Chapter 9 - The Wedding in the ValleyRaphael proposed six months later.
He did it without bodyguards.
Without cameras.
Without a ring worth more than a house.
They were standing near the same valley where the relief depot had collapsed.
He took a small box from his pocket.
Tessa stared.
“You planned this?”
“Yes.”
“That's suspicious.”
“I can be romantic.”
“Since when?”
“I'm learning.”
He opened the box.
Inside was his mother's ring.
Emilia had given it to him.
Tessa's eyes filled.
“I can't.”
“You can.”
“Raphael…”
“You once crawled under concrete for a stranger.”
He knelt.
“I'm asking you to walk beside me.”
She smiled.
“Yes.”
Their wedding was small.
The valley was green.
Children from the shelter attended.
Maya carried flowers.
Mercer stood beside Raphael.
Elijah walked Tessa down the aisle.
He cried.
Tessa laughed.
“You said you wouldn't.”
“I lied.”
Raphael looked at them.
Then at Tessa.
The ceremony ended at sunset.
No cameras.
No press.
Just family.
Afterward, Raphael whispered:
“I thought I'd never have this.”
“Neither did I.”
“Regrets?”
“Only one.”
“What?”
“I should have made you listen to the building.”
He laughed.
She kissed him.
May you like
“No dying today.”
“Understood.”
