Chapter 71 Wedding.
Chapter 71 Wedding.
Chapter 71.
Wedding.
The months pass quickly. The Milan afternoon spreads over the villa garden like a soft blanket of gold. It is a casual picnic day, a tradition Lucas has established to ensure his family shares quality time.
Alicia sits on the checkered blanket, the sun falling on her hair, and feeds little Alis, who is almost one year old and clings to her chest with total confidence. Lucas’s suit, elegant yet relaxed, contrasts with the dirt and grass as he plays ball with Julián, a four-year-old boy who laughs heartily.
“Run, champ! Faster!” Lucas shouts, throwing the ball with just enough force for Julián to catch it without falling.
Alicia smiles, watching the scene. It is the image she always dreamed of, complete and full of peace. The last few months have been a time of constant growth, not just for the children, but for the two of them. Forgiveness has become a more solid foundation than the initial passion; it is a rock of mutual understanding.
After a couple of passes, Lucas approaches the blanket. His gaze rests on Alicia, and in that instant, the world seems to narrow only to them. Little Alis has finished eating and has fallen asleep peacefully. Alicia lays her down on the blanket with extreme care.
“I’ll be back in a second, champ. Go to that tree and then come back,” Lucas instructs Julián, who obeys without question.
Lucas kneels beside Alicia, but his posture is different. It is not the kneeling of supplication from that day in the cemetery; it is the kneeling of certainty, of the man who knows what he wants. Behind his back, he hides a small velvet box.
“Look at me,” Lucas asks her, and Alicia looks up. His eyes are full of an unusual emotion, a tenderness that makes Alicia’s heart begin to pound fiercely.
“What is it, Lucas? You’re nervous,” she asks, in a sweet and curious tone.
Lucas takes her hands, his strong fingers intertwining with hers, and the warmth is immediate.
“A year and a half has passed since I found you. A year and a half since I breathed again. Every morning I wake up and see you next to me, and I see our children in their cribs, I thank God for the miracle He granted me. There is no day I don’t regret the pain I caused you, but there is also no day I don’t thank you for that second chance you gave me,” his voice is deep, sincere, laden with the emotion of everything they have lived through.
Lucas slowly pulls out the box he had hidden. He holds it between his hands before opening it, looking at her, not at the object.
“The last time we were in this situation, it was under a lie, a façade that almost destroyed us. Today, I am here, with no secrets, no Carolina, with nothing but you, me, and the family we built with such effort. This time, I want to do it right, before God, before the law, before our children.”
He opens the box. In it, a platinum ring holds a solitary diamond, pure and brilliant, radiating light under the afternoon sun. It is not ostentatious, but classic and eternal.
“Alicia,” his voice trembles slightly, but his eyes are as firm as rocks, “you are my life. You are my wife in soul and heart. You are the reason worth breathing for, the one who taught me to truly love. Would you make me the happiest man in the world, once more, and marry me? Would you swear to love me for all our lives, until death separates us?”
Alicia bursts into tears. The tears are not of sadness, but of the release of a happiness so intense it hurts. The “yes” gets caught in her throat for a moment, replaced by a sob.
“Lucas! Of course, my love. Yes, I will marry you,” she manages to say, extending her trembling hand.
Lucas slides the ring onto her ring finger. The fit is perfect. He stands up and pulls her toward him in a desperate embrace, kissing her with renewed passion, sealing the promise not only with the ring, but with the future they are about to formalize.
At that moment, Julián returns running.
“Daddy, Daddy! I’m back!”
“Look, champ!” Lucas says, lifting him into his arms. “Your mom and I are getting married. We’re going to have a wedding!”
Julián looks at the ring on his mother’s finger, not entirely understanding, but sensing the joy of his parents.
“Are we going to a party, Mommy?” he asks with childish curiosity.
“Yes, my love. We are going to have a very big and beautiful party. A celebration of our love,” Alicia replies, kissing her son’s cheek.
Six Months Later.
The wedding is held in a private chapel, small and beautiful, in the heart of Milan. Lucas insisted it be an intimate event, with only the Nana, Gael (his head of security and now his confidant), and of course, Julián and Alis.
The Preparations and the Family
Julián, four and a half years old, is the official page boy. He wears a miniature tuxedo suit identical to his father’s. He is very serious and proud of his task: holding the rings.
Little Alis, in her white lace dress, sleeps peacefully in the Nana’s arms, who cannot contain her tears of joy.
Lucas waits at the altar, his gray tailored suit perfectly cut. He cannot disguise his agitation. He adjusts his tie over and over again until Gael gives him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
“Relax, sir. You’ve earned her.”
“I’ve never been so nervous, Gael,” Lucas admits, his eyes fixed on the door.
The Bride’s Entrance
The music of a string quartet fills the chapel. The oak doors open.
Alicia enters. She does not wear a pompous, exaggerated dress. She has opted for a simple, elegant design in ivory silk, with long sleeves and delicate lace. The veil, held by a small pearl tiara, falls over her shoulders. She is the personification of grace and purity. She is the bride he should have always had.
Seeing her, Lucas forgets everyone else. He forgets fear and the past. Only she exists, walking toward him. Alicia’s beauty is not just physical; it is the beauty of resilience, forgiveness, and unconditional love.
She reaches the altar, and Lucas takes her hand. He touches her, and reality floods him: this is forever.
“You look stunning.” Lucas exclaims with genuine devotion.
“And you look very handsome.”
“Please, take your places to begin the ceremony.”