HIS RECAP

The road isn't easy. problems are not over yet. Probably they are even far from being over yet, but having him by my side is all I need to face everything. He is my joy.


"Mmh..." My strength. "Ooh." My all in all, and my greatest weakness. Let the world know that we are inseparable! "Oohh." I moan with bitter ecstasy as I feel the soreness in my lower lip.

I wouldn't want to stop this for anything, but we are short of breath. Our husky breathing is the only sound echoing in this room as we pull away. We are both trembling as we lean our foreheads together, trying to steady our breathing, our eyes closed.

DAMIAN'S POV


Life is sweet when you find the right person to share your dreams and visions with, and this beautiful gift right here is that one person for me—brought to me by fate and blessed for me by the heavens. If there is anything that I would change about our story, it would be our encounter. I would bring it sooner. Then again, would that make our story this interesting?

No!


I look back at the day I was told about this arrangement, the bitterness I felt towards my parents, and this ghost betrothed that I had not met. I became so angry with life in general. I lost my right to be a Riccaforte when I stood my ground about what I wanted for myself. This sounded so ridiculous. I felt like I was being robbed of my right to be happy and choose the woman of my dreams.

Back then, I felt trapped. The idea of an arranged marriage was archaic and stifling. I wanted to carve my own path and find love on my own terms. The thought of being forced into a union with a stranger filled me with resentment. I remember the heated arguments with my parents and the sense of betrayal when they dismissed my feelings and desires.

Yet, as fate would have it, meeting her changed everything. The bitterness that once consumed me was replaced by a profound sense of gratitude. She was more than I could have ever dreamed of—kind, intelligent, beautiful, and understanding—weird and annoying, but all in a sweet, endearing way. She made me realize that sometimes life's greatest blessings come in the most unexpected forms and places.

As I think about our journey, I realize that every twist and turn, every moment of doubt and frustration, led us to this point. The struggle made us stronger, and the uncertainty made our bond deeper. If we had met under different circumstances, perhaps our story wouldn't hold the same magic or the same depth of connection.

Our journey from strangers to soulmates is what makes our love so unique. It is a testament to the power of fate and the beauty of finding love in the most unlikely places. The anger I once felt has melted away along the way, replaced by a deep appreciation for the path we've traveled together.

Now, I can't imagine my life without her. She is the missing piece I didn't know I needed—the partner who completes me in every sensible and senseless way. Damian Almeda Riccafirte is nothing without Ellie Marrie Riccaford. Looking back, I would not want to change a thing. Our story, with all its ups and downs, is perfect just the way it is. And I am grateful every day for the beautiful gift that is her.

I lost a lot along the way—the meaning of love and happiness—because, in a way, I was awaiting the day I would meet the so-called phenomenal betrothed of mine. I didn't care about her stories or what she even looked like. I only wanted to meet her when the supposed right time came for one reason: to let her know that not ever in my lifetime would I ever love a woman forced on me.

Then came the engagement day, the day I was about to finally confront my betrothed. That night, I planned on ending whatever had bound us together for years. It was the only thing I owed my parents—to personally stop the madness of this arranged marriage—and I didn't care about what would happen next. But even then, I didn't get to see my betrothed, one, because I was late to get to the city, and two, because apparently, my supposed fiancee shared the same sentiments with me. She eloped, and only God knew where that moment was, and I received the call to inform me about her disappearance when I tapped my feet on the grounds of the airport. I had no more reasons to go to that cursed engagement party. I got into my chopper and flew back to Mombasa, where I had been hiding my pains all the years.

Coincidentally, on my way home, I ran into this sweet but weird beauty stranded on the road, just like her life seemed messed up. She was terribly weird, but maybe that's what hooked me to her. I couldn't explain it at the moment; all I knew was that she was someone I needed to keep. I felt some sort of longing for her instantly. And there was this strange familiarity that struck me. When I saw her break down that same night in the room, I felt this rage to find whoever was causing her pain and beat the shit out of them, break their bones, and pull their lungs out if I could.

Without knowing who she was, I suddenly felt the desire to help her in any way and protect her from anything and anyone. I felt the urge to put a smile on her face by any means I could. Seeing her smile warmed my heart in a way I had never felt in my whole life. Her joy became my joy, her burdens automatically became mine, and her sorrows too, I share. We somehow started becoming one.