Chapter 119


    Epilogue 1


    Ashley Deluca’s pov: (Two yearster)


    “Tell me, love. What happened?” the little girl seemed so scared. This was her third day with me and


    still, she was not opening up with anyone.


    The psychiatrist had advised me to keep trying daily with all the love and gentleness as the girl seemed


    to like me a lot.


    “Hey, Sana.” I held the hand of sixteen years old who had a pale face and used to shiver when anyone


    around her used to speak loudly. She easily used to get scared of rain and thunderstorms.


    “I promise. Whatever you would tell me, it won’t go out of my office,” I felt her grip tightening around my


    hand.


    This was encouraging.


    And then a miracle started happening. Her lips shook and she blinked her eyes a few times. The tears


    started dropping down her cheeks, “He … he mighte back.”


    She stuttered. Her eyes were glued to the door.


    “No one ising here, Sana. You are safe here, child.” I left my seat and crouched down on the floor,


    “That man will nevere back. He is in jail. Doctors are trying to talk to you. We all are here to take


    you out of your misery, my love.”


    She was crying silently, “I am scared. I… I am … what if they would get here? Last time they… they


    easily tore my clothes… L…Leaving me nak3d…” “No! No, my love!” I held her face between my


    palms, “No one. I swear, love … No one will ever touch you again.” I kissed her forehead. I will makePlease check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    her so much strong that no one will ever dare to touch her and scar her again. I promised myself


    silently.


    The kid was now weeping silently in my arms. And I was sure she would heal. She would heal just like


    others did and then would move on like the rest of them.


    That was my motto in life. That was my purpose in life.


    After sending her away, I waspleting my paperwork when someone entered my office.


    “Mrs. Deluca?” The female seniorwyer who used to represent our NGO entered with a big smile on


    her face.


    “Deena!” I rose to my feet for a handshake but was dead in my tracks when ignoring my hand, she


    hugged me tightly.


    “Mrs. Deluca. We have won the case. The men who rap*ed her will stay behind bars for a long time!”


    She surprised me with the good news.


    “Are you serious? We won?” I held her shoulder in disbelief.


    ‘Yes! We won!” she nodded her head at me.


    “Oh my God, Deena. I am so proud of you.” “I did nothing. You were there beside me, behind me… at


    every step. This is YOUR hard work, Mrs. Deluca.” We both were adamant about giving the credit to


    each other. This was a pro bono case, and we were fighting it sincest year.


    When I went outside, I was grinning ear to ear. This facility was built right after Grandpa announced


    that I would get a good monthly profit chunk. I didn’t need that money. So, I came up with the idea to


    build an NGO that used to work for ra*pe victims. I had a team of psychiatrists andwyers. We used to


    provide counseling to the victims. As a result, if they used to get pregnant then their consent was taken


    if they wanted to go with the pregnancy or put up the babies for adoption.


    There were cases where we had to fight the culprits. Thanks to the best team ofwyers, we had


    gotten. Standing in the vast plush green gardens, I ran my gaze where a few patients were taking a


    stroll with their individual caretakers.


    Every caretaker was handpicked after a thorough background check. I made sure that they had love


    and empathy for the patients and their profession. We never charged for our services, and we never


    asked for donations.


    Marwick always made it a point to not only credit my due share but also additional money for the


    facility. Along with Justin, he fell in love with the idea of providing support to ra*pe victims.


    As promised to Grandpa, he did help me in building the facility. The facility was inaugurated by one and


    only Steward Garner.


    I looked at those patients and smiled to myself. A few of them waved to me excitedly. After waving


    them back, I inhaled a deep breath and turned to face the building that had a big signboard in blue,


    written in bold white letters.


    Leigh Walters Facility: If you need a hug,e to us.


    My mom could not get the aid that she deserved. We could never catch those men who took advantage


    of a helpless, heavily pregnant woman. I tried to blink back the tears that welled up in my eyes out of


    nowhere.


    “Mom!” I called her silently, “This is for you!” I said and closed my eyes trying to feel her presence.


    Wondering if she was proud of me.


    “Missing your mom, kitten?” I heard the familiar voice behind me, and my lips curved up automatically


    in a grin. This man could never cease to amaze me.


    Two years had passed and not a single day went by when he didn’t express his love for me. I didn’t


    open my eyes and kept standing there like this. Trying to feel my mom’s presence. In an odd way, I


    think it was my mom’s silent message to me.


    “Ashley. I am not there for you. But I have sent Justin to keep you safe and loved.” “Thank you. Mom!” I


    muttered and a lone tear escaped my eye. Before I could lift my hand to wipe it, I felt a rough finger


    pad, collecting that drop from my cheek.


    “Ashley Deluca!” There was worry in his voice. Without asking anything further, I was pulled into a hard


    chest for a warm hug.


    ‘You want to cry? I am here for you, Ashley. Cry if you want to.” He was offering me his chest, his


    comforting words.


    “I never met her, Justin. But I guess I miss her. It’s kind of odd! Right?” My voice muffled in his chest. 1


    “I know, love. I know how you feel. And I am here for you. Believe me, she is so proud of you. In these


    two years’ time, see what you have achieved. There are so many women. So many Leighs are there


    now who have you, Ashley!”


    I raised my hands and wrapped them around his neck. My forehead was still touching his chest. His


    body and his scent could manage to do all those alien things to my core. My heartbeat still elerated


    at the sight of him.


    “I love you so much, Justin. I don’t know what I had done without you. Sometimes I feel, you are a gift


    to me from my mom.” I, atst, looked up at his face and smiled, “This is my little effort to thank my


    mom. For giving me, Justin.” He shook his head in disbelief, “Are you trying to make me cry, kitten?” I


    chuckled and closed back my eyes, leaning against him. Now I understood, why Leigh Walters asked


    Marwick to find me and take care of me. So that, in the future, whenever I would reunite with my family,


    I would be needing someone’s support.


    Why? Because I was an illegitimate child. She actually tried to pull Marwick to my side.


    Just then I yelped with surprise when I felt his arms circling around me under my armpits. He clutched


    me, and lifted me up, off the ground.


    “What do you think you are doing, Justin?” I asked him, clutching his t-shirt.


    “Carrying my wife to the car!” He remarked. Laughingly I turned up my face towards the sky and


    squeezed my eyes shut. I trusted him. I knew he would keep me safe and would carry me like I was


    made of crystal.


    Like I was too precious.


    ***


    In the car, we were holding hands when my phone’s ringtone disturbed me.


    “Come on. Let me get romantic with my wife!” my husbandined, and I had to pull my hand from


    his grip with a smile. It was Sarah.


    “What…” Before I could say more, she started showering me with profanities.


    “Bitch! Where are you? We are getting fu*ckingte for the wedding, or have you forgotten?” Oh my


    God! My sister would skin me alive. Though it was a very intimate family event, I needed to be there for


    the bride and groom.


    “Justin! I never realized it took so much of my time in the facility! I…” “Don’t worry Mrs. Deluca. Your


    dress is delivered to the salon. Eve is waiting for you to do your hair and add some more magic to your


    face. Go and get ready!” “Oh, Justin!” Without giving a damn that we were on a busy road I lunged at


    him from my passenger seat and took him in a tight hug, “Thank you. You are the best. I love you!” “I


    love you too, honey. Hey, careful!” Justin waved his hand to a passerby driver as an apology for the


    wrong overtake.


    Before dropping me at the salon he didn’t forget to kiss me hard on my lips, “I am letting you go now


    but we need to finish it tonight in bed.” He winked and his remark made me blush to my roots.


    ***


    Justin Deluca pov


    I was waiting for my wife at the main door of the church. I wanted to pick her up from the salon, but the


    bride needed mypany due to panic attacks. Every family member was inside waiting for us to join


    them so that we could start the ceremony.


    I wanted to apany my kitten while entering the sacred ce. We could never have a proper


    wedding and I wanted to make it to her. But the idea just appalled her.


    ording to her, the most important thing was to stay together through thick and thin. We were soul


    mates and that was enough for her.


    My eyes were glued to the familiar vehicle that stopped and the door was opened by the valet boy. My


    breath hitched in my chest when I saw my girl getting down from the car.


    After I noticed the car, I had started taking steps towards it. But when my gaze fell on her, I stopped


    dead in my tracks.


    She stood there smoothing her dress and man! She looked ethereal. It was a metallic grey dress that


    hugged her curves perfectly. It was covered with small gems sprinkled on her front and her full sleeves.


    She looked so sexy and so beautiful. Just then she looked up into my eyes and a knowing smile graced


    her plump lips. I swallowed hard and tried to control my emotions that were making my heartbeat faster


    and my co*ck harder.


    She walked towards me and stopped at an arm’s length, “How do I look?” she spread her arms on both


    sides and teased me by biting her lower lip subtly.


    I dragged my eyes to the plunging neckline of her gown and then looked at her beautiful face.


    ‘You look… beautiful. As always!” I murmured and she let out a breathy chuckle. It was no more a


    secret that how she felt in my presence and how it affected her.


    Her eyelids had shimmer, her lips were painted red, and her hair was done in a high chignon with few


    tendrils falling on her face.


    Not bothering that we were out in the open and our families were waiting for us inside, I closed the gap


    between us and held her by her waist.


    “Justin!” Her face got serious looking into my eyes. The same green eyes that captivated me when I


    dragged her out from under the bed.


    “Ashley!” All I wanted to do right now was destroy her makeup and tear her clothes.


    “Come on, Justin.” She blushed and broke our eye contact.


    “Don’t worry. Though it’s difficult for me to wait till we get to our room. But I give you my word, you are


    safe till then.” I tried to smile and felt her hand ying with the cor button of my white shirt.


    “What if I don’t want to stay safe from you,” she whispered, and I gently hugged her to me. Her soft


    body felt amazing in my arms. As always.


    “I love you, beautiful!” “I love you too, handsome!” I felt her lips against my cheek and closed my eyes


    in pure bliss. Just then we were both startled by a soft voice behind us.


    “Ah, you two!” La Hayat who must be here as the plus one of Marwick was standing there, ‘Your


    family might disown you, Ashley.” She rolled her eyes.


    She was a friendly person and thankfully not a brat as we used to think. She was often tagged along


    with Marwick at family events.


    I quickly offered Ashley my arm to hook hers through it.


    We went inside and quickly said our pleasantries. I was expecting sarcastic remarks from everyone but


    instead of that we only got some knowing smirks and teasing eyes looking at me.


    We made our way to the front row, and I made her sit there. Just two rows were filled with guests.


    Mashal’s governess was sitting just beside Ashley, holding the kid.


    “Ashie!” The little kid squealed in the cutest voice and threw her arms towards my wife. She was crazy


    about Marwick and me. But when Aunt Ashley used to be around, she couldn’t look past her. Just like


    me.


    After nting a kiss on Ashley’s head. I jogged out of the door. Marwick had already taken his position


    on the stage alongside the groom.


    The music started and I entered with Granny who was wearing a white simplece dress, taking slow


    steps.


    Instead of holding a stick, she was holding my hand. Yes. I was giving away my granny to Steward


    Garner. When Ashley decided to spend money on her two ideas. The first one was The Leigh Walters


    facility and the second was to get


    Granny and Steward married,


    Both elderly people were initially not agreeing to it. But I never knew that my wife could be this


    stubborn. ording to her, granny took care of a boy, long enough who was not even rted to her by


    blood. It was high time that she gets her fair share of happiness.


    Marwick and I both were amazed at the idea when she told us her n. Later she confided in me how


    she caught Granny and Steward making out on the hospital bed.


    I wanted tough but her stern face did not let me.


    After handing over Granny to Steward, I stepped back and turned a little to look at my wife .


    My Ashley. My kitten Mypanion. My confidante. And my love. Guess what? She was already


    looking at me, undressing me with her eyes.


    “No, silly. Granny will wake up!”


    “I love you!” I mouthed and a smile cracked on the corner of her lips. She squeezed the child sitting on


    herp and mouthed back, “I love you too.”