Chapter 7 - The Wedding Nobody Could Stop
The legal battle began.
Graham challenged the trust.
Victor vanished overseas.
The forged marriage documents were exposed.
But the public believed Lena and Lorenzo were secretly engaged.
Photographers followed them.
Reporters waited outside their buildings.
Lena hated it.
Lorenzo handled it quietly.
One afternoon he asked her to dinner.
“Where?”
“A quiet place.”
They arrived at a small restaurant.
No cameras.
No security visible.
Only candles.
When dessert arrived, Lorenzo stood.
He reached into his pocket.
Lena's heart stopped.
“Before you panic,” he said, “there's no contract.”
She laughed.
He opened a ring box.
Inside was a simple diamond.
Not enormous.
Not extravagant.
Beautiful.
“I don't want to marry you because our families are connected.”
Lena stared at him.
“I don't want to marry you because a trust requires it.”
He stepped closer.
“I want to marry you because the first time you kissed me, you had no idea who I was.”
She smiled.
“You looked grumpy.”
“I was.”
“And terrifying.”
“I've been told.”
“And you still let me kiss you.”
“That may have been my best decision.”
Her eyes filled.
“Lorenzo.”
“I love you.”
She covered her mouth.
“I know.”
He smiled.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“Then marry me.”
She laughed through tears.
“Yes.”
The wedding was small.
Elena cried.
Lena's mother cried harder.
Tessa nearly knocked over a floral arrangement.
Brooke recorded everything.
For once, there were no secrets.
But halfway through the ceremony, a message appeared on Lena's phone.
FROM: VICTOR RUSSO.
Congratulations.
Then another.
You have no idea what you've married into.
Lena showed Lorenzo.
He didn't panic.
He simply turned the phone over.
Then kissed her forehead.
“Today is ours.”
The wedding continued.
Afterward, there was one final shock.
Lena's father appeared.
Alive.
Walking into the reception in a dark suit.
She stared.
Then ran to him.
He hugged her.
“I am sorry.”
She cried against his shoulder.
“You owe me twenty years.”
“I know.”
“Start talking.”
He smiled.
“Your husband knows more than I do.”
Lorenzo stepped over.
Her father looked at him.
“You protected her.”
“Yes.”
“Did you love her before or after the kiss?”
Lorenzo glanced at Lena.
“Before.”
Everyone laughed.
Lena's father looked relieved.
Then his expression turned serious.
“Graham isn't finished.”
Lorenzo nodded.
“I know.”
Her father gave him a file.
Inside was Victor's last location.
May you like
He had been in New York the entire time.
Waiting.
