Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
“I love you, Mr. King. I’m all yours.”
“Love you, too, Mrs. King.”
And then he’s kissing me again.
I fall into him and welcome our new life together with a happy, tearful smile.
EPILOGUE 1—AVA
THREE MONTHS LATER
The hall erupts in loud applause as Jeremy kisses Cecily at the altar, or more like devours her face.
My eyes tear up as I hoot and applaud and do all the noises with Ari, Glyn, Anni, and Mia. We’re all dressed in pink bridesmaid dresses—yes, it was my idea.
But then again, Cecy basically left all the strategizing side of things to me, and I might have gone overboard and given the planners a headache.
Anyway, I’m the reason she picked the stunning Vera Wang dress that makes her look like a legit fairy- tale princess with her silver hair and elegant makeup. I’m so going to have a field day with all the photography ideas I have for later.
On Jeremy’s side, Nikolai, Kill, Gareth—Kill’s older brother—and some other guy I’ve never seen before hoot and bump fists.
Nikolai and Bran got married exactly two months ago in a stunning Tuscany destination wedding because Nikolai refused to get married after Jeremy. My guess is that he was just too eager to have Bran as his husband. I’ve never seen my friend so happy as when he was professing his undying love to Nikolai.
Not only that, but Kill and Glyn will get married next month. Lan and Mia in six months. Anni and Creigh set the date for in a year. Oh, and Ari will probably follow soon after if she has a say in it.
I have an abundance of weddings to attend, I tell you. My favorite type of party nowadays.
This New York wedding has been a smashing success. I can’t wait for more.
The girls and I throw flower petals as Jeremy takes Cecy by the hand and they walk out of the hall amid cheers.
I think I catch Uncle Xan wiping a tear as Aunt Kim strokes his shoulder. He asked Cecy to change her mind and break up with the ‘lizard,’ as he calls Jeremy, ten times over the past week, only to be refused.
On the bright side, he seems to get along better with Adrian—Jeremy and Anni’s dad—than Uncle Aiden does. There’s going to be drama during Creigh’s wedding. I can already tell.
I’ve been trying to ignore the security and the different stone-faced bodyguards roaming around the church. A Russian Orthodox church—as per the mafia’s rules.
Another thing that pissed Uncle Xan off. I think it has less to do with his Protestant heart and more to do with the fact that this means his daughter is marrying into the organization whether he likes it or not.
But then again, Cecy doesn’t seem to mind. She has the cutest relationship with her mother-in-law, and her father-in-law—who’s a scarier-looking version of Jeremy—dotes on her.
She’s been smiling non-stop today and glowing like a motherfucking queen.
“Gotta follow Cecy and make sure she gives me the flowers,” Ari says, then winks at Remi. “See? I’m working hard for our future.”
He tries to hide a smile but fails miserably. Ari grins back, kisses him on the cheek, and then rushes behind the newlyweds.
I catch a glimpse of Papa sighing like an old man with the world’s weight on his shoulders while Mama laughs.
Some things just never change.
“Are you done being a social butterfly for the month?” Warm breath tickles my ear as Eli slides to my side and wraps an arm around my middle.
I stare up at him and fall in love a bit deeper. My gaze is drawn to his breathtaking presence, drinking in every detail of his handsome form. The crisp lines of his tuxedo accentuate the sharp angles of his face, making him appear even more striking. His hair is styled to perfection, each strand falling into place with effortless grace. His piercing gray eyes, normally stormy and intense, soften as they meet mine.
Over the past few months, we’ve been traveling, staying on the island longer than necessary. We’ve been talking and getting to know each other better and on a more intimate level.
I’ve never felt so alive, so cherished and loved than when I’m with him.
I used to be plagued by cancerous dread and vicious loss of confidence whenever I saw him. I used to be injected with a shot of pain because the sight of him reminded me of my broken heart.
The pain expanded and transformed into bitterness the more I realized I couldn’t have him. He was like the sun, and I thought I was meant to orbit around him but never get close or else I’d burn.
But he proved with actions more than words how much I’m an integral part of his life; how, like me, he can barely function if I’m not there.
I’m not delusional about who my husband is. I know for a fact that Vance vanished the moment he landed in Melbourne and no one has a clue where he is.