CHAPTER 30: I Do

I woke up on my wedding day to the sound of rain.

"No," I groaned, looking out the window at the grey sky. "Not rain. Please not rain."

Victoria appeared in the doorway with coffee. "It's good luck. Rain on your wedding day means blessings."

"It means wet guests and ruined photos."

"It means we move the ceremony inside to the ballroom. Which we already planned for as contingency B." She handed me the coffee. "Drink. We have three hours until you walk down the aisle."

Three hours until I became Mrs. Sterling.

My hands shook as I took the cup.

"Nervous?" Victoria asked.

"Terrified. What if James shows up? What if something goes wrong? What if—"

"Stop." Victoria sat beside me. "James has twelve armed security guards between him and you. Nothing is going wrong. And in three hours, you'll be married to my father and legally protected."

"That's romantic."

"It's practical. Romance comes later." She smiled. "Now drink your coffee and let's make you a bride."

---

The Sterling estate was magnificent even in the rain.

The ballroom had been transformed—white flowers everywhere, candles casting soft light, chairs arranged in neat rows. Fifty guests. Intimate. Perfect.

I stood in the bridal suite, staring at myself in the mirror.

The dress fit perfectly despite my small bump. Hair in soft waves. Makeup natural but glowing. Victoria's borrowed diamond earrings. Catherine's blue sapphire bracelet.

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue," Catherine said, fastening the bracelet. "You have them all."

"I look like a bride," I whispered.

"You ARE a bride." She kissed my cheek. "And you're going to make my son the happiest man alive."

Victoria appeared with my bouquet—garden roses and peonies, simple and elegant.

"Security update," she said quietly. "Perimeter is secure. No sign of James. We're clear."

I exhaled in relief.

"It's time," Victoria said.

My heart pounded as we walked down the hallway. I could hear soft music—a string quartet playing Bach.

David, Alexander's best man, appeared. "He's waiting for you. And Bella? I've never seen him this nervous. It's adorable."

At the ballroom doors, I paused.

"Ready?" Victoria asked.

"No. Yes. I don't know."

"That's the right amount of nervous." She hugged me. "Welcome to the family, Bella."

The doors opened.

The music swelled into Canon in D.

And there he was.

Alexander stood at the end of the aisle in a perfectly tailored tuxedo, his eyes locked on mine.

The moment he saw me, his composure cracked. Tears streamed down his face.

I started crying too.

Catherine walked beside me—we'd decided together that she should give me away, a gesture that had made us both cry during the rehearsal.

Step by step, we walked toward Alexander.

Guests smiled. Cameras flashed softly. But all I could see was him.

When we reached the altar, Catherine kissed my cheek and whispered, "Make him happy."

"I will," I promised.

Then Alexander took my hands and I forgot how to breathe.

"Hi," he whispered.

"Hi," I whispered back.

The officiant began. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..."

I barely heard the words. All I could focus on was Alexander's face. The way he looked at me like I was the only person in the world.

"Alexander and Bella have chosen to write their own vows," the officiant said. "Alexander?"

He took a shaky breath. "Bella. Three months ago, my life was predictable. Orderly. Lonely. Then you walked into it and everything changed. You challenged me. Frustrated me. Made me feel alive for the first time in years." His voice broke. "I didn't plan to fall in love with you. But I did. Completely. Irrevocably. And now I can't imagine my life without you in it. Without your laugh, your stubbornness, your incredible heart. You're giving me a second chance at happiness. At family. At love. And I promise to spend every day earning that gift. I promise to protect you. Support you. Love you through every joy and every challenge. You and our baby are my entire world now. And I will never, ever take that for granted."

I was sobbing. The entire room was crying.

"Bella?" the officiant prompted gently.

I squeezed Alexander's hands. "I had a whole speech prepared. About how unexpected this is. How complicated. How everyone thinks we're crazy." I smiled through tears. "But all of that doesn't matter. Because when I'm with you, I feel safe. I feel valued. I feel loved in a way I never have before. You see me—really see me—not as your son's ex, not as someone half your age, but as Bella. Just me. And you chose me anyway." My voice broke. "You chose me every single day even when it cost you everything. Your son. Your mother's approval. Your reputation. And I promise to choose you back. Every day. Through every storm. Through every scandal. Through every challenge life throws at us. I promise to be your partner, your equal, your wife. I promise to love you and our baby with everything I have. You're my family now, Alexander. And I'm never letting you go."

He was crying openly now. So was I. So was everyone.

"The rings," the officiant said.

Victoria handed me Alexander's ring. David handed him mine.

"Alexander, do you take Bella to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do." His voice was firm despite the tears.

He slid the ring onto my finger—a platinum band to match the engagement ring.

"Bella, do you take Alexander to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

This was it. The moment everything changed.

"I do."

I slid the ring onto his finger, my hands shaking.

"Then by the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss—"

Alexander didn't wait for him to finish.

He pulled me into his arms and kissed me deeply, passionately, like we were the only two people in the world.

The room erupted in applause and cheers.

When we finally broke apart, both breathless and crying, the officiant smiled.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Sterling!"

Mrs. Sterling.

I was married.

We turned to walk back down the aisle together—husband and wife—and that's when I saw him.

At the back of the ballroom, being restrained by two security guards.

James.

He'd gotten in somehow. And he was staring at us with pure hatred.

"Let me go!" he shouted. "I have a right to be here! He's my FATHER!"

Alexander's arm tightened around me. "Keep walking," he murmured. "Don't look at him."

"Dad!" James's voice cracked. "DAD! How could you do this? How could you marry HER?"

Security was dragging him toward the exit, but he fought them.

"This isn't over!" he screamed. "You hear me, Bella? THIS ISN'T OVER!"

Then he was gone, removed from the building.

Silence fell over the ballroom.

I looked up at Alexander, shaken.

He cupped my face gently. "He can't hurt us now. We're married. You're protected. Legally, financially, in every way that matters."

"He looked so broken," I whispered.

"He did this to himself." Alexander kissed my forehead. "Today is about us. About our future. Not about him."

The guests were murmuring, concerned.

Victoria appeared. "Police are on their way. James violated the restraining order. He'll be arrested."

"Good," Catherine said firmly, joining us. "Maybe this will finally teach him consequences."

The string quartet started playing again, trying to restore the mood.

Alexander took my hand. "Mrs. Sterling, may I have this dance?"

Despite everything—despite James, despite the scene, despite the drama—I smiled.

"You may, Mr. Sterling."

He led me to the dance floor as the music shifted to our first dance song—"At Last" by Etta Glenn.

As we swayed together, his arms around me, the world faded away.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," I whispered back.

"No regrets?"

I looked up at him—this man who'd chosen me over everything, who'd fought for me, who'd married me despite the chaos.

"Not one."

He kissed me softly. "Then we're going to be just fine."

And in that moment, wrapped in my husband's arms, I believed him.

We were married.

We were a family.

And whatever came next, we'd face it together.