Alex’s P. O. V.
Three Months Later
I’ve been healing gradually from the truth I discovered about my father three months ago.
I’m certain I would’ve completely lost myself if Stella hadn’t been there for me during this time. She helped me find myself again and stood strong, even though I know she herself was healing from the trauma of taking someone’s life.
Her mother protected Stella by ensuring her name didn’t come up during the police investigation. She lied, claiming that she hit my father in self-defence, which ultimately led to his death.
Even though he was a monster, it’s been hard for Stella to accept that she killed someone. But during this time, we’ve become each other’s strength.
We’re now living in an apartment I bought near our college. All of my father’s properties were in my name, but I donated them to charity. I didn’t want to keep anything that belonged to that man. However, I kept the beach house because it’s close to my heart. That place has always given me some kind of peace.
And my father’s business wasn’t entirely his-it originally belonged to my grandfather. Now, it’s being handled by Stella’s mother. Stella and I have decided to join the firm after completing our studies.
Over these months, I’ve grown attached to Stella’s mother, whom I now call Mom. I always knew she was a kind and sweet woman, but now I’ve come to see just how strong she truly is. Despite everything she’s endured, she never lost her resilience.
At night, Stella and I lie tangled in each other’s arms, naked. Her fingers lazily trace the tattoos on my chest, sending shivers down my spine like always with her touch.
“I also want to have a tattoo like you.” She says suddenly, her voice filled with excitement.
As I glance down at her, a grin spreads across my face. “Really? I was thinking the same thing. We should get one together.”
Her golden eyes light up as she raises her head from my chest to look at me. “Like a couple tattoo?”
“Yup.” I nod before lifting her hand to my lips and placing a soft kiss on it. “I want something that will connect us forever.”
Her lips curl into a wide smile. “Let me pick the design!” She sits up slightly and grabs her phone from the nightstand.
As she browses through ideas with enthusiasm, I watch her with a smile, marvelling at how easily she brightens my life. She flips through images, pausing occasionally before shaking her head and scrolling on.
Finally, her face lights up as she holds the phone up to me. “See? We’ll get this one.”
On the screen is a simple yet elegant design: A heart on the wrist, with the initials of each other’s name etched inside.
“It’s perfect,” I agree, already imagining it on our skin. “We’re definitely getting this one.”
“Yes! It’s going to look so beautiful on our wrists,” she squeals, her fingers brushing over the screen as if she’s envisioning it there already.
I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “It will. But right now…” I tilt her chin up and utter in a husky tone, “I want you again.”
Before she can respond, I capture her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. She melts against me, her hands resting on my chest.
I roll her onto her back before pinning her hands above her head against the mattress. “You drive me crazy, Flower,” I whisper against her lips, my body pressing against hers.
Her eyes lock with mine, filled with love and desire. “Good. Because you do the same to me, Mr. Alex Blackwood.”
***
The next day, we decide to make the idea a reality. Stella is bouncing with excitement as we enter the tattoo studio, her hand tightly clutching mine. I smile at her enthusiasm-it’s one of the many things I adore about her. She is teaching me also how to enjoy the small moments of life to the fullest.
“Are you ready for this, Flower?” I ask as we take our seats and the buzzing sound of the tattoo machine fills the room.
She nods eagerly, but I catch the slight nervousness in her eyes as the artist prepares the stencil. “Of course, Alex. Are you?”
“Always,” I reply, lifting her hand to kiss her knuckles.
As the artist starts on my wrist, I hardly flinch. Stella, on the other hand, tenses the moment the needle touches her skin. Her nails dig into the back of my hand.
“Flower,” I say, leaning closer to her. “If it’s hurting you so much, we can stop. We don’t have to do this.”
Her head snaps toward me, and she glares. “No way. I can take it. This tattoo is important to me, Alex.”
I grin at her response. That’s my Stella-stubborn and determined to the core.
She bites her lip, and her grip on my hand tightens as the needle continues its work. I stroke her knuckles with my thumb, hoping to ease some of her discomfort. “Just think about how amazing it’ll look once it’s done.”
She grins at me. “I can’t wait.”
Minutes later, the artist finishes, and the designs are perfect. On my wrist, the heart has the letter ‘S’ inscribed inside, and on hers, an elegant A.
I lean over and brush a soft kiss against her newly inked skin. “It’s beautiful, Stella. Just like you.”
She blushes, her eyes shining as she looks at her wrist. “We actually did it.”
“Yeah, we did.” I nod, smiling at her.
She pulls out her phone and starts snapping photos of our wrists, her eyes shimmering.
“We need to do a complete photo shoot of this. This is so special.” She angles our hands together, finding the perfect lighting to capture the matching tattoos.
Her laughter fills the room as she flips through the pictures. “We look so good.” She throws her arms around my neck in a tight hug.
I hold her tightly, burying my face in her hair, inhaling the fragrance of her shampoo. I love it.
She pulls back slightly, her eyes meeting mine. “You know, we should get more tattoos like this. Different designs for different milestones.”
I chuckle, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You’re already planning our next one?”
“Of course,” she says, beaming. “This is our thing now.”
I press a kiss on her forehead. “Anything you want, Stella. As long as I get to do it with you.”
She leans her forehead against mine. Her smile never fading. “I’m always with you, Alex. Always.”
We walk out of the studio, hand in hand with the matching tattoos on our wrists, and for the first time in a long time, everything feels right. Stella and I have faced the darkness and come out stronger, together.