Chapter 10 - The Bride Nobody Expected
Vincent stood.
The ring remained in his hand.
Emma stared at it.
He looked at her.
“This is not how I planned this.”
“Go.”
“Emma—”
“Celeste could be dying.”
He nodded.
The proposal waited.
Celeste had been abducted by remnants of Isabella’s network.
She knew too much.
Vincent found the location through an old associate.
This time he worked with federal investigators.
No private war.
He kept his promise to Emma.
Celeste was rescued.
She testified.
Her testimony connected Isabella to Evelyn’s death, the laundering network, the manipulation of Lucy’s treatment, and years of financial crimes.
When Vincent returned home, Emma was asleep beside Lucy.
He stood in the doorway.
The ring was still in his pocket.
The next morning, Emma found him making pancakes.
Badly.
“You can command fifty men but not a frying pan?”
“Apparently.”
She took the spatula.
He watched her.
“Emma.”
“No.”
He blinked.
“No?”
“You’re about to make a speech.”
“I am.”
“Eat first.”
He laughed.
After breakfast, they went to the sitting room.
The same room where Lucy had taken those first steps.
Her silver walker remained near the wall.
Vincent knelt.
This time nobody interrupted.
“Emma Brooks, I don’t want to marry you because you saved my daughter.”
Emma’s eyes filled.
“I don’t want to marry you because you exposed my family.”
He took her hand.
“I want to marry you because you are the only person who ever looked at everything frightening about me and still expected me to become better instead of simply fearing me.”
Emma cried.
“You’re ruining my makeup.”
“You’re not wearing makeup.”
“Exactly.”
He smiled.
“Will you marry me?”
Emma waited.
Long enough to make him nervous.
Then:
“Yes.”
Lucy shouted from behind the sofa.
“Wedding!”
They turned.
Sophie had apparently been hiding with her.
Emma laughed.
Vincent slipped the ring onto her finger.
News spread.
The reaction was vicious.
Mafia prince marries maid.
Forty-eight-million-dollar Cinderella.
Gold digger.
Opportunist.
Emma read none of it after the first week.
Vincent wanted an enormous wedding.
Emma wanted twelve people.
They compromised at forty.
Celeste asked to attend.
Emma hesitated.
Forgiveness was not trust.
But Celeste had testified.
She had also begun cooperating with prosecutors to return stolen assets.
Emma agreed.
“You sit far away from the cake,” she told her.
Celeste almost smiled.
“Fair.”
The wedding date approached.
Lucy practiced walking down the aisle.
Some days she used her walker.
Some days she managed short distances without it.
Emma told her either was perfect.
“You don’t have to walk for anybody.”
Lucy frowned.
“I want walk.”
“Then you walk.”
The morning of the wedding, Emma dressed in a simple ivory gown.
Not princess-like.
Not designed to hide her body.
She looked in the mirror.
For years, strangers had treated her size as an invitation to judge her.
Today she refused to shrink.
A knock came.
Celeste entered.
Emma stiffened.
“I brought something.”
Evelyn’s necklace.
The authorities had released it.
Celeste held it out.
“This belongs to you.”
Emma took it.
“Thank you.”
Celeste swallowed.
“I’m sorry.”
Emma looked at her.
“For which part?”
“All of it.”
“That’s a lot.”
“I know.”
Emma did not absolve her.
But she nodded.
It was enough for today.
The ceremony began.
Vincent waited at the front.
Lucy stood at the aisle entrance.
Walker decorated with tiny white flowers.
Emma watched from behind her.
“You ready?”
Lucy nodded.
Then she surprised everyone.
She pushed the walker aside.
Emma whispered, “Lucy?”
“I walk.”
Vincent saw.
His eyes filled.
Lucy took one step.
Then another.
The room went silent.
She wobbled.
Stopped.
Emma did not rush.
Neither did Vincent.
Lucy steadied herself.
Then walked toward her father.
When she reached him, Vincent lifted her.
The room erupted.
Emma cried.
Vincent cried.
Even Celeste cried.
Then Emma walked down the aisle.
Vincent looked at her as if the entire room had disappeared.
But before she reached him, the chapel doors burst open.
Federal agents entered.
The lead investigator walked directly toward Vincent.
“Vincent Moretti.”
Emma froze.
May you like
The agent produced a warrant.
And the wedding guests began to scream.
