Chapter 30 1/2

Chapter 30 1/2

30 1/2

A Month Ago - The Wedding Day

Luciano

"Oh my goodness, my boy, you look just like your handsome grandfather," It was grandmother's voice that crossed my ears, she exclaimed in pure surprise. I turned around on one foot, finding her dressed in a formal grey dress, gloves, jewellery and a hat on her head. My lips turned into a charming smile. She was looking gorgeous. Grandmother walked inside the dressing room while I was tying my tie. I was almost done when she decided to completely tug it for me. I let her do the rest of the work.

She tugged it to its place, "Thank you, mother," I whispered softly and bent to kiss her cheeks. After exchanging kisses, she pulled me into a strong hug, I held onto her back.

"Congratulations, my son. I'm so happy to see you happy," She mumbled, pulling away. I nodded lightly. "I have never seen you smiling this often before, but since the day our bride has entered my handsome boy's life, he's started living normally again," Grandmother teased me as she chucked and I grinned, agreeing with her.

Nodding, "It is true," I replied.

It was true that today I was getting married to the woman of my life.

Today was the day when I was going to get my favourite thing. The same thing I had been craving to possess for three months. I couldn't sleep properly or concentrate on work since the day she agreed to marry me, it was an easier call than I ever thought.

My arms longed for her. The wait had almost killed me, but glad it was finally going to be over tonight. I would give her the best night of her life tonight.

Meanwhile, everything during this period had been hitting me so intensely. I liked the rush hour in my house. Everyone had been hasty for the preparations of the wedding and excitement for the wedding day was touching my heart. Most of all, the way everyone— except for a few—treated Jennifer like their daughter was a high priority thing for me.

And today, I was going to get her, there was no running back for her now as we had already signed the marriage documents two days ago. We also signed the one-year agreement which worth nothing to me but Jennifer's life depended on that mere piece of paper; like I would let her go away from me even after a decade.

This evening, we held a private ceremony just to fill in the formality. "Lucian, I'm here to hand you something for my daughter-in-law," Grandmother said to me and took out a long box from her clutch. She opened it, there rested a diamond necklace with a matching pair of earrings and what I could pick up was this was my great grandmother's piece of jewellery which was our family's traditional heirlooms.

I picked it on my palm, "You gave it to mother too," I said to her to which she smirked politely.

"Actually my mother-in-law gave it to your mother. She used to wear it on grand occasions. It would be so nice if she was here to hand this to you for Jennifer." Out of the blue grandmother had tears formed up in her eyes. This was a heavy moment for me too; I wished I could bring back my mother and keep her protected under my surveillance. I would have saved her from her rivals if she could survive the last attack.

"Maybe God has other plans, grandmother. She is always in our hearts," I replied to her and wiped her leaked tears, she tried to make up with an uplifting smile and I felt like contributing a line to make her feel better, "I don't want to see you cry today, grandmother. After all, it's your grandson's most awaited day. I want everything to be perfect. If you're going to cry, who will give a shoulder to my wife?" I whispered alluringly.

Grandmother patted my shoulder lightly. The next second, my groomsmen team invaded the room with a bottle of champagne. Each of them congratulated me, I could see Massimo, Domenico, Lorenzo, Leonardo and others but Nikola wasn't in the room. I told him to attend the wedding, was he really in his senses? A mere girl could not affect a heartless man like him.

The boys opened the bottle, poured the drink and passed to everyone for a toast for the purpose of my big day. We clinked the glasses and took a sip. After that, grandmother left the room and everyone started boy-talking with me with a filter; I was still a boss to them.

We left the room together and it was time to walk to the aisle. It was a sunny day on the coast. We had this ceremony in one of my grandmother's penthouses. She said it was a gift to me that she always wanted my wedding at one of her places.

I stepped down the stairs and started walking to the stage. As I reached there, my elders came forward to hug me. Dad's hug was the quickest one; I was aware to notice.

Everyone steadied in their seats and I was told it was Jennifer's turn to show up. She would be standing with me in a few minutes. The thought itself was heavenly to me. Saying I was ready was an underestimation. I was dying to see her as my bride. I would like to see her in that bridal angelic dress.

Everything seemed to be invisible as I sensed a faint click of the heel. She was here. She was almost closer to me. And when she turned to come before my eyes, my sight instantly stoned at her and I forgot to breathe for a moment. My God, I never imagined anyone could look this beautiful. My heart happened to skip a beat. She looked breathtakingly adorable. Her elegant gait made me want to lift her in my arms. She was gracefully walking toward me as if she was stepping into my heart with her warm steps.

Jennifer stopped and hugged her brothers who were her only family attending the wedding from her side. My sister Natasha and cousins were holding Jennifer's flare. Her eyes were down all the while but my heart kept whispering that it wished she could look into my eyes and miraculously when she did, my heart purred like a mad wolf.

As she reached the stage, I stepped ahead and forwarded my hand. She climbed up taking it in and we turned to each other. The guests adjusted on their seats while I took both of her hands in mine and kept gazing at her. "You look like an angel, strawberry," I whispered to her as I got near her ear. She seemed to be holding her smile back. The priest asked us if we wanted to go with the standard vows or we had our own. I chose the standard vows because I wasn't good at expressing my love side in front of thousands of people.

They better keep considering me a ruthless fuck.

The priest turned toward me and requested me to repeat after him. He recited the vows and I followed. After a minute or two, I was done and he requested the same to Jennifer, I noticed she was hesitant first, perhaps it was her first time saying these vows that got her stuttering a little. She repeated the vows with her eyes downcast. I wanted her to look at mine and say those words as if she meant every letter, but it wasn't the case. She was scared of me since the day I threatened her with hurting her family. She was sensitive about her family being in pain and it was a perfect excuse to submit her in.

Now, that she was done. It was time to kiss the bride. The moment I was waiting for a long time. The priest announced that I may kiss her and as I stepped ahead, she gasped, her eyes exhibiting intimidation. I took her face in my palms and I leaned on her. She closed her eyes and loosened her lips and I followed her act.

As I reached her lips, she put her hands on my chest and let me enjoy this moment. The applause was filling the air but all I could care about was I giving her the kiss of her life. Groomsmen hooted and claps were everywhere. Jennifer's hand ascended to my hair and I deepened the kiss. I bent her over, having no intention to leave her but she tapped my head to let me know she was out of air and my father cleared his throat. I realised I had to leave her now, just for now.

Tonight, there would be no pause between us.

I pulled her straight, my hand rested on her back while we attended to everyone clapping for us. I side-glanced at Massimo who winked at me whereas Jennifer eyes' were on Andrea along with her brothers who were giving her supportive eyes. The only energy I could consume from her was nervousness. She was surviving on one breath.

Everyone started chanting for us to join the dancing stage. I tightly grabbed her hand and walked downstairs to the middle of the glass-dancing stage, where couples joined me for a couple dance. Jennifer had been behaving rightly. I could not imagine the effect my whipping her brothers had on her. I had to do it because she wasn't signing the papers, I had to break her to submit to me.

Her eyes couldn't lie on me but on her brothers who had bandages over their heads and hands. "Mrs. Bernardi, may your husband have your attention?" I asked her. Her eyes hurriedly turned to me in shock.

"I'm here," She muffled. As if your mind was also.

"We are dancing, that's the only thing that should be on your mind right now," I whispered as I spun her around and got my hand back on her waist.

"I—I'm trying," Her eyes were downcast now.

"Let it happen naturally. You don't need to rush things, strawberry," I said to her and guided her to dance freely. She sighed and let herself flow with the music. That's the thing. We danced till the last beat and I ended our performance by bending my wife back. Everyone followed it and applause chanted again.

We got off the stage and got busy meeting people individually. It was evening now, we went inside the penthouse. There was a huge table with a fountain cake on it. It was marvellously huge, we had to cut it with a sword.

I grabbed Jennifer's hand and cut the layers of cake together. Her hand was shivering and cold as if I leave her alone to cut, her balance would be misplaced. Was she feeling nervous? Was this a pregnancy sick moment? I tried to focus on cutting the cake and when done, I placed a kiss on her cheek. "My sweet, are you alright?" I asked softly.

"Hmm, yes, I am fine," She mumbled putting a fake smile on. I blinked at her, knowing she was lying because her body said otherwise.

"Is the baby giving you a hard time?" I could feel the distress caused by this heavy dress during pregnancy.

"No. I am fine, I just need to have some rest," She replied. I smiled at her innocent request, already feeling sorry for her as she wasn't going to get any rest tonight. She would have me all night long, loving her, adoring her, setting her soul on fire like she'd put mine. I would like to make love to my wife on the very first night of our marriage, perceiving the fact that she was pregnant with our baby.

And that time was coming closer. It was almost night, guests were almost gone. I sent her brothers with my Domenico. As promised, I had to treat them like my own.

Meanwhile, grandmother sent my new bride for the preparations, bridesmaids were helping her change the wedding dress and after that, she was going to get a milk bath.