Chapter 81
Nick
Upon hearing her response, I closed my eyes, trying to contain the emotions of my broken heart. That’s it, I sighed painfully. I had done everything during this time–everything to prove my love to her–and she still decided to throw it all away. She made a choice that didn’t include me. I walked down the stairs and left, respecting her decision, even though it was tearing me apart.
Alaia
The ceremony began. My hands were still sweating, trembling slightly. *Oh God, oh God, what am I doing?* I glanced at the guests. My mother was watching me, and I thought she looked suspicious. Her gaze felt heavy. My children were a little restless, and their uncles were doing everything they could to keep them attentive. It wasn’t an easy task.
Cedric’s parents smiled happily, as did his grandparents. That’s when I noticed Darius. He appeared impassive, his posture rigid. The wedding officiant began speaking about the commitment we were making, following the usual protocol, until it was time for the question.
“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 glanced at Cedric for a moment before lowering my gaze. I breathed in, out, again and again. I closed my eyes for a second, and the image of Nick sitting on the furniture in his room flashed in my mind. My whole body shuddered at the thought of him. I breathed again, pressing my eyes closed, trying to erase the image before giving the answer I had to give- even though my heart screamed something else entirely.
I lifted my face to look at Cedric.
“I do,” I replied, feeling the air leave my chest, which tightened painfully. I heard a slight muffled sob from Tino.
The officiant nodded and smiled, then turned his gaze to Cedric, who was watching me intently.
“Cedric Van Holt, do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her, honor her, comfort her, and keep her, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?” the man asked. Cedric fixed his gaze on me, gently brushing his thumbs against the backs of my hands.
For a second, I thought I saw someone at the chapel’s entrance. My eyes darted toward the door, but it was now empty. My heartbeat quickened. Could it have been Nick? Did he really come all the way here, or was it just a figment of my imagination?
“Aly?” Cedric whispered, noticing that my focus was elsewhere. Tino and my cousin glanced curiously in the same direction.
“Mr. Van Holt?” the officiant said.
With my breathing accelerated, I turned my attention back to Cedric and the officiant. I squeezed Cedric’s hands and looked into his eyes.
“Cedric, honey,” I whispered, hoping he’d understand I needed him to speak before giving his answer. He stared at me for several seconds before nodding silently.
“Alaia and I need a moment,” Cedric said, addressing the officiant and the guests. He didn’t release my hands. Murmurs broke out among the crowd, their voices echoing through the room.
I lifted the skirt of my dress and quickly walked toward the exit, my heels clicking on the well–maintained floor. As soon as I left the room, I searched for the person I thought I had seen, walking toward where his silhouette had disappeared.
“Aly, what’s going on?” Cedric asked, following me.
I didn’t answer. I kept walking, unable to find him.
“This castle is a damn maze!” I muttered in frustration, releasing my skirt. I glanced back, seeing my cousin and Tino standing together, while Cedric watched me with a mixture of concern and confusion. Darius was approaching with one of his security men. My mind raced.
“I thought I saw Nick,” I admitted in a low voice, speaking to Darius. I wished my father had been there, but I knew he was busy with the guests and Cedric’s family.
“We’ll check if he’s here,” Darius assured me, nodding. Then, shaking his head, he added, “You really couldn’t be this stubborn p>
I frowned at his words.
“For our family, it would be right if the children’s father and your husband were the same person.” He gestured toward Cedric. “That idiot comes from a good family, and at least he doesn’t demean me. But you don’t love him p>
I opened my mouth to respond but closed it again, unsure of what to say.
“We’ll look for Nick while they handle things in the chapel,” Darius said, motioning to the ceremony inside.
I nodded, still confused, and followed Cedric, my cousin, and Tino.
“Let’s go to my room,” I said, taking Cedric’s hand.
“What’s going on? Tell me what I think is going on!” Tino exclaimed excitedly.
“Shhh, honey,” Ash hushed him.
I opened the door to the room and let them in. I walked over to the window, searching for Nick again.
“Aly, what’s happening?” Cedric asked.
I swallowed hard and turned to face him. He stood with his hands on his hips. My cousin and Tino sat on the elegant divan, holding hands, watching us expectantly.
“It’s Nick,” I said, feeling a weight lift slightly from my chest.
“What about that jerk?” Cedric spat; his face twisting in disgust.
“What else could it be, Blondie? The jerk has stolen her heart again. He’s managed to make her fall for him all over again! Isn’t that the most romantic thing you’ve ever heard?” Tino said dramatically.
Cedric let out a growl, startling Tino.
I glanced at Tino, suddenly wondering if it had been a good idea to bring him. I thought they deserved to know what was going on, but he wasn’t helping. Cedric turned to me, his face a mixture of disbelief and anger.
“That son of a bitch again, Aly?” he said, his voice rising with frustration. “Are you serious p>
“I couldn’t help it,” I said, swallowing hard. “I think my love for him never really went away.” It was the first time I admitted it, to myself and to anyone else.
Cedric paced back and forth, visibly upset.
“Damn it, Aly, you can’t be serious.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Did you forget everything he put you through? If it weren’t for him and his grandfather, the kids wouldn’t even be here. The nights you spent crying, the days he should have been by your side but wasn’t–because he was with Barbara, enjoying the benefits of his choice while you were left raising his children alone,” he said angrily.
“Cedric, I thought the same as you. I kept all of that in my heart. I thought I hated him, but he’s still the man I fell in love with years ago,” I explained.
Cedric scoffed.
“Nick did everything for his father and for me back then,” I said softly.
“And you believed him?” Cedric laughed bitterly. “His father’s dead p>
“He’s not dead,” I replied.
I started to explain everything that had happened with Nick since the day he asked me for a divorce. Cedric remained skeptical, while Tino and Ash gaped at me.
“That man couldn’t love you more, daughter,” Tino declared. Cedric shot him an angry look.
“Wow,” Ash muttered, still processing everything.
“What a father–in–law you’ve got. Hopefully, he’s not as heartless as his dad,” Tino added.
“I don’t think Nick would’ve sacrificed so much for someone so despicable,” Ash said.
“This can’t be true,” Cedric muttered, still in disbelief. I retrieved the documents Nick had brought earlier.
“Dominic Garnett–it’s no coincidence,” I said, handing them to Cedric. He read through them, frowning, then reached for his phone.
That’s when I remembered the “Dom” my kids had mentioned. Nick had taken them to meet their grandfather. A slight smile tugged at my lips as I thought about it.
“They bought one of the teams in his name,” Cedric commented, still frowning, then turned to me.
“What are you two talking about? What’s going on?” Tino asked, pointing at both of us.
“Cedric?” Ash looked at us seriously.