Chapter 169

BRANDON

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride…”

My wife selected a garden house by the beach in East Hampton for our wedding. Her dream wedding. She looked exceptionally royal in her white long trail wedding dress today. Omar did a remarkable job, as usual. I honestly can’t wait for this celebration to end, so I can finally have my wife for myself.

Alayna wanted an intimate celebration with our families, but some press always finds a way to invite themselves. At least a hundred people are present today to witness our most awaited union compared to the five hundred who attended our engagement party.

My beautiful wife is now in my arms, having our first dance as a married couple.

“Hello, husband. You look very handsome.” She traces the line of my suit with her fingertips, and the diamond wrap around her finger flickers.

“You look like I’m ready to eat you.”

She giggles, and I always love the sound of it. “Behave,” she says, but her smile says otherwise.

I raise an eyebrow. “Aha. But you’ve got to give me that look, huh?” I lower my hand right above her buttocks. I would’ve bent her over if we were alone.

She bites her lips, grinning. “I have a lot of things in mind right now.”

I lean close to her ears as we sway our bodies with the music’s rhythm. “Care to tell me?”

“You’d let me go down on you tonight,” she whispers, then nips my ear.

Her mischievousness traces down my crotch. “Oh, don’t tempt me to chase the guests away. What if I don’t want to?”

“Take it. It’s a reward.” She moves away to search for my eyes.

“Why would you give me a reward?” I pull her tighter against me.

“Just so…”

“I should give you the reward.”

“There’s something I need to tell you—”

“My dears.” Elizabeth appears next to us, too, dancing with the eldest Valentine. Some cousins and friends are with them, then I spot Cassius and Arianna talking at the side.

“Elizabeth. Enjoying the party?” I grin.

“This is wonderful. So sweet and so romantic, Brandon. Thank you for doing this for Alayna. My kids are enjoying it too.”

I glance over the buffet, by the candy bar where Jason is surrounded by the kids, and he’s feeding them. I chuckle. “Believe me, Elizabeth. This is all your daughter’s idea.”

“You are right with what you said, Mom,” Alayna says. “It really is magical. You wouldn’t really know the feeling until you’re actually there.”

“I told you, honey. But it gets better.”

“It does.”

“You look lovely, Alayna,” Chris praises. “And congratulations to you too, Brandon.”

“Thank you, Chris,” I respond. Maybe I was wrong about him. Perhaps it’s just my jealous tendencies, but this guy is decent.

I divert my attention back to my lovely wife. He’s probably just stating the fact all the time.

“What does that mean? What is magical?” I ask.

“The moment I walked down the aisle and exchanged vows with you, I let myself get lost in the moment. All I could see was your face, and all I could hear was your voice. There was no one else around us. It was all magical.”

She’s right. I’ve already even memorized her vows in my mind, especially her last sentence.

“I may not be the perfect wife, but I promise to take care of you, love you faithfully and unconditionally through difficult and easy times. Every second, and every day, forever…”

That’s the sweetest thing she’s ever said to me. It even made me cry. She cried too.

And she doesn’t have any idea she’s already perfect. Well, I have a lifetime to prove and show that to her.

“But as I said,” she goes on. “There’s something else I want to tell you—”

“Brandon?” Someone suddenly interrupted her. Again.

It’s Sebastianos and Pauline. I invited them, yes.

We stop dancing. My wife turns around to face them. She didn’t want Pauline to come, and I can understand her. I love the way she claims me—it’s overpowering, but Pauline’s father is here. They’re already in New York, so it would be impolite not to send them an invitation. Besides, the Stavroses are family—it is impossible not to run into them.

“Brandon, Alayna. Congratulations,” Pauline says, smiling, but there’s a tad of sadness in her eyes.

“Thank you, Pauline,” Alayna murmurs.

“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Lucien.” Sebastianos extends a hand to me.

I shake his hand. “Thank you, Sebastianos. I’m surprised you came. And Pauline.”

“Brandon,” Pauline acknowledges.

“I never thought this day would finally come for you after all that happened. I’m sorry about what happened at the engagement. We never had a chance to talk.” Sebastianos is one of the harmless people in our circle. He’s like me, who doesn’t always socialize on family occasions, so it surprises me that he’s here.

“All is well, Sebastianos.”

He grimaces slightly. “Well, not exactly for me.”

I frown. Sebastianos isn’t the type to show even a bit of distress. “What is it?”

“This isn’t the right time and place to tell you this, but this is the only time I get to tell this.” He steps forward and inclines close to my ears. “Silvanus has fled from prison.”

A beat passes. “What?”

He steps back again. “Don’t tell anyone yet, but that’s my problem now,” he claims. “Hey, Petros isn’t here?” He looks around, completely changing the subject.

“Grandfather never attended any weddings.”

“Ah, I see. That’s another surprising fact. I have never attended one before either, but I had to see yours. Pauline is coming here too, anyway. Oh, I only came to greet you and your lovely wife—” he glances at Alayna “—but I’m afraid we have to leave. Personal matters.”

“No, it’s okay, Sebastianos. Thank you for coming.”

“But I expect you’d come to ours too,” he says and pulls Pauline closer. “Isn’t that right, Pee?”

“Of course,” Pauline mumbles, hiding her eyes.

“I’ll save the date,” I confirm.

“Very well. Brandon. Mrs. Lucien.” Sebastianos possessively lowers his arm to Pauline’s waist, and they march away.

“Is it just me or the Sebastianos guy likes her? Really likes her,” Alayna comments as we watch the other couple.

“Really? What do you mean?” All I know is he accepted the arranged marriage for personal reasons—and when Sebastianos says ‘personal,’ it always means business. He’s a workaholic and always dedicated to his ambition.

“I know it’s only arranged as everyone does in your family, but didn’t you see how he looked at her?”

“How did he look at her?”

“It’s how you looked at me. You’re blind if you didn’t notice.”

“I didn’t know that I should care. Sebastianos is a good man but a little secretive, I think. I hope you’re right, though. You might not like Pauline, but she’s been through a lot. She deserves someone who’ll take care of her.”

“I know that, of course. Your friend’s ex-fiancée made her his own punching bag. I couldn’t even imagine how it felt like to be betrothed to three men. But that Sebastianos guy is handsome,” she says forthrightly.

I arch an eyebrow. “Ah, is he?”

“Stop that.” She chuckles, patting my arm. “We can hope for the best for everyone.”

“This is why I love you. You always see the best in people. I always wondered if I’m worthy of that.”

“I should say the same.” She cups my face between her palms. “And I love you very, very much.” She reaches for my height and kisses my mouth.

“Mm.” I greedily wrap my arms around her petite frame and fondly squeeze her against me. “So, Mrs. Lucien, what is it you want to say—”

“Alayna! Oh my God!” And another one interjects again. It’s her friends from the restaurant.

I whistle. “Ooh. Here we go.”

“Brandon,” she scolds. “Hey, Rexy, Dennis! You came. I’m so glad you came!”

The woman in a floral dress must be Rexy. She almost jumps at my wife. “You look so beautiful! I’m so happy for you. Thanks for inviting us.” She glances at me too. “Congratulations, Mr. Lucien.”

“Thank you,” I reply.

“Congrats, boss!” The other guy briefly exchanges a hug with Alayna and greets me. “Mr. Lucien.”

“Brandon. This is Rexy and Dennis. They’ve been my friends since Venice, and now they manage my branch in Seattle. I know I should be visiting soon,” Alayna says.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. This is once in a lifetime, Alayna. You should enjoy every moment,” Rexy says.

“She’s right,” Dennis agrees. “You deserve this.”

Casey suddenly appears next to me while my wife and her friends catch up. “Excuse me, Brandon?”

“Case? What is it?”

“Can we talk for a sec?”

“Why, what is it?”

“There’s someone here who’d like to see us.”

“Us?” I frown. “Who?”

“You know who.”

“He came?”

She nods then points at the back of the venue. “He’s waiting for us right there.”

“All right. I’ll just tell Alayna. Darling?” I pivot and lean into Alayna’s ear. “May I interrupt you? I have someone else I’d really like you to meet.”

She grins eagerly. “Sure. Who is it?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“Oh, okay. Hold a sec. Rexy, Dennis…”

I nod, then shift my attention back to Casey. “Are you sure it’s him?”

“Yes. I haven’t met him before, but I’m positive. Cary and Stan are talking to him now. And you showed me his picture.”

“Well.” My chest suddenly pounds abnormally. I thought I was prepared for this, but I’m nervous. “He’s a little late, don’t you think?”

Casey giggles. “Yes, but you know why.”

“Okay.” I heave a sigh. “We can do this. Right, Case?”

“We can. You’re making me nervous, too. Just so you know, I have no memories of him, but I’m thrilled.”

I kiss my sister’s forehead. “Fine, I’m okay. You’re okay.”

“No, you’re not. You’re anxious as hell.”

“Brandon, Casey?” Alayna prompts. Her friends are already gone.

“Yes, yes. Shall we?” I offer both my arms to the girls, and then two small, firm hands grasp around my biceps.