Chapter 25
____________________
ANASTASIA
Have you ever looked in the mirror and not recognized yourself?
That’s how I feel as I stare at my own reflection, trying to figure out how I look like a bride. The hair, the white dress, the shoes, the jewelry…it just feels right.
The last time I wore white must have been at my initiation ceremony when I was sixteen and even then, I only wore it to watch my blood stain the dress as a symbol of my purity being becoming tainted by my vow.
But now, I don’t want anything to ruin this perfection.
“You look beautiful.” I catch my parents by the doorway, as enamored by my appearance as me.
My fingers unconsciously reach up to my neck, playing with the string of pearls Enzo’s mother gifted me. “Well, I suppose you have each other to thank for that. I can’t take credit for genetics.”
They both laugh, brushing the obvious tears that fall down their cheeks. My mom smooths out a crease in the dress, smiling fondly as if she’s looking into the past. “Your grandfather is waiting outside. He wants to speak to you, but if you don’t…” I nod, my heart tightening at the reminder that we haven’t spoken since that night I drunk called Enzo.
It’s been months and even though I’m not angry anymore, part of me is terrified of him seeing me as a failure for choosing this marriage.
I keep my gaze fixed on the ground whilst my parents leave, letting my grandfather walk in. The familiar smell of strong cigars and whisky follows him in, reminding me of my childhood. “You look absolutely perfect, Stasia.” I finally draw the courage to meet his eyes and watch as those hard features melt into something much softer.
“Thanks Pops.” I swallow hard, trying to think of something — anything to say next .
He runs a hand through his thick graying hair, a smile barely visible beneath his beard. “You know, when your parents informed me about your engagement, I knew what you were doing. Even as they said it was a secret love affair, I knew you were hiding the truth from them.”
“Pops don’t tell them. They would probably chain me in the basement if they knew the truth.”
He chuckles. “That’s true. They had love straight away, though I guess it took a while to figure it out. But still, don’t do this unless you want it. I was never given a choice and luckily it worked out for me but only do this if you know it’s the right thing in your heart.”
“It is.” This past week has been strangely reassuring. The rift existing between Enzo and I was finally beginning to close. We worked together to fix the mess that had been created by the robbery and weirdly, it felt nice to have someone to share the burden of being in charge with.
“Good, Enzo seems like a good man.”
I raise my brow. “You’ve been interrogating him.”
He scoffs. “Of course. Demetri and I make a good team — though the boy still refuses to speak to your husband-to-be, but one look from your brother is enough to convey a thousand threats. ”
A laugh almost rises in my throat. The only two people who Demetri seems to be himself with are the two that can barely stand to look at each other. Nero and Isla understand him in ways everyone else just can’t.
“I also had a talk with Rutherford.” He adds, reminding me of all the reasons I’m wearing this dress. “He understands that his time is up soon and he’ll support whoever you want to replace him. I’ve also made him understand how hard you’ve worked for the company, how much it should be valued and he’ll extend the same message to the others.”
“How—”
“It doesn’t matter.” But I can see it in his distant gaze. You can’t fully escape this life, no matter how hard you try.
“Is that my wedding present then?” I tease and he laughs, breaking away from the memory.
“Actually, I think your grandmother purchased a chateau in France for you newlyweds. My advice, use it. If you want your marriage to be something other than business then you have to try and a little compromise always help.” He gives me a pointed stare, knowing that’s something that doesn’t come easy to me.
“I’ll try Pops.” He nods, offering me his arm and the chatter of people already inside of the church sparks butterflies in my stomach .
I wrap my arm around his, squeezing tight as we head towards the towering oak doors. My bridal party is all assembled and waiting for me, gushing compliments as we finally reach them. “I’ll see you down there.” Pops kisses my cheek before slipping through the open doors.
I try to breathe as the notes of the organ begin to carry through the air. It’s Isla and one of Enzo’s cousins walking down first. Jas flashes me a wink before leaving with Demetri and then finally it’s just Calista and Dom left — the latter has his puppy dog gaze fixed on Jas even as she has her back to him.
Good luck , Calista mouths before disappearing down the aisle. The blue of her hair shines bright against the red bridesmaid dress I picked out for her.
“Are you ready?” I nod blindly as my dad takes my arm.
Why do I feel like this? Sick to my stomach, filled with anxiety and nerves that make me feel as though I’m bound to implode at any moment.
It’s just an aisle — a stupid red velveted carpet that I have to walk along for thirty seconds.
My fingers tighten around the bouquet of red roses my dad passes to me. He lowers his head, whispering just as we reach the archway of the door. “If you want to run, I have a getaway car ready for us.” I smile, knowing he’s only half joking .
Part of me is confused. I should want to run. This isn’t supposed to be real. I’m supposed to be forcing myself to walk down this aisle for the sake of my legacy and yet…I realize I want this.
The truth behind our past has come to light and whilst I don’t completely forgive him, I can’t hate him either. He made a mistake and if anything that just proves he’s human. It proves he can spend the rest of our lives making it up to me and that I have that time to forgive and heal and to maybe…someday…in the far away future, learn to love him again.
The moment I catch sight of the altar, all the nerves start to settle.
Beautiful stained-glass windows cover the walls around us, gold accents surrounding them. A large, silver-plated organ stands at the front, covered in a dusting of rose petals that match the same ones crunching beneath my heels as we walk.
Enzo stands before it, his body snug in a black suit with a rose tucked into his breast pocket. His hair is neatly trimmed, as is the stubble lining his cheeks that rise up as he smiles. Those caramel eyes gleam as he meets my eyes and suddenly, I get flashbacks to the first time we met, to our first kiss, to reading under the sun and meeting him all over again in that cafe .
Maybe he was right about it being fate? In the end, it was love and heartbreak and pain that led us right here. Our second chance.
Enzo swallows hard as my dad places my hand in his and Calista takes my flowers. He presses a kiss to my knuckle before lifting my veil over my head. I have to remind myself how to breathe again, watching as he looks at me in a way no-one else ever has.
The priest begins his sermon, the words simply drifting through my ears beneath the rapid beating of my heart. “Anastasia Selena Romano and Enzo Leone Mancini, who, in coming together before your altar, they may be confirmed in love for one another. Now if anyone has any objections, speak now or forever hold your pea—”
It’s like the entire world stops spinning as a silent bullet slices through the priest’s forehead A splattering of blood hits my face whilst the force of the bullet sends the priest’s dead weight back, forcing him to crash into the organ.
“Everyone get down!” I hear Enzo scream, before the sharp ricochet of gunfire unleashes on us all