Page 87 of Arranged with Twins

“Thank you for choosing me back.”

As the evening deepens, guests begin collecting children and preparing for departure. Nadia has taken approximately three hundred photos and promises to have albums ready within the week. Ilya shakes my hand with formality behind which he hides his genuine emotions, but I can see his happiness for us.

Vincent approaches to say goodbye, bending to kiss Sienna’s cheek and shake my hand with what seems like real respect. “Thank you for including us today. It means a lot.”

Then Katherine steps forward, her smile polite and brittle. She kisses the air beside Sienna’s cheek and says, “You looked radiant. Very...modern.” Her gaze flicks briefly to the asymmetrical beading on Sienna’s gown, and the subtle arch of one brow betrays what she doesn’t say aloud. Sienna stiffens slightly but apparently chooses to let it go.

Then she turns to me with a practiced smile. “Congratulations, Leo,” she says, the warmth in her tone as cosmetic as her lip gloss. “You certainly know how to put on a memorable event.”

Before either of us can reply, she slips her arm through Vincent’s and walks with him to their rented car without looking back.She didn’t spare any words or even a glance for the babies we’re holding.

“Are you all right?” I ask my wife softly.

She nods. “I didn’t expect anything more from her, so I’m not disappointed.” She turns to me, wrapping her arms around me. “I only invited her for Vincent’s sake, to be honest. I don’t think…”

“She’ll ever be a decent mother or grandmother?” I finish, and she nods. “Probably not, but you’re gracious to try.”

She’s unable to continue the conversation as the last of our guests leave almost at once. We share parting and waves before finally, only our small family remains on the villa’s terrace. Elizaveta has fallen asleep in Sienna’s arms, while Lev fights exhaustion in mine, occasionally opening his eyes to babble at the string lights twinkling overhead.

“Perfect day,” Sienna murmurs as we settle into comfortable chairs overlooking the darkening vineyard.

“Absolute perfection,” I agree. “Perfect wife, perfect children, and a perfect life.”

“Don’t jinx it.” She laughs softly, adjusting Elizaveta’s blanket. “I suppose we’ve already survived the worst that could happen though.”

“We’ve survived everything that tried to tear us apart.” I look at our sleeping son, and my chest tightens with emotions impossible to contain. “From now on, we get to focus on building instead of just defending.”

“What should we build first?”

“Whatever you want.” I reach across the small space between our chairs to take her free hand. “We have all the time in the world to figure it out together.”