AUTHOR POV

Caden's apartment,
11:55 pm

Grace went to Caden's empty room and lay on the bed. The room was dark but she didn't care about turning on the lamp and closed her eyes.

She shivered to recall the incident again.

When the mansion exploded the mariners started the ship's engine. Scott pleaded to them to wait a few minutes but the captain announced to start the ship and leave the leftover people as the huge flames were creating heat causing it hard to stay one more moment.

Grace's eyes were fixed on the entrance waiting for Caden and Hunter to come out.

She squeezed her eyes to see a man showered in blood limping out of the mansion.

Caden!

His steps were unsteady, the skin was burnt elsewhere. Elijah and Scott immediately helped him get on the ship.

Vi cried as Caden wasn't even able to stand and fell to the floor of the ship.

Grace sat beside him touching her shaky fingers on his burned cheek numb mindedly

" I'm sorry". Caden said swelling painfully. " I couldn't save him". He coughed grabbing Grace's wrist.

Grace lifted her gaze to see the burning kingdom falling apart where she used to live like a queen of a king.

A silent tear escaped her eye as the memories didn't fail to shatter her heart.

The door-clicking sound broke the chain of her thoughts. She didn't open her eyes and stayed in her place breathing calmly, hearing footsteps coming in her direction. She knows whose those belong.

Caden silently came and sat on his knees in front of her on the floor. He hesitantly brought his hand closer to her covered stomach and rested it on her now slight baby bump.

" I'm so sorry". He apologized to his child. " I'm already the worst father ever... but I want you in my life. I want your mama. Us". Caden tried to hold his tears but failed. " Grace, forgive me once again. Love me once again. I swear I'll love you right". His voice broke, and his body shook as he burst into tears resting his forehead on the edge of the bed. " I can't see your blank eyes for me. I want those warm emotions in them again. I want to give you everything I didn't. Trust me one last time. I beg you". He cried.

Caden was hospitalized for around a month. After his treatment, he came back to his apartment but Grace hasn't spoken with him. Not because he wasn't able to save Hunter. It was because he sold her to that beast who corrupted her mind.

Grace opened her eyes and sat up gazing at the crying mess man. The person who betrayed her twice. But the same person she still loves.

She brought her hand to his head and touched his soft hair with her fingers. Caden lifted her head. The only light which was coming from outside the room was shimmering his tears making his eyes look like galaxies.

" What if I say I've taken my decision?". She asked stopping Caden's heartbeat. " I've regretted a lot of things before. Don't make me regret this decision". She said above a whisper.

Caden grabbed her palm with both of his hands and kissed her knuckle. " You won't. I promise ". He breathed out smiling while tears were still streaming down his eyes.

" Can I get a hug?". She asked.

" Anytime ". He opened his arms for her.

Grace sat on the floor in front of him and hugged him loosely. Caden wrapped his arms around her letting her disappear under his muscular poster.

Her head was resting on his chest while Caden's was on her head. He felt his shirt getting wet and her grip tightened. A sob escaped her lips and there was no going back.

" Cry ". He said rubbing her back soothingly. " But the last time for the same reason". He added softly.

" He died... ". Grace cried out telling him what she has been through, she complained, sobbed, beat his chest, stuttered, hiccuped, and all Caden did is listen to her.

He knows she needed to let all her tears out she's holding for a long time to empty her heart from the sorrows which have hugged her soul.

After around an hour of miserably shedding tears, her snivels slowly died. She pulled out wiping her tear-stained cheeks.

" I need to t-tell you one more thing". She said sounding a little nervous gazing down.

" I'm listening". He nodded.

" Caden, I-I kissed Hunter. I don't know why? I don't have any feelings for him I swear but I don't know what gotten into me at that time -".

" Grace?". Caden interrupted as she kept on talking panicky thinking she cheated on him.

" I didn't mean to do that, Caden. I'm- ".

Her words got cut by her own gasp as Caden held her face gently making her look at his face. " Do you think I care about your past?". He asked shaking his head. " I don't ". He mouthed. " I only care about you. Vi. Elijah. Scott. And our baby. This is my family. My people. My world. There's no Hunter in it. This is not his kingdom. The chains are broken. You are free to enter my world. I know you have lived so long in the dark that your eyes have got blinded by light but this light is the future. Let me pull you into in". He explained.

" You are allowed ". Her words brought a smile to Caden's face.

" Let's go". Caden said grabbing her wrist and properly sitting up on his ankles.

" Where?". She asked having no clue.

" Just come with me". He seemed desperate.

" At this hour?". Grace asked looking at the watch which says it was already past twelve.

" At this moment ". He replied pulling her to stand up with himself.

" But, Caden -".

" Shish". He dragged her upstairs with him. Reaching the rooftop door he covered her eyes from behind.

" Caden, what are you doing?". She asked touching the back of his palms.

" Just be careful and patient for a few more moments". He helped her walk and made her stand in the middle of the rooftop.

" Keep your eyes closed. No cheating ". Caden said leaving her as she nodded.

There was a brief silence and then she heard Caden breathing out audibly. " Okay, now you can open your eyes". Caden allowed.

Grace opened her eyes slowly. Her vision was blurry for a moment after. She blinked multiple times to see shining decorations all around her on the rooftop and Caden sitting on his knee with a ring in hand.

" Caden?". She palmed her mouth.

" Okay". He took a deep breath encouraging himself. " The day I met you. The day I hit you with my car. I brought you to the hospital. I was scared. I hide you from everyone but eventually, Elijah found out about you. I still remember Elijah saying you look like a princess. The reason we planned a strategy to get a reward in return of you. But honestly, I had no heart to do so. I just wanted to keep you. Yes, I lied but never about my love for you. I love you endlessly, insanely. I need you in my life. I never had a family, Grace. I want one. With you". He took Grace's palm in his gently who was lost in his addictive eyes. " Will you marry me?". He asked gathering all his courage.

Grace forgot to breathe.

She promised herself that she'll never fall in love with him again but it was past midnight, the man who meant the world to her was on his knees, she felt happy for the first time in a while. And she knew it was him. No other but him.

" I will ". She pronounced.

Caden's shoulders relaxed. He grinned and squeezed her palm. He glanced down at her palm and slipped the ring on her finger.

The ring shined but lesser than Caden at the moment.

He stood up and hugged her. He could see the distance between them as the baby in Grace's belly was growing.

" I love you so much. And I'll, forever and ever". He confessed again.

" I love you too". She said quietly in his ear.

" Our Lil champ's probably be hearing us". Caden said making her giggle.

They pulled out but Caden still had his hands loosely encircled around her lower waist. He draw her closer and gazed down at her dry lips but he hesitated a little to lean.

Grace sensed that and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pulled him closer and settled her lips on his taking him off guard.

"If I want you, don't worry about who wants me. Even if he was alive... I would have chosen you". She said against his lips. "I'm all yours". She added.

He smiled closing his eyes and for the first time, he fearlessly responded to her kiss.

• She became herself when he left.

Epilogue published on: 13 September 2022.

THE END

Thank you so much for reading, voting, commenting, loving, and supporting this book.

This was my first time writing a dark book. I know I've made a lot of mistakes. I'm extremely sorry for that. English isn't my first language. My grammar is horrible and my vocabulary is terrible, to be honest. I'm so thankful to you all for still giving chance.

Special thanks to... AyeshaSumbul, ken_kylie6, nikithakini, purva0809,arceus91, and many more dear readers who supported me. (Please touch the blank space between the commas above. I've mentioned some of your names but Wattpad isn't showing)

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Goodbye...

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