Chapter 113: Chapter 113

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Natalie's Voice Over

It had been exactly 1195days since the day that altered our destinies forever. They say the greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions. I was betrayed by the very ones I loved, countless times. Betrayal stings and cuts deeper, when it is a friend, rather than an enemy who breaks our trust. Forgive. Forgiveness. It was never an option for me, because I was left with no other option than to seek redress, from the ones who had left my heart shattered in pieces.

My peace of mind came from knowing that the ones who stole my happiness, ruined my marriage, and murdered my children were all paying for their misdeeds one way or the other. I could sleep peacefully at night, knowing that my children did not die for nothing. I had avenged them. Something any mother would do.

"Happy birthday mommy!" I hear, as my son comes out of the kitchen, behind me. holding a bouquet in his left hand and holding his little brother in his right hand. I sit on the couch, surprised to an extent.

"Oh, my babies," I open my arms, as I welcome them in. "Mwah! Mwah!" I kiss my sons as I hold them.

"Hey, papa." I say to my youngest child, Aiden. He was two years old already. It felt like I had him yesterday.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you! Say happy birthday to mommy, Em." Jack says to Emily, my oldest twin.

"Here," Jack says, as he hands me a Cartier box and an envelope. "From the kids and I."

"Okay, I love this. What is it?" I ask, as I accept the gifts. I open the Cartier box first. It's a bracelet. "It has my name engraved on it. This is beautiful, my love." I say, as I put it on. It had my new name, Kath, short for Katherine, engraved on it.

After t

"You're kidding!" I whisper yell, as I read the content of the envelope.

"No, mommy. Dad's not joking. We got it for you."

"You got me stocks at Cartier?" I ask both father and son. They both nod at me.

"Oh, my God. That's— I begin to tear up.

"I told you she was going to cry." Louis says, and Jack laughs.

"Hey. Don't laugh at your mom. Come on, babe. Don't cry. You'll make the twins cry, just look at Aiden's face." Louis says, and I look down at my son who already has on a sour face. I clean my tears as I nod profusely, "No, no, no, please, don't cry, okay? I was only pretending, it was a joke." I say, trying to pacify him. Aiden was a crybaby. He did a lot of crying and it seemed as though he enjoyed doing it. He begins to cry, and I sigh. Emily laughs, and Jack gets up with her.

"Told ya." Louis says. The American slang had kicked in. He talked more American than the British lingo. Thankfully, his accent was still intact.

"Sorry, my love. Let's go get you some milk, okay?" I say, pacifying my son. "You know, I did think you guys forgot about my birthday. I had no clue!"

"Were you mad at us?" My husband asks.

"Even if I was, I can't be now anymore, can I?" I wink at him.

"Don't do that. We said no more kids. Don't tempt me."

"Ew, mom!" Louis protests, and we both laugh. I walk up to him.

"Thank you for my gifts. The flowers, my bracelet," I say, raising my hand. I continue, "And the stocks you got me. Honestly, I wasn't expecting that, truly. Thank you, my love. Thank you." I say to my husband. The man I was deeply, and madly in love with. He kisses my hand, and then comes in for a kiss.

"Aunt Lydia's here!" Louis screams, informing us, as we hear the engine of a car approaching our driveway.

"Lydia's here." I say to Jack, excited. We walk hand in hand into the living room. Louis is outside with Lydia, and surprisingly, Ashley comes out of the car too.

"Ashley came too." Luke says, as we both watch them come in. I smile, as I watch both women hold their children in their arms. Lydia's son, Brent, was 4 years old already. Thankfully, he looked just like Lydia. Ashley had named her daughter Natalia, almost after my old name, as I had finally dropped the name Natalie Devaux Richardson. We had agreed to change our names, to start afresh in America.

"Nat— sorry, Katherine. Katherine!" Lydia screams, as she rushes to me. I meet her halfway. We hug, as we hold our children in our arms.

"My friend, I missed you so much. How are you? Happiest birthday, my friend. I couldn't get you a gift, but I figured being here for your birthday was just as good. Hey Luke!"

"Jack!" He reminds her.

She giggles, "My bad,"

"I missed you too, Lydia." I say, kissing her hand. "Thank you. Of course it is. Tell me you're staying for at least, a week." I want to cry. Lydia and I had been together through it all. I had neglected her and done so many hurtful things to her but she still remained there, by my side.

"Hi, Brent." I say, stretching my hand to hold her baby.

"Hi, Katherine." Ashley says, and I look at her, my heart warm and content. Lydia holds Emily.

"You know, I can't leave the company for too long. Right, Jack?" Lydia says. After I'd signed over the rights of CI back to its rightful owner, Jack had asked Lydia to work in CI, as his proxy, but with her rights limited to that of a Chairman. Lucas remained the Head of CI. It was the only way we connected to the name— Carrington.

"How are you, Ashley? Natalia's getting so big." I say, as I look at the dark haired baby. She reminded me of Rocket. She looked exactly like him. "Hi," I say, holding her hand.

"I'm hungry, momma." Little Brent says.

"You just had some Chinese on the way here, babe. You're hungry again? Say happy birthday to your aunt. Go on,"

"Happy birthday, auntie." Brent says, and I give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you, monkey!" I say. Jack comes forward, "I'm glad you guys made it for her birthday. I can't believe she's thirty."

"I can't believe it either. Seems like yesterday when I had my twentieth soiree."

"And married the love of your life ten years ago."

"Wow that's a lot, dad. You married mom ten years ago?" Louis asks, as we head to the dining.

"Aunt Ashley, I have loads of fun stuff to show you!" I hear him whisper to Ashley.

"Yes, champ. I did. You're one lucky boy, you know."

"Lydia, help me in the kitchen? Ashley?" I call, as we head into the kitchen.

"Thankfully, the cooking's been done already, just help me take them to the table."

"Really, I can't believe this. You don't have a cook, still?" Lydia asks.

"I knew she was serious when she said that." Ashley responds.

"Of course I was. I'm dedicating the rest of my life into being a full time house wife. It's what I want."

"A house wife who wears a special edition Cartier bracelet." Ashley teases, and I chuckle.

"Heh. Tell me about it. It's well deserved though. My friend deserves it."

"Most definitely. Thank you, Natali— I don't think I'll ever get used to your new name. It's been three years and we can't seem to get Natalie off our tongues." Ashley says. I laugh.

"Well, try harder. Natalie's is in the past. Katherine is my present, and my future."

"Right. As I was saying, thank you, for being good to me. For taking me in. Even after Rocket, you still took me in and didn't change towards me. Because of you, my daughter and I have a good life."

"It's nothing, Ashley. You're family." I respond. I'd learned that family didn't necessarily mean those bound to us by blood. It meant those who were willing to stand by you, through thick or thin. Those who knew your flaws, secrets and didn't think to use them against you. It meant unconditional love. Ashley and Lydia knew I had something to do with Rocket's disappearance, but it was a known rule that nobody mentioned it. It was common knowledge amongst us three, and we knew not being it up, or ask questions related to the past. The past was forgotten, buried and gone. This was our present, our reality.

"I'll just grab the juice for the juice boxes for the kids and some champagne for us."

"Sparkling white, please." Lydia says.

"Gotcha!" I respond, winking. She bursts out laughing, as she and Lydia head to the dining. I pick the juice boxes and the bottle of champagne.

"Okay, kids, here you go." I say, distributing the juice boxes amongst the five children seated round our dining table.

"Hi, mommy," I say to Emily as she looks at me. She laughs, and I blow her a kiss. I stretch towards Aiden, so I can take out his pacifier. My husband smacks my butt.

"Ow?!"

"Yuck." Louis whispers to himself. Jack and I giggle, and I stick out my tongue to him. The table is filled with laughter and giggles. I watch everyone, satisfied, content and overjoyed. Finally, we were getting the happiness and peace of mind we deserved. I was getting my happy ending after nearly a decade of anguish, resentment and vengeance. The cycle had been broken already, and we were set free from the bondage that is revenge. The final revenge was over.

"I'd like to say a prayer," I say, as I sit. "Thank you Lord for life. Thank you for our health, and thank you for our children. Thank you for taking us out of the storm and giving us a second chance, a new beginning. Amen."

Jack begins to pour the wine in everyone's flute. He sits. "To new beginnings. Cheers."

"To new beginnings!" We chorus.

THE END.