“Thank you for believing me,” I said quietly to her. “I’ve been aware of Ivan’s hand in the murder of Michele’s parents for quite a while. I had left the room after the argument, and returned at the sound of shots to see both of them lying on the floor, dead. The video was most probably edited for Michele to make it seem like I was the one who returned and killed the both of them. And the corpse you saw at the construction yard was the one who drove the killers away that night.”
She remained silent as she watched me, still so visibly shaken. “Why would he do such a horrible thing?” she croaked out.
“Michele is the sole benefactor of her father’s estate, and it is worth almost three billion pounds. The only way to get access to any of that is through Michele. My uncle knew that I would never, under any circumstances let that happen, but if Michele thought that I was the one who killed her parents, then perhaps she would lean against him instead and once he got rid of me, she would be happy to give him full control. The cops have been investigating this for a while with me now. I had nothing to fear. My businesses are all legit or watertight protected. So I agreed to help them. They knew Ivan was involved in some way, they will be glad to see the video of what happened at home with Ivan…Now kiss me.” I needed to know that we were okay, and that she wasn’t going to leave.
She gazed at me for a little while, and then she came for me, her lips crushing mine in an almost desperate, teary-eyed kiss.
“I’ve got one more confession.”
She drew back slightly. “What is it?”
“That night I took you to Grosvenor House Hotel, I knew your mother would be there and I was hoping you would be able to patch it.”
Her eyes widened. “You knew who my mother was?”
“Yeah.” I grimaced. “I had someone do some digging. I was trying to help. I thought it would be a great reunion. I guess, I didn’t expect it to become the fiasco it did.”
She shrugged. “I’m glad it happened that way. All my life I was chasing a dream, finally, I saw it for what it was. After that night I stopped chasing that empty promise and now I’m just grateful for all the wonderful things that I actually have around me. Charlotte, Michele…you…”
“I’m still sorry you had to go through that public humiliation though,” I apologized. “I swear I will never allow anything like that to happen to you again.” With my good arm, I held her to me, refusing to let go. I took a deep breath. “And now for the big declaration. Davina Winters, please don’t leave me,” I rasped out. “I want you in my life. I love you. I think I’ve loved you for a long time, but I didn’t want to accept it.”
Her eyes grew round with wonder. “You love me?”
“Yes, I fucking love you and anyway, what would I do without my little wild cat?”
She stilled against my chest.
I held my breath as she pulled away from me.
She looked into my eyes. “I’m not going anywhere, my love. It would be too hard to leave a man you are so crazy in love with that you’d kill another human being for and die for if necessary.”
My eyes filled with tears. “God, how I love you, Davina.”
Davina
16 months later
“I hate you.”
I smiled at the statement as Charlotte adjusted the bejeweled tiara on my head.
“I’ll never forgive you for this. You have access to billions and this is the wedding you chose? A quiet remote Scottish castle and a chapel? Aren’t Russians supposed to be big spenders who love to show off?”
“You know me, Charlotte. I like things simple,” I murmured, more amused than offended. “This is what we both want.”
“Whatever,” she concluded. When she was done, she turned me around so I could see myself in the long mirror.
“I’m getting married, Charlotte,” I whispered, looking at myself in awe.
“If you aren’t, then you’re sure going to look silly in that get-up in the church,” she quipped.
I smiled. “You’re crazy.”
“Tell me something I don’t know. Come on Cinderella, time to meet the Prince.”
We walked together until we got to the entrance of the beautiful chapel in Dornoch, and joined my handful of bridesmaids and flower girls. Charlotte turned to me. “Go get him, tiger.”
And for a moment, I felt a pang of sadness for Charlotte. I was leaving her. She was the most beautiful person I knew. She’d seen me through ups and downs and she had no one. “Your turn will come soon,” I said softly.
Michele ran up to me then, looking angelic in her flowing white dress and flower crown.
I lowered myself down to her height.
“You look beautiful Davina,” she said.
I placed a kiss on her cheeks, tears slowly gathering in my eyes.
When I rose, I was immediately rebuked. “Not today,” Charlotte scolded. “We did that last night and this morning. No more tears, you’re marrying the man of your dreams.”
“I know,” I said, unable to contain my joy. “I’m so happy, and terrified. What will the future hold?”
“Billions…er…I mean joy,” she said with a laugh as she gently patted the corners of my eyes dry. “Unending joy and happiness. Gabriel will make sure of that.”
This answer chased all my fears away. “He will.” I smiled and turned.
Charlotte’s uncle came in then and offered me his arm.
With gratitude, I slipped my arm through and Charlotte fell in behind.
The music began and I was ushered ever so gracefully into the small private chapel. It wasn’t full, but beyond beautiful. Gabriel and I had taken care to only invite the people that really meant something in our lives. Those who had touched and cared for us in one way or the other, along our journey to eventually finding each other.
So although the castle was packed with the press waiting to record the wedding of one of the most desired bachelors in the world, inside were only our closest friends and guardians.
I lifted my gaze to meet Gabriel’s at the end of the aisle, and my heart swelled with so much love and pride it felt as if it would burst. He was breathtaking, and I almost couldn’t walk fast enough. Dressed in an impeccable dark suit and vest, with his hair brushed away from his face, I felt the tears rush back to my eyes.
My man. He was beautiful, in every way possible.
Charlotte’s uncle handed me over to him, and I placed my hand in his. We said our vows. I never once looked away from the magic of his eyes. Then Gabriel drew me in for a long, deep kiss. The church faded, the world dropped away. There was no one else, but us. Just us. Our mouths, our bodies, and our hearts beating together.
When he eventually pulled away, I was breathless. The church came back into my consciousness. I heard the applause of the entire chapel.
“I love you, Mrs. Angelini,” he whispered to me. “With all of my heart. Thank you for choosing me.”
I pulled him into my arms, and spoke the words I knew deep down in my soul, “I love you more, Mr. Angelini. Thank you for choosing me.”
—————–THE END
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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