Chapter 084

Hailey's POV Five years later As I lay on the beach chair, soaking up the warm sun and cool breeze, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. It had been five years since the traumatic events that had changed my life forever. I sipped my smoothie, feeling the cold liquid slide down my throat, and adjusted my sunglasses to block out the glare. My mind began to wander, and my hands instinctively moved to my belly, where I felt the familiar lump from the gunshot wound I had sustained during the confrontation with Ava. The memories came flooding back, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness and regret. I thought about my father, who had been taken from me not once, but twice. The pain of losing him still lingered, and I couldn't help but wonder what could have been if things had turned out differently. Aiden's father hadn't made it either, and the weight of that loss still felt heavy on my heart. As I reflected on the past, I couldn't help but think about the manipulated video that had led us to believe Aiden's father was behind the sinister plot. The truth had come out later, revealing that he had been forced to confess to crimes he didn't commit. The realization still filled me with regret and anger. My thoughts then turned to Mrs. Alora, who had been devastated by the loss of her husband. I remembered the shock and grief etched on her face, and the stroke that had left her frail and vulnerable. My heart went out to her, knowing that she had spent forty years of her life with the love of her life, only to lose him in the most tragic way. As I sat there, lost in thought, my mind's eye conjured up the image of Evans's wicked grin as he confessed to his crimes. I felt a wave of anger and hatred wash over me, remembering how he had manipulated and betrayed us all. His greed and lust for power had led him to commit unspeakable atrocities, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake. His greed made him get entangled with my father and Aiden's father, when Charlotte found out about this she was scared and tried to warn me but she got killed in the process together with her mother. He was responsible for my accident and every single trauma I faced since then, the mystery notes, the little clues were all left for me so I could see Aiden's family as the enemy and come back to him as Aiden's presence became a barrier to his plans. But fate had other plans, he got frustrated and in disguise he teamed up with Ava and Sandra playing the victim just to get what he wanted, after the fight five years back he sustained a major injury in his brain which made the hospital officials put him under arrest in the prison rehabilitation centre. He was charged with multiple murders, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Something in me wanted more than that, I wanted him dead, he made me an orphan wiping away every single member of my family and was coming for Aiden's too, but I had a rethink, death would be sort of a quick death for him and it would be a good thing if he went through pains and have a slow death just as he did with every person he murdered. Ranging from my Mom, down to Sandra, Aiden's sister, Mr. Zac and every other crime he'd committed including attempting my murder. I recalled how Charlotte had tried to warn me, only to be silenced by Evans's brutality. Her death, along with her mother's, still haunted me, even though they treated me badly, they still tried to warn me of what looped ahead but they lost their lives in the process all because of me, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility for not being able to protect them. As I sat on the beach, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the cacophony of memories and emotions swirling in my head. I felt the weight of the past bearing down on me, but I knew I couldn't let it consume me. I had to keep moving forward, no matter how hard it seemed. With a newfound determination, I stood up, brushing the sand off my skin. I took a deep breath, feeling the salty air fill my lungs, and began to walk along the shore, the waves washing over my feet. I knew that the scars of the past would always remain, but I was determined to face them head-on, and to create a brighter future for myself and those I loved. As I gazed out at the ocean, my mind wandered back to the fateful day when Ava's bullet tore through my flesh. The memory of the operation to remove the bullet still lingered, a harsh reminder of the trauma I had endured. Aiden, too, had suffered a similar fate, and I shuddered at the thought of how close we had come to leaving Damien orphaned. But fate had been kind, and James and Jude's swift intervention had saved our lives. I felt a surge of gratitude toward them, knowing that their timely actions had given us a second chance at life. Just then, Damien's excited voice pierced the air, snapping me back to the present. "Mummy!!" he squealed, his tiny legs pumping furiously as he ran toward me, Aiden close behind. I couldn't help but smile as I scooped up my little boy in my arms, feeling his warm, damp skin against mine. Aiden's eyes met mine, and I saw the same love and adoration reflected back at me. Aiden had been my rock, my partner, and my best friend through the ups and downs of life. He had stood by me, even when I was at my worst, and had loved me unconditionally. My heart swelled with gratitude and love for this man who had given me so much. As I gazed at Damien, I marveled at how much he had grown to resemble his father. His hazel eyes and hair were unmistakably Aiden's, but his facial features were a perfect blend of mine and Aiden's. I felt a sense of pride and wonder at the little person we had created together. He was the unexpected heir of the Brooklyn's and Mrs. Alora's pride coupled with the fact that he was named after his great grandfather. As we prepared to leave the beach, Damien's excited voice cut through the air. "Mummy, where would we visit next holiday?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. I smiled, feeling a warmth in my heart. "Hmm, it seems my baby boy enjoyed this trip, didn't he?" Damien nodded enthusiastically, his face lighting up with a grin. "Yes, mummy, and I can't wait for another holiday!" Aiden chuckled, pulling me into a kiss. Damien squealed in mock disgust, "Ewww!" making us laugh. As we made our way back to the penthouse, the phone rang. Damien's face lit up as he saw Mrs. Alora's name on the screen. "Grandma!!" he squealed, running to answer the call. Mrs. Alora's warm voice filled the room, "Oh, my baby boy is getting bigger..." 'Yes grandma, and I'm getting muscles too, dad took me to the gym." He replied, making Mrs. Alora let out a light laughter. Damien chatted excitedly with his grandmother, telling her about his adventures on the trip. I smiled, listening to their conversation, feeling grateful for the loving relationship they shared. As we wrapped up the call, Mrs. Alora's tone turned mischievous. "And if it isn't my favorite daughter-in-law," she said, making me chuckle. Aiden chimed in, "Mom, we need to get going. We'll see you soon." Mrs. Alora's voice turned serious. "Alright, alright. Have a safe journey back home." But Damien wasn't ready to end the call just yet. "Grandma!" he exclaimed. "Yes, son?" Mrs. Alora replied. "You still haven't answered my question! You promised to tell me when we get back from thistrip." Damien said, his voice filled with excitement. Mrs. Alora's tone turned playful. "What question, dear?" Damien's voice turned dramatic. "Grandma, why are you so forgetful!!" 'I'm so sorry dear but grandma has a lot of things she's thinking about so could you please assist grandma?" She pleaded. I froze, feeling a sense of unease. Damien's question had caught me off guard. "I asked, how did my mom and dad meet?" Damien spat, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. The room fell silent, and I could feel Aiden's eyes on me. I knew we had to come up with an answer, but how could we explain the complicated history between us? Mrs. Alora's smirk filled the screen, her eyes darting back and forth between Aiden and me. I knew we were in trouble. The end