Chapter 61: One Last Favor

Miranda

I was sitting next to Magnus, reviewing some wedding details that Silvia had started organizing at a surprisingly fast pace. The emotions of the upcoming ceremony overwhelmed us, but somehow we also felt overwhelmed with everything we had to plan ourselves.

“What do you think of this flower arrangement for the main table?” I asked, showing him a picture on my tablet. Magnus smiled and nodded.

“It’s nice,” he returned to his phone to chat with I don’t know who.

“I need a better viewpoint on the arrangement.”

“It’s perfect, love. I trust your choice. Everything is going to be amazing. Did that sound good?”

“Better, thank you.”

Just as we were engrossed in the conversation about the floral details and other minutiae of the wedding, Patrick burst into the room with a serious expression.

“Hello, I need to talk to you. There’s something important you need to know.”

I looked at Magnus, and we both stood up with a mix of curiosity and concern, every time something good is happening in our lives something comes to ruin it and this time I didn’t want anything to come between Magnus and me again.

“What’s going on, Patrick? Is everything okay?” Magnus asked, noticing the seriousness on our bodyguard’s face.

Patrick took a deep breath before speaking.

“I received an anonymous call a while ago. Someone mentioned that there is a plan underway to ruin the wedding and expose some secrets from the past. I don’t have all the details, but I thought it was better for you to know.”

We looked at each other, surprised and bewildered by Patrick’s revelation.

“A plan to ruin the wedding? And secrets from the past?” I was trying to process the information. Magnus frowned.

“Who could want to ruin our wedding and what secrets could they have?” Patrick shrugged.

“I don’t know, but I thought you should be informed and take precautions.”

The room fell silent as we considered the information. The tension in the air was palpable, and the joyful anticipation we had been feeling moments earlier had turned into growing anxiety.

“Thank you, Patrick. We’re going to investigate this. We won’t let anyone ruin our wedding,” Magnus said, showing determination in his voice.

I nodded in agreement.

“Yes, we’ll figure it out. But first, let’s make sure the security at the wedding venue is reinforced. We can’t allow anything bad to happen.”

Patrick nodded and left the room to take care of the additional security measures.

“Do you think we should postpone the wedding until we know more?” I spoke to Magnus, feeling the concern in my voice.

Magnus took my hands and looked at me affectionately.

“No, we’re not going to let anyone intimidate us. We’ll get married as planned, but we’ll be cautious. Together we’ll face whatever comes our way.”

After Patrick’s unexpected revelation about the plan to ruin the wedding, we sat in the living room, steeped in worry.

Uncertainty hung over us, and although we were determined to face any challenge, the risk of an unexpected setback at our wedding weighed on our hearts. That’s when Patrick returned to the room, noticing the tension in the atmosphere.

“Hey, I’ve been thinking about this, and I think it’s best for everyone if I retire. I’ll still fulfill my duty to reinforce security for the wedding,” he added immediately, “but after that, I need to leave my post. I don’t have the same strength and agility as before, and I think it’s time to give way to someone younger.”

I looked at Magnus, and we both nodded, understanding Patrick’s decision.

“Patrick, you’ve always been more than a bodyguard to us. You’ve been a friend and a valuable member of our family,” Magnus spoke, expressing gratitude in his words.

Patrick smiled, but there was a melancholy in his eyes.

“I appreciate it, Magnus, Miranda. But the time has come to pass the torch. I don’t want my weakness to jeopardize your safety. Not again.”

I approached him and gave him a comforting hug.

“We understand, Patrick. You’ll always be part of our family, and we thank you for everything you’ve done for us.” Patrick nodded, grateful for our understanding.

“I’ll still stay until after the wedding to make sure everything goes well, but after that, I’ll officially retire. Thank you for understanding.”

After a brief pause, Patrick looked at Magnus.

“I want to ask permission to not only be at the wedding but to be the one who walks you down the aisle. It will be my last task before retiring.”

Magnus nodded respectfully, remembering that I don’t have my family with me.

“Of course, Patrick. It will be an honor for you to walk us down the aisle. And afterward, we wish you the best in your retirement.”

Patrick thanked us and withdrew to continue with his security duties. I looked at Magnus, sharing a look that expressed both gratitude and understanding. We knew this chapter with Patrick was coming to an end, but we were ready to face whatever came with the new family we were forming.

The days leading up to the wedding were filled with nervousness. Security was a priority, and although Patrick was still fulfilling his duties, we knew his retirement was approaching. I decided to take the initiative and start the search for a new bodyguard for our family.

I spent hours reviewing profiles, interviewing candidates, and checking their backgrounds. The responsibility weighed on my shoulders, and each potential choice came with concern for the safety of Magnus, Melany, and myself.

The pressure was getting to me, and in a moment of frustration, I dropped the papers I was holding on the desk. It was at that moment that the door opened, and Magnus entered with Melany in his arms. The sight of his smile and Melany’s contagious laughter instantly relieved my stress.

“How’s the search for the new bodyguard going?” Magnus asked, letting Melany down on the floor so she could crawl.

I sighed and sat down on the couch, inviting them to join me.

“It’s exhausting, Magnus. I want to make sure I find someone as reliable as Patrick. Security is crucial, especially now that we’re a family.”

Magnus sat next to me and put an arm around my shoulders.

“I know, darling. But you’re not alone in this. We’ll find the right person for the job. Also, after the wedding, we could take a family vacation to relax.”

I smiled at the idea, grateful to have Magnus and Melany by my side.

“That sounds wonderful. But first, we need to make sure everything goes well at the wedding. How are all the preparations going?” Magnus gave me a kiss on the forehead.

“Everything is underway. Silvia is doing an amazing job coordinating everything. And, you know what? After the wedding, we can enjoy our honeymoon and leave all this behind.”

Melany crawled over to us, laughing as she played with my hair. It was a constant reminder of the family we were building together.

“You’re right, Magnus. It will all be worth it. And I’m grateful to have both of you by my side.” We spent the rest of the afternoon as a family, enjoying moments of tranquility before the hustle and bustle of the wedding.

The search for a new bodyguard could wait a little longer. For now, I just wanted to immerse myself in the happiness that the love of my life and my daughter could give me.