Chapter 202 On the Aisle

Chapter 202 On the Aisle
Serena’s POV

Dante stared at Marcus for a long moment after the words left his mouth.

Even I couldn't believe it. I mean, they looked like literal brothers, why would he reject an opportunity like this.

From where I was, I could tell the air between them had shifted.

I saw the way Dante’s brows pulled together slightly, the faint sign of his confusion that crossed his face before he masked it again.

“What do you mean no?” Dante asked quietly.

Marcus exhaled slowly and looked away for a second, like he was trying to find the right words.

Then he finally spoke. “I can’t take Nico’s place.”

The moment the name left his lips, silence settled again.

Marcus then swallowed hard before continuing. “I still haven’t wrapped my head around his death,” he admitted. “And the last thing I want right now is to stand where he used to stand.”

Dante opened his mouth slightly, probably ready to argue, but Marcus shook his head immediately.

“No,” he said softly. “Please.”

His voice dropped lower after that. “For so long, I’ve been the ghost.”

My eyes flickered to him and I caught the faint smile on his lips. A sad one.

“The man in the background,” he continued. “The one nobody knows is there till you snap your fingers and suddenly I’m here.”

A small breath escaped his lips. “That road fits me better,” he whispered and his gaze lowered briefly. “Especially now.”

Dante stayed silent.

“I don’t want to replace him,” Marcus added. “I don’t even want to think about replacing him.”

The pain in his voice hit differently this time.

It was real. Raw.

And I realized then that maybe everyone had been grieving differently all this time.

Dante’s jaw tightened slightly before he finally nodded. “I understand.”

Marcus smiled faintly at that. Then after a moment, he added; “If you’re still looking for someone…”

Dante lifted a brow slightly.

“Try Shawn.”

That got my attention.

Marcus then followed it up with a slow nod. “He’s efficient. Smart too. Quiet when he needs to be,” he started, then a small smirk touched his lips. “Honestly, I had a feeling that’s who you were already thinking about.”

Dante’s expression barely changed, but I caught the faint tingle in his eyes. “That obvious?”

Marcus chuckled lightly. “You’re a smart man, Dante,” he replied, then his expression softened again.

“It was good being around you,” he said quietly. “I don’t regret a second of it.”

The sincerity in his voice made my chest tighten slightly.

And Dante stared at him carefully. “Where are you going from here?”

Marcus shoved his hands into his pockets slowly. “For now?” he muttered. “Back into the shadows.”

A small pause. Then. “Until I gather myself together again.”

He started to move away, then stopped and looked back at Dante. “But if you ever need me,” he muttered with a faint smile touching his lips. “You know where to find me.”

And just like that—

He turned and walked away, none of us stopped him.

We just stood there and watched him go until he entered his car and drove off.

The silence he left behind lingered for a few seconds longer before Dante finally pulled his phone out.

“Shawn,” he said once the line connected. “Come meet me.”

Then he ended the call immediately.

I looked up at him as we began walking back towards the house.

“That didn’t go well,” I murmured.

Dante exhaled quietly. “It’s a difficult time for him.”

I nodded slowly. “I never even knew they were that close,” I admitted after a moment.

“Neither did I,” Dante replied. “I just watched it happen over time.”

The way he said it made me realize something.

Maybe men love differently, and maybe they hide it differently too.

By the time we got back into the house, we settled in for dinner before Shawn arrived a few minutes later.

Dante stepped out and spoke with him privately for a while, I stayed back during that time, finishing off my dinner.

Dante took a little longer than he should have, but when he finally returned, his expression looked calmer.

“It’s settled,” he said simply.

And I blinked. “He accepted?”

He nodded. Then his gaze settled on me. “Everything is ready for tomorrow.”

Tomorrow. The word alone made my stomach flip violently.

Dante tilted his head slightly. “What of you? Are you ready?” He asked, and I should have had a straight answer, but I didn't.

Instead, everything inside me paused.

Ready? Am I?

I didn’t answer immediately, cause the truth was… I didn’t know.

I had never done this before. Never had time to think about marriage properly.

The first wedding I had ever experienced had been my own forced one.

Dragged into a hall.

Forced into a dress.

Forced to smile.

Forced to stand beside someone I didn’t even want near me.

But this… this is different.

This time, nobody is forcing me. Nobody is threatening me. Nobody is deciding for me.

I am choosing this, choosing him.

And somehow that made it even more terrifying.

Cause now, I actually cared.

“I think so,” I admitted softly after a while.

Dante watched me quietly before walking closer. “You’ll be fine.”

I nodded slowly, though my heart still wasn’t convinced…

That night felt strangely peaceful.

We laid together in silence for a while, speaking here and there about random things until sleep slowly pulled us under.

And before I knew it—

It was morning.

The wedding day. My wedding day.

The entire house felt alive the second I opened my eyes. Footsteps sounded around with voices and more movements everywhere.

Everything suddenly felt real again.

Dante was already awake by the time I got up, and before I could finish bathing, he was adjusting his cuffs on his perfectly made tux.

“You’re staring,” he muttered without looking up.

And I rolled my eyes slightly. “You clean up nicely.”

That finally made him glance at me.

Gosh, that black tux fit him perfectly.
Too perfectly.

My heart skipped embarrassingly fast.

I hope I can keep my hands to myself through the night.

“How do I look?” He asked and I didn't waste a second.

I smirked faintly. “Perfect. You look perfect,” I muttered, then got a wild one. “I can’t wait to smooch you.”

That actually pulled a laugh from him.

Then he walked over and leaned down slightly, pressing a soft kiss against my forehead before taking my lips in one.

I kissed him back then his hand found my ass through it all.

I pulled back slightly then leaned on him. “Careful there, Don. You don't want to fuck and be late for our wedding,” I whispered.

He chuckled and pulled back fully, the space biting me as I missed his presence at once.

“I have to leave early,” he murmured. “Need to make sure everything is set before you arrive.”

I nodded slowly. Then after one final look at me, he left.

And the second the door closed behind him—

My nerves exploded again.

About thirty minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” I said as I fixed on my bra.

uliana stepped inside carefully. She paused slightly when she saw me standing in lingerie.

“You’re still not dressed?” She asked and I blinked at her.

“You came to help?” I asked instead.

She looked offended immediately. “Obviously.”

That made me laugh softly.

“Well then,” I muttered, standing up straighter. “Get in here already.”

The next hour passed fast as we laid out my gown and Juliana couldn't stop gushing over the dress.

It was truly a beauty.

Then she helped me get into it. That wasn't easy one bit.

Then she helped me with my makeup, then my jewelry and before I knew it, I couldn't recognize myself.

“You look beautiful,” she whispered as she stared at me.

I smiled back without saying a word as every second that passed threw on more nerves.

Then Juliana moved to adjust the back of my dress carefully before suddenly pausing.

“Are you sure you are ready?” She asked softly, and the question hit harder than I expected.

I stared at myself in the mirror for a long second before answering. “I don’t know.”

Juliana looked up immediately. “I’m excited,” I admitted quietly. “But I’m nervous too.”

A shaky breath left my lips. “It feels like everything is happening in one snap.”

She stayed quiet and let me speak.

“I want this,” I added quickly. “I really do.”

My fingers tightened slightly together. “But it still feels overwhelming.”

Juliana smiled softly at me through the mirror. “If it’s what you want,” she said gently, “then go for it.”

I kept my eyes on her before she added. “Everything else will fall in place later.”

Something about the simplicity of those words settled deep inside me.

And before I knew it—

I was smiling.

“You’re smarter than you look,” I remarked with a smile.

She gasped dramatically. “Excuse me?”

I laughed and got up, pulling her into a quick hug. “Thank you,” I muttered and she hugged back.

After a few seconds, she patted me. “Let's not ruin your makeup now.”

I chuckled and pulled back, then turned to take one more look at myself.

Again, I barely recognized myself.

The dress wrapped around me perfectly, looking so elegant, so tender, so powerful.

So everything at once.

“Let me go dress,” she said and left. I stood on my own before taking a deep breath and stepping out.

It's time.

When I stepped towards the door, Valentina and mom were already waiting, partly dressed.

And the second they saw me—

Their expressions shattered completely.

“My God,” mom whispered.

Valentina looked seconds away from crying. “You look beautiful,” she breathed.

The emotions tightened painfully in my chest. “Thank you,” I whispered back and continued outside, I couldn't be late.

“We'll be with you soon,” Valentina called out as I stepped out.

The car waiting for us looked unreal.

Beautiful enough to belong in a movie.

Juliana entered beside me after changing into her own gown, and together we headed towards the hall.

The closer we got—

The harder my heart pounded.

And when the venue finally came into view—

I nearly forgot how to breathe.

It was massive, elegant, and simply overflowing with people.

Luxury everywhere.

Power everywhere.

The moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere alone nearly swallowed me whole.

Then came the waiting.

The final adjustments.

The final touches.

And finally—

My mom walked into the room quietly and I turned towards her slowly.

For a second, she just stared at me. Then she smiled.

“Ready?”

No. Absolutely not.

But somehow…

“Yes.”

She stretched her hand towards me.

And I took it.

Together, we began walking towards the entrance of the hall.

The music grew louder with every step, and with it, my breathing turned uneven again.

Then the doors opened and everything stopped. This didn't look anything like the hall I was in just few weeks back.

The same hall I escaped from while running away from him, from the same person I'm sharing the stage with now.

I looked around and they were rows upon rows of people with eyes everywhere.

The aisle stretched endlessly ahead, suddenly looking too long. And for one brief moment—

My eyes drifted to my left. To the empty spot beside me.

That was where my father should have been.

That was where Aunt Maria should have stood.

The realization hit harder than I expected. And suddenly, my chest hurt.

I slowed slightly. Then—

A hand slipped into mine and I looked up instantly to meet Valentina's smile.

She winked at me lightly. And just like that—

The ache softened.

Together, the three of us walked forward. And with every row we passed, the people behind blurred away..

And at the very end of the aisle, just before the stage, Dante stood waiting.

He turned slightly and his eyes locked onto mine immediately. And suddenly…

Nothing else mattered anymore as mom and Valentina let me go the moment we got to his side, and I tangled his hands with his then we walked up the stage together.

The officiant started the usual ceremonial whatever, but I wasn't hearing him any longer.

I got lost staring at Dante, looking into the eyes of the man I was about to pledge the rest of my life with.

And as I did, a different sight flashed by my eyes.