Chapter 33 - Echoes in the Dark
|
Three months later.
The wedding of the century took place on the private Mediterranean island of Capri.
The weather was flawless—blue skies, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and a gentle sea breeze blowing through the white silk canopies set up along the seaside cliffs.
I stood in the private bridal suite of the cliffside villa, wearing a breathtaking floor-length lace gown with a sweeping veil that trailed behind me like a cloud. My dark hair was styled in soft waves, framed by a delicate diamond tiara that Ethan had gifted me that morning.
Lena stood behind me, fixing the lace on my train, looking stunning in her blush-pink bridesmaid dress.
"You look like a queen, Ava," Lena said warmly, her eyes glistening with rare emotion. "Ethan is going to lose his mind when he sees you."
"I still feel like I'm dreaming, Lena," I admitted, looking at my reflection in the full-length mirror. "Sometimes I expect to wake up in that cold basement again."
"The basement is gone, Ava," Lena reminded me gently, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You built a new life. Enjoy it."
A knock sounded at the door, and my father—who had been freed from federal custody after the clearing of his name—stepped into the room. Tears filled his eyes as he looked at me in my wedding dress.
"You are the image of your mother, Ava," my father whispered, holding out his arm to me. "Are you ready to walk down the aisle?"
"I'm ready, Dad," I smiled, slipping my arm through his.
The doors opened, and the soft melody of a string quartet floated into the room.
I walked down the white-carpeted aisle overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. At the end of the altar stood Ethan, wearing a sharp black tuxedo, looking so handsome it took my breath away. When his eyes met mine, a tear escaped his grey eyes, sliding down his cheek.
The ceremony was a dream—filled with soft vows, ring exchanges, and a lingering, passionate kiss that sealed our souls together forever as husband and wife.
May you like
As the sun began to set over the sea, turning the water into liquid gold, we celebrated with our closest friends and family under a canopy of twinkling fairy lights.
Everything was peace. Everything was light.
