Epilogue
I stood at the window, staring out at the snow-blanketed Swiss Alps. The medieval castle looked like something out of a fairytale. It was exactly what Tia wanted.
These past two months had been exhilarating.
My father had released me from our binding agreement, finally understanding my heart belonged to both racing and Tia, not Olympus Motors.
Meanwhile, Yiayia had banished me from the estate the moment Tia agreed to move to Greece, insisting we maintain proper distance until the wedding.
Hence our rushed winter nuptials. Though neither of us minded .
Between race preparations and stolen moments together, we’d watched Tia’s vision for Thalassía take physical form. She’d flourished overseeing the reconstruction and commanding respect from workers who’d initially doubted her.
Today, I would marry her with a clean slate.
“Getting cold feet, nephew?” Dimitrios asked, adjusting his bow tie in the mirror.
I snorted. “Absolutely not. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
My father approached, looking distinguished in his tuxedo. As my best man, he’d been unusually attentive all morning, almost nervous in a way I’d never seen before.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Like a man who nearly lost everything and somehow got a second chance.”
Konstantin entered the room, his expression grim as it had been for months. The tension between him and Matthaios was palpable as my cousin lounged on the chaise near the fireplace, thumbing through his phone.
“Any news about Simone?” I asked Matthaios.
Simone was Kayla’s older sister, whom Matthaios had been seeing for quite some time. Like me, he had been seeking revenge and attained his goals, but lost his woman in the process. Unlike me, it seemed there would be no second chances.
My cousin’s jaw tightened. “Nothing. It’s like she disappeared into thin air.”
“Perhaps if you hadn’t destroyed her life, she might still be speaking to you,” Konstantin remarked coldly, pouring himself a drink without offering one to anyone else.
Matthaios fixed his eyes on Konstantin. “You should focus on your own non-marriage.”
“Enough,” my father interrupted, his commanding tone silencing the room. “This is my son’s wedding day. Save your squabbling for tomorrow.”
“Well, never let it be said that a Christakis wedding lacks drama,” Dimitrios announced, helping himself to another whiskey. “Santo, you never mentioned Deanna’s pregnancy.”
My father’s head snapped up. “She’s pregnant?”
I shrugged, adjusting my cufflinks. “It’s not my business and I get the feeling Tia’s embarrassed about her parents having another child at her ‘big age’.”
A knock interrupted us, followed by the wedding coordinator’s anxious face. “Five minutes, gentlemen. Everyone is seated. ”
The mood shifted instantly. We straightened ties and adjusted jackets, the previous argument momentarily forgotten in the rush of impending ceremony.
“Are you ready?” my father asked quietly, coming to stand beside me.
I met his gaze in the mirror. “I’ve been ready since the day I proposed.”
We filed down the stone staircase, my father leading as my best man, followed by my uncles and cousin. The castle’s Great Hall had been transformed into a winter wonderland, with crystal chandeliers, snow-white flowers and silver accents. Three hundred guests filled the rows.
I took my position at the altar, standing tall as Bach’s “Air on the G String” began. The doors at the end of the hall swung open, revealing the bridal party.
First came Tia’s cousins in midnight blue gowns that complemented the winter theme perfectly. Kayla followed as matron of honor, her baby bump visible beneath her gown. She didn’t glance at Konstantin as she took her place, though he couldn’t tear his eyes from her.
I spotted Tia’s father in the front row. Tia had invited him to the wedding to appease her grandmother, but she’d chosen Deanna to walk her down the aisle .
The music swelled, shifting to the wedding march. Everyone rose. And there she was.
Tia appeared in the doorway on her mother’s arm, a vision in ivory lace and silk. Her dark eyes found mine instantly. But it was her smile that undid me. I blinked rapidly, surprised to find my eyes damp.
Her dress hugged her curves, the train trailing behind her like fresh snowfall. Against her rich brown skin, the ivory fabric seemed to glow. She’d chosen to wear her hair up with delicate crystal pins.
Deanna looked proud beside her, elegant in a champagne-colored gown with a bigger bump than Kayla’s.
When Tia finally reached me, Deanna kissed her daughter’s cheek before placing Tia’s hand in mine. Her fingers were warm, steady, perfect.
“Hi,” Tia whispered, her eyes dancing.
“Hello, aggelé mou,” I replied. “You’re breathtaking. ”
The ceremony passed in a blur of vows and promises. When I slid the platinum band onto her finger, joining it with her sapphire engagement ring, I felt rightness settle deep within me.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister declared. “You may kiss your bride.”
I pulled Tia toward me, one hand cradling her face as I claimed her lips. The kiss was both gentle and possessive. When we parted, her smile was radiant, and I couldn’t help but kiss her again, drawing a ripple of delighted laughter from our guests.
“Save something for the honeymoon,” she murmured against my lips.
“Just this once,” I replied, leading her down the aisle as our guests cheered.
Hours later, after dinner and speeches, I watched my bride from across the ballroom. She was dancing with her cousins, laughing at something as they moved to the music.
Zeus lay contentedly near the dance floor, wearing a custom bow tie that matched mine. Tia had insisted he be part of our day, and no one had dared argue with the bride.
Yiayia was holding court with a group of society matrons, undoubtedly sharing some scandalous gossip. My Theia Irida had somehow corralled a Formula 1 team owner and appeared to be giving him racing advice, much to his visible bewilderment .
“Congratulations.” My father approached, handing me a glass of champagne. “She’s extraordinary.”
“I know,” I said simply, my eyes never leaving Tia.
He nodded, following my gaze as Tia twirled gracefully. “Your mother would have loved her.”
“You think so?”
“I know so,” he said. “She valued honesty, courage, and kindness. Tia has all three.”
I smiled, watching as my wife—my wife—made her way toward us through the crowd, excusing herself with gentle touches and warm smiles. “She’s the best,” I said, the words inadequate for what I felt.
“I’m proud of you, Chrysanthos.”
The words, so rarely spoken, caught me off guard. I studied his profile, wondering if the champagne had loosened his tongue.
“For what?” I asked.
“For fighting for what you want.” His gaze drifted to where Deanna was now standing with Tia’s father. “And for recognizing when you’ve found something worth changing for.”
Before I could respond, he was called away and Tia reached me. She was breathless from dancing.
“Come dance with me, husband,” she said, holding out her hand .
I set my glass aside and pulled her against me, feeling the perfect fit of her body against mine. “I thought you’d never ask, wife.”
As we moved across the floor, I marveled at how completely my world had changed in six months. I’d pursued Tia for all the wrong reasons, yet somehow ended up exactly where I was meant to be.
I checked my watch. “Twenty-seven minutes until I need you by the east exit. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going.”
Tia looked up at me with narrowed eyes. “What are you planning?”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” I promised, stealing a quick kiss before disappearing into the crowd.
Twenty-five minutes later, I stood beside the helicopter I’d arranged, its rotors already spinning. The pilot gave me a thumbs up as I checked my phone. Snow had started falling again.
When Tia appeared, she was dressed in the white fur-trimmed snowsuit, with matching boots and gloves I’d left in her suite. Against the night sky and whirling snow, she looked like a winter goddess .
“A helicopter? Seriously, Chrys?” she called over the noise of the engine.
I helped her into the passenger seat, buckling her in before settling beside her. “Would you expect anything less?”
As we lifted off, the castle shrank beneath us. Tia gasped as we banked over the mountains, the moonlight illuminating miles of pristine slopes.
“Where are we going?” she asked, her gloved hand finding mine.
“To watch the sunrise from the Matterhorn,” I told her. “I arranged for us to be the only people at the observation point when Christmas Day begins.”
Her expression softened. “You planned our wedding for Christmas Eve just for this, didn’t you?”
“Maybe,” I admitted with a grin. “Or maybe I just wanted to make sure you’d never forget our anniversary.”
Tia laughed, the sound filling the small cabin. “As if I could ever forget anything about you, Chrysanthos Christakis.”
As we soared over the stunning Alpine landscape, I thought about the path that had brought us here. From a car crash to this moment. I’d nearly lost everything through my own arrogance and deception. Yet somehow, against all odds, she had forgiven me.
Below us, the lights of small villages twinkled. I’d moved through life at top speed, always chasing the next victory, the next thrill. Tia had taught me how to slow down enough to appreciate the journey.
“What are you thinking about?” Tia asked.
I turned to her, this woman who had seen the worst in me and loved me, anyway. “I’m thinking this is just the beginning, aggelé mou.”
She smiled, leaning in to kiss me as the helicopter banked again, carrying us toward the waiting dawn. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
Behind us, the castle continued to glow, filled with people celebrating our union. Let them dance, drink, and gossip. Let them wonder where the bride and groom had disappeared to.
The only thing that mattered was the woman beside me. I’d been reckless with many things in my life, but never again with Tia’s heart.
As we approached the majestic Matterhorn, I squeezed her hand. This was exactly where I was meant to be. Slightly reckless, completely in love, and finally home.
~ * ~