Chapter Twenty-Six

Zoe POV:

A year had passed, and I had finally earned my culinary degree. It felt so surreal. I was one step closer to my big dream.

I had begun making plans to open a restaurant. I didn't want to rush into things, so I took my time. Philip offered to get a place for me, but I declined.

"I want to do this on my own," I had told him.

"But babe, we are a team," he reminded me.

"I know. But I want to handle this on my own. If things go south, I'll ask for your help," I promised him.

While in culinary school, I raised a reasonable amount of money to start my restaurant. I wanted to find the perfect time and location before I began making my dreams a reality.

I parked my car in the driveway. My realtor had taken me around the city, showing me places, but none of them caught my attention.

I walked into the house, and it was pitch black inside. "Why is it so dark?" I turned on the lights.

"Surprise!" everyone screamed, and I almost ran out of the house out of fear. There was a happy birthday banner in the living room along with gifts. Philip brought out a huge cake with a candle lit on it. All my friends and family sang happy birthday to me, and my eyes began to well up with tears.

"Aw," I cooed.

"Make a wish," he said.

I closed my eyes, made a wish, and blew out my candle. Mum took the cake from Philip to cut it into slices, and he pulled me into a long hug.

"How did you plan this behind my back?" I asked him.

Philip chuckled. "I have my ways. Happy birthday, my love," he smiled and kissed my lips. "I'll leave you to your friends. After that, you're mine for the night."

"Sounds good to me," I smiled at him before he walked away.

Amy pulled me into her signature bone-crushing hug. "Happy birthday! I'm so proud of how much you've grown."

My face broke into a big smile. "Thank you."

"Happy birthday, ZoZo," Dani said and pulled me into a hug. I was going to be hugging people all night. "Will couldn't make it. His wife went into labor just a little while ago," Dani explained.

My eyes widened. "Really? I hope Alicia gives birth safely. I can't believe Will is going to be a father."

"I know. Time flies fast," Dani said.

The door opened, and Mark and his girlfriend, Nikki, walked in. Yet again, I was pulled into a hug.

"We got this for you," Nikki said as she handed a wrapped box over to me.

"Thank you so much." I smiled genuinely at them.

"You're welcome," they replied simultaneously.

Aunt Emilia and Mum brought in some pastries and drinks for everyone. It didn't take too long before they were all gone. They tasted so heavenly. Aunt Emilia and Mum began making another batch, but everyone started to leave one by one as it was already getting late.

I thanked everyone for coming and led them out as we said our goodbyes.

I liked that Philip planned a small party. It was just my kind of party.

I went to the backyard and found Philip pacing.

"Hey, you! What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Nothing. I came out to take a call," Philip replied weirdly.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Sure," he stepped closer and wrapped his hands around my waist. "Did you enjoy your party?" he asked.

I beamed. "I did. Thank you very much."

"Anything for you, babe. I love you," he said.

"I love you too."

Philip drew a long breath and took a step backward. "Zoe, I…how do I begin this? I want you to know that you're the best thing that has ever happened to me. Thank you for showing me what love feels like. Thank you for coming into my life and bringing light. More than anything, I want to spend forever with you."

Philip bent down on one knee and opened a red box. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets. This wasn't the first time he had proposed, but it felt like it was really real this time. "Zoe Ortega, will you make me the happiest man in the world by marrying me?"

I palmed my mouth as tears flowed down my cheek. How could I refuse? "Yes." My voice came out as a whisper.

"Yes?" Philip asked with hopeful eyes.

I nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

Philip put the ring into my finger, and I stared at it in awe. It was different from the last time. "Oh my God, it's so beautiful. What about the other one?" I asked.

"I sold it and got this one," he replied. Philip sighed and pulled me into a hug. "I can't wait to spend forever with you and have beautiful kids."

"Me too."

***

Zoe stood in front of the body-length mirror and stared at her reflection. She never thought she would look this good in a wedding dress. She had waited for this moment her whole life for this day to come, the day she would be someone's bride, Philip MacArthur's bride.

"Oh my God," Amy and Dani breathed simultaneously.

"You look amazing!" Dani said as he stood behind me. Dani too had gotten married a few months ago. Will was a father and doing great at the daddy job.

Larry had proposed to Amy a few weeks ago. Everybody was receiving their blessings one after the other.

"Thank you," I beamed as my eyes began to water. "Oh my God, I don't want to cry; it's going to ruin my makeup."

"All brides cry at their wedding. It's inevitable," Amy said as she dabbed my eyes lightly with a handkerchief.

Zoe wished her father were here to walk her down the aisle. Ever since her father died, she had always wondered who was going to walk her down the aisle. Her father had no brothers and was an only child.

Luckily, Will had offered to do the job, and she was more than grateful.

Zoe's mother walked into the room and palmed her mouth. "Oh my God, Zoe!" She walked towards her daughter and pulled her into a hug. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you, Mum."

"Now, let's run along. We don't want to keep your man waiting."

Dani and Amy helped her with her gown as they headed out to the church.

Philip stared at the door, wondering if Zoe had changed her mind. His heart felt like it was going to rip out of the rib cage.

"Calm down, Philip. Your bride will be here any minute," Mark, his best man, assured him.

"You look so tense. Your bride wouldn't like to see you like this," Clinton advised.

"Do you think she changed her mind?" He finally voiced out the question that had been racing through his mind.

Mark and Clinton looked at him like he had asked the most absurd question. "Of course not!" They replied simultaneously.

"The bride is here!" someone announced, and Philip let out a sigh of relief. The pianist and the violinist began to play. Here comes the bride softly.

Amy and Dani walked in slowly, dressed in their exquisite bridesmaid gowns. Philip's father walked in his suit ironed to perfection.

Henry pulled his son into a hug and patted his shoulder.

Zoe's mum walked into the church, and Aunt Emilia followed suit.

Soon, Zoe appeared at the door with Will by her side. Philip's jaw dropped to the floor. He tried so hard to keep the tears in, but they escaped. Mark passed him a handkerchief, and he dabbed my eyes with it.

The sight was too beautiful; Philip had to close his eyes for a second. They were finally here, about to be pronounced as husband and wife.

Zoe stared at her man with joyful tears in her eyes. This was finally happening. She was about to be Zoe MacArthur. She remembered the hard times they had gone through. She was proud of how far they had come. Zoe silently blessed the day he had walked into that coffee shop.

There was no safer place to be than in the arms of the billionaire.