EPILOGUE

                           ONE MONTH LATER 

     "Mr Noah Bucks, you are therefore sentenced to a life imprisonment for first-degree attempted murder with a possibility of parole..." 

       Faith could still hear the judge's sentence as she walked down the aisle, holding Joshua's arm. She caught Ethan's eyes in a dark grey tuxedo and he was ruggedly handsome as ever. With each step, she took her heart skipped. Her brother finally led her to Ethan and handed her over, Ethan took her hand with the sweetest smile ever and at that moment, as she stared into his beautiful green eyes, her heart busted with love and happiness. 

       Finally, she thought. She was going to spend the rest of her life with this man, the man of her dreams. Their love prevailed against all odds.  Her bridesmaid, Camelia watched her with admiration and she held everyone at the church spellbound with her sparkling beauty. 

      "You made such a beautiful bride," Ethan whispered as he brought her in his front. 

       She smiled.  "You made the most ravishing groom." 

      The priest blessed them and it was time to exchange vows. Ethan took the ring. 

        "Faith Prescott, I have never felt the thing I feel for you for anyone else. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I say, you light up my world, with you I feel I can do anything, be anything. Your love for me knows no bounds and that comforts me. I never make promises, because I believe they are made to be broken, but I am promising you, to be that man you would look at in the time to come and still be grateful that you chose me..."

      As he spoke? Faith recalled Noah being led out of the courtroom by the cops with his hands behind him. He was the one that had also stabbed Danny by the side. 

       "I promise to love you and be with you for the good times and the bad times, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better, for worse, until death does us part." He wore her the ring. 

       Faith took the ring and looked into his eyes.  "Ethan Floyd, you gave me a reason to live, you took my hand and drew me out of the deepest ocean, you believed me when I didn't believe myself, you were always there for me, and my heart feels safe with you. I don't believe in promises but I believe yours. I promise to love you for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer until death does us part. I love you so much, Ethan Floyd." She wore him the ring. 

     "I love you too, Faith Prescott," Ethan said. 

      "You may now kiss your bride!" the priest declared. 

   Ethan slowly unveiled her and took her lips with his. The congregation erupted in a rapturous ovation as they kissed each other passionately. 

        Marilyn and Dolores hugged each other, giggling like teenage girls.  Nora looked at Danny and dabbed at imaginary tears. 

       "Oh, my, can you believe it ended in praise?" 

        "It did baby," Danny said rubbing her stomach. 

    The people waited outside as the couple came out of the church, the family and friends cheered them. Ethan and Faith raised their hands, waving at them and smiling. The cameramen and women ran around to take pictures of the bride and groom as security led them towards the car. Before Faith entered the car, she tossed her bouquet and Camelia caught it. 

      The crowd cheered Camelia who looked surprised and pleased at the same time. 

    Axel who had wanted marriage for a long time now walked up to her and whispered,  "Does this mean we are the next to marry?" 

     Camelia turned to him. "Yes, let's get married, I'm ready to marry." 

      "Really?" Axel asked quite pleased. 

      "Yes." 

     Axel swept her into his arms and kissed her. 

    Ethan and Faith entered the car and their car drove off towards the reception. Ethan held Faith's hands with his, looked into her eyes, and she smiled at him. 

      "I'm so glad we made it," he said. 

She squeezed his hand.  "Me too." 

     Their reception took place on a boat, which has been Faith's dream. The boat was greatly furnished with red roses and tulips, the music was jazz music. Food and drinks were abundant, and everyone was happy. Even Nora's parents came. A lot of people who Ethan didn't know would grace their wedding came. They also made the security tighter just to avoid any damage. 

      Faith changed into a lacy, v-neck, black gown with glitters on it. Her hair was styled in an updo and a tiara was placed on it. While Ethan wore a cream tuxedo. 

      The crowd cheered as they came in, and they waved at everyone. The reception was grand, everyone made merry. Faith and Ethan set out to greet their guests. They saw Dr Adriana standing by a cabinet with a glass of wine in hand, she looked fabulous in her red A-lined dress. 

      "If it's not the couple of the moment," Dr Adriana said smiling. 

       "I'm so glad you came," Faith said cheerfully. 

       "Wouldn't miss it for anything in the world. Congratulations." 

      "Thank you, doctor," Ethan said and shook her hand. 

       "It's my pleasure." 

       "Enjoy yourself," Faith said as they moved away to greet other people. 

          "Uncle Childress!" Ethan called as he saw his uncle. 

      Mr Childress who was standing with his wife turned to look at them. He smiled.  "Oh, my amiable nephew." 

 Ethan shook his hand. Mr Childress drew him into a hug.  "Congratulations." 

      Ethan who was surprised nodded and said,  "Thank you." 

    Mr Childress looked at Faith who was smiling at him. He opened his arms for a hug, Faith hugged him. His wife stepped forward and also embraced the couple. 

        "Congrats," she said. 

      "Thank you," said the couple as they started moving away but Ethan stopped and turned to his uncle. 

      "By the way, uncle, your company is going up the stats, keep up the good work." 

      Mr Childress beamed with smiles.  "She is my chief advisor," he said pointing to his wife. 

      Ethan looked at her and acknowledged her with a nod.  "Please, keep up the good work." 

      They greeted other people around until they came to Nora and Danny. Nora took Faith in an embrace. She hugged her so tightly that Faith felt the breath leaving her. 

        "I'm so glad you finally got together," Nora said. 

       "Uhm... Nora, could you release me now?" 

    Nora released Faith.  "You look so beautiful." 

         "Thank you." 

 Danny shook Ethan's hand.  "Congratulations man, welcome to the husbands' group." 

      Ethan grinned.  "I'm glad to be here. What do you all say we go on our honeymoon together." 

     "You don't mean it!" Nora said. 

      "Yes, I do. Faith and I kind of feel guilty that you didn't get to go on your honeymoon, so we appeal that you join us in Paris, for a honeymoon together. I will take care of the expenses." 

     Nora looked at Danny. "What do you say, babe?" 

      "I say we should go on that Paris cruise," Danny said. 

        "Should we tell them," Nora asked Danny and rubbed her stomach. 

     Faith understood her and her jaw dropped.  "Oh, my God! You are pregnant!" 

      Nora nodded. Faith hugged her and the both of them jumped together, still hugging each other. Ethan shook Danny's hand. 

      "Congrats man."

   Axel and Camelia came forward.  "We have decided to get married," Axel announced. 

 They all cheered them up and hugged them. 

      Charlie and Douglas came over with glasses of wine in their hands.  "What are we missing here?" Charlie asked. 

       Faith hugged them. "Wow, you both look so handsome." 

       "Although I'm more handsome, I will accept that," Douglas said. 

        They all laughed. 

      "Look, everyone is dancing, let's go have that dance," Nora said and dragged Danny with her to the dance floor. 

       The other couples followed them. 

      The rest of the party went well. They danced and made merry to their fill. Everyone went back home happily. 

                         ONE YEAR LATER... 

       Faith woke up in bed and felt her side, Ethan was not there. She then remembered that he had gone on a business trip and would be back tomorrow or next. She stretched herself and yawned then she picked up her phone from the nightstand and looked at the screen. No birthday messages yet, both from Ethan or Nora. Nora was always the first to send her birthday messages in the previous years. 

        Last year, Ethan had beaten her to it and this year, none of them have sent nor called her. She sat up in bed and read the messages she got from her mom, Ethan's mom, Ethan's sisters and some of her clients. She kept smiling as she read. Then Ethan called her. 

       "Hello, sugar," Ethan's voice said from the other end. 

       "Hi, love," Faith replied. 

        "Before you think I forgot, Happy birthday." 

        "Faith smiled.  "Thank you."

      "I am sorry it's coming late. Where are you? Are you still in bed?" 

       "Yeah, I just woke up." 

       "I left you a present in the living room, please go and check it out." 

      "Where is it?" 

       "By the dining table." 

          "Alright," Faith said and got down from the bed. She slid her feet into the slippers and started towards the living room, the phone still in her ear. 

      She got to the living room but the door was locked. She tried to open it.  "Babe, this living room door is locked and has refused to open. Who could have locked it?" 

       "What of the staff? Ain't they around?" 

    Faith tried calling the staff, but no one answered her. As she stood by the door, it flung open. 

       "Happy birthday!" people screamed and she almost flung her phone, only to realise it was her friends. 

     She clutched her chest.  "Oh, my, how did you all come here?!" she asked and went and hugged Nora and Danny, Axel and Camelia, Charlie and Douglas. 

     Ethan still on the phone asked. "Honey, that's the first surprise, wait for the second one." 

       "You really do surprise me, I wonder what the second surprise would be." 

       "Watch out and see," Ethan said. 

     Someone walked in through the door and Faith looked up to see who it was, she saw Ethan there, looking at her, his phone still clutched to his ear. She was beyond surprised, she rushed to him and hugged him. 

     "Oh, my God, you came back!" she screamed with delight. "I missed you so much," She kissed him deeply and passionately. 

       "I missed you more, although I did not go anywhere." 

      "Really?" 

      "It was all plans for your birthday." 

     He led her into the living room where others were. She changed into better clothes. They sang the happy birthday song for her, she made her wish, blew the candle and cut the cake. Faith was so happy to see her friends. Nora's baby boy was so handsome and bubbling, Axel and Camelia were married now. They played a couple of games and had fun. 

      When the party finally came to an end in the evening, Nora and Faith sat in the kitchen to catch up with the events of their various lives for the past year. 

         "Baby girl, this marriage thing is treating you well, look how you're glowing," Nora complimented. 

        "You say it like it's treating you any differently. Motherhood looks fab on you. You have a beautiful boy here. I'm so glad he is my godson." Faith played with the hands of baby 

      Nora chuckled.  "I'm sure he would be glad to be your godson too." 

      Faith suddenly felt queasy, the sickness rose to her throat and she ran into the bedroom and threw up in the bathroom sink. Nora followed her. 

       "What wrong?" 

       "I don't know, I just felt queasy all of a sudden." 

       "Are you sure you are not pregnant?" 

        "I hope I'm not," Faith said and went and sat on the bed. "I feel dizzy." 

            "Come on, let's go to the doctor." 

        A few hours later, Faith was seated in the toilet staring at the test results in her hand. She was a month pregnant. She didn't know what to do or what to tell Ethan this time.  Oh, God, what was she going to do? 

      Ethan knocked at the door. "Babe, are you okay in there is everything alright?" 

       "Yes," she said and flushed the toilet. 

   When she came out, Ethan was already lying down on the bed, she quickly shoved the result into the cabinet in the room and went and laid beside Ethan. 

         The next morning when she opened her eyes, Ethan was standing there, staring at there staring at the result. She sat up in bed immediately. 

       "I... I can explain," she said. 

   Ethan looked at her.  "Explain what? That you are pregnant?" He went and sat down beside her, stared at her for a while and smiled broadly, then he hugged her.  "Baby, I'm so happy. I thought you wouldn't want to get pregnant again after what happened so I didn't talk about it! Thank you so much!" 

       Faith was surprised. She hugged him back.  "I want a child, I want this baby," she whispered and held him tighter. 

                               EIGHT MONTHS LATER 

      "Push!" the midwife said again. 

       Faith closed her eyes, and Ethan held her hand, telling her she could do it. She tried again with all her strength. 

          "Okay, the baby is here," the woman said. 

       They carefully brought the baby out and cut the placenta. The baby cried aloud and Faith sighed with relief while Ethan kissed her hand. 

          "It's a beautiful baby girl." 

         "You did it, babe." 

          The baby was cleaned up and brought to her. She held the baby in her arms, and she and Ethan stared at the baby. 

         "What should we call her?" Ethan asked. 

           "Charlotte, we would call her Charlotte." 

            "Charlotte Delores Floyd," Ethan said. 

              "Charlotte Delores Floyd," Faith repeated and smiled down at the baby. 

                      THE END. 

     The journey of Ethan and Faith has finally come to an end. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it? Thank you all for going through their love journey with them, for crying with them, laughing with them, and sharing in their  happiness and sorrow. I appreciate all your comments and reviews, they kept me going. 

        My WhatsApp number is +2348128432358 for questions regarding this book and to be added to my Whatsapp story group. 

        Bye and watch out for more stories from me.