25. Leslie The Wedding & Happily Ever After
Leslie: The Wedding & Happily Ever After
The world goes quiet.
Kyle kneels in front of me, his blue eyes locked on mine. The bedroom light casts soft shadows on his bare skin.
In his hand, a diamond ring sparkles, catching the flicker of the moon's silver glow filtering through the open balcony doors.
My heart pounds. Just a moment ago, we were still tangled in the warmth of each other, our bodies slick with heat, the sheets barely covering us. But now, this moment is different. This isn’t passion. This is something deeper.
My throat tightens.
This is real.
This is happening.
A flood of memories crashes over me.
The argument in the parking lot—the heat of our first clash, the way neither of us backed down. The banter in his office—his sharp words, my stubborn defiance, the undeniable spark even in our worst moments.
The stolen glances across crowded rooms, the silent pull between us even when we refused to admit it. The betrayal that nearly broke me, the pain of doubting him, the fear that love wasn’t enough.
And then, the press conference—his voice steady, unwavering, as he laid everything bare for the world to hear. His confession. His love. His choice.
Can I really do this?
Marriage?
Forever?
My fingers twitch against the sheets. Kyle notices. His jaw tenses just slightly, but I see it—the hesitation in his eyes.
I could say no.
I could tell him I need more time. That I’m still scared. That I don’t know if I’ll ever be the kind of woman who does family dinners and holiday traditions.
I open my mouth.
His grip on the ring box tightens.
His gaze sharpens, and for a second, I see it—fear. Real, raw fear. Like he’s bracing for impact, preparing for the worst.
And suddenly, I know.
This man—the one who challenges me, infuriates me, sees every flaw and still stays—loves me more than he can say.
And I love him too. More than I’ve ever admitted. More than I ever thought I could.
The air between us is so thick it could break.
I take a slow, shaky breath.
And then, I smile.
"I love you, Kyle," I whisper and nod. “Yes.” My voice shakes, but the word is firm.
His shoulders drop. His lips part, but no words come. He just takes a sharp breath, like he’s been holding it all this time.
"Yes?" he asks, his voice rough, like he can’t believe it. Like he needs to hear it again.
A tear rolls down my cheek, but I don’t care. I nod, laughing softly, my chest so full it hurts.
"Yes, Kyle. A thousand times yes."
The ring box slips from his fingers as he surges to his feet. His arms wrap around me, strong and sure. Then his lips crash against mine, urgent, desperate, full of everything we don’t need words for.
I cling to him, my body pressed against his, my heart pounding against his chest.
This is it.
This is forever.
***
If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be here, standing in the middle of a wedding straight out of a billionaire’s dream, I would have laughed.
But here I am.
The ceremony takes place at Kyle’s beach house—an expansive villa perched on a cliffside overlooking the ocean.
White roses line the aisle, chandeliers hang from tall trees, and a string quartet plays a soft, beautiful melody. The view stretches endlessly, the blue sky meeting the sea in the distance.
At the end of the aisle, Kyle waits.
The man who once drove me crazy. The man who now owns my heart.
Beside him stand Chloe and Ethan. Ethan looks sharp in his tux, while Chloe, glowing in a navy dress, watches me with a soft smile. Their eyes hold something warm. Something real.
Family.
My breath catches as I take a step forward. My dress—lace and pearls—shimmers under the golden sunlight. Every step feels like a promise, like stepping into something unknown but beautiful.
Then—chaos.
A flash of fur races down the aisle.
Gasps ripple through the guests as my terrier sprints past me. A second later, Kyle’s golden retriever—big, clumsy, and way too excited—chases after her, tail wagging like this is the best day of his life.
Laughter erupts.
I cover my mouth to stop myself from laughing as Kyle’s retriever skids to a stop at his feet, looking very pleased with himself.
My terrier, meanwhile, is stuck in a flower arrangement, her tiny paws kicking as she tries to get free.
Kyle chuckles, scratching his dog behind the ears before looking at me, his eyes full of mischief.
"Well," he says with a smirk, "I guess they approve of the wedding."
The tightness in my chest fades, replaced by something warm. Something soft.
Love.
I shake my head, trying not to smile, and turn back to the officiant. "Let’s try that again, shall we?"
The ceremony is perfect. We whisper our vows, our voices shaking with emotion.
Our fingers tremble as we slide the rings onto each other’s hands. A kiss seals everything—a lifetime of promises.
Then—cheers, applause, the clinking of champagne glasses.
We are husband and wife.
***
The ballroom glows with golden light, chandeliers casting a soft shimmer over the marble floors. The ocean breeze drifts in through the open terrace doors, mingling with the scent of fresh roses and champagne.
Laughter and music fill the air as guests dance, sip cocktails, and bask in the magic of the evening. The night is perfect.
Then Daniel takes the microphone, and I know we’re in trouble.
He clears his throat dramatically. "If Kyle had just listened to me from the start, we wouldn’t be here tonight."
The room erupts into laughter.
Kyle sighs, shaking his head. "Here we go . . ."
"But noooo," Daniel continues, grinning. "Kyle had to be Kyle—stubborn, impossible, emotionally unavailable." He gestures toward me. "And Leslie had to be Leslie—fierce, independent, and completely unwilling to put up with his nonsense."
More laughter. Even I can’t help but smile.
"But despite all odds—and trust me, the odds were against them—here they are," Daniel says, his voice softening. "I’ve never seen Kyle fight for anything the way he fought for Leslie. And if that’s not love, I don’t know what is."
Kyle groans, running a hand down his face. "Alright, that’s enough—"
"To Kyle and Leslie!" Daniel interrupts, lifting his glass.
"To Kyle and Leslie!" the guests echo, glasses clinking in celebration.
Kyle turns to me, shaking his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Why did I make him my best man again?"
I laugh. "Because deep down, you love him."
"Debatable," Kyle mutters, but he clinks his glass against mine anyway.
Then, the music changes. A soft, slow melody floats through the air, and Kyle reaches for my hand.
"Shall we?"
He leads me onto the dance floor, his arms wrapping around me as we sway.
"You happy?" he murmurs.
I look up at him, my chest tightening with love. "More than I ever thought I could be."
His grip tightens, his lips brushing my temple. "Good. Because I plan to keep it that way."
As we dance, the world fades, leaving only us.
Then Daniel and Grace approach, grinning. "Picture time," Grace announces, dragging us toward the photographer.
Daniel slings an arm around her shoulders, smirking. "We should get used to this. We’re next, after all."
Grace chokes on her champagne. "Excuse me?"
The entire group bursts into laughter, including Kyle.
"Just wait," Daniel teases. "A year from now, I’ll be giving a speech about how you swore you’d never fall in love."
Grace glares at him. "Keep dreaming, Daniel."
Kyle pulls me closer, chuckling. "I give them six months."
I laugh, leaning into him. The night stretches ahead, filled with love, joy, and the promise of forever.
And as I look up at my husband, I know—this is just the beginning.