Chapter 22 Say The Vows First!
Mia lifted her face to the sky as rain poured down relentlessly, striking the earth and melting into the sand.
The scent of wet soil and fresh greenery filled the air, and the entire place echoed with the steady, soothing rhythm of rainfall.
She leaned back into Alexander’s arms, and he tightened his hold around her, anchoring her against him.
The large leather chair they sat on was wide enough to hold them both comfortably, its soft cushions sinking beneath their weight.
Their legs stretched forward, resting on a matching stool.
The chair was positioned just right—close enough to the open doorway that they remained sheltered inside, yet open enough to let the rain, mist, and mountain air drift in freely.
Two days ago, Alexander had brought her here without explanation.
After noticing how disturbed she had been, he had driven her uphill, farther and farther away from the city, until there was nothing around them but endless green.
She had been startled when the car finally stopped—shocked to find a single house standing alone at the top of the hill.
The house was built of wood and cement, large yet warm, open at its center with rooms arranged all around it.
Mist curled lazily around the structure, wrapping it in softness.
Mountains rose in every direction, blanketed in greenery that shimmered under the rain.
A raised walkway surrounded the house, allowing them to move freely without stepping into the wet ground, and it was there—that they sat together now, watching the rainy mountains.
The chair was placed near the wide open doorway, sheltered from the downpour—inside the house, yet completely open to the view outside. Rain fell from above, just beyond the roofline, blurring the mountains into a dreamlike haze.
Mia had never seen anything so beautiful.
Cradled in Alexander’s arms, watching the mist-covered mountains as rain washed over everything, she felt something inside her finally settle. She took a deep breath, smiled softly, and leaned closer into him.
Alexander’s arms tightened briefly around her, then his lips brushed her cheek. Before she could react, his kisses trailed downward, slow and familiar, settling along her neck.
Mia closed her eyes and exhaled softly. ‘This husband of mine… all he ever wants to do is nibble on my neck.’
Though she didn’t stop him. She stayed still, letting him linger—until suddenly he lifted his head.
She felt something slide into her hands.
Mia opened her eyes and looked down, surprised to find a small leather-bound notebook resting in her palms. The cover was a deep green. She straightened at once and turned to him, confusion clear in her expression.
She straightened at once and turned to him, looking at him in surprise.
Alexander smiled faintly. He guided her hands toward the notebook and kissed her cheek again. “Open it,” he said softly.
Mia turned her head back toward the album, then reached for the cover and opened it.
Her breath caught.
Inside was an album—very much like the one she had once made for him, filled with his photographs. Page after page held pictures of her, taken over the years. Beneath each photo were small, handwritten notes, just like the ones she had written for him.
Her heart thundered painfully in her chest. Shock melted into warmth, then into overwhelming happiness. She looked up at him, eyes shining.
“You made this… for me?”
Alexander nodded, a slow smirk tugging at his lips.
“It wouldn’t be fair if you never knew just how obsessed I’ve been with you all these years,” he said quietly. “You should feel the kind of pain I had to endure before I finally got you.”
Mia giggled at his words and lowered her gaze as she opened the album.
There were so many photographs.
Her fingers paused at the very first one.
It was from her high-school days. She stared at it in surprise—her younger self in a simple uniform, smiling shyly at the camera. Beneath the photograph, written in Alexander’s familiar handwriting, were the words:
“Teenage Alexander had a massive crush on this schoolgirl—so big that he once seriously considered buying her all-girls school and turning it co-ed just so he could attend with her.”
Mia let out a breathless laugh, her heart thumping wildly in her chest.
She flipped the page.
The next photograph was from one of the days she had gone to her grandparents’ house—the first time she had ever met him.
It was clearly taken in secret; only her side profile was visible.
She was wearing a soft pink dress, a headband holding her long hair back as she carefully helped her grandmother down the stairs.
She hadn’t even known a photo had been taken that day.
Underneath it, he had written:
‘From this day on, everything in pink reminded me of you.’
Mia smiled, warmth blooming deep in her chest.
She turned the page again.
She recognized the background instantly. It was a photo from her college days.
Beneath it, Alexander had written:
‘You started college, and I had to leave for Canada for my studies. I drove to your campus and sat in my car outside, waiting until your classes ended—just to catch a glimpse of you on your first day.’
Mia looked up at Alexander in shock. “How did I never notice you around me all this time?”
Alexander smiled faintly. “Because I didn’t want you to. I wanted to wait until you graduated, meet you properly, and then be with you.”
He paused, his voice softening. “Back then, I was just a young college boy. I didn’t have any identity or power. I thought I needed to be more capable before I deserved you.”
A hint of regret crossed his eyes. “Now I realize I wasted so many years… when I could have built memories with you instead.”
Mia leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.
She continued turning the pages.
There were countless photos of her—from moments she didn’t even remember being observed. Ever since that day at her grandparents’ house, he had been quietly collecting pieces of her life. Beneath every picture, he had written memories, thoughts, feelings. Longing.
Her heart felt unbearably full.
Outside, the rain continued to fall, steady and soothing. Mia smiled, laughed softly at his notes, and traced the edges of the photographs with her fingers. Every picture was perfect. Every version of her looked loved. Every photograph showed her so beautifully that it almost didn’t feel real.
As night deepened, her eyes grew heavy. Somewhere between turning pages and listening to the rain, she drifted off to sleep with the album still resting in her hands.
Alexander looked down at her fondly.
Carefully, so as not to wake her, he lifted her into his arms and carried her inside. The rain continued to fall outside as he laid her gently on the bed, pulling her close.
Later, when Mia stirred and slowly woke, she found herself wrapped in him. Alexander smiled down at her, brushing her hair back gently.
Later, when Mia finally stirred, half-asleep and breathless, she realized she was no longer alone in her dreams.
Alexander looked up at her with a smile that was both tender and dangerous. “You’re finally awake,” he murmured.
Her breath hitched.
Later that night, the rain outside drowned beneath softer, more intimate sounds.
***
They returned to their Manhattan home the next day.
Not long after, Alexander received an urgent call. A sudden meeting turned into an unavoidable business trip, and he had to leave the country for several days.
The house felt strangely quiet after he left.
Left alone, Mia curled up on the couch with the album he had given her at the mountain pavilion. She flipped through the pages slowly, smiling at his words, lingering over each photograph.
Somewhere along the way, she realized something.
Looking through this album—reading his words, seeing herself through his eyes—had quietly become her favorite thing to do.
He had even promised her that he had countless photos of her and would give her one album every month. And the thought of that made her happier than she could ever put into words.
When she reached the end of the album, she almost closed it—until her fingers froze.
The last page wasn’t a photograph of her.
It was a photograph of a wedding dress.
Mia stared at it, her breath catching.
The wedding gown had thin straps that framed the shoulders and neckline beautifully, flowing down to hug the waist before falling elegantly to the ankles. It was simple, graceful… breathtaking.
Beneath the image, written in Alexander’s handwriting, were the words:
‘If there is one thing I have wanted for as long as I can remember, it is to see you wear a wedding dress like this.’
Mia’s heart began to race so fast she could feel it in her ears.
A happy, almost disbelieving smile spread across her face. She bit her lip, staring at the page for a long moment, her emotions swirling—excitement, nervousness, joy.
Then, without overthinking it, she reached for her phone and dialed Emily’s number.
When the call connected, Mia asked brightly, “Will you go wedding dress shopping with me?”
***
Alexander returned home on a Sunday evening.
He entered the house with quick, eager strides, excitement and urgency written all over him—only to be met with silence.
He frowned slightly, scanning the space.
Anita emerged from the kitchen, surprise lighting her face. “Mr. Graves, you’re back already?”
Alexander barely registered her words. His eyes scanned the house, instinctively searching.
“Where’s Mia?” he asked, already moving toward the stairs.
Without waiting for a reply, he took the steps two at a time and pushed open her bedroom door.
And stopped cold.
The room was empty.
The wardrobe stood open—bare. The shelves were cleared. Every dress, every belonging, every trace of her presence was gone.
The room looked lifeless.
Alexander’s heart dropped straight into his stomach.
Panic surged through him.
He rushed into his own bedroom next, searching desperately—but Mia wasn’t there either.
His chest tightened as anxiety wrapped around him like a vice.
He bolted down the stairs. “Anita!” he called sharply.
Before she could respond, his phone vibrated.
That ringtone—the one he had specifically set for Mia.
His hands shook slightly as he pulled out the phone.
A text message.
Mia: ‘I need to talk to you about something. Meet me at this location.’
Alexander’s heart pounded uncontrollably. Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the house.
Allen was already waiting by the car.
“Mr. Graves,” Allen said calmly, holding out a fresh coat in white, “I received the location from Mrs. Graves as well. You should change. The one you’re wearing smells like travel. Mrs. Graves will notice the smell.”
Without a word, Alexander shrugged off the coat he was wearing and tossed it carelessly to the ground, already pulling on the one Allen had handed him.
The next second, he stormed toward the car.
He didn’t wait.
The engine roared to life as he shoved the door open and slid inside. When Allen rushed forward, Alexander grabbed him by the back of his collar and shoved him aside.
“I’m driving. Take the other car,” he snapped, urgency choking his voice. He slid into the driver’s seat and sped off without waiting.
“Wait—take me with you, Mr. Graves!” Allen shouted after him.
But Alexander didn’t look back.
The car shot down the driveway and disappeared.
Cursing under his breath, Allen ran back inside, grabbed the keys to another car, and rushed out. Anita followed quickly, climbing into the passenger seat as they sped after Alexander.
***
Alexander’s car screeched to a stop.
His chest tightened as unease crawled up his spine. He stepped out, his pulse thundering, and walked toward what looked like a grand garden entrance. At the end of the path stood the doors of a restaurant.
His hands trembled as he pushed them open.
Darkness.
Complete darkness.
For a terrifying second, he couldn’t see anything at all.
Then—
Lights exploded on.
The sudden brightness made him blink as gasps and cheers filled the air.
Alexander froze.
The space wasn’t a restaurant.
It was a wedding hall.
Glass walls rose all around, open to the sky above, lights glowing softly from every direction. White flowers, ribbons, and delicate decorations filled the space. Chairs lined both sides—and seated in them were his family and friends, clapping loudly, grinning at him.
Then his gaze lifted to the stage.
And his world stopped.
On the elevated white stage, standing beneath soft lights, was Mia.
She was wearing the wedding dress from the album—the one beneath which he had written that single, desperate wish.
For a moment, Alexander forgot how to breathe.
Then his knees buckled.
A broken sound tore from his chest as he bent forward in relief, shattering into overwhelming emotion.
Tears burst forth uncontrollably, and a wide, incredulous smile spread across his face.
Relief hit him so hard that he hunched over, one hand gripping his knee for support, the other covering his eyes as tears streamed down
He was laughing and crying at the same time, his shoulders shaking, his heart completely undone.
“Oh my God…” Emily whispered.
Ellie gasped.
Camila covered her mouth, eyes shining.
The room filled with soft exclamations, emotion thick in the air.
After a moment that felt like forever, Alexander straightened slowly. He dragged a trembling hand through his hair, then tugged at his jacket, forcing himself to look composed.
When he looked up again, Mia was still there.
Smiling.
Holding a bouquet of white flowers.
Her eyes were shining as she stepped forward and extended her hand toward him.
“Alexander Graves,” Her voice rang loudly in the hall. “Will you marry me?”
For half a second, the world went silent.
That was all it took.
Alexander broke into a run.
He sprinted up the white steps, straight onto the stage, and crashed into her arms. His hands wrapped tightly around her waist as he pulled her against him, his mouth finding hers in a fierce, desperate kiss.
“At least let the priest say the vows first!” Sebastian called from the crowd, grinning.
Alexander paid no attention to anyone.
He just cradled Mia’s face and kissed her breathless, his smile melting into hers.