Chapter 199 It's in a Week!

Chapter 199 It's in a Week!
Serena’s POV

I never thought I would live to see a moment like this.

The words blurred at first—not because I didn’t understand them, but because something inside me refused to accept them.

My fingers tightened around the paper, the small rustle of the paper echoed too loudly in the quiet room, like it was mocking the way my heart had suddenly forgotten how to beat properly.

A wedding. Not just any, mine.

For a second, I didn’t breathe.

I had imagined many things in my life—survival, revenge, power, even peace on rare nights when I allowed myself to dream—but never this.

Never imagined a moment where I would stand at the edge of something so… soft.

So real.

My eyes moved slowly over the page again, this time forcing each word to settle, to sink deep enough that I couldn’t pretend I hadn’t seen it.

An official arrangement.

A court summon in three days.

A wedding ceremony in one week.

My throat tightened.

One week.

One week, and I would walk down an aisle—his aisle—to him. To the man I had fought, resisted, fallen for in ways I hadn’t even understood until it was too late.

My chest rose sharply. I never thought I would be someone’s bride. I never thought I would want to be.

But now…

Now the idea of standing across from Dante, the idea of saying those words, of belonging to him in a way the world would recognize—

It didn’t scare me. It overwhelmed me.

A shaky breath slipped past my lips as something warm gathered behind my eyes, not quite tears yet, but dangerously close.

“How?” I asked with my voice coming out softer than I expected, almost fragile as I lowered the paper slightly to turn to him.

And he was already watching me.

There was something in his gaze—something that told me he had been waiting for this exact moment. For this reaction.

“I called Marcus last night,” he said simply. “After I dropped off the men last night.”

My brows pulled together slightly, still trying to catch up. Then I remembered when he lingered outside a bit.

“I told him I needed a favor,” he continued with his voice calm and controlled like always. “Told him to make it official. The court, the arrangements… everything. And as fast as possible.”

Everything? As fast as possible?

My heart stuttered again, but this time I wasn't trying to gather everything, I was just staring at him.

I was just reacting to the way he had done all of this without any hesitation. Without asking. Without giving anyone any time to interfere.

All for me.

A small, breathless laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it, and just like that, the weight in my chest cracked open.

“You…” I shook my head slightly, pushing towards him without thinking. “You did all these… just like that?”

His lips tilted faintly. “I told you,” he murmured. “Nothing was going to delay this.”

Something in me broke completely at that.

I didn’t think. I just closed the space between us, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him in as tightly as I could, like if I didn’t hold onto him right now, I might wake up and find out this was all some cruel dream.

He held onto me too, putting his hands firmly around my waist, steadying me like he always did.

“I love you,” I said with the words rushing out of me before I could filter them, before I could hold them back.

They felt different this time. Heavier, with no form of doubt lurking behind them.

Because now, they weren’t just words. They were a promise.

His grip on me tightened slightly. “I love you too, my little piccola,” he whispered and the sound of that name brought all the good memories flooding back.

Oh how much did I miss that.

I snuggled closer to him, wrapping my arms tighter around him as we remained like that for a few minutes.

Then I pulled back just enough to look at him with my heart racing in a completely different way now, something brighter, lighter, almost unbelievable.

“I’m getting married,” I whispered, like I needed to hear it out loud to believe it.

“I'm getting married!” I repeated louder, breathless, as a laugh broke through, “I’m getting married in one week.”

The words sent a thrill through me. “Oh my God—I need to tell my mom!” I screamed and jumped out of the bed with Dante chuckling behind me.

I spun away before he could respond, already heading towards the door, excitement bubbling so fast it felt like I might explode.

“I need to—”

I reached for the door handle and stopped at once. Then looked down and froze.

Before letting out a gasp and spinning right back around.

Haew, almost rushed out naked. Don't know what would be worse, the guards seeing me naked or having to explain to mom why my bum is twice the one she had when she was my age.

I'll totally prefer they see me naked.

Dante coughed by my side, and to my complete disbelief, he laughed. Like an actual laugh.

A low, rare sound that made my face heat up instantly.

“Get out of here,” he said while still chuckling.

I didn’t wait for a second invitation. Or dismissal.

I rushed to grab the first thing I could find, throwing it on hastily before practically running out of the room, my heart still racing and my mind still spinning.

“Mom!” I called out the second I hit the hallway, my voice echoed through the house. “Mom!”

Footsteps sounded almost immediately.

“What is it?” Valentina’s voice came, laced with concern as she appeared at the bottom of the small stairs with my mom following behind her.

“What's wrong, Serena?” Mom asked.

And I took a deep breath, calming myself before lifting my hands to support me.

“Guess who's getting married in a week's time?” I started with a smirk.

Silence followed for a while as they both just stared at me with smiles forming across their lips—

“Me!” I screamed, jumping up and down.

“No way!” Mom responded with a shout of her own while Valentina just squealed.

“Yes way!” I replied, breathlessly, laughing now as the reality of it hit harder. “The court is in three days' time and everything else is already set. It's happening, mom!”

I caught Valentina’s hands flying to her mouth before she moved towards me quickly, pulling me into a tight embrace.

“My God,” she whispered against me. “Serena…”

“I know,” I laughed softly, clinging to her. “I know.”

Mom did a little victory dance of her own before joining in on the hug Valentina and I were on.

By the time Dante walked in about ten minutes later, the entire room had gone a lot warmer, lighter—something that felt dangerously close to happiness.

My eyes found him instantly while his found mine as well.

For a moment, everything else faded around me, then he looked at Valentina.

“Good morning…” he started, then paused, staring into her eyes while she said nothing. Then he added, “mom.”

The word hung there for a second, then Valentina didn’t hesitate.

A soft smile spread across her face as she stepped forward and pulled him into a hug.

“Good morning, my very handsome son.”

Something in my chest tightened again, but this time, it was softer. Fuller.

Right. These all felt right.

“You did well,” she added as she pulled back slightly. “Very well.”

Dante turned his head to the side slightly. “Everything is already arranged.”

“What about the venue?” She asked immediately.

“The Grand Hall,” he replied and she gasped slightly.

Even I blinked.

“The Grand Hall?” I repeated.

He nodded. “The one used for the Great Ball.”

My breath caught. That hall wasn’t just grand—it was legendary. Reserved. Untouchable, from what I know.

“You’re serious,” I murmured.

“I don’t do things halfway,” he said simply.

Of course he didn’t.

“Serena and you will go shopping,” he added, looking at Valentina. “Everything she needs.”

Then, almost as an afterthought, he glanced at me. “Nothing will stop this wedding.”

A small smile tugged at my lips. “Yes, sir,” I teased lightly.

Something flickered in his eyes before he turned away, already moving towards the door. “I have things to handle. I’ll be back tonight.”

And just like that, he was gone again.

The day passed by fast after that as the excitement in me made it impossible to sit still, impossible to focus on anything for too long.

Breakfast came and went, though I barely tasted it, my mind was way too occupied replaying the same thought over and over again.

I’m getting married.

At some point, one of the men arrived with a card. “For you,” he said simply.

I took it, flipping it over before opening it.

A debit card. And attached was a short message.

Get whatever you want.

A laugh slipped out of my lips before I could stop it.

“Let’s go,” I said immediately, grabbing my bag and turning to Valentina.

We didn’t waste time from there, rushing out to meet Shawn standing by the car.

“Serena, I believe we've met,” he gestured towards me and I nodded carefully.

“Dante has instructed me to take you to where you'd get a good gown,” he said, then nodded slightly. “Trust me, you'll like them.”

I nodded slowly, not like I had a choice, I just want to get this done. So Val and I hopped in the back and he zoomed off.

He stopped at a pretty large store with exquisite designs. And as we stepped in, it was nothing short of spectacular.

The place wasn’t just expensive—it was something else entirely.

They were rows of gowns stretched endlessly, each one more breathtaking than the last.

Lace.

Silk.

Diamonds woven into fabric like it was nothing.

My fingers brushed over one, then another, my breath catching at the detail, the craftsmanship, the sheer luxury of it all.

“You must be Mrs. Russo,” a lady called out to us as I realized then that we'd been standing in one spot for a while now.

Oops.

“Mr. Russo told me of your coming, follow me,” she said and turned around.

That name.

We followed and she led us deeper down. Then—

“This one,” she said softly, guiding me towards a section slightly apart from the rest.

I stopped, and my heart skipped a beat.

It was simply… perfect.

Elegant.

Powerful.

Beautiful.

Whatever the fuck you want to call it.

The price made the lady hesitate slightly when she mentioned it.

One of the most expensive pieces in the entire place.

I was about changing my mind when I remembered who I was getting married to and straightened at once. “I’ll take it.”

We got a few more things, out of this world jewelry and shoes to match. And by the time we got home, the sky had darkened completely.

I felt super tired the moment my ass hit the couch, but the excitement still hadn’t faded ye

Dante returned not long after we did.

“How was it?” He asked, loosening his cufflinks as he walked in and saw me.

“Incredible,” I said, walking toward him. “The dress… it’s perfect.”

A faint nod. “Good.”

“My suit will be ready soon,” he added. “Everything else is already in place.”

Of course it was.

At dinner, the thought that had been lingering finally surfaced.

“The court,” I said, setting my fork down. “What happens there?”

His gaze met mine. “Just answer whatever they ask you honestly,” he said, and that was it.

But something in his expression told me there was more. Something he wasn’t saying.

I didn’t push though.

And the next few days passed too slowly. They always do when you are excited for something.

And before I knew it—

We were standing in front of the court. I was dressed in a well fitted flowing gown while Dante had a blue suit on.

My pulse was steady, but something about the atmosphere felt… off.

Dante’s presence beside me was calm as always, but short of words today. Not that that was strange though.

We were called in and we did enter, taking our seat.

The proceedings began formally and in a short time, things toppled.

“Before we proceed,” one of the officials said, their voice cutting through the room, “there is a matter that must be addressed.”

A pause.

Then—

“Serena Marceti… step forward.”