The Bride Widow
Chapter 189 - 187: Epilogue: The End

Chapter 189: 187: Epilogue: The End

Anabella sat in her small apartment, staring out the window as the last rays of sunlight painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. The events of the past weeks lingered in her mind like a storm she couldn’t shake.

She was finally free—free of her marriage, free of her toxic family’s expectations. But somehow, that freedom felt heavier than she’d imagined. It wasn’t just about moving on; it was about figuring out who she was outside of all those constraints.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. She turned her head, expecting no one, but when she opened it, Clair and Noah stood there, both wearing concerned expressions.

"We brought dinner," Clair said gently, lifting a bag that smelled of warm bread and roasted chicken.

"And dessert," Noah added, holding up a smaller bag with a mischievous smirk.

Anabella smiled faintly, stepping aside to let them in. Their presence always seemed to bring an odd comfort to her, even when she felt like everything inside her was falling apart.

The three of them sat around her small dining table, eating quietly at first. It wasn’t long before Clair spoke up, her voice soft and careful. "You’ve been quiet, Anabella. Are you okay?"

Anabella hesitated, unsure of how to put her feelings into words. "I don’t know," she admitted finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I should be happy, shouldn’t I? I’m finally free. But I just feel... lost."

Noah leaned forward, his gaze steady and warm. "It’s okay to feel like that. You’ve been through so much. No one expects you to have it all figured out right away."

Clair reached across the table, placing a gentle hand over Anabella’s. "We’re here for you. Whatever you need."

Their kindness was overwhelming, and Anabella felt tears prick at her eyes. She looked down at her plate, trying to steady herself, but the emotions she’d been bottling up began to spill over.

"I don’t know who I am without all of this," she admitted, her voice shaking. "For years, I’ve been living as someone else’s puppet—first my family’s, then Daniel’s. Now that I’m free, I don’t even know where to start."

Clair and Noah exchanged a glance, and something unspoken passed between them. They both nodded slightly, as if coming to a mutual decision.

"Anabella," Clair began, her voice trembling slightly but filled with determination. "There’s something we’ve been meaning to tell you. We didn’t want to push you while you were going through everything, but..."

Noah picked up where Clair left off. "But we care about you. A lot more than friends or acquaintances should. We’ve tried to hold back because we didn’t want to complicate things for you, but we can’t keep pretending. We love you, Anabella."

Anabella froze, her breath catching in her throat. She stared at them, her mind racing. She had felt something between the three of them, but she had always pushed it aside, convincing herself it wasn’t real. And now here they were, confessing their feelings to her.

"I—" she started, her voice faltering. The shock was too much, and for a moment, she couldn’t find the words. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she felt her emotions bubbling over again.

Clair reached for her hand, her touch grounding and warm. "It’s okay," she said softly. "You don’t have to say anything right now. We just wanted you to know how we feel."

But Anabella shook her head, wiping at her eyes. "No, I—I need to say this," she said, her voice thick with emotion. She looked at them, her heart pounding. "I like you both too. More than I thought I should. But everything has been so much lately, and I don’t know if I’m ready for... this. For us."

Noah nodded, his expression understanding. "We’re not asking you to make any decisions right now. Take your time, Anabella. We’ll wait."

Anabella let out a shaky laugh, her tears falling freely now. "You’re both too good to me," she said, her voice breaking. "I don’t deserve this."

Clair cupped Anabella’s face in her hands, her eyes filled with warmth. "Don’t ever say that. You deserve everything good in this world, and we’ll be here to remind you of that every day if we have to."

Anabella closed her eyes, leaning into Clair’s touch. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly seen, truly valued. But she also knew she needed time—time to sort through her feelings, time to heal from the wounds of her past.

"I need a month," she said finally, looking between them. "To figure things out. To come to terms with everything. Can you give me that?"

"Of course," Noah said without hesitation. "Take all the time you need. We’re not going anywhere."

Clair smiled, her hand still resting on Anabella’s cheek. "We’ll be here when you’re ready."

Anabella felt a weight lift from her chest. For the first time, she felt like she could breathe. She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew she wasn’t alone anymore. And that was enough for now.

______

A month passed quietly, and for the first time in years, Anabella felt at peace. Her days were simple but fulfilling. She spent her mornings experimenting with new recipes in her bakery, afternoons catching up on books she’d always wanted to read, and evenings strolling through the nearby park. Her life wasn’t glamorous or extraordinary, but it was hers—free of expectations, free of manipulations.

She had used the past few weeks to reflect deeply, confronting the pain and the trauma she had carried for so long. She realized she didn’t need to have all the answers immediately. Healing, she’d come to understand, was a process, not a destination.

Still, there was one thing she couldn’t stop thinking about: Clair and Noah. Their confession lingered in her mind like a soft melody, replaying over and over.

She thought about the warmth of their presence, the sincerity in their voices, and the way they had respected her need for space. They had been her anchor in the storm, and now that the storm had passed, she wondered if she was ready to let them in fully.

It was a crisp, sunny morning when they came to see her. Anabella was busy arranging fresh croissants in the bakery’s display case when the bell above the door chimed. She glanced up and saw Clair and Noah standing there, their expressions both hopeful and nervous.

"Good morning," Clair said, her voice light but tinged with anticipation.

"Hey, Anabella," Noah added, giving her a small, reassuring smile.

Anabella wiped her hands on her apron, her heart suddenly racing. She had been preparing herself for this moment, but now that it was here, she felt a mix of emotions—excitement, nervousness, and a touch of fear.

"Morning," she replied, trying to steady her voice. "What brings you two here?"

Clair stepped forward, her hands clasped in front of her. "We didn’t want to rush you, but... it’s been a month. We thought we’d check in and see how you’re doing."

"And to ask if you’ve had time to think about us," Noah added gently. "No pressure, of course. We just wanted to know where you stand."

Anabella took a deep breath, her gaze shifting between the two of them. She had spent weeks thinking about this moment, and now it was here.

Her mind flashed back to the countless nights she had replayed their confession in her head, the warmth she felt whenever they were around, and the undeniable pull she had toward them.

"I have thought about it," she said finally, her voice steady but soft. "And I’ve realized that you two mean more to me than I can put into words. You’ve been there for me when I needed someone the most. You’ve seen me at my worst and never turned away."

Clair and Noah exchanged a glance, their expressions brightening with hope.

Anabella smiled, her heart full as she continued. "I won’t lie—I’m still healing. I’m still figuring out who I am and what I want. But one thing I’m sure of is that I want you both in my life. If you’re willing to be patient with me, then... yes. My answer is yes."

Clair let out a soft gasp, her eyes shining with emotion. "You have no idea how happy that makes me," she said, stepping closer to take Anabella’s hands in hers.

Noah grinned, his relief palpable. "You’ve just made us the happiest people alive," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Anabella felt a warmth spread through her chest, a feeling she hadn’t experienced in a long time. For so long, she had believed she didn’t deserve happiness, that love was something conditional and fleeting. But standing there with Clair and Noah, she realized how wrong she had been.

They spent the rest of the day together, walking through the park and talking about everything and nothing. Clair and Noah listened intently as Anabella shared her hopes and dreams, her fears and insecurities. And for the first time, she felt completely understood and accepted.

As the sun began to set, casting the sky in hues of gold and lavender, the three of them sat on a bench overlooking the lake. Anabella leaned into Clair, who wrapped an arm around her, while Noah took her hand in his.

"This feels right," Anabella said softly, her gaze on the shimmering water.

"It does," Clair agreed, resting her head against Anabella’s.

"We’ll take it one day at a time," Noah said, his voice steady and reassuring. "There’s no rush, no pressure. Just us."

Anabella smiled, her heart full. She had spent so much of her life feeling trapped and unloved, but now she knew she had found something real—something worth holding onto.

And so, under the fading light of the day, Anabella began a new Chapter of her life, one filled with love, support, and the promise of happiness. It wasn’t a fairytale ending, but it was hers, and that was more than enough.