Page 99 of Forbidden Sins

"I promise to stand beside you, not in front of you or behind you, for all the days of my life. I promise to be your partner in everything—in love, in family, in business. Whatever path you choose, we walk it together." He holds out the ring, taking my hand. "Estella Gallo, will you marry me?"

For a moment, I can’t speak. My throat tightens, and my eyes blur with tears. I have a hard time believing this is real, that I’m not going to wake up and find that this was all a dream.

“Yes,” I whisper, my heart pounding as I look at the man I love, the man that I undoubtedly want to spend the rest of my life with. “Yes, Sebastian. I’ll marry you.”

As he slides my grandmother's ring onto my finger, I can’t help but feel that this is right… that everything has led to this moment. That we made the right choice, at the end of it all. When he rises to kiss me, I forget my father is watching, forget everything except this moment, this man, this love that survived against all odds. Everything, except the softness of his mouth on mine and the feeling of knowing our future together is secure.

My father clears his throat, reminding us of his presence. "It's settled then," he says, his voice gruff with suppressed emotion. "Now we must discuss the future. Your future."

He rises, walking to the window that overlooks the estate grounds. "The Gallo family is at a crossroads. The old ways are dying. The new generation requires new leadership. I refused to see it before, to listen to Dimitri and Rowan’s counsel. But I’m beginning to see the error of my ways."

He turns back to face us. "Estella, you will be my heir. You will learn every aspect of our business, legitimate and otherwise. Sebastian will work alongside you, learning as well. Together, you will lead our family into the future when I step down."

Sebastian squeezes my hand. "We won't let you down, sir."

My father nods. "See that you don't." Then his expression softens, just slightly. "I am proud of you, Estella. Of the woman you've become. Of your bravery, and your strength. You’ve done what I would have never believed possible." He chuckles, a low, rough sound. “You’ve changed an old man’s mind.”

I stand up, letting go of Sebastian’s hand, and for the first time in years, I cross the room and embrace my father. “Thank you,” I whisper. “Thank you for letting me be happy.”

He nods, swallowing hard, and he hugs me back for just a moment before he steps out of my embrace. “I’m sure the two of you have plenty to talk about,” he says. “I’ll see you at dinner.”

Sebastian and I nod, leaving the office hand in hand. My heart is pounding, and I’m so stunned by it all that I don’t realize where he’s leading me at first until we head out of the wide doors that lead out to the gardens.

I have some idea of where we’re going, then. It’s confirmed when Sebastian leads me all the way to the rose lattices, stopping only when we’re standing beneath them, shrouded in shadow and the soft scent of roses.

“I’ll never regret kissing you here, little dove,” he murmurs, pulling me in. “No matter what happened after. Even if it hadn’t turned out like this, I’d never have regretted it for a moment.”.

I stare up at him, taking in the sight of his handsome face, the love shining in his eyes. I lean into him, feeling the hard press of his body against mine, the safety and peace of having him so close and not having to fear who might see. “You’re okay with this?” I ask softly. “All… all of it?”

Sebastian smiles, and it lights up his face as he reaches out, taking me in his arms. “I’m okay with anything, as long as I have you,” he says quietly. “I love you, Estella Gallo. And I will spend my life making sure that you’re always glad that you chose me.”

I lean up on my tiptoes, my hand braced against his chest, the ring sparkling as I lean in to kiss him, long and slow. His hand twines in my hair, sliding through the strands as he holds my mouth to his, his tongue caressing mine as he groans, pulling me closer before I break the kiss for a brief moment. “I will always choose you,” I promise, kissing him again, here in the spot where he kissed me for the first time, where we ran away together, where everything has come full circle at last.

Where we can choose each other, and no one will tell us any differently.

And in this world that we live in, where choice is so hard-won, that’s all that really matters.

EPILOGUE

ESTELLA

Imarry Sebastian a month later, in the height of summer, in a dress of white silk and delicate lace, with my friends in attendance as well as family and all of my father’s associates. The dress is simpler than what I would have worn for my wedding to Vito—no ostentatious beading or dramatic train. Instead, I chose something that feels like me: draping silk that falls in clean lines, with the faintest bit of lace. The day that I once dreaded feels like coming home, now, like the best day of my life. The beginning of a new life, one that I can’t wait to uncover with Sebastian, together.

I carry a bouquet of roses and hydrangeas, sapphire jewelry matching the ring on my finger, and I know I’m glowing with joy as I walk down the aisle to the man I love.

I walk down by myself, having talked about it with my father after the engagement was made official. To my surprise, he understood my position on it—that while Sebastian might be willing to overlook what was done to him in exchange for a future with me, it’s difficult for me to be quite so forgetful. I can move forward, too, but it felt wrong for me to have my father give me away to a man that he once hurt so badly.

Besides, as I told him, this is my choice. And I want to walk to my new husband on my own, making my choice under my own power.

When I meet Sebastian’s eyes from under my veil, I can see the same joy reflected in his face that I know mine is filled with. He looks gorgeously handsome in his tuxedo, more dressed up than I’ve ever seen him before, and I think it suits him.

Sebastian takes my hands when I reach him, and I feel a slight tremble in his fingers that I’ve only felt once before, that first night that we were together in the motel. His eyes are bright with a happiness I've never seen there before, open and unguarded in a way he rarely allows himself to be.

"You're beautiful,” he whispers. “My beautiful dove.”

We repeat the traditional Catholic vows, another small concession to my father’s desire for the old ways. But at the end, we each add something, our own promises on top of those written for us.

“In my life, I’ve made a few choices,” I say softly, holding on to Sebastian’s hands as I look up into his eyes. “But I’ve never made one that made me happier than allowing myself to love you. Whatever life brings us, Sebastian, I promise you that I will always choose you. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer… and not even death will part us, in the end.”

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