Chapter 180: 180

Nico pressed his forehead against Red’s, his hand still cupping her cheek as his thumb brushed away her tears. His voice dropped, low and husky, meant only for her.

“We’ll start the wedding preparations soon,” he whispered, his lips grazing the corner of her mouth.

Red let out a broken laugh, smile-crying as she clutched his shirt. “Wedding preparations?” she echoed, her heart squeezing in her chest.

He nodded, his eyes shining with tears and pure love. “Yeah… I just thought we should get married again. This time, not because we were broken… but because we’re happy. Because we made it through everything.”

Her breath stopped, tears spilling freely .

Behind them, Noah’s giggle rang out again as he wiggled between their legs. “A wedding! A wedding! Mommy’s gonna wear a princess dress!”

Red laughed harder, her tears soaking into Nico’s shoulder as he kissed the side of her head, holding both her and Noah tighter.

“You hear that?” Nico murmured against her hair. “Our son’s already your best man.”

Nico’s lips curved into that soft, rare smile as he brushed his thumb over her trembling lips. “And after the wedding,” he whispered, eyes glinting with mischief and tenderness all at once, “we can finally have our honeymoon… the way it should have been.”

Red’s cheeks heated, her lashes lowering as she let out a shaky laugh. “H-honeymoon? Mr. Bellamy, I hope you didn’t forget the last one…”

Her words made him chuckle, but before she could spiral into the memory, he leaned in, shushing her gently with a kiss to her forehead. “Sshh… it’s okay, love. That’s in the past. Nothing’s gonna happen this time.”

He tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his steady gaze. “I swear… this time, it’ll be just us. Just happiness. Just love.”

Her tears fell again, but she smiled through them, heart pounding at the sincerity in his voice.

Behind them, Noah clapped his little hands. “Yay! Mommy and Daddy’s honeymoon!”

Red laughed through her blush, burying her face in Nico’s chest as he laughed too, pulling them both close, whispering again against her ear, “Our forever starts now.”

Nico didn’t even give Red a chance to breathe before he laced his fingers with hers and tugged her out of the room. His grin was boyish, reckless, the kind that made her knees weak.

“Where are we going?” she asked, laughing breathlessly as he opened the car door for her.

“You’ll see,” he teased, pressing a kiss to her hand before sliding into the seat beside her.

Minutes later, they stepped into a high-end bridal store. The mannequins glittered in gowns draped with lace, satin, and crystals. Red froze, her mouth parting. “Nico…”

He smirked, leaning down to whisper against her ear, his warm breath brushing her skin. “I want to see you in one, right now.”

Her heart thundered. Before she could protest, the staff brought out gown after gown. Nico sat back, dark eyes glued to her every move like she was the only thing that existed in the world.

When she stepped out in the first dress, he was on his feet in seconds, jaw slack.

“Wear this for me,” he murmured, stepping behind her, his hands brushing over her waist as he kissed the curve of her neck.

She shivered, her cheeks burning. “Nico…”

“This fits perfectly,” he said hoarsely, his voice breaking a little. “I’m gonna cry—you look so pretty.”

Red’s lips trembled as he spun her gently to face the mirror, his arms wrapped around her waist from behind. His reflection smirked at her. “Someone call the police… she stole my heart.”

She laughed, tears in her eyes.

“God… 911,” he groaned dramatically, clutching his chest before pulling her even closer. “I’m having a heart attack.”

She hid her flushed face against his shoulder as his lips trailed up her temple. “Stop it,” she whispered, smiling so hard it hurt.

“No,” he whispered back, kissing her hair. “Never.”

Nico’s hands slid lower on her waist, his fingers splaying possessively over her hip as he leaned in, lips grazing the shell of her ear.

“You know…” his voice dropped to a sinful whisper, “…as much as I love seeing you in this dress… I can’t wait to be the one to take it off you after the wedding.”

Red’s whole body went hot. Her breath hitched, and she swatted at his chest weakly. “Nico!” she hissed, though her cheeks were crimson.

He only chuckled, his lips brushing down her neck, slowly leaving her trembling. “Mm, I’m serious, Mrs. Bellamy… this dress is perfect. But the thought of you beneath it?” He groaned softly, his hand tightening at her waist. “That’s what’s gonna kill me.”

She pressed her forehead against the mirror, trying to steady her breathing, her heart thudding out of control.

“Stop saying things like that in public,” she whispered, her voice betraying a nervous laugh.

He smirked against her skin, eyes dark in the reflection. “Then hurry up and say yes to this dress, love… so I can start counting down the days.”

Her knees almost gave out at the way he said it, and she couldn’t help but smile through her tears.

As soon as the shop assistant excused herself, Nico tugged Red gently back into the private fitting room. The moment the door clicked shut, his control snapped.

He pressed her against the mirror, his hands roaming over the satin of the gown as his lips crashed onto hers.

The kiss was hot, needy, and deep, stealing every bit of breath from her lungs.

Red gasped, clutching at his shirt. “N-Nico—”

“God, you don’t know what you’re doing to me right now wifey,” he growled against her mouth, kissing down her jaw to her neck, his teeth grazing lightly before sucking on her pulse point.

His reflection in the mirror looked wild, undone, while hers looked flushed and trembling.

He slid one hand down the curve of her hip, fingertips brushing the lace of the gown. “You look like a dream,” he whispered, his voice thick. “But I’m burning, Red… burning to see you without it.”

She whimpered softly, and he chuckled darkly, lips curling against her skin. “I promised you a honeymoon, didn’t I? Maybe I should give you a little preview right here.”

Her heart hammered. “Nico, we’re in a store—”

“Then keep your voice down,” he murmured hotly, sealing her protest with another rough, desperate kiss.

Nico’s mouth was on her neck, his hands dangerously close to making her melt completely when—

Knock knock!

“Ma’am? Sir? Do you need a different size?” the assistant’s polite voice floated through the door.

Red froze like a deer caught in headlights, shoving at Nico’s chest with wide eyes. He groaned against her skin, forehead dropping to her shoulder.

“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, his voice low and husky. “Saved by retail staff.”

Red’s laugh came out breathless, her cheeks flaming as she smacked his arm. “Behave, Mr. Bellamy!”

He exhaled a shaky laugh, stepping back but keeping one hand possessively at her waist. His eyes trailed over her in the gown again.

Without another word, Nico yanked out his black card and pushed it into the assistant’s hand the second they stepped out. His voice was still rough, his grin shameless.

“We’ll take this one,

” he said simply. “No price tags, no questions. Just wrap it up.”

The assistant’s eyes widened, nodding quickly.