CHAPTER 121: FOREVER WITH YOU PART TWO

The car stopped at a botanical garden. Aiden helped Maya out of the car, and she took a deep breath as she stepped into a fairy-tale magical garden. She was having a garden wedding per her request. When Dalton asked what kind of wedding she wanted, she immediately mentioned a garden wedding without hesitating. As a child, living in that hell created by her stepfather, she had a wishful childish desire to discover a secret garden where she could hide forever without her stepfather finding her. So, to fulfill and heal her inner child, she is getting married in a magical secret garden with the handsome man who rescued her from her stepfather.

"Ready?" Aiden asked.

Maya took a deep breath and nodded "Yes."

Maya was in awe of the surroundings as she walked towards the aisle. She wondered how the botanical gardens could be transformed into this whimsical romantic look with abundant flowers, soft colors, and an ethereal decor to evoke a fairytale dreamland, in just a week. Then she remembered Dalton was the answer.

It was crazy how a dreamy wedding garden could be achieved within a week with power, money, and influence. She didn’t want to think about how much the wedding would cost or the number of people involved to make it happen in a week.

Aiden, the best man, walked down the aisle with Laura and Haven, the bridesmaids.

Minutes later, Maya was prompted. She held the bouquet tight and took a step onto the aisle under a canopy of sunny trees. Golden light poured through the leaves casting a magical glow on the aisle lined with pink and ivory flowers, and the orchestra began to play. She looked ahead and there stood her Prince Charming at the altar with a floral arch bursting with roses, waiting for her. Her heart danced as she walked towards her man, her future, and her destiny.

A few steps and she reached her destination. She looked into Dalton’s eyes. His eyes were like shining emeralds. He gazed at her, enchanted with her. "You are the most beautiful woman to ever exist in this world. You look angelically beautiful in this wedding dress," he whispered to her, and Maya’s heart blooms. Her face lit like a million shining stars.

He gently took her hand, making Maya give her bouquet up to Haven, who was behind her, with Laura.

Maya’s breath was taken away as she took in her gorgeous groom’s face and deep in her heart, he was everything and the best thing she had ever had. Then, she whispered, "You’re so gorgeous, my knight."

The priest prompted them, and they turned to face each other as the wedding ceremony began. Dalton gently, but firmly, held Maya’s hand, not letting go, his beautiful green eyes softly drank her in as the priest began the introduction and remarks on marriage. And Maya’s eyes were glassy with tears throughout the reading, she couldn’t believe she was having her happily ever after at that moment.

The exchange of vows and rings was so emotional; tears hit Dalton’s eyes, and they both cried, as they uttered their vows with dedicated words reassuring each other how much their love for each other runs deep in their hearts.

Then the priest pronounced them husband and wife, and Dalton wrapped his arms around Maya’s waist. "Wife,"

Maya laughed, short. "Husband,"

Dalton pulled his bride close and kissed her, and the wedding guests went wild with cheers and applause. And when Maya looked into his eyes after they kissed, she saw her future. Her future looked bright and dazzling.

****

The wedding reception began with a cocktail hour and the wedding guests filling their assigned tables.

River and Oliver were somewhere doing their humanitarian duties, so they couldn’t attend the wedding, but the wedding was filmed and they would get their copies. River would’ve made a charming groomsman. Aiden’s best man speech was dry humor. River would’ve killed it, getting everyone laughing. Haven did a great job welcoming the guests with a heartfelt speech that left everyone smiling. Maya’s speech was short and sweet, detailing how much she loved her husband and how wonderful he was, and how grateful she was that they found each other. Dalton just said a few words. He wasn’t much of a speaker. He told everyone she was his light, his everything, and his world. He promised a forever filled with joy and happiness for them.

The wedding band began playing a beautiful romantic song that Maya had requested for their first dance. Dalton’s strong arm draped around her waist, her hand locked behind his neck possessively, their fingers entwined. They didn’t have time to rehearse, but as they moved and swayed, they were in sync, on beat with the music.

"Do you like how the wedding turned out?" Dalton asked.

Maya squinted in absurdity, laughing, "Of course, it feels like a fairy tale wedding, so beautiful. I love it." She smiled at her surroundings. The reception looked like it was taking place in a magical forest.

His thumb circled the small of her back gently. "I’m glad you’re happy."

Maya smiled. "Same, you look happy." Even though he wasn’t smiling. His eyes looked happy. It was twinkling.

"I will spend forever with you. I’m the happiest person in the world right now."

Maya let out a contented breath and rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes, picturing a future with him. "I love you," she said.

"I do too and more," he said back. They twirl and swirl in rhythm with their beating hearts and the promise of the future, when Maya’s feet started hurting in her wedding heels, she prompted her husband, and they ended their first dance.

The dance floor was open to the wedding guests, who had had their fill of drinks and meals prepared by world-class chefs, and it was time for them to work off the food. The wedding band played good live music, and everyone had a great time. Maya loved the happiness on everyone’s faces. The reception felt like one big celebration, Dalton practically flew his colleagues from the restaurant to upstate New York, where the wedding was taking place, and he didn’t forget to drop by the diner to invite Mrs. Thompson and her waitresses, as well as his employees.

Aiden came to their table to take her husband away, leaving Maya alone to gush in joy, watching her happy guests have fun.

"Congratulations"

Maya whipped her head to see Marcello standing right in front of her. She plastered a warm smile onto her face, the exact smile that she had flashed at some of the guests at the wedding she didn’t know. "I thought you wouldn’t make it. Dalton said, You were busy doing something important." She awkwardly fiddled with her wedding ring, trying to ease the anxiety of Marcello’s presence, which was ramming through her whole being.

Marcello flashed her a smile. "I wouldn’t miss my best friend’s wedding for anything in the world." His smile grew wider. "Neither will I miss the chance of seeing how beautiful a bride you will be." His olive eyes roamed over her. It felt so invasive to Maya as she swallowed a lump in her throat.

Then, like a flash, what he had told her in the coffee shop, zipped into her mind: "I’m so patient, Princess. Just one week, just one week." These exact words, Marcello had uttered to her in the cafe, ring in her mind disturbingly vividly, and feel like a threat of some impending doom.

"What did you mean at the cafe?" she blurted.

He laughed boisterously. "I didn’t mean to frighten you, princess. I actually have a present for you."

Maya drew her head back slightly, "A wedding gift?"

"Yep, but change of plans. I know just when and who will deliver that wedding gift." Maya followed his gaze, which landed on Dalton, who was talking with Nana Rose, and she couldn’t tell who Marcello was looking at because his gaze wavered.

Maya puffed out a breath. Just when she was starting to feel comfortable and even a little fond of Marcello, due to the way he offered her comfort when she was broken down, he had to start acting odious, creepy, and uncomfortable to be around again.

Maya is finding it difficult to believe that it’s just a wedding gift. No ordinary person would tell her what Marcello said to her in the coffee shop, but then she remembers that Marcello isn’t an ordinary person. He’s a mobster and a crime boss, and he collects dead bodies for the Mafia. Of course, he’s not a normal human, and he’ll be as weird as Aiden, who is also a psycho.

She needs to get used to it.

Maya took another deep breath to calm her nerves. She smiled. "I’m looking forward to the wedding present from you."

"Oh, you’ll love it." Marcello winked with a hint of mischievousness. "You’re such a beautiful bride, Maya."

Maya’s cheeks flushed as she said, "Thank you."

Marcello then walked away to talk to Dalton.

Maya fetched her champagne glass and took a sip, her eyes transfixed on her husband. She smiled, thinking about what a beautiful life she was going to have with him.

Later, Laura and Haven came for her. She did the tradition of throwing the bouquet, and a lovely waitress from the diner caught it.

Her husband came for her, and they danced again and again, celebrating their love, celebrating their future.