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Chapter 134
The Beginning Of Forever 

He kissed my cheek softly. “Five minutes won’t hurt.”

I giggled and turned around to face him. “You said that yesterday too, and we almost missed the lawyer’s appointment.”

He smiled innocently. “Then we should move faster this time.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re impossible.”

He kissed me again before finally letting go. “Give me five minutes. I’ll dress up, and then we go, alright?”

I nodded, watching as he went to the closet, pulling out a clean white shirt and black trousers. 

He looked calm, confident, that quiet kind of manly charm that made everyone respect him without him saying a word.

When he finished dressing, he stood in front of the mirror adjusting his cufflinks. “Do I look okay?”

I turned and looked at him. “Okay? You look like someone who’s about to buy a whole company.”

He smirked. “Well, maybe I am. But first, I’m signing my wife into my life officially.”

I felt my heart flutter a little at that. “You really have a way with words,” I said softly.

He turned, came closer, and placed his hand gently under my chin. “And you have a way of making me mean every word.”

I smiled shyly, brushing my hair behind my ear. “Let’s go, Nik.”

He nodded. “Let’s go, Mrs. DeSantis.”

The way he said it made me blush all over again.

We left the room together, his hand holding mine tightly. 

He opened the door for me like always, his little old-fashioned habit that made me secretly smile every time.

As we stepped out, he looked down at me and said, “You nervous?”

I laughed. “A little. What if I mess up when signing?”

He chuckled. “You can’t. You’ve already signed my heart a long time ago.”

I looked up at him, speechless for a second. “You’re really going to make me cry one day, Nik.”

He smiled. “Then I’ll be there to wipe your tears.”

We reached the car. He opened the passenger door for me, and as I sat in, I could still feel the warmth of his touch on my skin.

Inside the car, Simeon started the engine, but before driving off, Nikolas turned to me. “Cassy?”

“Yes?”

He smiled softly. “You look beautiful today.”

I blinked, surprised. “You’ve already said that yesterday.”

He shrugged, his eyes glinting. “I’ll keep saying it till you believe me.”

I laughed. “I already do.”

He grinned as Simeon drove off.

The ride was quiet for a while. I looked out the window, my heart was full, full of peace, full of love, full of that strange calm that comes when everything finally feels right.

Nikolas glanced at me a few times, and every time our eyes met, he smiled.

“What?” I asked, trying not to laugh.

“Nothing,” he said softly. “Just… you.”

I shook my head, pretending not to blush. “You’re unbelievable.”

He reached over and held my hand again, “let your arms warm mine…” he said with smiles. 

The car stopped soon in front of the biggest marriage register in the city. The building stood tall and classy, with shining glass doors and guards at both sides.

Simeon parked neatly by the side and turned off the engine.

I smiled, looking through the window, feeling the butterflies in my stomach. 

It suddenly hit me, I was really about to become Mrs. DeSantis, officially this time.

“Hold on, wife!” Nikolas said as he gently released my hand. He got out of the car and came straight to open the door for me like a true gentleman.

I stepped out carefully, still smiling. “Thank you, husband…” I said with a soft laugh as I looked up at him.

He smiled back, “Anything for my queen.”

His hand slid into mine again as he led me toward the grand entrance. I could feel all eyes turning in our direction, some recognizing Nikolas instantly. 

His presence had that kind of effect. He didn’t even have to speak, people just noticed him.

There was a long counter and glass offices at both sides. A woman at the desk instantly stood up when she saw him.

“Good afternoon, Mr. DeSantis,” she said quickly, bowing a little.

Nikolas nodded slightly. “We’re here to finalize the registration,” he said calmly, holding my hand tighter.

“Yes, sir. Right this way,” she said, gesturing toward a room with double glass doors.

We walked in. The registrar, a man in his late fifties, bald with tiny glasses perched on his nose immediately stood up. His smile stretched from ear to ear as soon as he saw Nikolas.

“Mr. DeSantis! What an honor, sir!” he said, shaking Nikolas’s hand warmly. “Welcome, welcome!”

“Thank you,” Nikolas said with that calm confidence that always made people stutter around him.

Then the registrar looked at me. His eyes softened. “And this must be the lucky lady?”

Nikolas smiled proudly. “My wife.”

I blushed a little. “Good afternoon, sir,” I said shyly.

“Such a beautiful couple,” he said with a warm laugh. “Please, have a seat.”

We sat down across from him. Papers were neatly arranged on the desk, and a pen lay on top, waiting.

“Everything is ready,” the registrar said, flipping through the files. “We just need your signatures and, of course, a few words for confirmation.”

Nikolas reached out and took my hand gently. “You ready, wife?”

I smiled at him, my heart racing a bit. “Always.”

He smiled back and turned to the registrar. “We’re ready.”

The registrar adjusted his glasses. “Alright. Mr. Nikolas DeSantis and Miss Cassandra Andretti, do you both willingly come before the registrar today to officially become husband and wife under the law?”

Nikolas looked at me as he spoke, his voice firm but gentle. “Yes. I do, and I’ll do it again and again.”

My chest tightened hearing that. I smiled softly and said, “Yes. I do.”

The registrar chuckled, clearly moved. “Very well. Please, sign here,” he said, pointing at the papers.

Nikolas picked up the pen first. His handwriting was bold and confident as he signed his name, Nikolas DeSantis. The ink looked fresh and perfect on the white paper.

Then he handed me the pen gently. “Your turn, wife.”

I took a deep breath, my fingers trembling a little. Then I bent down and signed right beside his name, Cassandra Andretti
DeSantis.

When I lifted my head, Nikolas was watching me. The look in his eyes was soft, almost glowing.

“Perfect,” he said quietly.

The registrar clapped lightly. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. DeSantis. You are now officially husband and wife.”

I smiled so wide I could barely speak. “Thank you, sir,” I said softly.

He nodded. “I must say, you both make quite the pair. The energy between you two is… beautiful.”

Nikolas chuckled lightly, still holding my hand. “I agree.”

Then the registrar reached for a small red folder and placed it in front of us. “Here’s your certificate. You may keep it.”

Nikolas opened it and showed it to me. “Look at that, wife. Official now.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You sound too happy.”

“I am,” he said seriously. “You don’t know what this means to me.”

I looked at him, touched. “I think I do.”

Then the registrar interrupted gently. “Would you like a photo for our record, sir?”

Nikolas nodded. “Of course.”

A young lady, probably the assistant, came in with a small camera. “Stand close please,” she said.

Nikolas stood behind me and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. I could feel his warmth and his steady heartbeat even through his suit.

“Smile, Mrs. DeSantis,” he whispered near my ear.

I laughed softly and smiled as the flash went off.

“Perfect!” the assistant said, smiling.

“Thank you,” Nikolas said, then turned to the registrar again. “We appreciate your time.”

“It’s our honor, sir,” the registrar said, still smiling. “Congratulations again. May your union be blessed.”

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

We stood up, and Nikolas shook the registrar’s hand again. Then he looked at me, eyes glinting mischievously. “Ready to show the world, wife?”

I laughed. “You’re not serious!”

“Oh, I am,” he said, taking my hand as we stepped out of the office.

The moment we got outside, I felt like the sun was brighter. Maybe it was just me glowing, I don’t know.

Simeon was waiting near the car with a smile. “Congratulations, boss! Ma’am!”

“Thank you, Simeon,” Nikolas said, his arm still wrapped around my waist.

I looked up at him. “So what now?”

He smiled. “Now… we celebrate.”

“Celebrate? Where?” I asked.

He winked. “You’ll see.”

He opened the car door again for me. “After you, Mrs. DeSantis.”

I smiled. “You’re really getting used to calling me that.”

“I’ll never get tired of it,” he said, then joined me inside.

As the car moved again, I looked down at my finger, the ring sparkling against the sunlight and the certificate folder resting on my lap.

“Feels strange,” I said quietly.

“What does?” Nikolas asked, turning to me.

“Being officially married. It feels… real now.”