Page 147 of About Love and Revenge

“Why?”

“Because it makes me sure I'm yours.”

Odin

EPILOGUE ONE

Two Years Later

NEW YORK

“I'd liketo say a big thank you to everyone who contributed towards making tonight possible. The Dyslexia Support Association appreciates your help. My name is Elina Lykaios, and until a few years ago, I could barely read...”

While I listen to my wife speak, my love and admiration for her grows even more.

Little by little, Elina has managed to overcome her trauma.

After she received expert help and came out of the darkness she had been subjected to her whole life, she could have kept it hidden from people. She didn’t need to expose herself, showing the world the parental abuse she had suffered because of her difficulties.

Instead, my brave wife, the love of my life and mother of my children, decided to go out there and share her story.

She founded a dyslexia support and guidance association, and every year she organizes a fundraiser for other less fortunate institutions than ours.

At the association, parents receive training from a medical team, as well as from special needs teachers and psychologists, in order to support their children. It is essential that, in addition to treatment, the child's self-esteem is developed. That way, the kid won't grow up feeling inferior for being different.

I’ve watched her speaking several times, and each time I fall a little more in love with the blonde who changed my life.

I can say that I learned to be happy.

In fact, it was a mutual learning experience. We taught each other how to trust, but I think the fundamental link for us to overcome the past has been our children.

As we form our own family, we need to focus on the future. We don't want the children to be affected by the suffering of our childhood, and I can say that my wife's positivity has been the foundation for that.

We have not turned our backs on our origins, however. We've already been to Norway, although I don't have any living relatives there. We also take the boys to Greece often.

Though we go to a different island.

I bought another one and transferred Elina's horses there. I don't want my children on the same island where my parents were killed and Elina and I grew up. I passed ownership of the private part of the old island to Milena, as this is where her family is buried.

I no longer have any interest in returning to that place. It represents nothing to me but death. First, that of my cousin Orien, and then that excuse for a human being that was Leandros Argyros.

No one knows for sure what happened that day when I left him with the islanders, but sometime later his body was recovered by a fishing boat. The official cause of death was listed as drowning, although I don't believe that for a second. Anyone who puts themselves in the shoes of the missing girls' parents can understand that his end must not have been merciful.

As for Naim, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding his disappearance, but nothing has been proven. Some of the press reported that he had fled to a tax haven and that he was living under another identity with his own private harem. Most of the media, however, was betting that he was dead.

As the months passed and he didn't show up, his victims revealed themselves. It was an ugly thing to see, and I'm sure very embarrassing for the family. Actresses, models, and socialites from the United States and Europe spoke up about parties they were invited to on his yacht, where they were forced to have sex not only with the sheik himself but also with some of his friends. The women each received a check in exchange for their silence afterwards.

I suspect they didn't denounce him earlier out of shame. But once the first news report came out, it became the key to open Pandora's box.

Rheadur’s Emirate, in which Naim was the highest authority, tried in every way to contain the scandal, but it was useless. When the press smells the odor of carrion, nothing can stop them.

As for me, I know I would do it all over again. I would kill him as many times as necessary if it would guarantee my Elina's safety.

“So, it is with great joy that I announce that the money we raised this year will allow the creation of three more dyslexia support centers in our country. Once again, thank you so much for your generosity and support of our cause. Goodnight, everyone.”

The audience stands, and applause erupts through the hall.

I smile as she walks over to me. I couldn't be prouder. The introspective woman who seemed to hide from the world now lets what I always suspected was her true nature come to the surface.

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