Epilogue
Christina
I’m getting married today.
I can hardly believe it.
The person staring back at me in the reflection looks far more beautiful than I would ever expect myself to look. I can barely recognize myself. My white satin wedding gown fits me perfectly. I can hardly stand to touch it in case I mess it up. Each intricate detail is more stunning than the last. I haven’t waited long for this day, but now that it’s here, it’s all I want.
I want to pinch myself to make sure this is real. In a few minutes, I will marry the loves of my life.
I will become a Venitti.
A Queen.
My mother enters the room and cups my cheeks in her warm hands. "My beautiful girl," she says with love shining in her eyes. Her hand gently rests on my stomach, where a small bump is barely visible under the expensive fabric.
"My babies," she adds, her voice filled with emotion.
Tears prick at my eyes. This may not be the traditional wedding we both imagined, but it's perfect in its own way and I wouldn't change a thing. My relationship with my mother is still strained but we’ve made a lot of progress in the last few months. I don’t think I will ever forgive her for trying to force me to marry Jimmy, but after she apologized and tried to understand how much her actions impacted me, we’ve been on friendlier terms.
She pulls the veil down over my face and then kisses my forehead, squeezing my hand one last time before we leave the suite.
The guards open the doors for us, murmuring their congratulations to me as I pass. I nod, acknowledging their kind words.
I can hear our guests waiting outside in the hallway.
It’s almost time.
The butterflies are fluttering merrily in my stomach and my emotions are on edge.
Albert appears at the end of the aisle, his eyes twinkling with pride and love, all nerves wash away. He wraps me in his arms and places a quick kiss on top of my head. Unlike my relationship with my mother, the relationship with Albert has been easier to salvage. He’s taken me under his wing, showing me some of the inner workings of the organization as he transitions leadership to Nico.
I don’t have to like or even agree with the decisions he’s made - especially the ones that he made for me, but I’m starting to understand them a little more.
He’s never going to be a true father to me, but I am hopeful for his relationship with my children.
"Che bella," he whispers.
Just like that, all the emotions I've been holding back come rushing through me. I blink back tears as he holds me at arm's length and clears his throat.
"I'm ready whenever you are," he says with a smile, taking my elbow in his and leading me towards the aisle where Nico stands on my left and Enzo on my right.
With each step, my heart swells with love and emotion. I feel like I'm floating between the two most important men in my life, where I've always belonged.
And as we approach the altar, I know that this is where I will always be - surrounded by the love of my family and my new husbands, ready to build a life together.