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Letting her believe she saved me is the kindest ending, but I will forever carry the guilt thatmyinitial decision caused all of this. It may have saved all of us from the wrath of the Mancinis in the end, but that guilt won’t ever leave me. I will embrace it and use it to make sure I’m careful on every decision going forward.

“You could have lost a little weight though, Jasmine,” Mom says suddenly, reverting back to her usual comments that in the past would have hurt me. Now I’m just amused to hear her sound like her old self.

“I’m pregnant, remember?” I say gently, taking her hand and placing it on my belly. “Your grandchild is in here.”

“Oh yes!” It’s like a light sparks behind her eyes. “How could I forget that?”

“You’re the mother of the bride with a lot of responsibility and pressure, I’m not surprised it slipped your mind,” I chuckle gently.

“Goodness, I’d lose my head if it wasn’t attached,” she chuckles, dabbing at her eyes while stroking my belly. “Yes. Yes. Alright. Do you need anything else from me, dear?”

“Just you in the front row.”

“Oh you! You’ll make me cry again!” She lightly swats my arm and then kisses my cheek. “I’ll see you out there dear. I love you.”

“I love you too, Mom.”

She leaves with a wide smile on her face, escorted by several guards who have been carefully trained in her condition and mental state. Assembling a personal team trained to help her exactly how she needs is the only other way I can keep her safe.

The door closes, and I turn back to the full-length mirror. My heart starts to race.

I’m getting married today.

To Ren.

Oh my God.

As a teen, I’d dreamed about this day. Marrying my masked rescuer with my father to walk me down the aisle and my mom in tears in the front row.

I miss my father sometimes. His presence more than anything.

I don’t miss his temper or his money-hungry desires, or the way he’d look at me as a pawn and tool rather than his daughter.

I hope he’s looking down on me though. I hope he’s proud in his own way.

A soft knock at the door has me pushing down the thoughts of my father, and I turn in time to see Catherine poke her head through the door. “Hey sexy, it’s nearly time. Are you ready?”

“I’m scared,” I laugh softly, pressing one hand firmly to my body just beneath my breasts as if the pressure will calm the fluttering I feel. “Why am I scared? I’ve done scarier things than this.”

“It’s natural,” Catherine smiles, walking deeper into the room. “Commitment is scary. Especially in front of a crowd and in our world, it’s not always easy to do. Everyone’s watching.”

“You’re not helping.”

Catherine laughs loudly. “I’m sorry, I was trying to psych you out. Too much?”

“Definitely.”

“Got it. Look…” She takes my hand and squeezes. “You were there for me when I was scared. You didn’t judge me for hiding what Seth was doing to me, you just helped me. Look at what you’re doing for your mom, and how you helped Ren. You deserve this, Jasmine. Let the world see how much you’re loved. Let them see that you’re happy because you’re the one who deserves it.”

“You think?” Warmth beads behind my eyes and I widen them slightly to try and fight the forming tears. “Shit. I don’t want to ruin my makeup!”

“Even ruined you’d still look beautiful, I’m sort of jealous,” Catherine smiles, then she tugs on my hand. “Come on, let’s go get you married.”

Catherine walks me down the aisle and it’s perfect.

I spot my mother in the front row in floods of tears, clutching at one of her guards who looks rather alarmed and uncertain at what to do. It’s amusing. Red, pink, and orange petals coat the aisle, and outside the windows lining the hall, I glimpse the warm orange and red tones of the late October trees swaying against a deep blue sky. Theresa and some of her people fill the seats, as well as a few mutual friends of Catherine and me. Even my security team is here looking exceptionally smart, and when my eyes catch on the captain, he winks encouragingly at me.

Then I see Ren, and as soon as I do, everything else melts away.