Page 146 of Gamble with Me

“Mom,” Zara whined, breaking the spell between us. I turned to her, blinking the daze away. “Say yes.”

“Oh.” I giggled, realizing I had already said it in my head over a hundred times, but not out loud.

“Yes.” I gave my full attention to Zyon, smiling happily. “I will marry you.”

“Finally,” he exhaled, acting like a heavy boulder had been lifted from his shoulders. Zara jumped on the couch, clapping her hands excitedly while Zyon rose to his feet and kissed the top of my hand.

“I’ll have a priest ready in an hour,” he announced, taking me completely by surprise. “We’ll get married tonight.”

“Wait, what?” I yanked my hand from his hold, staring at him as if he had told me we were moving to Antarctica.

“What about the dress?” Zara asked, frowning at him. “Mom needs a nice, long, white dress.”

“And cake,” I added, crossing my arms over my chest. Zyon’s dark eyebrows shot up as he looked between me and our daughter.

“Don’t forget about friends and family,” Zara reminded him, hopping from the couch and taking a pen and paper.

“Can’t we just move on to the important part?” Zyon sighed, his pleading glance instantly melting my heart. He grasped my elbow and embraced me, ignoring Zara’s giggling. “I don’t want to wait any longer, Valeria. Whether you like it or not, you’ll become my wife tonight.”

“But…” I tried to object, but his index finger pressing against my lips silenced me.

“I don’t care about the dress. I’ll marry you in pajamas,” Zyon stated, his eyes swirling with love and determination to make it happen. “I’ll have someone bring you a wedding cake, even if they had to steal it from a real wedding reception. And believe me, our closest people will come.” He leaned closer, cupping my face with his large palms. “You’ll marry me today, Valeria. I swear to God, you will lie in bed tonight as Mrs. Zhumagulov.”

“What aboutmydress?” Zara asked, disturbing Zyon’s intense monologue. He exhaled loudly, a smile crossing his face.

“Wear pajamas, too, princess,” he replied, casting me a sharp look when I opened my mouth to protest.

“Perfect!” Zara screamed, jumping to her feet and trying to curl her arms around us. Her happy face was squeezed between Zyon and me, beaming at us. “We’ll be a real family!”

“Pajamas family,” I corrected her, laughing. I couldn’t be happier.

And that was how our happily ever after started, with a quick wedding, stolen cake, and being surrounded by the people who meant everything to us.

Alice stood by my side as always, shaking her head at the unexpected event. Zyon was so quick to organize it that no one had time to dress appropriately.

My best friend and bridesmaid wore her black and white gym set, laughing when others joined the show. Dorian showed up in green scrubs and a white doctor's coat. Malin signed the papers as the best man in a motorcycle suit, and I kissed my newlywed husband in my flannel pajama set that perfectly matched Zyon's.

The only person who dressed like it was a real wedding was Zyon's mother, Valentina. She stood beside Zara, who held her favorite rabbit, and exchanged happy smiles with everyone.

That night, I lay in bed as Mrs. Zhumagulov for the first time, wanting to do it daily until death tore us apart.

However, knowing Zyon, he would surely take care of that part, too. He would never let me be, not even after our time on earth was done. He proved countless times that his obsession with me was incurable. And I knew our love would survive anything, even death itself.

There would never be an end for us.