Page 155 of Mercy (The Sins Trilogy 3)
Chapter Fifty-Four
Ivy
The day is perfect. The sky is a flawless blue, not even a speck of cloud on the endless azure canvas. The breeze is gentle and cool. My heart is calm and full of the knowledge that I’m truly blessed.
The room I’m using to get ready is huge. But it doesn’t feel that large when Yuna, her mom and Julie are taking up space, pacing and fussing.
Yuna and Julie are in matching bridesmaids’ dresses in gorgeous coral-pink satin and lace. They’ve done their hair in the same style, an elegant French twist.
Mrs. Min has on a beautiful jade and golden hanbok, a traditional Korean dress. Its summer-weight fabric is soft and lustrous, the flower and butterfly embroidery work on the skirt meticulously detailed. Little pearls are pinned to her chignon.
“I thought you were going to wear that for my wedding,” Yuna says.
“Do you have a fiancé to present to me?” her mother says, making a great show of looking around. “No? I don’t see anybody. I thought I should get some use out of this before the color combination goes out of fashion.”
She, Yuna and Julie help me get dressed, lacing up the bodice and going over the bridal jewelry. In a few more moments, and I’m going to be Ivy Blackwood.
And I like the way the name rolls off my tongue. It feels right.
We debated for days on how I should do my hair. I wanted it down, until I saw the exquisite laces on the back of the bodice. But I don’t want a standard updo. So Julie is now braiding my hair into sections, her fingers moving expertly, and twists and pins it until it lies perfectly in a complicated style I can’t even begin to understand.
She snaps a photo and shows it to me.
“Wow. That’s incredible,” I say.
“No kidding. How did you do that?” Yuna asks.
“Barbies. I used to give this hair to all my dolls.” Julie grins.
Mrs. Min puts the jewelry on me, then affixes the hairpiece and the veil. “You look perfect.” She smiles.
I smile back, happiness bubbling inside. “Thank you. For everything.”
“I’m so glad your scrapes and bruises are gone.” She sniffs. “Can’t have that on your special day.”
“No, I can’t,” I say because that’s what’s expected. But they weren’t just inconvenient blemishes. They were the price of Tony letting go of the ghost of his sister and embracing our future.
A couple of knocks. A deep voice calls out something in Korean outside.
Yuna’s mom says something, and Yuna opens the door.
Her father walks in, looking spiffy in a black tux. Mr. Hae is surprisingly tall and robust, his hair still full, with a few streaks of silver. Mr. Kim follows discreetly, like a shadow.
Lane is attending the wedding, but I decided to go ahead with the original plan to have Yuna’s dad give me away at the ceremony. There hasn’t been enough time for everything between Lane, me and Tony to be totally healed.
“A beautiful bride.” Mr. Hae smiles at me. “It’s my honor.”
“Thank you.” He’s been amazing, quietly supportive but never intrusive—the best father figure I could ask for. For a man with so much wealth and power, especially in his home country, he’s surprisingly down-to-earth and sweet. And he’s taking his role at the wedding very seriously. I heard this from Yuna, but he apparently told Tony to make me happy or answer to him because he’s my dad now. “The man who gives away the bride has the right,” he told Tony.
Ms. Kim walks in. “They’re ready.”
I let out a soft, steadying breath as my heart races with joyful excitement. This is it.
Yuna hands me a bouquet made of bright tiger lilies and white, bell-like flowers. Then she, Julie, and Mrs. Min walk out.
Ms. Kim says, “When the music starts, you can go.”
As Mr. Hae and I move slowly to our positions, Mr. Kim starts to follow until Ms. Kim holds his arm and gives him a look.
