Chapter210 We’re getting married!

Chapter210 We’re getting married!
Aliya POV
It has been three months since Patrick died.
The wedding, which should have taken place long ago, was postponed for a long time because of Patrick’s death.
Three days. In just three days, I would marry Nikolai. The thought should have filled me with joy, but instead, I found myself pulling back from everything.
I sat across from Ava in our favorite coffee shop, stirring my latte mindlessly as she listened to my rambling concerns. The familiar warmth of the place and soft jazz playing in the background, usually comforted me.
Today, it felt suffocating.
"Baby, this is classic pre-wedding jitters," Ava said, leaning forward with that knowing look of someone who'd been through it all before. "Sure, it might have something to do with Patrick's death too, but remember what he wrote in that letter? He wanted you to walk steadily toward happiness. So just enjoy your wedding."
I sighed, running my hands through my hair. "It's not just that. Everything feels so overwhelming. We've had to contact so many friends and family members, coordinate with everyone. And Nikolai keeps comparing different wedding venues, wanting everything to be perfect. Plus, I'm supposed to be crowned Luna Queen at the ceremony. It's all happening so fast."
"Honey, all of that stress will be over once you're married," Ava said warmly, reaching across to squeeze my hand. "You and Nikolai are going to have the sweetest honeymoon. God, I still remember mine. Best time of my life, on that private island with no one to bother us. We could even make love on the beach whenever we wanted."
Her eyes got that dreamy, distant look that always made me smile despite my worries.
"But lately, Nikolai's been acting so strange," I continued, my voice dropping. "When I try to talk to him about anything, he just says he's busy. I don't even see him come home at night anymore."
"He's probably just swamped with wedding preparations," Ava reasoned, gesturing around as if to emphasize her point. "I mean, think about it. The invitations, the venue, all the pre-ceremony arrangements and decorations. He's handling most of that stuff, right?"
I frowned, knowing she was probably right but still feeling unsettled. "I should trust him, shouldn't I? When you love someone, you shouldn't have doubts, but I'm just so nervous about everything and..."
The words died in my throat as a wave of nausea hit me like a freight train. My hand flew to my mouth as my stomach lurched violently.
"Excuse me," I mumbled, practically running to the bathroom.
I barely made it to the stall before I was retching into the toilet, my body shaking as everything I'd eaten that morning came back up. The coffee shop's bathroom tiles were cold against my knees as I gripped the porcelain, trying to catch my breath.
"Aliya!" Ava's voice echoed in the small space as she rushed in after me. "Oh my God, what's wrong? Are you that nervous about the wedding?"
I waved her off weakly, my face pale and clammy as I leaned back against the stall wall. "I don't know. I really don't know what's happening."
Ava's expression immediately shifted to one of deep concern. "That's it. We're going to the hospital right now."
An hour later, I sat in the examination room, staring at the test results in complete shock. The words on the paper seemed to blur together as my brain tried to process what the doctor had just told me.
Pregnant.
I was pregnant.
"Oh my God!" Ava practically shrieked with excitement, throwing her arms around me in a crushing hug. "This is amazing news! You have to tell Nikolai right away. Having this kind of wonderful surprise before the wedding? You're going to be so happy!"
I laughed, feeling tears of joy spring to my eyes as the shock gave way to pure elation. The timing was incredible, almost like a sign that everything was meant to be.
"But what about the bachelorette party?" I asked, suddenly practical. "I can't exactly be drinking alcohol now."
"Don't worry about that," Ava grinned. "We'll get you special fruit juices. Virgin cocktails that are just as fun and way prettier than the regular ones."
That evening, I practically floated home, my hand unconsciously resting on my still-flat stomach. I couldn't wait to share the news with Nikolai, to see his face light up when I told him we were going to have a baby.
But when I got home, the house was dark and quiet. I waited up for hours, practicing different ways to break the news, imagining his reaction. By the time I heard his key in the door, I was nearly bursting with excitement.
"Nikolai," I called softly as he came up the stairs, looking exhausted. "Are you awake? I have some good news I want to share."
But he was already sliding into bed, his eyes heavy with sleep. Within moments, his breathing had evened out into the deep rhythm of someone completely unconscious.
I sat there in the darkness, watching his peaceful face in the moonlight streaming through our bedroom window. With a soft sigh, I pulled the covers up over his shoulders and kissed his forehead gently.
The news would have to wait .
The night of my bachelorette party, I stood in the corner of the trendy rooftop bar Ava had rented out, holding a colorful virgin mojito while my friends danced wildly to the pounding music. The city lights twinkled below us, and the warm night air carried the sound of laughter and clinking glasses.
"Come on, Aliya!" Ava called out, her cheeks flushed from champagne as she beckoned me toward the makeshift dance floor. "Don't just stand there holding that drink. Come dance with us!"
I tried to move to the beat, but my heart wasn't really in it.
"Please, honey," Ava shouted over the music, grabbing my hands and spinning me around. "Think about how gorgeous you're going to look in that wedding dress tomorrow. That should make you happy enough to dance!"
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and despite my worries, I found myself laughing and moving more freely. She was right. Tomorrow was going to be beautiful.
The next morning, I woke up to the softest sensation on my lips. Nikolai was leaning over me, his blue eyes warm with love as he pressed gentle kisses to wake me up.
"Good morning, my wife," he whispered against my mouth.
I blinked up at him in amazement, taking in his perfectly tailored morning coat and crisp white shirt. He looked devastatingly handsome.
"We're really getting married today?" I asked, still not quite believing it was real.
"We're really getting married today," he confirmed, his smile making my heart skip.