Chapter 80
Alaia
My children ran to me. They looked so precious. My little princess wore a short ballerina–style dress, and my boy wore a gray formal suit.
They looked beautiful.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
“Yeah,” they replied, nodding.
“You look beautiful, my daughter.” My mother took my hands and looked at my dress, then up to my face. The moment her eyes met mine, her smile faded, and she tilted her head.
“You don’t look like a bride,” she said, and Tino inhaled sharply.
“Mom, everything is fine. It’s just nerves,” I lied to my saintly mother.
“Yes, I imagine so.” She caressed my face and smiled again.
My father entered and took my hands. His smile said it all. He hugged me and kissed each of my cheeks.
“Shall we?” He offered me his arm, and I took it. We all left for the beautiful hall in the castle that resembled a small chapel, although the wedding would be civil.
“Oh, God,” I whispered as we reached the entrance. My father frowned and turned to me.
I smiled at him, but I knew it didn’t reach my eyes.
The guests stood up as we approached. Cedric’s parents smiled, as did the rest of the guests.
They were important businessmen from this country, from Holland, even from unique states. There must have been 100 people.
Cedric stood in front of the altar next to the man in the silver–gray suit who would officiate the wedding.
My fiancé smiled.
I took a deep breath as I reached Cedric and took his hands.
Nick
I had let the woman I loved go, hoping that my confession and everything I’d done these past few months had been enough to show her that I’d never stopped loving her. She was still the most important thing in my life, and I only wanted another chance with her and my children.
“I’m going to fix it.” What the hell did that mean? Could I trust her? Could I be certain she’d cancel the wedding and give us another chance?
I took a shower, but my mind could only replay last night: her perfect curves, her hardened peaks ready for me, the pressure on my c**k. I closed my eyes, remembering the sensation, and took my hard erection in hand to release the pressure in my flesh.
A loud groan escaped my lips as the image of Alaia filled with pleasure was etched in my mind.
I paced impatiently, giving Alaia the time she’d asked for, hoping it would be enough.
I ate lunch alone since Sophia and Marshal had the weekend off.
I called Alaia, but although the phone rang, there was no answer. I grabbed my car keys and hurried out of my house, heading to Alaia’s. We had to talk and figure out what would happen from now on.
The gate to Alaia’s house opened. The mansion was utterly silent. A shiver ran down my spine as I experienced déjà vu from the day I went to her house after she left.
I approached the door and rang the bell, noticing there were no cars, only a man at the entrance.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Garnett,” Sylvia greeted me.
“Good afternoon,” I replied, looking behind her.
“I’d like to see Alaia,” I requested, and a trace of doubt crossed her face.
“Miss Alaia traveled to Spain, sir.” Several thoughts raced through my mind, preventing me from hearing her.
“Excuse me?” I said.
“The young lady left for Madrid about an hour ago for her wedding, sir.” I inhaled sharply, unable to believe this was happening again.
“You lied to me p>
“Thank you.” I put on my sunglasses and ran to my car, driving to the airport. I had reserved the plane to travel to Spain for that very wedding, believing I wouldn’t need it.
“What the hell are you doing, Alaia p>
I remembered her gaze when I asked if she still loved me. Her lips didn’t answer, but her eyes did.
I heard my phone ringing and answered the call on speakerphone.
“Nick p>
“Will,” I said, taking a curve.
“Where are you, man? We’re an hour behind.” He was coming with me to Madrid.
“I’ll meet you at the airport,” I said and hung up.
I boarded the plane, and a few minutes later, Will arrived, carrying a small suitcase.
“What happened?” he asked as he took a seat.
“I spent the night with her. I confessed everything. She confirmed she still loves me p>
“But she didn’t call off the wedding,” he finished for me.
I shook my head, running my hand through my hair in frustration.
“I don’t understand anything anymore. If you confessed that you loved her, she was yours again. However, she’s still going through with marrying the other guy. Damn, some women are crazy.” He shook his head.
“Will,” I said, looking at him.
“Or she wants to make you pay for what she felt, even though she knows what happened wasn’t real,” he said, throwing up his hands in surrender.
I frowned, thinking about Alaia’s stubbornness in continuing with this wedding. Did she want to punish me? Did she feel I should suffer even more than I already had for making that mistake two years ago? Did she really love Cedric, and I only managed to confuse her? Or maybe she wanted to end the wedding personally. That was the most far–fetched idea. I shook my head in despair. That blond i***t only needed a phone call. There must have been something else.
“s**t, s**t, s**t,” I growled like a wounded animal.
I didn’t get a wink of sleep all night, while Will slept like a damn princess. After 12 torturous hours of travel, I took a shower and put on a black suit with a white shirt, no tie. We got off the plane, and I reviewed all the information I had about the damn wedding. We rented a car with a driver; we needed someone who knew the city. Then we headed to the goddamn castle. A freaking castle.
“Not her style,” I muttered, thinking of Alaia.
“I’ll pay him a hundred times what he’ll get today if he gets us there in half an hour,” I said, looking at the wedding’s start time. The man nodded.
The ride was silent. My fingers tapped impatiently on my knee. We came to a screeching halt in front of the castle’s shrubbery entrance. I could see some of the wedding decorations inside, and I clenched my fist.
“I’ll distract them. Find the entrance.” Will stepped forward.
“Good morning,” greeted the man dressed in a tuxedo, holding an iPad.
“Good morning. I’m here for the Van Holt–Russell wedding,” Will explained calmly as I glanced around.
“Actually, it’s the only wedding taking place today.” The man smiled.
“If you’re going to get married…” My nostrils flared. What the hell, Alaia?
“Your name, sir p>
“William Garnett p>
“Garnett. You’re not on the list,” the guy replied after reading every name. Will started talking to the man, who was joined by another. I took advantage of the distraction.
I rolled my neck, releasing tension, as I looked around and found the entrance I had already seen on a map I had requested a week earlier as a last resort if I couldn’t stop Alaia by confessing the truth.
I found the small side door and opened it. Will arrived soon after.
I got my bearings and walked to where the ceremony would be.
A feeling of unease washed over me when I heard a man’s voice echoing inside the hall.
“Alaia Russell, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, honor him, comfort him, and keep him, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live p>
I arrived at the open entrance to the hall and slowly climbed the stairs. Alaia and Cedric faced each other, holding hands.
Alaia lowered her gaze. The veil only allowed me to see a small part of her face. The painful image pierced my chest.
I heard a small, unmistakable sound from my daughter, who was in Asher’s arms.
The silence stretched on, and I lifted my chin to wait for her response. I hoped she would end this once and for all, that she would accept that she couldn’t marry Cedric while her heart was still mine. She was still mine, even if she was too proud to admit it and punish me for my mistakes by coming here after the night we spent together.
“I do,” replied the woman I loved.