Page 224 of The One
I take another deep breath, banishing any worries to the back of my mind. Only one thing matters in this instant, making Mari my wife.
I need her to be mine, fully, until death do us part.
Let’s hope it won’t be as soon as I fear.
I lean my head back, my eyes taking in the domed ceiling with its intricate paintings. But it’s like I’m looking through it, toward the sky.
Mamma?Papà? Are you here with me?
A sense of calm descends over me. It might be my imagination, or it might be real. Either way, I’d like to believe it’s my parents rejoicing with me over having found my One and making it official.
All thoughts flee when Mari finally steps into view.
She’s standing at the end of the aisle, clutching the bouquet of roses she picked from the garden this morning. My heart stops. She is so fucking beautiful.
On the way here, we stopped at a bridal boutique. A wave of my black Amex got Mari anything she wanted. The dress she picked highlights everything beautiful about her. It’s ivory-cream lace, floor-length, and understated, much like the one she once sketched.
I lay my palm against my chest, trying to rein in my racing heart as I watch her slowly walk toward me.She’s taking my breath away.
To think I’ve been waiting for her all my life, only to have her right under my nose for years. I was so fucking blind.
But I see her now. All of her.
And she’s shining brightly, like a goddess.
Mygoddess.
I’ll worship her, protect her, and make damn sure she’s happy every single day for the rest of my life.
Chapter Eighty-Four
Mariella
Someone pinch me. Please.
I’m walking down the aisle toward the man of my dreams.
My steps are steady, my heart fluttering with excitement.
It’s only been four weeks since I first walked down the aisle.
It’s surreal.
It’s like a different lifetime altogether. A differentme. And in so many ways, it is.
Back then, every step had been heavy, weighed down by fear. My mind filled with desperate thoughts of escape, and my body trembled from the dread of what I knew I had to do.
Walking toward a fate I would never choose, bound to my father’s will, my life in chains. It was like a slow march through quicksand. My heart had been heavy, my stomach churning with nerves I couldn’t quiet.
But now?
Every step is like I’m floating on air. My heart races with joy, not fear. I can’t help the smile that tugs at the corners of my lips. It’s too big to contain, too full of happiness.
The air seems lighter, and the warmth of the light filtering through the stained-glass windows touches me in a way I can’t explain. It feels like a blessing from the universe, and it makes the moment that much more precious.
I glance ahead, my eyes landing on Mateo. He stands at the altar, waiting forme.
His expression is calm, but his eyes brim with something deeper. Love, commitment, certainty.
