Epilogue
Five years later
“It’s a red-carpet event that supports several of the local animal shelters in the area. The hope is to raise money. Oh my, there is some commotion going on, and what …? Luca Brown and his wife, Mavis, have just entered their first-ever red-carpet event. This is groundbreaking news. The couple married in a very private affair, and neither of them have attended a single social function in the past five years.”
“Are you ready for this?” Luca asked.
He kept hold of his wife’s hand as cameras flashed. They were on the board of the animal shelter that was hosting this black-tie fundraiser. Mavis loved animals so much, and she’d been heavily invested in this.
He pulled her in close as they made their way along the red carpet. People screamed their names. Mavis kept hold of his hand, and he felt how clammy hers was, giving way to her nerves. To the outside world, they only saw a confident woman, showcasing her tiny bump. He put a hand on her stomach, leaning in close to kiss her neck.
“Baby?” he asked.
“I’m fine. I can handle this. Just don’t ever let me go.”
“Never.”
They posed for pictures, and he kept his hair pulled back into a ponytail. He refused to hide his scar.
After a few minutes of greeting people and doing what the charity had asked of them, he felt the tension build on the red carpet.
Glancing back, he saw the reason.
The man who had given him the scar stood there with his vulture of a wife. They were in shock and let them. Luca had moved on. His life was indeed by far happier than he ever imagined it could be.
Did they expect him to attack? To make a fool of himself?
Mavis knew who the couple was, and she did no more than caress his scarred cheek and kiss him. The cameras lapped it up.
They all went crazy for this woman that was showing scars were not ugly. The world was a fickle place.
As he led her into the main reception room, they were surrounded. For the next couple of hours, they helped to raise money for the shelter. If he didn’t invest, all of those dogs and cats would be at his home. They already had five dogs and six cats, not to mention a pig, cow, sheep, and three horses. It would seem he’d scored the jackpot with Mavis. Not only did she love him, but she loved being a rancher’s wife.
He was no rancher, but she didn’t mind the life of a recluse.
When he finally pulled her into his arms at the end of the evening to enjoy a dance, he gazed down into her smiling face.
“See, I told you I’d never hide you,” he said.
Since their quiet wedding, invites to various events had been appearing in his inbox constantly. He’d been willing to go to each one, but Mavis wouldn’t have it. She didn’t need the world’s approval, just his.
“It’s not about hiding, Luca. I just don’t need anyone else but you. It’s all I’ve ever needed.”
And it was all he needed, and one day soon, he was going to be a father. He couldn’t fucking wait!
The End