gives me immense happiness. She is my wife now.

All mine.....

I still remember how five years ago, she proposed me and we got married the next year. Our marriage was the hot topic of the year and in the same year, Alaia introduced herself as the heirs of Houston.

Though, media was really a pain in ass but we had to handle them anyhow. Her doing the job of my PA really created havoc in our life as my employee wouldn't leave a chance to question and degrade her.

But Alaia behing the sassy and bold her, never let those affect her and gave it back to them in her own way but it always enraged me.

The best I did was just give them more work pressure so that they don't get time for these things.

I still remember, our very first meet.

Not in my office.

But when she was eighteen years old, I had seen her laughing with her friends and at that very moment, I fell for her.

I breathed out slightly, looking down at her with uttermost love. Now she is finally with me, in my arms.

It was actual love at first sight for me, though, when I saw her again in my office, I knew it was her.

I saw the same innocence and fire in her eyes as I saw years ago. I didn't knew she was a Houston but I knew one thing and that was, my parents know her well.

I was studying back at that time so I had to go back from Paris as my vacations were over but whenever I returned back in my holidays, I didn't saw her. I don't know why but I could not get a glimpse of her anytime.

And after years, I again saw her near my office many times before she gave interview of my PA. I had somewhat understood that she is not here for just becoming my PA and earn money.

It looked more than that, I had checked the CCTV footage of the day someone had failed the breaks of my car.

I saw a man, who had a black hoodie on, breaking fails of my car and I was about to take some action against them but seeing Alaia near the car, it grew me curious.

Though, initially I thought she is the one who is responsible for this attack but seeing those men who intentionally bumped into my car, confused me as they were talking with Alaia few moments ago.

To get her real facade checked, I myself did an attack upon myself to check what would she react. I made my men plant a fake bomb in my car just to see her reaction.

And as I thought, she saved me again. I was confirmed that she is not here to harm me but some other motive. When she came into my office to give interview, it was like I fell in love with her all over again.

And I couldn't help back then but see her beautiful hazel eyes which hid several secrets along with pain.

I just wanted to unravel her secrets, love her, heal her.....

This is why Henry said that he just attacked me once but Alaia thought he attacked me twice, thankfully she didn't noticed this fact back then.

And this is why when she asked forgiveness for entering my life for a motive, I forgave her easily. I already knew about it and I love her despite all odds and that is what mattered.

I was not such a fool, being the owner of Johnson's corporation is not easy. I had learnt to sleep with an eye open after my parents accident, I knew we had few enemies who would try to harm me.

It has been six years since our marriage and now she is going to be mother of my child.

The secret of me already knowing her is still buried in my heart and neither I want it out.

I love us.

The way we are.

Looking down at her sleeping figure, I wrapped my hands tighter around her and leaned in to kiss her forehead.

Caressing her back slightly, I whispered against her ears.

"You might be LOST back then, but now, I found you and you shall always remain mine, till death do us apart. "

♥

Life is not a fairytale, neither it will ever be. It was her thought before falling in love. Tears didn't found a way to her eyes because it was her belief that tears come from heart not brain and she believed, her heart stopped beating for anyone.

Pain makes people change, it changed her too, she believed that love is betrayal and love at first sight is unreal. But for him, he was a believer of second love, love at first sight.

He believed that broken hearts love more than life, he made up his mind to love and mend her. But somewhere, he screwed up a big time by calling her words due to a mere misunderstanding.

But unknowingly, it acted as a trigger for her to shed her emotions out.

He saw her crying for the first time, gaining forgiveness from her was all he had in his mind as he knew, he was a mess entangled in her. When she forgave him, a new spark found its way.

Maybe it was beginning of new destruction for her but somewhere, it was starting of the journey where he would witness her hidden scars, where her feelings would change towards him, where she would learn to trust again.

It was her heart Vs mind, she knew her heart was already a gone case. She played a dangerous game, within two weeks she had unravel the secrets and end this forever.

She was welcomed to paris warmly, all the memories rushed back to her. Bitter sweet memories. But just one thought of him, made her forget every pain.

She remembered the first meet of theirs with a painful smile, not really knowing if she would meet him ever again.

He was nervous to propose her but taking a deep breath, he made up his mind to make her part of his heart. But finding her no where in the party, it triggered his emotions deep inside.

At that moment, Ashton understood,  his love is fire, capable to burn down the world. She was kidnapped, just a step away from unravelling the secrets and there she proved that she is queen of the game.

When the secrets finally came out, she was too shocked, the one whom she thought of a father turned out their parents killer.

Every moment flashed in front of her eyes as she fulfilled the promise of protecting him. She kept him over her life.

And at that moment, he knew she turned into HIS LIFE. He was restless, his heart was beating at an abnormal pace as he saw her lying pale on the hospital bed but When she was awake, his heart found its peace.

From getting to know about their parents deeds to ignoring him to an extent that it broke him from inside.

Fighting the inner turmoil, she broke down, only to find herself engulfed in arms of her love. She had a breakdown in his arms. She thought, only she is LOST but maybe she was wrong, he was LOST along with her.

Just, he was more stronger than her to keep the sea of pain trapped in his heart. His tears found a home in her as she embraced the broken him, she found a home in his heart as he caressed her scars softly.

From spending happy hours with their family to going on their unique first date together. Ashton and Nick behaving like jealous puppies, they understood depth of their love.

A dream, which made Alaia face the reality of her life, from going into the graveyard to saying 'I unlove you ' to her past, she left behind a part of her heart there itself, which will forever belong with Ian.

She broke the myth of men proposing first, she proposed her love by saying
' I love you' for the first time.
His heart fluttered at her confession, looking at her with tears in his eyes, feeling escasty all around.

She confessed her past to him not because she felt compelled to but she trusted him and that is what he wanted from the starting.

He made her life a modern fairytale with a twisted fantasy.....

From being LOST in their past to being LOST in each others love.

This journey was beautiful, even more than destination.......

♡

Life is still not a fairytale,
where a happy ending is promised.
It is not a happily ever after but together ever after.

And theirs.....
Oh theirs... Was a story  filled with thorns and scars.
Reference of their past.
Story of their pain, them trying to find solace.....
Story of her who didn't believe in love anymore....

Story of people who were LOST.
Story of burning happiness and desires for each other
Fight against their own heart,
Fight against their own demons.
Fight against their own fears.

And.... They won this fight.
Only to win each other.
And now, they are bound together, only to get LOST in each others love

......

~♥~

And.... With this, the story comes to an end. It's never a happily ever after, never! An open ending is what I love and fantasize.

I want to thank every single person who read my crappy work from start till the end and stuck to it. Thank you so much!

I don't know if I will write a book like this in future but my os book is still active where I will be posting stories. And if I get some good idea then I will surely write another book.

And it ended from where it started, I tried to summarize the story with using all the titles I used. This was actually fun and turned out pretty emotional for me as I actually relived every moment together.

For the last time, thank you so much, take care, stay blessed, stay happy and stay safe!

Byeeeeee.