Chapter 8 - The Wedding That Became a Target
We moved the wedding.
Then moved it again.
Every location was compromised.
Finally, Alessandro chose the forbidden room.
He said:
“No one will expect us to celebrate where everyone thinks we only mourn.”
We decorated the room.
The mural remained.
Sophia added flowers.
Lucia brought white ribbons.
Matteo stood beside Alessandro.
Daniel recovered enough to walk.
He apologized to me.
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“I wanted you safe.”
“You were.”
He smiled.
“I hope you believe that someday.”
I did.
Not completely.
But enough.
The wedding day arrived.
Snow fell over New York.
The estate glowed with lights.
For the first time, the house didn't feel haunted.
It felt alive.
Sophia carried flowers.
She wore a little white dress.
She walked down the aisle beside me.
Alessandro stood at the front.
He looked nervous.
The most feared man in New York.
Nervous.
I smiled.
He whispered:
“You're beautiful.”
I whispered back:
“Don't cry.”
“I'm not.”
His eyes were already wet.
Everyone laughed softly.
Then the ceremony began.
When it was time for vows, Alessandro looked at me.
“I spent years believing love was weakness.”
He paused.
“I was wrong.”
He took my hands.
“Love is the reason we survive.”
I cried.
“I cannot promise you a life without danger.”
He swallowed.
“But I promise I will never make you face it alone.”
Then it was my turn.
“I cannot promise I will always understand your world.”
I smiled.
“But I promise I will always remind you that there is a world outside it.”
He laughed.
We kissed.
Everyone applauded.
Then the doors exploded open.
Gunfire.
Men stormed the hallway.
Alessandro pushed me behind the altar.
Tommy returned fire.
Chaos erupted.
Victor had not acted alone.
His remaining men wanted the trust.
They had one target.
Sophia.
I grabbed her.
“Stay with me.”
She held my hand.
We ran toward the forbidden room.
The mural wall opened automatically.
We hid inside.
The door locked.
Sophia whispered:
“Is this like hide and seek?”
I smiled through tears.
“Yes.”
“Are we winning?”
“I think so.”
Then we heard footsteps.
Someone was outside.
I recognized the voice.
Isabella.
Alessandro's aunt.
She had betrayed us.
The door opened.
She stood there.
“I am sorry.”
I stared.
“You?”
She shook her head.
“I wanted to protect Elena.”
“What?”
“Victor threatened her.”
She looked at Sophia.
“I was the one who gave Mara the key.”
I was stunned.
“The key?”
“Yes.”
She explained.
She had known about Lucia.
She had known about the trust.
She had secretly helped my mother hide the evidence.
But she had never been brave enough to confront Victor.
Then she opened another passage.
“Go.”
“Where?”
“The chapel basement.”
She handed me a key.
“Alessandro is there.”
We escaped.
The battle continued.
Victor's final men were captured.
Isabella turned herself in.
The trust was safe.
The wedding resumed.
Not that night.
Three weeks later.
This time there were no weapons.
No enemies.
May you like
Only family.
And Sophia's butterflies.
