Forever After All

by Catharina Maura

“You’re my daughter-in-law and Alexander’s wife. It’s time you show the world what that means.”

“I heard her, you know,” Sarah says, and I pause.

“I heard Elena when I was in my coma. I had no concept of time, but I heard her cries and her undying belief in my recovery.”

“I know Elena isn’t at work right now. I know Alaric and Matthew aren’t on a business trip, and I know you’re married to my daughter—not engaged. I know why you married her, and I understand Elena doesn’t want me to find out. In turn, I don’t want her to know that I could hear most of what she told me throughout the years.”

She’s just like Elena, always startling me. I tense,

“I need your help to prepare the required documents to turn all my accounts and assets into joint assets between my daughter and me. I won’t have Elena depend on anyone ever again—not even you, Alec.”

“Then one day, your father brought home a little boy—Matthew. He was only two years old, and he was the most adorable little boy I’d ever seen. Your father told me he’d messed up. That he wanted children so badly that it’s all he could think about. He told me he’d never stray again, and he begged me to give him one more chance.

Oh my GOD I feel sick

And Matthew? He hadn’t done anything wrong. So I asked to meet Matthew’s mother. That’s when I first met her… Jade.”

Yeah.. oh my god. Jade tried to take her out so she could be with him again and they could live a happy family and why she was always in competition with her and omg I REALLY HOPE ELENA IS HERS BIOLOGICALLY PH MY GOD

“Jade knew that she could never offer Matthew the life that I could, so she told me she’d stay away. That she’d never see her child again, that he’d be mine. She vowed to stay away from my family—from your father.”

“Yes, you’re mine. Of course you are. You’re my little miracle, Elena.”

THANK GOD

At the time, I didn’t realize that your father was still seeing Jade. I didn’t know that he’d been taking Matthew to see her every month. I didn’t know that Matthew was aware that I’m not his real mother. I had no idea that not only did he stay with Jade, they had a daughter together too. I didn’t find out until a few days before my car accident.”

Oh my god

Sarah smiles and cups Elena’s cheek. “So tell me,” she says. “Tell me what you’ve been up to. Tell me what you’re planning. Tell me what you need from me, Elena. I’ve given your father and brother everything… and now I want it back.”

There’s hatred flashing through her eyes, and I hope she won’t let it consume her. I hope this won’t change her beautiful heart.

News flash: OF COURSE IT HAS

and her eyes fall shut.

No “look at me 👹”?

Amazing sex and mutual trust… it’s enough. It has to be.

She walks into the living room to find Jade and Elise sitting on the sofa—her sofa. Jade sits up in shock, her hand going over her mouth. The same guilt that Matthew portrayed is reflected in her eyes too. “Jade,” Sarah says, her voice tinged with mock surprise. “What are you doing in my house?”

“You… you were dead.” Sarah looks down at her hands, as though she’s trying to determine whether Jade’s claim is true. “No,” she says. “I don’t think so.”

“Can’t say I love what you did to the place,” she says, frowning.

“I thought we agreed that you’d stay away from my family,” Sarah says, spreading her arms out on the sofa. “So why are you in my house?” Jade trembles and reaches for her phone, which just makes Sarah laugh. “Don’t bother,” she says. “Alaric is being detained by the Kennedys, and Matthew has been arrested for attempted murder. But worry not, Jade, soon you’ll be joining your darling son.” “You… you—this isn’t your house. Not anymore. It’s mine. You need to get out,” Jade says. “I’m calling the police. You’re trespassing.”

I narrow my eyes at her. I haven’t forgotten that Elise is the reason my wife ended up at Vaughn’s—the very same place she’ll end up at, eventually. I’ll make sure of it.

Between you and I, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish, sweetie.”

“Dad… I thought you said I was the only one that ever gets to have your vegetables?” Grandpa looks at her sheepishly, and I laugh. I love the way Sofia acts around her dad, and the way he treats her.

“But Elena is going to cook them for you,” he says, throwing all his charm at her. Sofia shakes her head. “You didn’t even know if I’d be here, and you didn’t call me either.” She turns to look at me. “Did he call you, Elena?”

Grandpa looks at me with wide eyes and shakes his head ever so slightly, and I just about manage to bite back a smile. “Uh, no,” I say, my tone unconvincing. “I knew it!” Sofia says, glaring at her father. “Don’t blame Grandpa,” Alec says, entering the kitchen with my mother right behind him. “He can’t help it. The old man never stood a chance. Elena just has a knack for stealing people’s hearts.”

“Yes, that’s true. My daughter-in-law is so loveable.” Mom clears her throat. “Sofia, you do realize she’s my daughter, right?” Sofia narrows her eyes and tightens her grip on me. “Not anymore, she’s not.” Mom glares right back at her. “Alec and Elena’s wedding ceremony is still three months away!” I watch the two of them in amusement. Sofia has loved having me around and I’ve gotten used to spending time with her, while Mom is trying her hardest to make up for lost time. The two have been butting heads over who gets to spend time with me constantly. It’s like they’re two divorced parents fighting over custody of me, and it amuses me endlessly. It makes me feel loved, and I haven’t felt that way in years. I know the playfulness they portray is an attempt to lighten the mood after a couple of tough months, but that they’d even consider doing that for me at all, astounds me.

There’s no way I’d disown you for choosing happiness. I won’t be the reason you remain trapped in a loveless marriage.”

without repercussions. I tried so hard to protect my mother, but if I hadn’t, she might have been able to get a divorce much sooner.

My love for her is what prolonged her pain.

Aweeeee shit. Here we go AGAIN

Just like my mother, Elena is losing sight of who she is. I see her light dim every day. It’s not just everything that went down with her father. It’s more than that. It’s me. I see her heart break every time I kiss her.

He’s been different lately. He hasn’t been himself since his mother asked for a divorce. There’s so much distance between us now, and I don’t know how to fix it.

Same trope pt. 019284727192993&383

He doesn’t look at me the same anymore. When he smiles at me, it’s like I’m just another girl. He hasn’t even touched me in weeks now.

But can I harden my heart the way he has?

Also what happened to not wanting her innocence and spark to fade dude because guess what that’s exactly what’s happening

“Do you really think it’s possible to live without love?” Alec nods as he plays with my hair. “We’ve been doing it just fine, haven’t we?” His words hurt, yet I smile through the pain. He has no idea that I fall a little further every day.

“Elena, why are we even talking about this? I gave you an out when I proposed. I told you that if you married me, you’d be agreeing to a life without love. So why do you suddenly want more?”

“After everything you just witnessed, you still want love?

“Alec… you and I both grew up in households without love. Is that what you want for our children?”

“You got what you wanted—you managed to save your mother’s life. And I married you so I’ll get the job I want. That’s all this marriage is, Elena. It’s just a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

“That’s it?” I ask, my voice breaking. “That’s all I am to you?”

“I care about you, Elena. Of course, I do. You know I do.” Alec shakes his head and turns his back to me. I hear the words he doesn’t say. He cares about me—but he...

“My position as chairman is yours. I’ll lift the marriage requirement. You’re well aware that I adore Elena, but don’t marry her in pursuit of your own goals. If you marry her, marry her because it’s her you want, because you can’t imagine your life without her, because you love her. I want for you what your mother didn’t get to have—a happy and fulfilling marriage. Don’t end up like your mother. Don’t do that to Elena.”

GOOD GRIEF FINALLY GRmps

“What are you saying, Elena? Are you saying you want a divorce?” She shakes her head. “No. I don’t know.” “You don’t know?” I repeat slowly. Elena looks away and sighs. “I don’t know what I want anymore, Alec.” I pull away from her, my heart uneasy. I take a step away from her, letting her go. “Look, I just need some fresh air,” I tell her, walking away.

I don’t get how you can be all sad and shit when YOURE THE ONE WHO CAUSED THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE UGH

I feel sick. The thought of her leaving me tears me apart—but if I were to hold on to her, would I be tearing her apart?

Ever since the topic of divorce came up, our relationship deteriorated beyond repair. He’s making me feel like he has no further use for me now that he’s become chairman.

The way he’s treating me… it’s what I expected all along.

There’s no shame in loving someone with all your heart, Elena, but that love must be mutual. If you end up giving more of yourself than you get back, you’ll end up a shell of yourself, depleted, like I was. Had I walked out sooner, I might have had a different life. Who knows? I might have actually found true love.” I stare at her, my thoughts whirling. “Even after everything that happened, you still seem to believe in love.” Mom nods. “It’s not love that did this to me, honey. It’s the absence of love.”

we loved with all our hearts and never received that same love back. Living like that, loving like that, it’s not sustainable.”

“Honey, a life without love isn’t a life worth living. Besides, you don’t get to choose whether or not you love someone. If only. How much easier would life be if we could just make that choice? Love… it doesn’t listen to reason.”

“It seems like you’ve gotten too comfortable in this marriage. You and I had an agreement, remember? Or did the sex make you think you can overstep the boundaries you agreed to.”

“Our agreement was supposed to be mutually beneficial, but it wasn’t. I’d like to remedy that. Besides, since you have no further need for me, we might as well dissolve our arrangement.”

“I love you, Alec.” I freeze and she smiles mirthlessly. “I love you. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but I’m irrevocably in love with you.” I pull away from her, staring at her in disbelief. She laughs, but there’s no humor in her eyes. “You find that harder to believe than me cheating on you?”