chapter 115

Alana’s point of view.

During the two weeks of my break, I deliberately distanced myself from him, not out of anger but to gain clarity. Alec, understanding the need for space, had given me the time to navigate through the complex emotions that surfaced. The silver lining in this turmoil was the absence of Daniel from my life, and Alec's supportive presence became a luxury I didn't want to let go of. I understood why he did what he did and I’m not angry with him, just a little disappointed.

The temporary break allowed me to focus solely on work and reclaim a sense of normalcy. Of course, it wasn’t exactly normal since I wasn’t 100% normal around Alec but at least I was freed from distractions and drama, I found solace in my accomplishments for the movies. The limelight, once toxic and intrusive, now shone my achievements, particularly with the heightened promotion of our movie.

After the first two weeks, I had calmed down completely and was ready to deal with everything else. Resuming contact with Alec after this hiatus was a decision made with consideration. Disappointment lingered within me for his lack of disclosure, even though his actions were rooted in a desire to shield me. The need to be kept in the loop tugged at me, leading to a heartfelt conversation that mended the rift between us. He had promised to never do anything like that again and soon everything was fixed. Alec was engrossed in his work, and I was determined to maximize my career, navigate through everything, and emerge stronger than before.

***

Some time had passed since everything went down, in fact, it had been several months that passed us by. Alec and I had both been thriving in our careers and our marriage.

As today unfolded, designated as my day off due to the near-date premiere of Between the Pages of Love, I sought tranquillity to calm my nerves or tonight’s premiere would be a disaster. Pilates with Izabel marked the beginning of a relaxing day. Post-exercise, we retired to her new apartment, nestled cozily in the heart of the city. Originally intending to move into their dream house after marriage, Izabel and Killian's plans had shifted due to unforeseen circumstances. Now, she found herself in her own luxury apartment; our frequent meetings during and after work hours had a new backdrop — Izabel's charming new abode.

The graceful transition from work discussions to personal matters prompted Izabel to share her excitement about the wedding invitations. The breathtaking acrylic boards adorned with intricate details lay before us, and the elegant envelopes awaited assembly. It was absolutely stunning! It appeared they just arrived since she had them still in the packaging and all.

"Are these the new wedding invites?" I gasped, captivated by the beauty spread out before me.

"Yeah, I still need to assemble them, but what do you think?" Izabel inquired, showcasing the envelopes that would house these exquisite creations.

"I think they look absolutely stunning, so unique," I replied, genuinely impressed.

"Thank you, thank you. I was nervous to order them," Izabel expressed her gratitude. She admired the invitation with a smile on her lips.

"Do you need help putting them together?" I offered, eyeing the stack of empty envelopes.

"Why do you think I brought you here?" Izabel winked, gathering everything to carry to our makeshift assembly area in her living room.

"Smart move," I chuckled, taking a seat beside her. "So, this is it. The final date?" I asked, tracing the date. It’s only four months away.

"I know it seems far off, but we snagged our dream venue, and nothing's going to get in our way this time," Izabel grinned.

"I'm really sorry about your first wedding," I pouted. Her wedding was supposed to be last winter, but her father got sick, so the wedding was postponed because he was a significant part of the celebration for Izabel.

"I know… It’s okay though, my dad is healed now and pretty pumped for the wedding," Izabel added a bow to the envelopes I finished up with. "Plus, this way we can say we’ve known each other for a minimum of a year," she rolled her eyes.

"Not that it was ever an issue," I pointed out. They were as solid as an actual married couple.

"Oh, it was. Just not for us; it was an issue for my aunts and uncles," Izabel rolled her eyes. Her family had a lot of drama. All the time. "They can be very judgmental, hence why I decided not to invite them," she smirked. That sure explains why there aren’t that many invites.

"Oohhh petty Izabel," I teased.

"It’s not petty when your aunts quite literally try to steal your fiancé for their own daughters," Izabel pointed out, and I laughed just like I did when she told me this the first time.

"Jokes on them, though. Killian is beyond obsessed with you," I pointed out.

"Just like you and Alec, always so obsessed with each other," Izabel smiled. "It’s a good thing you found each other before the whole Daniel wedding thing," she added, and I felt a pang of guilt.

"Oh right…" I muttered.

"Is everything okay?"

"I just haven’t been truthful with you," I admitted. I trusted Izabel. I always have, but a year ago, this was a very sensitive subject.

"About?" Izabel put down the bows and focused on me.

"Alec and I," I admitted.

"Oh god, I don’t like the sound of this," Izabel mumbled.

"I never spilled because it was a delicate situation," I began cautiously, then took a deep breath and laid it all out. "Alec wasn’t supposed to be my groom. On the big day, Daniel called me, breaking the news that the wedding was off. My father, not wanting me to face the humiliation of being left at the altar, especially with the world soon finding out that I’m a Jordan, urged me to find a new groom. Turns out, Daniel had been cheating on me for months, and Alec took matters into his own hands, showed up at the wedding, and pitched himself as my replacement."

"So wildly unpredictable, I love it," Izabel gasped, giving me a reaction I hadn't expected.

"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. He's been in love with me since high school and finally spilled the truth. Our marriage had its bumps initially, but I've genuinely fallen for him," I continued.

"I can tell," Izabel smirked.

"Are you mad I didn’t spill sooner?" I asked.

"Not at all. I get why it had to stay under wraps; it’s a touchy subject, and your name is finally making positive headlines," Izabel placed her hand over mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Thanks for understanding," I sighed in relief and glanced at the time. "I've got a surprise for you, too."

"What is it?" Izabel asked eagerly.

"Remember how you said you needed an outfit for the premiere?" I brought it up as I went back to the invitations.

"Yes?" Izabel picked up a bow.

"Well, I've arranged for a whole team to come over. They'll dress us, do our hair and makeup, and ensure we look absolutely stunning," I revealed, knowing how much she enjoyed such things.

“No way!” Izabel gasped and flung herself around me in a tight hug.

“Yes way, I can’t wait! I sent our measurements,” I said, proud of myself.

A little later, just as we finished savoring our pizza, the team arrived. The show kicked off, starting with dresses, then shoes. Once choices were made, they focused on our makeup and hair. I skipped their jewelry suggestions, opting to showcase the dainty diamond set Alec had gifted me.

I wore a wine-colored silk dress that cascaded to the floor, featuring a daring thigh split. The back hung low, and thin straps in the front held everything in place. Black shimmering heels, matching my clutch, complemented the dark eye look and, of course, bold red lips.

Izabel emerged in a striking green dress, donning the highest heels I'd ever seen and sporting a sleek high ponytail. She looked absolutely stunning. Our dates picked us up, and we left them practically jaw-dropped on the way out.

The turnout for the premiere exceeded expectations. After a photoshoot with the cast and everyone else, we finally settled down to watch the movie—the first one I managed to produce. It felt like my baby, and I was genuinely happy everyone enjoyed it.

Even the critics showered it with love—well, more than half of them. You can't please everyone, and I won't take the opinion of someone who prefers horror or science fiction over everything else too seriously. It just wasn't their genre. What mattered was that the target audience loved the movie, and predictions indicated high sales.

“You did it, my love,” Alec pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me and placing a kiss on my cheek. “Your first movie was a success.”