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“They’ll never calm down and you know it. Viktor will never rest until he has me back home. So, why hide? I don’t want to go to a court house and rush through a wedding ceremony with you. I want to marry you in a church with my wedding dress on. That’s what I want. Can you give me that?”

“It’s risky, baby.”

“I don’t care. Who will find us anyway? If no one else knows…”

He sighs deeply. “If you want to get married in a church, then I want to give you that. And you already have a wedding dress.”

It’s lying on the floor in a crumpled mess.

“I chose that dress with you in mind but it’s been tainted by Connor.”

“Did he touch you?”

“No. I just mean that when I look at that dress, all I can see is the wedding I was forced to attend with him. I want a fresh start for us. A new dress. Can I have that?”

“I want to give you everything in this world. If you want a new dress to marry me, then get a new dress.”

“Dante won’t want us to leave.”

“I know,” he says. “But Dante can fucking deal. This is our chance at happiness. Let’s take it. No matter the consequences.”

No matter the consequences.

We wait until the morning to leave the house. The closest bridal boutique opens at eight. Hopefully no one will see us an hour outside the city. I want to have the most perfect wedding with Matteo. I can’t even think about what else could happen.

Matteo agrees to not look at the dress I choose but he does remain in the story for safety reasons.

I manage to make do with Matteo’s clothes since I don’t have any of my own. I wear one of his shirts as a dress and hope no one thinks it’s strange.

It’s like déjà vu, trying on dresses again so close to when I first did it for Connor just a week ago. But now I’m actually excited. I’m actually getting to marry Matteo and what could be better than that?

After trying on dress after dress, I settle on the perfect one. It’s similar to my first dress but even better because this is the one I’m going to marry the man I love in.

I don’t leave the changing room because I don’t want Matteo to see it. I want it to be a surprise.

“I want to purchase this dress today,” I tell the sales lady who helped me get into it.

“Today? Normally it takes a while to process the dress and fit it to your exact measurements.”

“This dress fits me perfectly. I’ll take it today.”

Nothing and no one is going to get in my way today. I’m having the wedding of my dreams with Matteo.

Matteo doesn’t look at the dress but he does buy it without any hesitation.

“It’s not too expensive, is it?” I ask.

“I can afford to take care of you. I might not be as rich as your brother but I do very well for myself. Don’t worry.” He gives me a gentle kiss.

The sale’s associate behind the counter gives us a deep smile as she rings the dress up. It’s in a garment bag so Matteo can’t see. I want it to be a surprise. “You two are very cute, I have to say.”

“Thank you.” I lean into Matteo’s arms, resting my head on his chest. It feels so good just being with him.

“When are you getting married?”

“Today.”

She blinks at us. “Today? Well, no wonder you wanted the dress today.”

“It was last minute,” Matteo explains. “We would have planned if we had the chance.”

“A spontaneous wedding. Nothing more romantic than that.” She hands me the garment bag. “I wish you all the luck.”

The moment we’re outside, I realize something and gasp. “Rings. We need rings”

“Then let’s get rings.”

There’s a jewelry store not far from the bridal boutique that’s open. When we tell the sales associate that we’re getting married today and need rings, she has the same reaction as the woman at the bridal shop: surprise and but also thinks we’re romantic.

“Then let’s find you some rings.” She shows us many wedding bands until we decide on the perfect ones. Silver bands.

“You don’t have an engagement ring,” the woman says, nodding to my hand. Connor never gave me one, for which I was grateful. I never would have been able to look at it knowing I was being claimed by the wrong man.

But now I’m with Matteo. I want to be claimed by him.

“I’m going to get you an engagement ring,” he tells me. “So you’ll look at it and know you’re mine.”

I can’t stop the big smile from spreading across my face. All of this just feels so perfect. Nothing could take away my happiness.

I pick out an engagement ring that has a small, simple diamond in it. It’s a classic cut and looks more like something from the 1940s than present day.

“Are you sure you don’t want a bigger diamond?” Matteo asks. “I’ll buy you whatever you want.”

“I don’t want a bigger diamond. I don’t need one. This ring is perfect.”

“Then you’ll have it.” Matteo buys the ring but doesn’t place it on my finger. “I have an idea.”

We finish getting our wedding bands before we leave the jewelry store and go to a park nearby. It’s a beautiful day out, the trees are practically shining in the sun, and the air smells sweet.

And right before me, Matteo gets down on one knee and holds the engagement ring up. “I want to ask you properly. Will you marry me, Julia?”

“Yes.” Tears seep from my eyes. “Of course, of course, of course!” I wrap my arms around him and give him so many kisses, I lose count. Matteo laughs as he places the ring on my finger. It fits perfectly like it was meant to be there.

We spend a moment to gaze at each other, just lost in the happiness that is our love. The fact that we’re finally getting this chance means everything to me.

And that’s when I hear her.

“Julia?” It’s Inessa.

I spin around and see Inessa standing in the same park as me and Matteo. Next to her is Elena.

What is going on?

“Are your husbands with you?” Matteo asks, putting himself slightly in front of me as if Inessa and Elena are a danger to me.

“No,” Inessa says after a beat.

“We’re here by ourselves,” Elena explains.

“What are you doing here?” Matteo demands. “An hour outside the city?”

Inessa and Elena share a look. “We’re on opposites sides of this war too but we’re still friends.

With Julia being taken, I was worried and went to Elena.

We agreed to meet here since it’s far from the city and would give us a chance just to talk.

I snuck out without Viktor knowing and Elena did the same. ”

“We knew it was risky,” Elena says.

“You left your son at home?” Matteo asks her.

“Yes. I wouldn’t put him in danger. He’s with the housekeeper. Inessa really wanted to talk. It’s just a coincidence that you’re both here too.”

“Don’t call your husband,” Matteo says to Inessa. “In fact, turn your phone off. He can track your phone.”

“Do it,” I say softly, nodding. Inessa slowly takes out her phone and powers it down.

“Do the same, Elena,” Matteo says. She follows Inessa’s lead and turns her phone off.

“There. Happy?”

“I just have to be careful. Viktor can’t find us here and frankly, I don’t want Aiden to find us either. If him or Finn showed up, it would just cause more chaos. You know that.”

Elena nods. “I do. Inessa was telling me about you two. How you actually have feelings for each other. Julia called me a few weeks ago, asking for your phone number, Matteo. I’m the one who gave it to her. So don’t worry. I won’t get in the way of you two being together.”

“Because it’s obvious you love each other,” Inessa adds. “The way you’re looking at each other. You really are in love?”

“We are,” I tell her, holding Matteo closer. Now that we’ve been found by Inessa and Elena, I want to keep Matteo with me for as long as possible before he slips from my grasp.

Inessa tears up. “I’m happy for you. I really am. I know how lonely you’ve been. I’ve always wanted you to find love.”

“Is Connor alive?” I have to know.

“He is. And he seemed to have spun a story to Viktor about you, saying that Matteo seduced you. That he brainwashed you. Viktor seemed to believe it.”

“Bastard,” Matteo mutters.

“He did not brainwash me. Connor is lying.”

“I know. I just wanted you to know. Viktor is struggling with what’s the truth. He needs to hear it from you.”

“But I can’t go see him. He’ll just lock me back up. You know that. Please don’t tell him where I am. At least not yet. Let me have some happiness. And if Viktor finds us, he’ll kill Matteo and then ask questions later.”

“I won’t tell him.” She looks at Elena. “You can’t tell Aiden we’re here either. For both Julia and Matteo’s safety.”

“Matteo and I are friends,” Elena says. “I don’t want him to get hurt either.

So don’t worry. I won’t tell Aiden where you are.

But I don’t like lying to my husband so please get this figured out soon.

I can’t bear to lose you, Matteo. But you plunged us further into war when you kidnapped Julia.

Viktor will be out for your head and he might just kill anyone who gets in his way, like my own husband. ”

“We will figure this out,” he promises.

Inessa looks between us as realization dawns in her eyes. “Are you two getting married? The ring. You’re holding onto a garment bag. Is that what’s happening?”

Matteo and I look at each other, unsure what to say. We wanted to have this moment together and now it’s been invaded but it doesn’t have to be ruined.

“Yes,” I answer her. “We are getting married. Please don’t stop us. I just want to be with Matteo. Give me that. Please.”

“You’re really doing this?”

“We are.”

Inessa lets out a long breath. “Viktor will not be happy about this.”

“But if Matteo and I marry, there’s a chance for peace. Viktor will see it in time. He has to.”

“I want to believe that too,” she says softly. “So you’re getting married. I won’t stop you.”

“I won’t either,” Elena adds. “Even though I’m scared this is going to get you killed, Matteo.”

He chuckles. “I’ve been through a lot worse and survived. I can survive this. If it means getting to be with Julia, I will take it.”

“Join us,” I blurt out. “Inessa, I want you to be there. If I can’t have Viktor in attendance, then I want you there. You’re my family too.”

“Julia…”

“Please.”

“If Viktor finds out… I can’t keep this from him forever.”

“I won’t ask you too. Just be there when Matteo and I get married. Be our witness. Be happy for us, for just a moment. And then you can tell Viktor about it. You can tell him how happy I am. And hopefully, he’ll understand and when he does, Matteo will be safe. We’ll all be safe.”

“You really believe Viktor will end this war if he sees how much you love Matteo?”

“It’s worth a shot. Otherwise…”

She slowly nods. “You’re right. I’ll support you, Julia. I’ll be at your wedding. When is it?”

“Right now,” Matteo says. “We’re getting married today. Come with us too, Elena. I don’t have any family with me and we’re friends. It would be nice to have you there.”

“What if there’s danger?” she asks. “My son is at home, waiting for me to return.”

“This can just remain between us,” I tell her. “No one has to know. No one has to get hurt.”

After a long moment, she sighs. “Ok. I’ll be there.”

Inessa smiles. “Then let’s have a wedding.”

The church we choose is a catholic one. Normally it takes weeks, if not months, to get approved, but Matteo goes inside and convinces the priest to marry us. I’m not sure what he says or does but the priest agrees.

This is actually happening. I’m getting my dream wedding. I’m getting my fairytale.

And nothing can ruin it.