Chapter 20

  The Wedding of the Century

  Three Years Later…

  I watched my two kids bicker over the ends of my wedding dress. Jasper, who was turning three this year, tugged at the lace like it was a game, while Crystal, already thirteen, tried to steady the fabric with a protective hand. I placed one hand over my stomach, willing my nerves to settle. I hoped the bump wasn’t showing too much—though it was getting harder to hide, especially with the way my body had shifted in the past few weeks.

  Saxon and I had decided it was finally time to get married when I gave him the news we were expecting another baby. I hadn't told anyone yet—not a soul. I wanted it to be my gift to everyone when we arrived at the reception. I suspected my mum might have figured it out already, though. I could never keep a secret from her. She was sitting behind me, gently tugging at the ends of my hair, trying not to cry for what must have been the third or fourth time today.

  I could see the effort in her eyes, the way she fought back the tears as if they were old friends visiting again. I knew she had her reasons, but sometimes I wished she'd just let the tears fall. That way, she wouldn't have to pretend so much.

  “Mum, you have to stop. I think Jessica is getting annoyed,” I said with a small laugh, glancing at my makeup artist who had given my mother more than one pointed look.

  “I’m sorry, sweetie. I just wish your father could be here to see you so happy.”

  “Oh, he is, Mum. I might be walking down the aisle by myself, but I know Dad will be with me every step of the way.” I smiled softly, trying to reassure her. “He’s here in my heart. Always.”

  “I’m just so happy for you, darling. You finally found your Prince Charming and your happy ending.” Her voice broke at the end, thick with emotion.

  My smile faltered for a brief moment, but I quickly masked it with a bright grin, hoping my mother wouldn’t notice. But in reality, I wasn’t walking toward a "happy ending"—not yet. Not by a long shot. The courts had still failed to lock Kai away for what he had done. Three years had passed since the ordeal began, and his wealth, his influence, had kept him out of jail. Despite everything he had done to me, Kai still had his connections, and the legal system was a tangle that wouldn’t budge. I knew Saxon didn’t want me to worry, but I had overheard his quiet conversation this morning. He was concerned—he didn’t know whether Kai would be granted parole today.

  Sighing, I turned my attention back to Jasper, brushing his unruly hair into some semblance of order. He grumbled, clearly unimpressed, but I kissed him on the cheek and sent him off with Crystal and my mum. I watched them leave and felt a pang of anxiety in my chest.

  Wyatt had been kind enough to secure us two spaces at his casino in Bluehaven for both the wedding and the reception. It felt surreal being here. Saxon and I had debated whether we should return to this place before our third child was born, but we had never quite made up our minds. It was strange being back, a mix of nostalgia and lingering unease. Wyatt had helped me plan the wedding, his role solidified as my man of honor—a choice that hadn’t sat well with Saxon. He was still sorting through his own tensions, particularly when it came to who would stand by his side. In the end, Saxon had chosen Eric—who, as it turned out, had no intention of saying yes. So, Kira had stepped in, much to Saxon’s chagrin. But I couldn’t help but laugh. Despite everything, some things never changed.

  I checked the time and realized with a jolt that we were running behind. Can’t have my future husband worrying too much, I thought with a smile.

  “Mum, take the kids. It’s time,” I said, my voice steady even though my pulse was racing.

  “I love you, baby. I’m so happy for you,” she whispered, kissing my cheek before leading the kids out.

  Wyatt handed me my bouquet, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “You’re going to be perfect,” he said softly before disappearing into the crowd.

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  I took a deep breath, waiting for the music to start. When it did, my heart raced in time with the first notes. Everything around me seemed to blur as I walked, the world narrowing to just the aisle, the soft fabric of my dress brushing the floor with every step, and the figure waiting at the end.

  I spotted Saxon immediately. He was fumbling with his tie, his usual confidence faltering under the weight of the moment. A small part of me wanted to scowl, but when our eyes met, he grinned. That smile—his smile—was something I still couldn’t quite get used to. It was mine now, and mine alone. In spite of all the chaos that loomed beyond this moment, I knew one thing for certain: we had this.

  I reached him, and he took my hand, his grip strong and warm, as we turned toward the priest.

  “Dearly beloved,” the priest began, his voice deep and steady, “we are gathered here today to witness the joining of Lisa Paul and Saxon Whitney. If anyone objects to this holy matrimony, speak now, or forever hold your peace.”

  The room fell silent, and I think I heard an old man cough in the back. The brief sound was like a pin dropping in the stillness, a small distraction before the next moment unfolded. The priest smiled, nodding politely, ready to continue the ceremony, when suddenly, the doors at the back of the room slammed open with a force that sent a chill through the air.

  And then, the very person I didn’t want to see stepped through.

  “I object to the wedding of my bitch”

  The room collectively gasped. Time seemed to stretch, the words hanging in the air like a bomb waiting to go off. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, as the man who had haunted my past for far too long strode confidently into the room.

  Kai.

  His voice cut through the stunned silence like a jagged knife. The smile on his face—one that I knew too well—was full of arrogance, as if this was all some game to him. I felt my pulse race, my heart pounding so loudly that I was sure everyone could hear it. My stomach dropped, and I instinctively reached for Saxon’s hand, but even his comforting grip couldn't steady my nerves.

  Saxon stiffened beside me, his entire body tense, as if he was ready to leap into action. I could feel the anger radiating from him, the deep growl building in his chest. But I couldn’t focus on him. Not right now.

  I forced myself to look at Kai. His eyes locked with mine, and I saw the same smugness I’d come to despise. He was here. At my wedding. And he wasn’t just trying to make his presence known—he was trying to ruin everything. Again.

  "You're not welcome here," I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound firm.

  “Oh, I think I am,” Kai replied, his gaze flicking toward Saxon with a sneer. “Did you honestly think I was just going to let you marry my wife?”

  “What are you doing out of prison Kai?”

  “You underestimated the power of my connections, Saxon. Besides I wanted to make sure Lisa didn’t get her happy ending. You made this whole situation a whole lot worse than it was. You should have let me have the bitch and then I wouldn’t be standing here, threatening you to give her back. Must we keep repeating this? You know I would have just given her back after a few years, when I got bored of her again”

  His words struck like a slap. The room held its breath, the tension palpable. I could see the confused and worried expressions on the faces of the guests, but I couldn’t focus on them. I could only focus on him, on the way his presence seemed to fill the room, demanding attention.

  “Get out of here, Kai,” Saxon said, his voice low but menacing. “This is over. You’re not welcome. You have no say anymore.”

  But Kai wasn’t done. Not by a long shot.

  Saxon stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Kai. His body was a wall of protection, a silent promise that he would do whatever it took to keep me safe. “You don’t get to decide what’s right for us, Kai. You’re done here. Leave. Now.”

  But Kai wasn’t backing down. His smile remained, as sharp as ever. "We'll see about that."

  That's when we noticed the gun swaying beside Kai. Slowly he raised the gun, pointing it at us.

  He pushed a brown paper bag to his lips, tipping it towards the ceiling. After he finished its contents, he threw it behind him, making it crash into the door. It made me jump, making Saxon grip onto my hand. The gesture would have made me smile, if it wasn’t for the fact that there was a gun facing towards us.

  “You know what happened last time you took her away from me? Someone ended up getting hurt. Just hand her over again and I will decided whether or not I shoot”

  What was he talking about? I had escaped from him. Saxon stiffened and it seemed there were secrets he was keeping from me.

  “Got nothing to say to defend her. Well that’s a pity”

  Something in me must have sensed what Kai was going to do. Using all my strength, I pushed Saxon out of the way as soon as the trigger was pulled. A loud bang filled the room and the last thing I heard was the screams of my children.