Chapter 31

Aaron noticed Livia's hesitation and the uncertainty in her voice.

"Aaron, we-"

Aaron's heart was beating loudly, and he wasn't sure if he will be able to hear a 'No' from her. He put his finger on her lips.

"Shh..." Livia stopped and looked at him.

" I won't take no as an answer. I am not letting you go anywhere. Even if you remember or not, I won't let you forget our wedding vows. You are mine till death do us part."

"I am not what you chose, Aaron. You didn't even know that it was me you were getting married to."

Aaron smiled at her. "You were mine from the moment I saw you."

"You mean at the party?"

"No."

Livia frowned." I don't think we ever met before that."

"The first time I saw you was when you were helping an old lady to cross the road, and a fast speed car came, and you scolded the driver."

"Yeah, I remember now. He was driving so carelessly."

"It was me who was driving the car."

Livia looked at him, shocked by the revelation.

"You are shameless! I scolded that poor man because of you."

Aaron laughed. "Thanks for the compliment."

"When I saw you...I told myself that if I met this girl again before the marriage, I will ditch the Smith daughter and marry her. It's strange, but yeah, it's true." Aaron shrugged. "And then I saw you at the party wearing a peach dress; you wore a rose perfume."

Livia blushed. She was surprised to see how Aaron remembered everything.

"And you ignored me and even called me shameless."

"I didn't." Livia protested.

"Well, you were giving me a look which screamed at me 'shameless!'."

Livia's blush deepened. "That was because you were staring at me."

Aaron smiled at her pink cheeks.

Oh, he loved it so much.

"Before I met you, I never believed in things like fate and destiny, but your appearance changed everything. And I started to believe in things I never knew existed. When I saw you there, I promised myself that it would be you who will stand at the altar as my bride on the wedding day. And since you were a Smith's daughter, it was like the cherry on the cake."

"But Ada?"

"You little fool, you were late. Before your arrival, they had already agreed to marry Ada to me, and Alicia was so happy that she wanted to announce the wedding there and then. But I stopped her. I knew that they would not let you marry me as Ada was already decided for this marriage. So I made a plan. While talking to Ada, she told me that she wanted to become a model.

So I looked for a famous designer who was her favorite. I contacted him and told him to call Ada for the shoot when our wedding was held, and I paid him for that. And since I have money and connections, for me, it was just a piece of a cake."

"But how were you so sure that they will make me your bride?''

Aaron raised an eyebrow, "How do you think I have become so successful as a businessman? I left them with no other option. So you were all they had then."

"Then why did you look so angry when you lifted the veil?"

"Because I saw the slap marks on your face, and I was quite sure it was Alicia." Aaron touched her cheek gently as if trying to soothe the pain it had received that day. He looked angry.

"Then why did you question me during the dance as to what I was doing as the bride?"

"Because I wanted to hear your voice, and you weren't talking. You had your head down. So the only excuse I could come up with was this, the most obvious one."

"You are too clever, Mr. Rodriguez." Livia smiled.

"Thank you, Mrs. Rodriguez.'' he smiled back.

Aaron cupped Livia's face once again and said, "It was always you, Livia. From the moment I saw you, even now and even in the future, it will be just you and no one else. You taught me to love. You made me believe that even I was capable of loving and being loved. At first, I thought it was just physical pleasure that I wanted from you, but I realized I was wrong when we first made love. The more I tasted you, the more I wanted you. I couldn't keep my hands off you. You became as necessary as oxygen."

Livia smiled and couldn't believe her ears.

Aaron continued. "So I thought of breaking all ties with Miranda and thought of starting it all over again with you. But when I came back, things were the complete opposite of what I had imagined."

"I am sorry." Livia apologized.

"Of course you should be. Do you know how much you made me suffer during those days? You were so mad at me and didn't even give me a chance to explain."

"But you never came. Not even once." Livia complained.

" I came every night when you were asleep. That was the only time I could see you without any angry words thrown at me." Aaron smiled.

'He came. He was there all along. So every morning when I felt his presence, it was him!' It touched Livia's heart.

"During those weeks, I told myself that I don't need you. That I can live without you. That your opinion of me doesn't matter. So I just immersed myself in my work. But it didn't matter how much I tried. I couldn't forget you. I couldn't get you out of my mind. You had become like a drug to me. So I thought of calling Miranda to make everything clear, but she spoiled it all the more. Sorry Livia, for all you went through, but I can't let you go. Not after I have fallen for you."

Livia wasn't sure if what she heard was right.

"What did you say?"

"I love you, Livia, and I think I fell for you from the moment I saw you but realized it late."

Livia couldn't believe her ears. Aaron cupped her face and repeated it, "I love you, Livia."

And he sealed her mouth with a kiss. When he finally allowed them to breathe, Livia replied, looking lovingly into his eyes, "I love you too, Aaron. With all my heart and soul."

Aaron was surprised to hear this. ''You never said that before."

"I thought if I confessed, you would just push me away."

Aaron got up on his feet and pulled Livia along with him. He picked her up in bridal style, and Livia squealed in happiness.

"Repeat it."

Livia cupped his face while still in his arms," I love you, Aaron Rodriguez." And she kissed him.

"If it weren't so, then why do you think I would have felt jealous and angry at that news of you and Mir-" before she could complete the sentence, Aaron sealed her mouth with a kiss.

"Let's not talk about other people anymore. Now it will just be you and me. I am glad I found you."

"Thanks for finding me." Livia smiled back.

"Let's go to my Island tomorrow."

"You have an island?"

"Yes. I bought it recently. I thought when Miranda would explain to you everything. Then I will take you there and won't let you out till I make you fall for me."

"Ah..but I have already fallen for you, head over heels. So is the offer still valid?"

"Yes. It will be a month-long stay. I have worked my ass off during all this time, and we also have to make up for the time we have lost."

Aaron kissed her again, and when he freed her, she realized they were in a bedroom. Aaron very gently placed her on the bed and looked at her.

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. You don't know how beautiful you are."

Livia blushed, and he touched her bright pink cheeks with the back of his hand. She opened her arms for him.

" I missed you too, Aaron. Your scent, your touch, I missed all of you."

Aaron bent close to her.

"So let's not talk anymore. I want to show you how much I missed you, how much I love you, and in the process, I think we can also make a child. So next time, I will have insurance which will ensure that you will stay by my side."

Livia laughed.

"Hey, don't laugh. We have a serious task at hand."

Aaron was finally ready for a family. He had already realized the essence of love and acceptance. Livia, too had finally found the love she had always wanted and waited for. And her dream of a child and a happy family was coming true soon. They both had finally found someone who accepted them with their flaws and had found the beauty in each other they had never known.