Charlie’s POV

    I had deliberately kept some information back. We wanted to keep the fact that Ana owned Fashion Forward a secret for the time being. Seth had agreed, and Erika only stepped in to let them know that I had been telling the truth. We all thought that Roger finding out at the giarism trial would be the best time to let him know. I knew how his mind worked. He didn’t get her to marry him. But he needed her designs, or he would have to get Elizabeth to return to hispany.

    It wasn’t going to happen, but I didn’t want topletely crush his dreams. Well, not today. There’s plenty of time to let him think he has a chance. I was d that Seth took my ce. Seeing him there, hearing it from his own mouth, what they lost. It was going to hurt much more than anything I said. Plus, I was sick of seeing Joyce’s vicious face.

    I don’t me Roger or Scott. She has cost them millions because of her actions. Her malicious ns were the reason that it happened. There is no way to sugar-coat it. I had to walk away because I wanted to hurt Roger. Hearing what Erika had said about Roger spraining Ana’s wrist. He is going to get that and more if I ever get my hands on him. I already asked Mark to get the video from Erika.

    My entire focus was going to be on my bride and making her cry my name out over and over again. I had to shift in ce and put my hands together in front of me. I needed to calm down, right now. I can’t be doing this in front of all our family and friends. I would never live it down. I thought about my family, which helped me refocus. I was excited when the music started, Emily came out first, and took her ce. She and Drew were focused on each other and nothing else. I guess things are progressing well for them.

    Gwen came out next, and she looked just as lovely as Emily had, but I was focused on the closed doors. Ana and her father were behind them, and I couldn’t wait for the doors to open so I could get my first glimpse of my bride. When the music changed, I let out the breathe I had been holding. Everyone stood up, and I suddenly realized that my sightline was blocked. I knew Ana hade out, but I could only see the top of her head. Why had we invited all these people?

    I can’t wait to see her. I knew that Ana was going to look absolutely stunning, and I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to see my beautiful bride as much as I needed my next breath. I stepped out of my spot and took a few steps to get a better look at my bride. Ana took my breath away; she was stunning. She was always beautiful, but she looked like a goddess today. As she continued to walk toward me, she was all I could see. It was as if we were alone, and with every step she took, she was one step closer to bing my wife. I couldn’t wait until she was mine.

    I was so overwhelmed that I hadn’t even realized that our officiant had to step around me to speak. He gave me a smile before saying, “Who gives this woman to be legally wed?”

    “Her mother and I do,” Reid replied. He gave me a grin as I stepped down to take Ana’s hand.

    The room had muffledughter at me hurrying down the steps to im her. Once we stepped into ce, the officiant began. I wasn’t listening to a single word he said. I just stared at Ana. Her hair was up, in a cute style that women often wear. I’ve never seen her with her hair up. It brought more attention to her gorgeous face, and as I held her hands in mine, I felt like I could stare at her for hours, and never get tired of looking at her. Her beautiful eyes had been yed up. I couldn’t look away. I hope our children have her eye color.

    I felt her squeeze my hands to get my attention, and I quickly said, “I do.”

    The officiant gave a small chuckle, along with the guests present. “We’re not quite there yet, Charlie. I need you to repeat after me,” he replied.

    Ana had a small smile on her face as I repeated after the officiant. She went next, and I rubbed the back of her hands with my thumbs. I wasn’t worried myself, but I know that Ana is a very private person. Being in front of all these people was causing her stress. I would do anything to keep her mind on me, and not on the people who were staring at us. They saw some of the drama outside. I hated that it happened here, outside the venue. However, I was d that I had personally delivered the bad news to her, whether she believed me or not.

    The whole wedding seemed to take just a short amount of time, but I probably spent the majority of it staring at my bride. There were no disruptions, and everything went smoothly, just like Ana wanted. All I cared about was the fact that my wife was happy. My wife, I really liked the sound of that.

    Everything passed in a whirlwind after that. So many guests stopped to congratte us. We had so many things to do before we could leave. I wanted Ana to have the wedding of her dreams. That means, even if I wanted to whisk my bride away to start our honeymoon, I wasn’t going to do it. She deserved the whole experience, and I was determined to give it to her.

    We had our first dance, her dance with her father, and I danced with my mother and my grandmother. They were both giddy with happiness. I removed her garter belt and slipped it into my pocket. I then took out an identical garter belt to use for the single males there. I had also made sure they all turned around while I got the garter off of Ana. My possessiveness of my bride did not go unnoticed. But I wasn’t going to let some random guy have anything that had been on her body. The garter was still warm from her skin, and carried her scent. That garter was mine to keep.

    Markughed and said I needed to rx, that it wasn’t that serious, but that wasn’t going to happen. I looked at him and he settled down. Catching the garter was enough, and Mark had caught it, just beating Drew. Ana did the bouquet toss, and Gwen caught it. We didn’t even have time to eat tonight. We were on a timeline, but I had spoken to the caterers earlier this week to see if they could pack us each a meal to eat on the ne.

    Elizabeth went to change, so I went to change, too. We wanted to befortable on the ne. I had ns for my bride, not too much, because I was going to get her into bed the first time we made love. I wanted her to have the perfect experience. But there’s no sense wasting any time showing my wife just how much I love her. I slipped her garter belt into my jeans pocket. I suddenly felt like a horny teenager, and had to force myself to calm down again.

    Gwen nned to pack up her wedding gown and have it preserved while we were on our honeymoon. I waited for Ana outside her dressing room, and quickly took her hand as we headed outside. Our guests stood on the stairs to send us off. Throwing the same blush and cream flower petals that had been in Ana’s bouquet. I didn’t rush her; we were still on time. I wanted this to be a day that she looked back on with happiness and joy.

    I nodded at friends and family as we headed down the steps. I nodded at Erika Carrington as we passed. I knew if she hadn’t stepped in to speak up for us. The Cook family would have continued to think I was lying until Seth showed up. I was d I texted him toe out. I wanted them all to worry about what was toe. I wanted them to know that once Ana dealt with them, they had no chance of winning.

    Seth had told me what they said after I walked away. I’ve never met a more controlling and vicious woman in my life. I’m also d that Roger was finally getting his balls out of his mother’s purse. He needed to do that years ago. If he had focused on his business after Ana quit, he wouldn’t be in this state. He should have focused on creating new designs to keep from losing everything. That was on him, as his own choices led him here.

    We hugged our parents and grandparents goodbye. Iughed as both sets of my grandparents reminded me I needed to get to work on their great-grandchildren. Iughed, but I was already nning on that. I nned to ensure that my wife would not only be happy but also pregnant by the time we returned. Ana wasn’t on birth control. She wasn’t sexually active, and when she asked me if I wanted her to start, I answered honestly. Just thinking about her flushed face when I told her that we didn’t need it is getting me hard again. We really need to go now.

    I opened the door, and Ana waved goodbye to everyone again before sliding into the SUV. Jon drove us to the airstrip and helped me carry our bags onto the ne. He was returning to the wedding after he left, as the party was going to continue on without us. The pilots greeted us, informing us that we were ready to leave. The steward escorted us to our seats and advised that he would return with some champagne after we got to cruising altitude.

    He was very professional, as were the pilots. I could finally calm down. I know that I’ve been unnaturally possessive about Ana today. I also knew why. I knew that as soon as we returned, both Holden and Roger were going to be trying to get Ana back. I’m not going to allow that to happen. They both hurt her. They both had their chance, and they both blew it. She is my wife. I don’t want either of them toe around her.

    Of the two of them, Holden is the most dangerous. I had cameras added to our home. Holden thinks he’s slick, but he’s seriously forgotten what I do for a living. I’ve been having him watched. I know that he has a home in our gatedmunity. It was part of the reason why I had him picked up on assault charges.

    The stalking charges are what will being for him next. Through the cameras, I observed that someone came out to redo his fence. He had a gate installed on his side of the fence, one that had a handle that allows him entry into our back yard whenever he wants. But the surprise is on him now. I’m going to have a storage shed, or some reallyrge nters of flowers, built to keep him from being able to use that hidden gate. I hope he learns quickly that he just needs to give up. I won’t stand by and allow him to upset Ana, or try to take her from me.