EPILOGUE – Forever Starts Here

EPILOGUE – Forever Starts Here

One Year Later

London was bathed in golden light.

I wasn’t chasing a story.

I wasn’t arguing with my editor.

I wasn’t poring over dusty documents to uncover a secret that had been hidden.

I was wearing my beautiful wedding dress.

Standing in front of a mirror.

With my mum behind me putting the veil into place.

“You look beautiful, Isabella.”

I smiled at her in the mirror.

"Thanks mum."

Her eyes shimmered.

"I wish your dad was here to see you."

I smiled gently.

I pictured his familiar face appearing in the doorway. His gentle pride shining through as he walked me down the aisle. Telling me not to worry and that even the most complicated stories can end beautifully.

I still missed him.

Some days I would catch myself feeling sad.

Other days I would just feel a dull ache.

But now I no longer blamed myself.

I no longer had to have the perfect answers to every question.

"I think he would have liked Alexander."

My mum giggled.

"He would have interrogated him for at least 3 hours before letting him near you."

I laughed.

"Probably asked about his intentions."

His money, family, career and if he knew how stubborn I could be.

"Mum!"

She laughed and kissed my cheek.

"But I think he would have realised how much he loves you."

I looked at my ring.

"He does."

"And you love him?"

"More than I can explain."

She squeezed my shoulders.

"Go marry him then."

It was time.

Alexander Hayes had faced thousands of screaming fans, high pressured championships and the fear of losing everything he had worked for.

But now stood at the front of the garden under a white archway of flowers he was more nervous than he had ever been on a football pitch.

Daniel Brooks stood by his side as his best man.

"You look like you're about to take a penalty in the final minute," he whispered.

Alexander gave him a look.

"Five minutes of seriousness please."

"I'm trying to help."

"By making me more nervous."

"Yes! Builds character."

Alexander shook his head but couldn't help but smile.

The music started.

Everyone stood up.

And Isabella walked through the door.

Alexander forgot to breathe.

She walked towards him. Her dress flowing gently. Her eyes shining with happiness behind her delicate veil.

Alexander had seen her angry, tired, determined, scared and stubbornly brave.

He had seen her stand up to powerful people when it would have been easier to stay quiet. He had seen her fight for the truth even when it put those she loved at risk.

But he had never seen her as beautiful as he did now as she chose him freely.

As she got closer her mum handed her hand to Alexander.

"Take care of her."

Alexander looked straight at her.

"I will."

Isabella raised an eyebrow.

"You better."

He chuckled.

"Still threatening me on my wedding day?"

"Especially on our wedding day."

All of a sudden his nerves vanished.

This was Isabella.

His Isabella.

The girl who had marched into his life searching for answers but somehow became the answer to a question he didn't know he had.

The ceremony began.

When it came to their vows Alexander took her hands.

"Isabella, when we first met I thought you were the most inconvenient person I had ever met."

The guests chuckled.

"Alexander."

He smiled.

"Let me finish."

She pursed her lips trying not to laugh.

"I thought you were stubborn, determined and would never give up. I thought you were going to ruin everything I had worked so hard to protect."

He smiled gently.

"I didn't realise that everything I was trying to protect was already broken. I didn't realise that keeping secrets wasn't the same as keeping people safe."

He took a breath.

"You taught me that being brave isn't about not being scared. It's about doing the right thing despite being terrified of what it could cost you."

Tears welled up in Isabella's eyes.

"You saw the worst of me. You didn't try to hide it. You challenged me when I was wrong. You stood by me when I was hurting. And you loved me for who I am."

He smiled gently.

"I can't promise that life will always be easy. I can't promise that I won't make mistakes. But I can promise that I will never intentionally hide the truth to save my pride. I will always listen to you. I will always respect your dreams. And I will always choose you."

He smiled through his tears.

"You are my favourite person. My biggest adventure. And my home. I love you Isabella Reed. And I will always choose you."

Isabella was in tears.

When it was her turn to speak she took a shaky breath.

"Alexander Hayes you have made me laugh when I wanted to scream. You have challenged me when I wanted to run. And you have loved me when I was too scared to believe love was enough."

He smiled.

"Especially when I was being stubborn?"

She laughed through her tears.

"Especially then."

The guests chuckled.

"I used to think that if I understood everything painful that had happened to me I would be able to move on. I thought the truth would heal me."

She squeezed his hands.

"But you taught me that healing isn't forgetting. It's refusing to let your past define your future."

Her voice was shaky.

"I can't promise that I will always be patient. I can't promise that I won't ask too many questions or turn normal conversations into investigations."

"I'm prepared," Alexander mumbled.

More chuckles.

"But I can promise that I will always stand by you. I will always tell you the truth. I will always respect the man you are becoming. And I will always remind you that your worth has never been defined by a football match, title or anyone else."

She smiled through her tears.

"You aren't my story because you are a famous footballer. You're my story because you held my hand through everything complicated and didn't ask me to change who I am."

She leaned in closer.

"I love you Alexander Hayes. Today, tomorrow and every normal day after. I choose you."

As soon as the officiant said they were married Alexander pulled Isabella into his arms and kissed her.

The guests clapped.

Daniel Brooks whistled loudly from the front.

"ABOUT TIME!"

Isabella laughed against his lips.

"Impossible best man."

"I know."

"You should have chosen someone else."

"I thought about it."

She gasped.

"Alexander!"

He kissed her.

"But no one else makes me laugh like you do."

They both smiled throughout the rest of the afternoon.

The reception was held in a beautiful country house just outside of London.

Flowers, candles flickering in the evening sky and music playing through the garden.

Daniel Brooks gave a speech. Talking about some embarrassing stories from Alexander's academy days. Michael Grant was there too. He had been invited by Alexander after they had started the difficult process of rebuilding their relationship. Although he hadn't forgotten his mistakes he showed that Alexander believed you could be responsible and grow as a person.

Daniel Mercer had also sent a message.

Unfortunately he couldn't make it but he wished them both happiness. He had included a photo of himself coaching a group of young players.

On the back he had written,

Some dreams take longer to come true. But keep choosing the good ones.

Alexander read it twice before tucking it into his jacket pocket.

Later on when the music had slowed down Alexander took Isabella's hand.

"May I have this dance Mrs Hayes?"

She smiled.

“You may, Mr Hayes.”

He led her to the dance floor.

As they danced Isabella leaned her head on his chest.

"Are you happy?"

She looked up at him.

"I'm happier than I ever imagined."

"Good."

"Are you?"

He kissed her forehead.

"I married you. I think that answers your question."

She laughed.

She then went quiet.

"Do you ever think about how we met?"

Unfortunately yes. You were very rude."

"I was doing my job."

"You accused me of hiding something."

"You were hiding something."

He sighed.

"Fair point."

She smiled.

"Would you change anything?"

Alexander thought.

There were definitely things he would change. He would reply to Daniel's message. He would ask more questions. He wouldn't let his fears influence his decisions.

But he couldn't change the past.

And he didn't want to pretend love required it.

"I would definitely make different decisions when Daniel needed me but I wouldn't change the fact that we met."

Isabella looked at him lovingly.

"Me neither."

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"What do you want most?"

"What?"

"A peaceful life with you."

She smiled.

"I picked the wrong girl."

"I know. I think I'm starting to enjoy the madness."

She laughed and kissed him.

They danced under the warm evening sky surrounded by the people they loved. As if the world had finally allowed them to stop running.

Much later when the guests had started to leave Isabella stood alone on the terrace.

The night air was cool and the garden was quiet.

She looked down at her ring and thought about the girl she was when she first started investigating Westbridge.

She believed love was dangerous as it would distract her from the truth.

She believed trusting someone would give them the power to hurt her.

She believed the answers to her questions were in her past.

But now she realised...

Love didn't mean pretending.

Trusting didn't mean ignoring red flags.

Moving on didn't mean pretending the past didn't happen.

Sometimes love means asking difficult questions.

Sometimes it means admitting you were wrong.

Sometimes it means looking at someone who has let you down and seeing how hard they are trying to be a better person and deciding if you want to start something new.

Alexander came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"What are you thinking about?"

She leaned into him.

"Our story."

He kissed her cheek.

"Is it a good story?"

She turned in his arms.

"It's the best story I've ever written."

He grinned.

"Will you publish it?"

"Absolutely not."

"Why not?"

"Because some things are ours."

He smiled gently.

"I like that."

She rested her forehead against his.

"Alexander?"

"Yes love?"

"Thank you for choosing me."

He pulled her closer.

"Thank you for finding me."

She smiled.

She kissed him under the stars. With no cameras, no headlines and no secrets between them.

Their story had started...

With suspicion.

With fear, heartbreak and a heavy past.

But it wouldn't be remembered for the secrets they uncovered.

It would be remembered for choosing the truth, earning forgiveness and building a love when everything had fallen apart.

And this time there was no reason to be scared of the ending.

Because their forever had just begun.

THE END