Filthy Secret

EPILOGUE

ASPEN

“S shh darling. Daddy will be home soon.” I stand looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the city of London as I rock Ella against my chest to stop her crying. She has been restless recently, and I think it’s because she is teething.

Ella Annie Caldwell was born four months ago. To this day, I still wonder how I got pregnant. I mean, I know it happens even when on the pill but out of all the women on birth control in the world, why me? I wouldn’t change Ella, though, not for anything.

To say it has been a hard year would be an understatement. After Katrina caught us, she immediately told my parents. My father was appalled and refused to talk to me for a couple of months, and my mother – although she didn’t like the situation tried her best to be understanding. She didn’t understand, though. Not to begin with. She cried and screamed at me about being with a man so much older, about being with her sister’s ex-husband. Things were fraught for a while, but we eventually found some middle ground.

Ethan being the amazing man he is, arranged for them to fly here on his private jet, and we all sat down together to talk. When they realized how in love we were and saw the reality of my bump, they started accepting us a little more. It will never be one hundred percent acceptance, but for the most part, we all get along, and they are involved in their granddaughter’s life.

As for Katrina, I have never seen or heard from her again, and she hasn’t responded to any of my emails or texts. I can’t blame her. I did sleep and get knocked up by her ex-husband. Ethan says it’s a good thing and that hopefully, she will move on and find what we have with someone else. It upsets me that my aunt won’t be a part of my life, but I understand it.

I glance over my shoulder when I hear the door open, smiling when I see Ethan’s gorgeous face. When we found out I was pregnant, I decided I wanted to continue with my studies, and Ethan supported me in that. As I got closer to my due date, we both sat down with my professors and came up with a plan so I could study from home. It was the perfect solution, and I am still on track to graduate with my fellow classmates and friends.

My heart beats faster as I watch him move towards us. He is the man of my dreams, the love of my life, and I will never get enough of him.

“How are my two girls?” he asks as he steps into me. I instantly calm when I smell his scent, all man and Ethan. He drops a kiss on my lips and then one on Ella’s forehead. I swoon. I will never get over how this man is as a father. It’s the most adorable thing I have ever seen.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

“Good. How was your day?”

He grins. “Good. I missed you both, though, little lamb.”

I roll my eyes at his pet’s name but smile. “We missed you too.”

He takes Ella out of my arms and pops her down in her bassinet now she has settled. He wraps his arms around me, and I lean into him, letting out a content sigh. Ethan Caldwell is my everything, and I can’t believe he is mine.

ETHAN TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT…

I pace my office, my thoughts where they always are on my little lamb and my daughter. I love them both so much I sometimes can’t breathe. Aspen still has no idea what I did to her birth control, and I will never tell her. I figured why cause an argument. She is happier than I have ever seen her, and I know she wouldn’t change Ella or me, for that matter. I wouldn’t allow it. She is mine, and that’s the way it will stay. Since little lambs’ family found out, I know it hasn’t been easy on her, but we are at a stage now where her parents are involved with both their daughter and granddaughter. They don’t necessarily like me not that I care – but they accept our relationship for Aspen. For the most part.

I pull open my drawer and pull out the black velvet box that’s hidden in there and make my way down to my car.

Tonight, I will make Aspen Kincaid mine in every way possible.

I stroll into my penthouse to find Aspen sat at her desk overlooking the window that gives the best view of London. I make my way towards her, only to pause. She looks so ethereal in this moment as the lights of

the city hit her. Jesus, I love this girl.

She turns to face me with a smile. “Hey,”

I continue my steps towards her and pull her into my arms. “Hello, little lamb,” I kiss her hard like she is the air I need to breathe. She chuckles, breaking the kiss. “Where’s our daughter?”

“Asleep. She was grouchy today, and I just managed to get her down before you got home.”

Perfect. I was going to do this somewhere more romantic, like at the top of The Shard, but where is more romantic than our home? The place I saw her again after all those years. Before she can say anymore, I drop down to one knee. She gasps, her sapphire eyes widening as they fill with tears.

“Aspen. You are the love of my life. My everything. You and Ella have made me whole. I can’t thank you enough for coming into my life, for giving me my daughter. There are no adequate words for what you both mean to me. All I know is that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So little lamb, will you do me the honour of being my wife? Being my forever?”

“Yes,” Aspen cries. I smile as I push on the platinum band with a big pear-shaped diamond. Looking down at the ring on her delicate finger, I feel like the luckiest bastard alive. My little lamb is finally mine.

“Mine,” I say.

“Yours.” She replies with tears streaming down her gorgeous smiling face.

And then I kiss her with everything I have. Possessing her. Claiming her. Making her mine.

My little lamb.

Would I have done anything differently?

No.

Would I change anything?

Also no.

I wouldn’t have us or our life any other way.

The End.