194 - Can I have this dance?

194 - Can I have this dance?
Lucy sat in the hotel room, dressed in her blue dress and texting Liam for an answer. 

When her phone finally rang and Liam displayed on the screen, she excused herself, and stepped out of the room. 

"I've been texting you for the past thirty minutes!" Lucy whisper-yelled as soon as the line connected. "What's going on? The mother's have been blowing my phone and I think June is already suspecting me."

"You can leave the hotel. I arranged a car to take you both to the venue. It's a white limo." Liam said, expertly avoiding Lucy's question. 

"You still haven't told me what's going on! I deserve to-" 

Two beeps and the call disconnected. Liam hung up on her. Lucy gritted her teeth, trying to control her anger. 

She couldn't mess things up. Not today. She would handle him later. Summoning a smile, Lucy returned to the hotel room.

"We need to leave. Our ride is here." She said and June squinted, raising her head from the document she studied for the past several minutes. 

"Ride?"

Lucy's eyes widened. "Yes!" She feigned a smile, "the president hired a car to take us, we need to leave, we are late!" 

Before June could form words, Lucy hassled her out of the room and together they headed down the hotel. 

True to Liam's words, there was a white limousine standing just by the corner with a chauffeur dressed in a suit, ready to take them. 

"Tell me the truth," June said as soon as they got into the vehicle. "What's going on? What do you have planned?"

Lucy tried her best to convince June of her faux story but as they got closer and closer to the venue, it became obvious that she's told a lie. 

Thankfully, June didn't call her out on it and instead, continued the journey in silence. If not for the quiet tapping of June's finger on her lap, Lucy wouldn't tell how nervous she was. 

The car stopped at the old Rivera house and the door opened. June was led by the chauffeur into her father's house. 

Tears filled her eyes as she saw the shiny decorations and floral arrangements. 

"What is this?" Her voice shook as she asked her mother who was dressed impeccably. 

Mrs Evelyn attached a long white wedding dress train to June's gown, easily transforming her simple dress to an outstanding wedding dress in a twinkle of an eye. 

"Your wedding." June couldn't believe her ears. 

"W-what?" She stuttered, "H-How?" 

"You look so beautiful!" Mrs Beatrice came up and embraced June. "Rafael will lose his mind once he sees you." 

June opened her mouth to speak and her jaws ended on the floor when Mrs Beatrice clapped and the entire house lit up with beautiful lights. 

The old Rivera house was decorated with hers and Rafael's name placed side by side with cute little heart strings that pulled at hers too. 

"Did you do this?" June asked her mother, and a tear dropped from her eye. 

Mrs Evelyn shook her head, then pointed to Beatrice who panicked when she saw June's tears. 

"Oh dear! Do you not like it?" Beatrice said with a concerned look, "I could have them turn-"

June shook her head and wiped away the tears. "It's beautiful. Thank you so much."

Mrs Beatrice's heart warmed at her daughter-in-law's presence. She couldn't believe she once tried to stop their union. 

She planned to spend the rest of her life making up for June for what she caused her in those trying times. 

"You are beautiful." Mrs Beatrice said. "Are you ready to meet your husband?"

"He's in on this too?" June asked and they all laughed. 

"Nothing easily gets past my son." Mrs Beatrice said, "He only found out a few hours ago, so don't feel bad." 

June was ushered to her family garden which was decorated with flowers and a few seats of over thirty people. 

It was an intimate gathering and it was her wedding. June had never been one for an extravagant wedding.

She's always dreamed of having an intimate wedding from a very young age. Something that she never had as her marriage to Ethan was a contract signing with no wedding. 

It was her first time walking down the aisle and when the light focused on her, she stilled, catching the back of Rafael who stood in the set up altar, waiting for her. 

June moved to walk but a gentle tug on her dress stopped her. Little Luis stood beside her, dressed in a tuxedo and a warm smile.

He didn't say a word but gave her a hand, waiting for her to take his hand. 

"My baby..." June couldn't stop her tears now and Luis couldn't wait for his mommy to take his hand.

The next second, he took her hand and placed it in place, setting the tone. The instrument began and together, they walked down the aisle. 

Luis begrudgingly handed June over to Rafael who could hardly stop his tears when he saw her. 

"You look breathtaking." He said softly, leading her to the platform where Carson officiated the wedding. 

The wedding was short, but impactful. The couple shared moving vows and when the officiator said to kiss the bride, Rafael leaned in and they shared a kiss while the audience hollered. 

The reception soon followed and the atmosphere was light. The newlyweds interacted with the people who were majorly employees and other special individuals who were invited to the intimate gathering. 

The people placed the gifts on its designated spot and just then, a message dinged on June's phone. It was Liam and the message was cryptic. 

"Live a long peaceful life. Your gift is in the news." Before June could form an opinion, Lucy walked up to her, looking tense. 

"You need to come with me." She said but Rafael would have none of it. 

"It's our wedding. Anything else can wait." He placed a kiss on June's neck. "The things I want to do to you," he whispered, biting her earlobe. 

"You both need to see it." Lucy persisted and soon led the couple into the house to join the others. 

"What is it?" June asked as soon as they got to the living room. 

Lucy closed the entire place, making sure it's sound proof before speaking. "It's April. She's been found."

"What?" 

"It's all over the news." Lucy turned on the television and there it was. A video of someone tied to a moving automatic car that drove through an empty road. 

It was April. June recognized her without difficulty. Rafael held her hand as she watched April get dragged down the road by the automatic vehicle until she was dropped at the South City police station. 

Whoever controlled the vehicle knew exactly when they got to the police station because the driverless car stopped right in front. 

Exposing a naked, and dead April to the authorities. What's more? The car exploded right in front of the police station, bringing a permanent end to April Rivera. 

June searched for her mother first, catching her eyes from the other end of the room. However, instead of pain, she saw her mother's shoulders sag in relief. 

June didn't know how to feel about her sister's death. But one thing was certain, she didn't feel sad, and that was enough. 

The instrument started from the reception and Rafael broke the silence. 

"Can I have this dance?" 

June looked through the room, spotting the faces of everyone she loved, staring right back with love and encouragement. 

She had gone full circle and with the baby growing in her belly, she knew her life was finally complete. 

"Of course."

THE END

Author's note: We did it! Finally! Thanks to everyone who supported this book, its characters and this author! I love you all so much and hope you enjoyed the ride. I'd also love to hear all of your thoughts concerning this book. Please don't leave without dropping a review! It helps other readers see this book and boosts its ratings. Till we meet again my loves, don't forget to check out my other books - Alpha Caellum, The Alpha Can't Sense His Mate, One Night With Mr Braxton, and of course, expect a NEW BOOK! xoxo