I smirked as Jaxon fell on the ground clutching his shoulder, I knew it missed his heart and I purposefully did that. I heard an audible gasp from Odette as little Lie hid her head in her stomach, I looked at Damian who had a stone expression as his dark eyes scanned the blood flowing out of Jaxon's limp but living body. I knew that boy was one of a kind from the day I found him.

''Son'' I called loudly and deeply making him look at me, I opened my eyes and ushered him to come to me, he walked towards me fast and hugged my waist, I raked my fingers through his dark hair, the softness of his hairs massaging my fingers.

''Dad, is he dead?'' he asked me looking into my eyes, power swirling in those irises, I shuddered at that, My heart told me that this boy wouldn't have an ounce of kindness in his body when he grows up, his name means to conquer and master, and I knew he would do just that to this world.

I was out of my trance as I saw Damian looking somewhere with raged filled eyes, I looked at Odette holding Jaxon's head, as tears streamed down her face, my heart clenched at this sight. The thought that she still cared for him made me want to cry. I actually thought she wanted to be with me again.

I tucked my gun behind my back, walked towards them and knelt in front of him and I looked at little Lia and Odette, I could see that they cared for this traitor immensely.

''Uncle Jaxon, Uncle please wake up!'' Ophelia cried shaking his shoulders, his eyes opening and closing from time to time. 

I clenched my jaw and grabbed Odette by her wrist and pulled her up and threw her onto the couch, her body jumping due to the force, I grabbed Lia and softly pulled her up and threw her onto Damian. He held her tightly

''So So Little Traitor, why were you trying me? Hmm? Tsk Tsk I have so much less patience'' I teased in a humourless tone as I grabbed him by his blood-red collar, his life-less body limping against me.

''Ric, Stop Stop, don't do this'' Rose grabbed my hand and tried to stop me, My anger was now a pool of unfading fire, I yanked her arms through hers and pulled her close, my furious face inches from hers, and for the first time, I saw Kathrine writhing in fear, tears filling her eyes, fear for me written all over her features making a wave of satisfaction flurry through me.

''Lucas!'' I roared looking outside, and I saw the tall blonde scurrying inside, I saw recognition pass through Odette's face as he came towards me. ''Hold her, make sure the doesn't move inch'' 

She went pale as Lucas nodded and grabbed her by both his hands and locked her arms, she tried to get out of his grip and failed. 

I moved my attention to the limp man in my arms, I raised him in the air, his head dropped down, his breathing shallow.

''Answer ME!'' I boomed shaking his body as his blood cascaded down his white shirt, I heard Rose cry and scream behind me, I ignored it.

I left his collar and snaked my fingers around his neck, the veins on my arms showing due to the pressure exerted.

''I wanted to kill you, But not only you, someone else'' Jaxon whispered loud enough for us to hear, I felt her hand grab my wrist again, and I lost all my patience, I closed my eyes and grabbed her neck and pushed her back onto Lucas, he held her back again, this time stronger.

Her silver hair was messed up and was falling on her face, as tears streamed down her brown eyes.

''Who?! Answer me! I have so much less patience bastard'' I shook him harder, I saw tears filling his eyes and also a smirk forming on his face, blood sputtering out.

''Odette'' he seethed, his weak hand pointing at Rose, I saw her eyes widening with horror and betrayal, the pain painted on her face was shattering me.

''El-Elijah asked me to ki-kill you both and you-your daughter, H-He is alive, B-But I love Odette so much that I couldn't kill her, but my hate fo-for you got acc-accumulated over the years giving me the courage to kill y-you so that I can h-have  her for my-myself'' he stuttered making my teeth grit.

I threw him on the floor, his hair slapping his bloodied face, My hand found my gun and pulled it out, I cocked it with my left hand and aimed it at him, a grin formed on his face.

''You will not win by killing me Carter, I know what Elijah did was wrong, raping your pregnant wife, but I-I ca-can't let you wi-win her, over th-the years, I lov-loved her, I wo-won't let you take her away from me again'' he cackled making burn with rage.

''Tell me where Elijah is! I am going to rip his heart out'' I roared cocking my gun again and pointing it at him, My finger curling around the trigger.

''Kill me, Carter, let's see what you can do! Because you are always an abomination! You are always the one to come between love! Yo-You treated h-her like Tr-trash! You don't des-deserve her'' he spat, blood coming out of his mouth.

''Don't tempt me, you idiot!'' I seethed, making my mind to kill him right now! But again I was interrupted by her, this time her eyes held rage, reflecting mine, She snatched the gun from my hands and pointed it at him, I could feel the pain in Jaxon's eyes. I knew what it felt like to be betrayed by the lady you love.

''I never knew you would do this to me, Jax, Yes, I loved you, but never like I loved Ric, he was the first man I ever loved will always be, and yes, He never treated me like trash, he was the only person and reason I survived all these years with you, hope and faith that he is happy and safe away from me, but now he made me understand that he will never be in danger being with me, I am sorry Jax, I trusted you, I never thought that you will kill the reason I am alive, His life is in danger again because of me, because I am the reason that you are here, I am sorry and not so sorry that I have to kill you'' she cussed clicking the gun and aiming the gun at his heart.

I looked at her side profile, a wave of warmth and satisfaction passed me knowing that she loved me all these years, that's when something better passed my mind, I grabbed her wrist, stopping her from pulling the trigger, she looked at me, dumbfound.

I leant forward and whispered in her ears ''I know something better to do with him than kill him'', a smirk touched my lips thinking about how much fun we will have.

She looked into my eyes and smiled brightly and nodded, I looked at Alexandro who stood there watching ''Take him away'' I ordered, Alex nodded and took him a struggling Jaxon away. 

I looked down as I felt her finger link with mine, she pulled me down, and whispered ''Go to your daughter, she waited all these years to know her real father'', I looked down deeply at Rose, she smiled and nodded.

I walked towards Lia who looked petrified, and knelt till her level, she shivered as she saw him. 

''Won't you give papa a hug princess?'' I chuckled extending my arms, her blue eyes widened and shot her head at Odette, she waited for her acceptance and assurance that I wasn't lying, when she got that nod, I saw her little eyes fill as she stared at my face, the change of her expression couldn't help but make me emotional, I never knew when tears streamed down my eyes as she wrapped her little hands around my neck, burying her neck inside my neck, her tears wettening my shirt, a tear-filled laugh left my mouth.

 How much I dreamt of this moment, a time when I could meet my child, my progeny, Our daughter. I looked up at Odette, she wiped her tears and smiled brightly at us, I extended my hand at her, she came and placed her hand on mine, I pulled her into our hug.

''Daddy'' she mumbled snuggling deeper, warmth filling my heart.

After a few seconds, Odette looked back and extended her hand at Damian, his eyes widened as she looked at Rose, stunned. 

''Come here son'' she whispered, motioning to come in, Damian smiled widely at us, his eyes glossy, he grabbed her hand and joined the hug.

And we were a family, again, and I felt at peace.

♡ ♡ ♡

I sat by the bench in a nearby garden, As I watched the sun slowly dipping into the scarlet sky, The wind made whisps of my silver hair slap my face, My eyes were closed, inhaling the evening wind, I opened them when I felt a warm palm on mine.

I looked at two gorgeous blues that never missed a chance to appear in my dreams, I could never get enough to drink his beauty, he had a gentle smile playing on his face.

''Rose, why did you not tell me that Elijah-'' his words faltered when he saw my expression change, I felt the pain of that moment like yesterday, a tear slowly slipped out of my eyes.

''Before I could, I lost you Ric'' I whispered, my voice shaky, he sighed softly and linked our fingers together and looked me in the eye.

''I am so proud of you Rose, you are so powerful in this world that I haven't even imagined, I am really proud of you my love'' he said with a beautiful smile, I felt a cool metal slip up my middle finger, I gasped as I saw my wedding ring in my hand, I looked at him, awe-struck.

''How did you-?'' he shushed me by placing his index finger on my lips, he softly leaned forward, his eyes zeroing on my lips as his lips fanned my face.

''I just did'' he mouthed, placing his forehead on mine, and he softly pressed his lips onto mine, I could feel a thousand sparks lifting from just a simple kiss, how much I wanted to kiss him, how much I missed this feeling after all these years, I felt complete once again.

He cupped my face and kissed me harder, his tongue invading my senses, I moaned into his mouth as I straddled him, my nails digging into his shoulders, I kissed him deeper.

''I thought you would have stopped loving me after all these years'' he breathed, pants leaving his lips, I giggled at this.

''I would never stop loving you Eric Carter, not now, not ever'' I said pecking his lips again, he smiled at me and locked our lips again, driving me into an Ocean of Serenity.

♡ ♡ ♡

May True Love Prevail!

𝚆𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 ,

𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚊 

https://youtu.be/g5qU7p7yOY8

XOXO