One year later
"Jasper donuts or cake?" I ask him, and he gives me a look, meaning he doesn't like my question
"You can't ask a person that is a foodie that question, shame on you, Rhea, and here I thought we were best friends," Jasper says, walking Milo his husky. Well, I walk Rosco and Truffle. Jasper phoned me and asked me if I wanted to go for a walk on the beach this morning I, of course, agreed
"Fine, I will choose your donuts," I say, and he smiles, looking at me
"You know me so well," he says, and I give him a sly look
"I always will," I say, being cocky and he flips me the finger
"How are you and Antonio?" Jasper asks me, I grin thinking about this morning
"You guys fucked this morning too!" Jasper shouts so loud that I have to run and cover his mouth as people look at him
Oh my gosh, this is so embarrassing I want to go cry on my birthday.
"You horny bitches but girl get it I guess," Jasper says making me push his shoulder which he does the same making me fall backward well I pull him down with me and we both burst out laughing Well people give us weird glances making us laugh even more
"I think now that you're twenty-eight it made you stronger," he says and I shake my head at his foolishness
"So what did your man do for your birthday?" Jasper asks
"Um he said he wants to surprise me tonight," I say, and Jasper smirks
"Of course he does," Jasper says making me narrow my eyes at him
"Do you know something I don't know?" I ask him
Jasper smirks, "Nothing don't worry," he says and I groan he makes me want to punch him sometimes because he is not direct.
●●●●●
I am currently working designing a wedding for one of Hollywood's actresses and I must say this wedding was a bit difficult to do the color theme was grey so it was a bit difficult to find things that would help with this wedding but anyway, it worked.
I decided to go home early as I was tired and could use a good nap.
I quickly jump into bed and see lots of messages popping up on the phone everyone is wishing me happy birthday. I even got one from Ares
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Rhe
I just want to say may you always be happy and never be sad. I hope you have a good birthday and Antonio and the family make it special for you.
Nothing but love from Ares.
I smile messaging him a thank you. After that night of Layla's wedding, Ares stayed true to his word and never bothered me again. Antonio gave Ares his CEO position again after my request if he could keep it. After Layla and Nick's wedding Ares left California and went to start his life afresh with his daughter and has become a workaholic from what Layla told me. I truly do wish he finds happiness
I put my phone away and feel myself falling asleep. A few hours pass and I wake up feeling someone tickling my face with his beard and open my eyelids and I stare into familiar hazel eyes.
"My Colomba," he whispers and I smile looking at Antonio my Tonio the man who is the reason why I smile every day
"Why did you wake me up?" I ask pouting and he chuckles kissing my head
"I want to give your gift," he says offering his hands which I take as he leads me out of bed
He leads me to his study sits on his chair and pulls me to his lap making me giggle
"OK, so what did you want to give me?" I ask and he smirks pushing my hair away from my neck and kissing it.
He takes out a beautiful ribbon box from his draw and passes it to me
I look at the box untie the ribbon open it and see a key.
I furrow my eyebrows confused and look at him, "What is this for?" I ask him and he stares at me seriously
"Come," he says dragging me outside to his car and putting me in front he takes my hand in his and kisses it well we drive to God knows where
"Where are you taking me?" I ask him and he smirks
"Patience Colomba," he says making me narrow my eyes at him we eventually pull up to a small building.
Antonio gets out of the car opens my door for me and takes my hand intertwining our fingers. He leads me to the building doors and I look at him like he is crazy
"It's locked," I say and he chuckles
"It's only locked because you have the key," Antonio says pointing to the key he gave me I look at him confused, and put the key in the door.
I open the door and I gasp to see a store of shelves that has books. I go inside and look and look at the books and see genres of different books there are enough books for a lifetime as I look everywhere.
I look at Antonio with shock all written over my face, " What is this?" I ask him
"It's one of your birthday gifts," Antonio says nonchalantly
I go towards him and say, " I can't accept this Antonio," I say and he smiles.
"I knew you were going to say that and that's why this whole place is in your name," he says taking out a paper
"Antonio I can't accept this you know this is a bookstore," I say making sure he knows what he just has me
"Remember you told me you wished you had a bookstore so you wouldn't have to buy so many so here, you now don't have to buy," he says and I look at him is he for real now
"But at home, we have a library," I say and he shakes his head in disbelief that I'm still debating with him about this matter
"You keep on purchasing online so why don't just own one," he says going to the whole store.
"Antonio who is going to run this I have a business," I say and he chuckles
"Don't worry it's sorted out I hired people to help you run this place and every month there will always be a delivery of new books and renewal of books," Antonio says
I look at him this man is crazy he just bought me a bookstore what man would do that?
"I can't accept it I just can't Antonio it's too much," I say and Antonio glares at me
"Sorry too late no return policies," Antonio says making me sigh.
"You did not have to do this your love was enough Tonio," I mutter and he comes to me pulling me to his chest and kissing me roughly, and we soon pull away.
"I wanted to," he says and I give him an appreciative smile
"Thanks, Tonio," I whisper hugging him and smelling his strong cologne
"You welcome Colomba, now tell me what do you want to name this place?" he asks and I think for a moment looking around
I then look at him and say, "Forevermore books,"
He looks at me, "I love it," he says kissing my head and I grin
"Me too," I say
We look around for a well until we decide we must get going I lock the doors of the store and Antonio leads me to the car.
We drive until we arrive at the beauty salon, "What are we doing here?" I ask him
He smirks, "To get you ready for tonight," he says
●●●●●
I look at myself in the mirror and admire how beautiful how look. The stylist gave me a red silk dress which Antonio purchased for me and red heels. My makeup is done beautifully and my hair.
"You look beautiful," the stylist says and I smile
"Thanks to you," I say and she smiles back at me and leads me to the door where I see a chauffeur and I wonder where Tonio is
"Where is Antonio?" I ask the chauffeur confused
"He told me to take you home," the chauffeur says and I nod
I get in the limo and look to see a note saying
You light up my world
I blush this is so sweet we soon arrive home but the chauffeur tells me to go the back way and not by the front door as he leads me straight to the beach.
I soon see lots of petals and lights and I follow them as there are signs saying to follow the petals.
I arrive at a big heart that is made of lights with lots of red petals in the middle.
I look around wondering what's going on. I hear someone clear their throat and I turn around to see Antonio kneeling with a box showing a ring inside it and I gasp not believing this is happening.
He looks at me staring at me seriously well tears well up in my eyes
"From the moment when we were young and shared that kiss, I knew you were going to be my life partner but due to unfortunate circumstances we got separated but fate still did not keep us apart. The day I saw you on that beach I knew it was a sign that we were made to be together in this lifetime. A world without you Rhea Naidoo is a world without light. You are the reason why I never want to miss a second a minute an hour in this life. You are my oxygen my whole life. My love for you is like the ocean never-ending, I'm not going to lie to you and say that you will always be happy with me because I know for a fact I'm not perfect but I promise that I will always try to make you happy, so would you do me the honors of becoming my wife and me your husband?" he asks me and I cover my mouth in shock
"No," I say looking at him seriously and I see hurt evident on his face.
I giggle and I quickly jump onto him catching his face and pulling his lips to mine we kiss for a well and I smile whispering against his lips, "Just jokes my Tonio of course I would marry you," I say as I feel his heart beating fast against his chest
"You scared me, " he whispers and I hug him feeling a tang of guilt for playing a prank on him like that
"Only a fool would say no to you Tonio," I say pecking his lips
"So you would become my wife?" he asks me making me laugh
"Mhm forever," I say and he picks me up and twirls around.
"Forevermore," he says holding my hand in his and slipping the diamond ring on my finger he kisses my hand
We walk on the beach talking about the life ahead of us and Antonio says it's time for us to head inside as we go inside the lights flicker on and I see everyone dear to my heart shouting Happy birthday.
Erica comes quickly to me and looks at my hand and says, " Happy birthday sis," I smile and hug her.
Mrs Russo comes and plants a kiss, "Happy birthday, my future daughter-in-law," she says, and I thank her, hugging her.
"Welcome to the family, kiddo," Mr. Russo says, and I hug him, thanking him
"He finally popped the question," Jasper says, smirking
I look at him and ask him, " You knew?"
He looks at me and hugs me, "Who do you think gave him the idea of the ideal proposal," he says, and Antonio narrows his eyes at him.
"Please, your idea was me dressing up as a hooker in a box and expecting me to propose to her," Antonio says, grumbling.
"Well, it worked on Blair," Jasper says, and Blair hits his arm, looking down embarrassed.
"Oh my gosh, Jasper enough," Layla says, hugging me
"Happy birthday, bestie, so let me see the ring?" she asks. I show her, and Nick comes to her side
"Congrats, also happy birthday," he says, and I thank him
"Brandon comes to me and says, " Guess who got a new sister law it's me bitches," Brandon says opening the champagne and hugging me
I decide it's time for me to say something, " I just want to say thank you to everyone who made this day special for me. All of you guys standing here is special to me and I love you all. I just want to thank my fiance for making me feel like the luckiest woman alive," I say and Antonio comes to me a kisses my cheek.
"Always," he whispers
"Okay enough now let's party," Jasper says and Brandon starts pouring everyone one Champagne.
●●●●●
We both are sweating panting due to us making love. He is making me into a sex addict
"I love you Colomba," he says and pecks my lips
"Love you," I whisper
I think for a well and ask him the question I always wanted to ask
"Why do you call me Colomba?" I ask him and he turns serious for a minute
"It means dove. I call you it as you are my peace, my love, and my hope. When I look at you those words always pop up into my head. You are beautiful and have compassion these things a dove signifies that's why I call you my Colomba," he says looking at me
"Why tell me now?" I ask him
"Because now I know you are my forever in this lifetime," he says tailing his finger on my cheek.
I look at him and kiss his cheek he comes to hold me in his embrace.
One thing I know for sure about this lifetime time I was never meant to be Ares truly but I was made to be another's truly and that person is my Tonio.
*****
Hey guys what a wonderful journey this has been. I just want to say thanks to my supporters you guys truly made me happy. ❤️
Please do comment on the last chapter and vote 💕 🙏
Also don't worry people there will be an epilogue