Chapter 9 - THE SECOND WEDDING
A year later, Elena received an envelope.
Inside was a wedding invitation.
Her own.
But there was no name printed beside hers.
Only:
Elena Hart
Will you marry me again?
She looked up.
Lorenzo stood across the room.
“No mansion,” he said.
“No three hundred guests.”
“No politicians.”
“No family drama.”
“No white orchids.”
Elena smiled.
“What about a dress?”
“One dress.”
She laughed.
“And who gets to wear it?”
“You.”
She walked toward him.
“And if Vanessa asks?”
“She gets her own.”
Elena smiled.
“Good answer.”
Their second wedding took place in a small garden.
Thirty-seven guests.
No cameras.
No business partners.
No political figures.
Adrian walked Elena down the aisle.
He cried before she did.
Margaret held his arm.
Vanessa sat in the front row.
Celeste was not there.
She had been sentenced for fraud, conspiracy, and financial crimes.
The DeMarco family empire had survived.
But it had changed.
When Elena reached Lorenzo, he did not take her hand immediately.
He waited.
She placed it in his.
The priest smiled.
“Do you take this man?”
Elena looked at Lorenzo.
“I choose him.”
Lorenzo's eyes filled.
“And I choose her.”
The vows were simple.
No promises of forever.
Only promises of honesty.
When they kissed, the garden erupted in applause.
Vanessa cried.
Adrian laughed.
May you like
And somewhere in the back, Evelyn whispered,
“Finally.”