Chapter 35：Epilogue: The Acceptance

Azalea Johnson's POV

I was running late, again, for the meeting with my advisor. My husband was no help either as he did not wake me up when he went to work, leaving me alone in the bed. I cursed as I got out of the shower and went to put on a blouse and jeans. I will have a word with him after this.

"Hey, it's Alex, leave a message," it beeped before I hung up.

"Why bother to have a phone if you don't pick it up at all?" I said as I went to brush my hair and put it on in a ponytail. I wore sunscreen and moisturizer but no makeup. I barely have any time left.

I went to the Lyft app and ordered my car. I need to get there as soon as possible. Aunt Maeve will be mad if I was late again. Luckily the car was ready for me. I went to grab my bag and headed out to the door before I went to the lobby to catch my ride.

After 45 minutes drive, because of the traffic of New York, I have arrived at my department. I don't see Barb as she said that she will be in the Bay Area for her research and my other two friends were not in sight.

I walked up the stairs, two at a time and I went to stand in front of my advisor's office. I knocked on the door before a voice called for me to come in.

"Hi, Prof. Smith," I said in a formal tone as I knew it was not my godmother that I was talking to right now, but my advisor Prof. Maeve Smith.

"Ah yes, Azalea, please take a seat," she said as she was typing something on her laptop before drawing her attention to me. I thanked her before I took a seat. She was rummaging through her papers before she pulled an envelope with the university's logo on it.

"The reason why I called for you to meet me today is I wanted to give you this," she said as she handed me the envelop that I was taking it from her.

"for me?" I asked her. She nodded.

"Open it," she said.

"what is it?"

"Is this real. For real?" I asked her as she nodded.

"you got in," she said cheerfully. I was lost for words and speechless at the moment. I was looking at her and the letter before I stood and went to hug her. She laughed.

"Okay, I let it this one but after this, you will not be so familiar with me," she said. I laughed.

"well, I already am," I said. She laughed at my comment. After I took my seat back, we went over what to expect from the Ph.D. program here and how it will be difficult now that the whole campus about my relationship with Prof. Alex MacWatters of the Chemistry department.

"The deans said it will complicate thing but I know you, Lea and you are strong-willed and will never be left anything half done. You deserved this," she said as she was looking at me. I arched an eyebrow.

"does Prof. MacWatters has anything to do with this?" I asked her. Aunt Maeve laughed before she shook her head.

"no, this was all you and your presentation. You captured the heart of the deans at that moment," she said. I smiled.

"well, good to know that," I said and as she told me more about the program and how it will be started in the Fall, I nodded my head.

"well, thank you, prof. For you time," I said as I shook her hand. She looked at me before pulling me into a hug. I laughed.

"I thought you said just one hug," I said.

"well, you can never be done without a hug now, can you?" She replied before I thanked her and I went out of her office as her next appointment was coming. I thanked her before I went to my room and put my letter in my drawer. I was smiling widely before it turned a scowl.

"Hello, Silas," I said as he stopped in front of my table. I will not let him ruin my day for me now. I was stronger than this and I have a hunk of a man as my husband now. I should not dwell on the past.

"well, looks who's back. I thought I will not be seeing you again," he commented as his smirk was plastered to his lips. I had an urge to slap it off but I should not.

"of course, what you took me for? I'm not doing thing half-ass done," I said as I slipped out of my desk before I was heading out of the room. Silas holds my wrist as I tried to get away from him.

"you will not survive here, Lea and that husband of yours will not protect you but I will, I can," he said as he looked at me. I looked bored at him as he was gripping my wrist tighter.

"I suggest you release my hand before something else happens," I said coolly. He smirked.

"what? Afraid that your husband will come and look at our scandalous affair?" He asked. I smiled saccharinely at him.

"no, but this will hurt," I said before I smacked his nose with my fist. I have been meaning to do that.

"bitch," he shouted as I walked away from the scene. People were staring but I don't give a fuck.

"I will report as sexual harassment," he shouted at me. I turned around as I walked backward.

"do it and we'll see how your story came out to be. You know you will never get away that easily," I said as I shot dagger at him before I left the building as I opened the door and went to the direction that I only know, Chemistry department.

I was in front of Alex's office as I was hesitating to get inside. What if he was having some discussion with someone? Someone like Maya? shoot, I should tell Maya about the truth of Silas. They were going out together and as much as I hate Maya, I need to get her out of that toxic relationship that I have with him. I shook that thought away as I wanted to knock on the door, it opened.

"lea, what are you doing here?" Alex asked me as I can see someone was moving inside his room.

"Nothing, I was just wanted to see you, that's all. And maybe go for lunch if you're not to busy?" I asked him.

"so, it's that her?" A voice asked me as Alex sighed.

"yes, Cam. It's her and she is my wife," Alex said as he opened the door wider and I saw a man was standing in front of me.

"Hi, I'm Cameron but everyone just calls me Cam," he said as he shook my hand.

"I'm Azalea but I go with Lea," I said as I was smiling at him. Alex rolled his eyes at me before patting his friend.

"you should go, you will be late for the conference," he said to Cam.

"oh right. well, it was nice to meet you, Lea. Alex," he nodded at Alex. Alex did the same.

"see you in the fall," Alex said as he bro hugged his friend before Cam hugged me as well.

"You two are so cute, I ship it," he said before he went out of the office. Alex sighed before he told to wait for him as he grabbed his wallet and phone and keys and his bag before he went out of the office and locked it.

"well, he seems nice," I said as we walked out of the building. Alex scoffed.

"and you introduced yourself as Lea. Why can't I call you Lea when we first met?" He asked me as he went to open the car. I slid in and he closed it before he went to the driver's seat. He got in and started the ignition as he put his bag onto the backseat.

"well, you were a douchebag," I joked at him.

"haha, very funny," he said as he fastens his seatbelt. I did the same. He checked the rearview mirror before he went to leave the campus.

"so, what do you want to eat for lunch?" He asked me as he was driving through town.

"I would like to cook for you if that's okay?" I asked him as he looked at me briefly. He smirked at me.

"any special occasions?" He asked me. I smiled.

"you'll see," I said as we went back to our house. I could live like this if Alex was the one that was on my side.

"come on, I'm dying here," he said as he was resting on the stool as he was watching me cooking. I was making steak and salad for lunch. I laughed at him.

"you have to wait until I got food on the table," I said as I was checking on the T-bone, almost done.

"well, you know I was not a very patient man, right?" He said as he took a sip of his wine. I took his glass and took a sip as well before putting it onto the table.

"I got in," I said as I looked at him. His eyes were wide as a saucer.

"for real?" He asked me again. I nodded.

"that's great, my love," he said before he swings me up. I was laughing before he put me down and kissed me.

"you think we can skip lunch and have an early dinner?" He asked me huskily as I looked at the T-bone. It can wait.

"you better start now, MacWatters or we might lose more precious time," I said as I snaked my arms around him. Alex switched off the oven before he picked me up and I wrapped around his torso. I can feel his budge. yup, lunch definitely can wait.

"well, let's not waste it, shall we?" He said as he carried me to the bedroom. My laughter was echoing against the penthouse.

It was my happy ending.

~THE END~