Page 209 of Punishing His Runaway Bride
"Good," he said. "That's good."
He closed his eyes, fingers still holding mine, didn't let go.
He fell asleep. Breathing steady, chest rising and falling. Tear tracks still on his face, but his lips curved up.
I sat by the bed, watching him, didn't let go.
Sunlight poured through the window, fell on his face, on our joined hands.
Six months later.
The manor garden was filled with white chairs, a long white runner down the middle. Roses bloomed on both sides—red, pink, white—swaying gently in the breeze.
I stood in front of the living room mirror, wearing an exquisitely crafted wedding gown. Hair loose on my shoulders, not pinned up, just a white flower tucked in.
Sophie stood behind me, eyes red-rimmed.
"Don't cry," I said. "If you cry, I'll cry."
"I'm not crying," she said, voice thick. "I just think—you deserve this."
I looked at myself in the mirror. This face was older than five years ago, fine lines at the corners of my eyes, chin a bit sharper, but the eyes were bright.
"Ready?" Sophie asked.
"Ready."
She pushed open the door. Sunlight flooded in, so bright I squinted.
The garden was packed. Ella and Mark sat in the front row, clutching tissues, already cried out. Carlo stood nearby, expression serious but eyes smiling. Elsa and Carmen stood in back, for once showing genuine smiles.
At the end of the red carpet, Ezio stood there.
He wore a charcoal suit, hair slicked back, devastatingly handsome as always. He stood there looking at me, those eyes fixed on me, the burning emotion in them almost melting me.
I couldn't help blushing.
Leo and Juliet stood on either side of the carpet, holding flower baskets. Juliet wore a pink dress, hair in two braids, expression as serious as if executing an important mission. Leo wore a little suit, bow tie crooked, but he didn't care, just looked thrilled.
"Let's go," Sophie whispered in my ear.
I took the first step.
The carpet was soft underfoot, sunlight on my shoulders, rose scent drifting on the breeze. Everything so beautiful it felt like a dream.
Leo started scattering petals. They flew from his basket, landed on the ground, on my dress. Juliet walked beside him, glancing back at me every few steps, face all smiles.
I looked at Ezio.
He looked at me.
As the distance between us closed, my breathing quickened, heart like a trapped bird trying to fly out.
I reached him, stopped.
He gazed at me, lips curved.
"You look beautiful today." He bent down, brushed his face against mine.
