Chapter 160 HAPPILY EVER AFTER INDEED.
SLOANE’S POINT OF VIEW.
The doors opened slowly, soft music strumming from the band section added to the goosebumps lining my arms. Dad stood beside me with a tear-filled gaze, his eyes filled with joy as he smiled at me. “The big day.” He whispered, making me smile at him while fighting tears. Even though the makeup was waterproof, if I dared cry, Amara would somehow know and probably skin me alive for it.
“Dad…. don't cry, if you cry, I'll cry too.” I smiled.
“I know.” He chuckled, wiping the few droplets of tears that managed to escape his eyes. “Its just…it feels like a dream. You know, once upon a time, I wondered if I would ever get to see you recognize me, especially after the fire. The second I opened my eyes, I was so scared you wouldn’t recognize me that I fought myself constantly over it for days.
Seeing you like this, on your wedding day, being able to walk you down the aisle…it’s a privilege I never thought I’d get, Sloane.” he wiped his tears again. I swallowed the knot in my throat… they were making it harder not cry.
“Dad….” I smiled, blinking rapidly to stop the onslaught of tears that threatened to spill. I felt full of joy, peace, and satisfaction…and it was all because of the guy behind those doors who was once my enemy, my bully, but was now my husband, and the father of my children.
“Lucien will be good to you, Sloane.” He sniffled. “I know it becase im going to break his legs if he dares do otherwise.” We both laughed at that.
“I know, Dad,” I replied, and with that, he shook his head and wiped the remaining tears away.
“Come on, let's get you in there before that fucker barges in here and breathes lava down my throat,” he said, and linked our arms again. And in three steps, we made our way through the garden doors under the tent….
Light spilled into the hallway in a perfect, soft, and golden hue that brushed against the white fabric wrapped around my body. Amara outdid herself with the dress. The second I stepped in, I heard a ripple of gasps around the room as everyone focused on me and my dress… as usual, my best friend slayed fashion. For a heartbeat, I stayed still, trying to focus on breathing and grounding myself against their stares.
I used to stand in hallways like this with my shoulders hunched, bracing for impact as everyone regarded me with sharp eyes full of hate and contempt. For months, I stomached their whispers, their snide laughter….their judgment.
Now, I stood tall.
Because at the end of that aisle stood the boy who once pretended to love me for the sake of revenge… and became the man who taught me what love actually was.
Lucien Knox Ravenscroft.
I found him immediately. Of course I did. I always had……our souls were connected.
He stood at the altar in a black, perfectly tailored suit, a beautiful yet lethal, devastatingly handsome smile on his face as the suit added to his sexy build. But it wasn’t the suit that undid me.
It was his face.
The moment his eyes locked onto mine, something raw crossed his expression. His jaw tightened, and his hands curled at his sides like he was restraining himself from breaking every rule we’d memorized in preparation for the perfect Ravenscroft style wedding, and running to me.
Lucien had always been composed, controlled, and dangerous in his restraint.
But right now?
He looked utterly undone.
Lucien never looked away. Not once.
By the time I reached him, his breathing was shallow, yet heavy as my father placed my hand in his gently, as if I was glass that would break. He stared at Lucien, who stared back at him with a confident expression….”Sir.” Lucien nodded his head respectfully.
“Take care of my baby, Lucien…..please.” My dad added, causing me to widen my eyes as did everyone else in the room. My dad hadnt begged Lucien, at least not that I could remember.
“With my life, sir…..she will never suffer or want for anything,” Lucien said like it was a vow, not once looking away from my dad. They shared a silent look, and with that, my dad looked to me with a soft smile, pulled me closer, and kissed my forehead. And with a final glance, he gave me away and walked off.
When he took my hands, I felt the sparks that caused my skin to tingle from the first time our skins came into contact, yet again, and it made me smile.
“You’re real,” he murmured, so quietly only I could hear. “I keep thinking this is a dream, and I'm going to wake up years ago when you weren’t mine yet.”
I smiled, squeezing his fingers. “You don’t get rid of me that easily, Knox.” I hadnt used his middle name on him ever…but today, I felt like it….and it fit perfectly.
A huff of breath escaped him; it was a half-laugh, half emotion he didn’t know how to name as he stared at me with pure mirth.
The ceremony began, but it blurred into background noise as the priest recited something. I caught fragments of it, but it wasn’t until we got to the vows that I finally gave rapt attention.
“Sloane Everhart…”Lucien said after clearing his throat, his eyes full with tears as he looked only at me, a soft smile on his lips as he recited;
“I was never supposed to love you….I was too much of a coward to tell you I had the biggest crush any guy could have on a girl. It wasn’t until the opportunity presented itself that I took advantage of it by getting you close to me. I came into your life with poison in my hands, because I’d been scarred by the hell of my past….the hell you managed to freeze over with one smile…….it was my undoing. I had nothing short of rage and war in my heart. But you looked at me like I was worth saving, even though we hated each other because of me. You still chose to be with me, and in so doing, ruined me forever, because nothing else in this world makes sense without you.
Not living, not moving, not breathing….nothing at all. I vow to choose you even when I don’t deserve you, especially because I already don’t deserve you, sunshine. To protect you when the world turns cruel. To love you loudly, fiercely, and without shame. I promise you my loyalty, my fire, and my truth. You are my weakness, my redemption, my home. From this moment on, everything I am belongs to you.”
I broke in a sob finally, unable to hold it any longer, but he wiped them all away with his soft, calloused hands. “I love you,” I said aloud for all to hear.
“I love you, Sloane.” He said it back, and the priest finally asked the question of the night.
“Do you, Sloane Everhart, take Lucien Knox Ravenscroft to be your lawfully wedded husband? In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?” I did not hesitate. I nodded frantically with a soft laugh;
“Yes! A million times yes!”
“Do you, Lucien-?”
“Yes.” He didn’t even let the priest finish, and it made everyone chuckle.
“Impatient fucker.” Theo snickered, along with the guys.
‘Well, since that’s the case, is there anyone who would like to object to this union? Speak now or forever hold your peace…” No one did. “Ahh, with the power vested in me by the state, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife….you may now kiss the bride.”
Lucien lifted my veil and pressed his lips to mine in a sweet, slow kiss, leaving the world around us to erupt in a fit of cheers and applause.