Chapter 20 #2
I grabbed a throw pillow from the couch and threw it at her.
She laughed and dodged, then raised both hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop teasing. But seriously, Lilith, I'm really happy for you.
" Her tone turned genuine. She set down the wax seal and looked at me seriously.
"When you were with Luca, you never smiled like this.
But look at you now. Smiling like an idiot. "
"You're the idiot."
"I am. I'm your best friend—birds of a feather.
" She laughed and threw an arm around my shoulders, then lowered her voice.
Even though no one else was there, she used that conspiratorial tone only we could hear.
"By the way, seriously, what's Andrei's body like?
How many abs does he have? When you guys do it... is he really 'powerful'?"
"Amy!!" I nearly bounced off the couch.
"What? It's totally normal for best friends to talk about this!" She looked righteous. "Look at his build—he's so much bigger than you. Girl, you got lucky!"
My ears burned. "Say one more word and I'm replacing you as maid of honor."
"You wouldn't dare!" She immediately switched to a pitiful expression, hands clasped together.
"Okay, Lilith, I won't ask anymore. I promise.
But you have to let me have a few drinks at the wedding.
If any of your husband's single friends turn out to be my type, I'll need liquid courage to go talk to them. "
She had me laughing until tears came. I wiped my eyes and agreed. We joked around like that until suddenly it was the day of the wedding.
On my wedding day, I stood in front of the dressing room mirror.
The wedding dress was custom-made for me by a designer Andrei found.
It didn't have that obsessive pursuit of making me look thinner—instead, it embraced my figure completely.
The waistline cinched in, the skirt flowing naturally from my hips, lace at the neckline resting on my collarbones.
The ivory fabric caught the light with a soft glow.
I stood in front of the mirror and really looked at myself for the first time. My appearance seemed completely different and yet exactly the same. In the end, I realized my beauty came from confidence, and Andrei had helped me find that confidence again.
I used to think wedding dresses were meant to hide extra weight, make you look slimmer, satisfy other people's expectations... But this dress made me feel, for the first time, that I didn't need to change anything. I deserved everything. This beautiful gown existed for me.
"Lily." It was Elena. She and Amy stood behind me, both in white bridesmaid dresses, hair perfectly styled. "You're truly beautiful."
Elena walked around me, tears suddenly spilling over.
I watched her in the mirror, my throat tight. "Elena, don't cry. If you cry, I'll cry too."
"I'm not crying." She carefully dabbed at her eyes with her fingertip. "Just got something in my eye."
"Yeah? You got something in both eyes?" I teased.
She laughed softly, smoothing down a tiny lace detail on my shoulder strap from behind, her touch gentle. "I wish Mom could be here."
"She'd be so happy," Elena said. "Seeing you like this today. So beautiful... and so happy."
"Yeah. If only..." I patted Elena's hand.
Amy jumped in at the right moment to lighten the mood. "Let's not talk about that now, or you really will cry and ruin your makeup."
Elena nodded, lashes wet but smile in place. "Right. Let's go. Time to head to the chapel."
I stood on one side of the chapel, waiting for the processional music to start.
I looked out at the guests. I saw Luca. He sat toward the back, suit sharp, expression unreadable.
He didn't look like someone attending a wedding—more like someone watching a movie, casual and detached, eyes roaming over the decorations.
Our gazes met. He pulled his mouth into something like a smirk and walked over.
"Lilith," he kept his voice low, that familiar mockery underneath. "You're going to regret this. I can't wait to see what kind of man you're marrying. Probably some old creep. Your taste is really something I can't respect."
I looked at him. I felt strangely calm.
"Don't worry," I said. "He's way more handsome than you. You're not worth a single hair on his head."
"Is that right?" He frowned, sneering. "I'll wait right here. I want to see what kind of loser he is. Lilith, don't marry some joke just to spite me and ruin your whole life. If you beg me right now, I can still take you away—"
"Who gave you the balls to think you could take my bride?"
The moment Luca finished speaking, Andrei appeared. He wore a solemn black suit, tie in ivory to match my dress, cufflinks with the crosses I'd given him. Dazzling. Like the groom from my teenage dreams.
He stood beside me and took my hand.
The instant Luca saw us together, his eyes went wide. His face drained of color. His voice cracked. "Father!"
The wine glass in his hand tilted. Red wine spilled across his dress pants, spreading into a dark stain. He didn't even notice. Just stood frozen, staring at me and Andrei like a statue nailed to the floor.
Then all the blood left his face in one instant. His mouth hung open. Didn't close for a long time.
Andrei looked at Luca. He didn't speak. Just raised an eyebrow slightly—an expression cold as a knife blade.
Sergei materialized from somewhere and positioned himself behind Luca, gripping his shoulder. Luca's body jerked. His eyes were still bulging, staring at me, then at Andrei. His lips trembled like he was trying to say something, but not a single word came out.
"Sir," Sergei's voice wasn't loud, but it was low enough to chill the blood. "Today is the boss's special day. If you have something to say... wait until after the wedding."
There was no question in his tone. Luca's shoulders shook under his grip. Then he collapsed back into his seat like someone had yanked out his bones. Sergei retreated to his own seat without fanfare, hands folded in front of him, expression blank.
Satisfaction surged through me, but I had no interest in watching him fall apart. My husband stood in front of me. I turned and met Andrei's eyes. He was looking at me too, gaze steady and warm—completely different from that icy look a moment ago.
The music began.
We laced our fingers together and turned toward the aisle scattered with white petals.
My love was waiting for me to promise him the rest of my life. This was the most beautiful, happiest thing I'd ever experienced.
We walked to the altar. During the vows, as the officiant read those solemn words, I stared into Andrei's eyes and heard my own voice answer, "I do."
He said, "I do."
Andrei took my left hand and slipped the ring onto my finger, reciting the vow: "From this day forward, I take you as my wife. I love you with everything I am. Let this ring be my promise."
A tear of pure happiness slid down my cheek. Then it was my turn. The same gesture—I placed the ring on Andrei's finger and spoke the same vow.
Applause erupted from below. In front of a room full of guests, Andrei bent down and kissed me.
I closed my eyes. In that moment, I thought of nothing—not revenge against Luca, not the conditions we'd originally agreed to. Everything disappeared. All that remained was his lips pressed to mine, and my heart beating wildly inside my chest.
I loved him.
That fact became as clear as transparent glass in this moment. No need for confirmation. No need to weigh it anymore. It was just this. It was him. Andrei.