Chapter 11 - The Wedding Under the OakOne year later,
the old oak tree at the edge of the estate,
stood tall and proud in the warm summer breeze.
It was the exact spot where my life had changed,
where a tiny girl had climbed onto my chest,
waking a heart that had been asleep for years.
Today,
the grass beneath it was covered in white rose petals,
scattered carefully by a very enthusiastic flower girl.
Lily was wearing a tiny white dress,
complete with a sparkly tiara on her curls,
taking her job extremely seriously.
I stood at the makeshift altar,
wearing a classic black tuxedo,
my hands sweating nervously despite my calm exterior.
Thomas,
my loyal butler,
stood beside me as my chosen best man,
offering a rare,
encouraging smile.
The string quartet began to play a soft melody,
the sweet notes drifting over the quiet estate,
signaling the moment I had been dreaming of.
The crowd of close friends and trusted staff rose to their feet,
turning their attention to the back of the garden,
waiting for the bride to appear.
When Maria stepped out from the patio doors,
the breath completely left my lungs,
leaving me utterly speechless.
She wore a simple,
elegant lace gown,
her dark hair styled in loose waves,
looking like an absolute vision of perfection.
She walked down the grassy aisle,
her eyes locked on mine,
shining with a radiant,
unspoken joy.
When she finally reached my side,
I took her hands in my own,
marveling at how perfectly they fit,
completely ignoring the officiant clearing his throat.
You look beautiful,
I whispered,
unable to contain the overwhelming love in my heart,
leaning in to press a kiss to her knuckles.
You do not look so bad yourself,
Mr. Cole,
she teased softly,
a bright twinkle of amusement in her gaze.
The ceremony passed in a beautiful blur,
filled with traditional vows,
and promises we wrote from our own hearts.
I vowed to protect them,
to cherish every ordinary moment,
and to never take our family for granted.
Maria vowed to stand by my side,
to bring laughter into my quiet halls,
and to love the man beneath the billionaire facade.
When the officiant finally pronounced us husband and wife,
I did not hesitate for a single second,
pulling her in for a breathtaking kiss.
The crowd cheered loudly,
clapping their hands in celebration,
but the loudest noise came from near our knees.
Yay,
Lily screamed happily,
throwing a massive handful of rose petals into the air,
catching us in a fragrant,
colorful shower.
I bent down,
lifting my new daughter onto my shoulders,
grabbing my gorgeous wife by the hand,
feeling a profound sense of absolute completion.
We walked back up the aisle together,
a family forged by fate,
bound by love,
and ready to face whatever the future held.
The seventeen bedrooms were no longer empty,
the marble floors were scuffed with play,
and the museum was finally,
May you like
wonderfully,
a home.
