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I clutch Enzo's hand, feeling his warmth anchor me amidst the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me.
He grins. “You made it, Mrs. Marchetti.”
“Don’t call me that yet.” I smile back. “I haven’t signed my life away to you yet.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Soon enough, my love, you will be mine.”
“And you mine.” I beam at him.
When time comes to exchange our vows, Enzo looks at me with all the love he can possibly fathom.
“Quinn. From the moment our paths crossed, I knew there was something extraordinary about you. You are my rock, my confidant, and my greatest blessing. With you, I feel heard, and cherished in a way I never thought possible. You've brought light into my darkest days and laughter into every corner of my life.”
Tears prick in my eyes.
“I vow to stand by your side through every high and low life throws our way. I promise to support you, encourage you, and lift you up. I will be your partner in all things. I promise to love you fiercely and unconditionally, to cherish every moment we share together, and to never take for granted the gift of your presence in my life.”
Tears are streaming down my face by the time he finishes.
“Enzo, you are the love of my life. Nothing I can say will ever be close to what I feel for you, so I want to make my commitment show it instead. I love you and I promise to be by your side today, tomorrow, and forever more.”
The minister smiles at us. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Enzo’s lips come crashing down on mine. He’s careful about my pregnant belly, putting a gentle hand above it.
The baby kicks.
“Did you feel that?” I whisper to him as we pull away. “He’s happy, too.”
Enzo and I are practically glued to each other’s side as the rest of the reception goes on.
“I think you’ve just set a new trend,” Luciana says to me when she catches up to me at the reception. “Everyone is going to want a ceremony at nine months pregnant now. It’s just too iconic.”
“I guess I’m a bit of a trendsetter then, aren’t I?” I grin.
Luciana and I have developed a friendship that I would not trade for anything. Though I am technically supposed to be her ‘stepmother,’ it really does not feel that way.
“He’s about to come out any day now,” Alessio chimes in. “I’ve always wanted a younger sibling.”
“Younger by two decades?” Luciana glares at him. “You’ll practically be his uncle.”
“Hey, we don’t age-shame in this family. Don’t you know this by now?” He grins, and then turns to me. “Sorry about that, Quinn. Luciana is just too cranky when she is at that time of the month.”
“Watch it.” She narrows her eyes at him.
It’s amusing to see their sibling dynamics unfold.
Valentino has made it to the wedding as well, despite his busy schedule. Under his leadership, the company has been doing really well, and Enzo could not be prouder of his oldest child.
“Congratulations, Q,” Valentino says to me, earnestly. “Who knew the woman behind a profile I picked out with my marketing team would end up being my stepmother?”
I laugh. Truly, we have all come so far.
“Don’t call me stepmother. It makes me sound ancient.”
“Fine. Quinn only, then.”
Enzo finds me again, kissing the side of my cheek. He’s surprisingly okay with PDA, which is surprising given how careful he was in our early days. I take it as a sign of just how much our relationship has grown, for the better.