The Tyrant's Wife

“Zaria,” He cleared his throat. “When I met you, I didn’t think I would ever want to do this. I only ever wanted to live in the present and not care about the next hour and whatever it would bring. But when I met you, I felt alive. You have changed my life every day since and I couldn’t ever ask for anything different.”

He held her hand nervously, afraid he would freak out.

“I know what I want now and it is to be able to see your beautiful smile every morning when I wake up, go to sleep with you in my arms and to maneuver my way through fatherhood with you by my side. So, Zaria Williams, will you do me this honor and be my wife?”

She was still struck speechless with her gaze clouded when Rosaly started reading from her paper. She had written a letter in her crooked but adorable handwriting.

“Dear Zaria, I love you very much. You are very nice and you even promised to be my friend forever. I want to be your friend forever too, but also your stepdaughter.” She stuttered at the words that Desmond had probably helped her write. In the end, she ditched the rest of the letter and hugged her legs. “Will you be my mommy, Zaria?”

She couldn’t stop her tears anymore. “Of course, sweetie. I love you so much.” She hugged the excited girl who then pulled away with a confused gaze.

“Zaria, what’s a stepdaughter?”

Everyone burst into laughter, earning a glare from Zaria.

.....

“Guys, she’s five.” She knew why they were laughing but she ignored them to explain to Rosaly. “It means that you became my daughter because I loved you and your daddy.”

The explanation made her jump in excitement.

Desmond cleared his throat to remind her that he was still on one knee.

She smiled, taking his hand to help him up. “I didn’t know what to say.”

“Should I be scared?” She joked, making everyone laugh.

She shook her head with a laugh. “I never thought much of marriage until I met you, and I want to be your wife.” She yelped when he suddenly scooped her in his arms and spun in excitement. He kissed her deeply when he finally put her back on her feet and slid the diamond ring on her finger.

He then went back on his knees and kissed her stomach. “Hi there, buddy. I hope I didn’t scare you. I was just excited when your mommy made me the happiest man on earth.”

“Cheesy.” Ximena playfully rolled her eyes at the side, while Rosaly brought her teddy to Desmond.

“Are you giving this to me?” He asked in amusement.

She nodded. “When I’m scared, I hug Bear and then I’m not scared anymore.”

He laughed when he realized that she had taken his joke about being scared seriously. He hugged it for seconds and returned it to her. “It works like magic. Thanks, Princess.”

Zaria showed off her ring to Lucy and Theodore, who were happier about her engagement than they were about their own reconciliation.

“My sister finally decided to get married, she’s expecting a baby and my parents are finally back together. This calls for celebration, right?”

Ximena looked over at Theodore and Lucy in awe. “You guys are back together?”

Theodore grinned as he slid an arm around Lucy’s waist. “What did you expect? I’m so charming that she lost her mind as soon as I smiled at her. She had to admit that she still loves me and so here we are.”

Lucy laughed, slapping her forehead. “You are such a narcissist, you know that?”

“You love me this way.” He threw back, making Zaria laugh. She had known for ages that her parents were still in love but seeing them actually flirting was more beautiful than she expected.

____

After trying to teach Devonte, Natalie and Zeus how to cook in vain, Lucy kicked them out of the kitchen and finally managed to cook a lavish meal. Devonte helped her set up the dining table and grabbed the chance to speak to her.

“Have you already found the right model for your commercial?” He asked.

She placed the cutlery on the table with a smile. “If what you really want to know is whether or not you can come back, we can meet up tomorrow and discuss it.”

He knew that she was giving him a second chance even though she didn’t state it out aloud.

“Thank you.” He was relieved and grateful, and when he saw Zaria’s smile of approval, he knew that she was happy for him.

After the meal and a dozen games, they all finally parted ways for everyone to go back to their home.

Lucy hugged Theodore and headed for her car before turning right back in confusion. “Zeus?”

The man was blocking Natalie’s path and it made Lucy panic for a moment.

“Tell me the truth. Did my mother tell you to stay away from me?”

Natalie glanced at Lucy in the distance, knowing that she had heard the question. When Devonte showed up, her heart raced as she studied him. Would he misunderstand the situation?

Zeus couldn’t hide his displeasure at the sight of Devonte. “I understand that you still want to be with him even though he dumped you. If you ask me, I would never get together with the person who once left.”

“You are not me.” She countered.

“I’m not. But I would like to be your friend even if I can’t be your man.” He glanced at Devonte to deliberately throw a jab. “Who knows? You might just realize later that you want me instead.”

She laughed it off while Devonte looked like he wanted to explode.

“You are not my type, Zeus. You are a good guy but I would never feel that way for you. But if you really want to be my friend and are ready to respect my boundaries and the fact that we will never be anything else, consider yourself my friend.”

Lucy heaved a sigh of relief but immediately frowned when Zeus shook Natalie’s hand and asked, “Did I ever tell you that you look a bit like my mother?”

“You’re joking, right?” She laughed.

“Actually, you do look little alike. But that’s not something uncommon. It’s a sweet coincidence.” Devonte remarked.

“Zeus, let’s go.” Lucy called and when her son didn’t immediately move, she grabbed his hand and dragged him all the way to the car.

He was taken aback. “What’s wrong, mother? Do you have anything to hide? You always have a huge reaction against me being close to Natalie. Is she your long-lost daughter or something?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Lucy rolled her eyes.

Zeus was only joking but thinking about Lucy’s reaction earlier, he wondered if there was something he didn’t know.

Zaria and Natalie were definitely not born in the same year. What was Lucy hiding?

Lucy knew her son well enough and guessing what he was imagining, she smacked his head. “Listen. Natalie is not your sister. I just can’t stand the thought of my son getting together with a daughter of the Sparks family.”

“Yet you don’t mind Zaria being so close to the said daughter of the Sparks family.” He pointed out her weird attitude.

“You’re impossible. Go digging if you want. I know you will do so even if I tell you the truth anyways.” She gave up explaining to him.

He gladly took her permission to investigate.

...

Meanwhile, Desmond managed to talk Zaria into going home with him. She couldn’t wait to spend some time with her fiancé and future stepdaughter, and the duo were excited to have her around.

Since Rosaly pleaded to go with Des too, they brought the puppy and left her playing with him while they went to their room.

As soon as she sat on his bed, he brought out a set of keys and handed them to her.

“What’s this?” She asked.

“Keys.”

She rolled her Eyes. “Of course they are keys. Why are you giving them to me?”

“Well, Rosaly and I proposed to you but the house cannot propose so... would you like to be its new owner?”

Her eyes widened. “Are you asking me to move in?”

He kissed her lips. “Yes.”