Chapter 301 — Epilogue In Silk, In Steel, In Forever

Five years later.

The London skyline is golden with a silent sunset. From the penthouse balcony, Sabatine Rogers watches the city breathe-steady, alive, unafraid.

Indoors, peals of laughter spill into the evening air.

Anton’s laughter.

It still takes her by surprise, now and then—how light it is, now, how unencumbered. The man who once bore the weight of empires and opponents kneels on the living room floor, attempting to put together some sort of robotic toy at the instructions of two small, highly opinionated children.

“Papa, that’s upside down,” she scolds, with an authority far beyond her years.

Anton squints: “I’m sure it’s strategic.”

The son giggles and crawls into Sabatine's arms the second she steps inside. She presses a kiss to his curls, breathing him in like he is the miracle that she never planned for but cannot imagine her life without now.

He follows her out onto the balcony later that night, after the children have gone to sleep. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he leans his forehead against hers.

“We did it,” he muffles.

Sabatine nods. “We made it through.”

Beneath them, the world hums—safer than it once was.

The Rogers–Stalker Global Integrity Institute now spans three continents, dismantling cyber-criminal networks before they take root. Young analysts and operatives-many once vulnerable themselves-train under Sabatine's leadership. She teaches them not just how to fight shadows, but how to live beyond them.

Anton still leads Rogers Industries, but different is how he does so now: transparently, humanely, with purpose.

They are no longer running.

They are building.

Sabatine weaves her fingers through his. "If I had to do it all again," she says quietly, "every scar, every loss."

Anton kisses her knuckles, the way he always does. “I'd still choose you. Every lifetime.”

The city lights shimmer like the stars that have fallen from the sky.

And for the first time, the future doesn't feel like a battlefield.

It feels like home.

— End of Story —

Author's Note

This is a story born out of fascination with contrasts: power and vulnerability, silence and devotion, danger and love.

Shadows of Silk & Steel is not a romance. It is a testament to the truth that strength does not always roar; at times, it softly and quietly stands beside another soul, refusing to ever leave.

Anton and Sabatine were never supposed to be perfect heroes; instead, they were to be human-scarred, fearful, stubborn, and brave enough to love in spite of it all.

If it reminded you that healing is possible, that trust can indeed be rebuilt, and love can survive even the darkest corridors of betrayal, then this story has achieved its purpose.

Grateful that you walked with me through the shadows.

There were some plump ones with red eyes in there too.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to:

Those who learned to survive before they learned to dream.

Those who hold their strength in hush.

Those who have had the courage to trust again following a betrayal.

And for those who believe that love—true love—is not fragile.

It is forged.

Acknowledgement

To every reader who stayed until the very last chapter—thank you.

Your time, your emotions, your patience with the twists, the danger, and the slow-burning love mean so much more than words can say.

To writers gutsy enough to mix genres and too proud to water down strong women or weaken a man who's vulnerable-this is your space because of them.

To resilience.

To heal. 

To stories that remind us we are more than what tried to break us.

 With appreciation,

 — Clare Felix