Page 137 of Stronger Than Fate

“She’s not well, Sean. I don’t know how we didn’t realize it.”

“It’s over now,” he said, caressing my face.

Once again I thought I heard Henry growl, but Sean didn’t even look at him. My friend chatted with us a bit longer and then left, promising to return the next day. When we were alone, Henry settled beside me, put his arm around my back and hugged me. I rested my head on his shoulder and felt the peace of having him by my side.

“‘Pretty boy’ is in love with you,” he stated.

“Stop calling him that.”

“That’s what you call him.”

“I say it affectionately, you say it ironically.”

“You didn’t say anything about the other part,” he pointed out.

“What are you referring to?”

“The love he feels for you, and don’t deny it because everyone can see it.”

“I’m not denying it,” I said, not wanting to lie or play dumb.

Henry looked at me seriously and I think he was surprised by my confirmation.

“Did he confess it to you?”

“He did the last time I was in Paris, when I traveled to get away from you.”

“And?”

“Nothing, I confirmed what he already knows, that I only love him as a friend. He understands clearly that my heart belongs to you. Fortunately, we were able to get past that moment and keep our friendship intact.”

Henry pressed his lips to mine and sighed.

“I can’t wait for us to get married.”

“It’s just a formality, we already belong to each other completely. I belong to you completely, in body, heart, and soul.”

“Me too. I love you, my Dalina.”

“I love you, champion.”

He leaned in slowly and kissed me again, pouring into that kiss all the feelings overflowing from our hearts. If we had learned anything from that horrific experience, it was that our love was so great that living without each other was something difficult to imagine. We loved each other. We were among those privileged people who managed to find their soulmate, that eternal love that would accompany us throughout our lives.

Because that’s how it is. When soulmates meet, they recognize each other at first sight. And for us, it was enough to look into each other’s eyes that night when we met at the hotel bar to know that the search was over.

THE END

EPILOGUE 1

“Love is the emblem of eternity: it confuses all notion of time; effaces all memory of a beginning, all fear of an end”

—Germaine De Staël

The Wedding

On my wedding day, I was so happy that I had a calmness I couldn’t even believe myself. All I wanted was to be with Henry and live that unique moment. Our wedding was being held in the hotel’s grand ballroom, which had been decorated for the occasion in a wonderfully romantic way. At that moment, I was in my suite’s bedroom while Niky finished arranging my veil. My dress, designed and created by Niky, was spectacular, decorated with lace, with a strapless neckline, mermaid cut, and finished with a long train. I wore my hair loose with waves and a small crown of white flowers from which a beautiful veil fell down the back.

“Dali, how much longer do you need? Henry is going to make my phone explode if he keeps calling. The poor man is so anxious that you’ll be a widow before you even get married. I’m not joking, at any moment he’ll come looking for you and carry you all the way to where the judge is,” Lolo said, laughing.