Page 124 of The Billionaire's Bride

My eyes fill and I glance away. I'll never get over losing mum. Just when I think the pain is lessening, something like this happens, and the loss seems so very insurmountable.

I hear the sound of footsteps and the next second his strong arms surround me. He pulls me into his chest. "Shh," he croons, "I didn't mean to upset you."

"You didn't." I rub my cheek against his shoulder, "It's just... I still miss her, you know?"

"You were lucky to have her. My family threw money at me and hoped my problems would resolve themselves. They didn't realize that all I needed was their support to get through the hellish aftermath of the incident."

"You have me now." I glance up at him. "And apparently, you knew I existed long before I met you."

"I saw you again, you know?" he murmurs. "Two years ago, on one of my infrequent visits to London. I was at Paddington Station, about to catch the Heathrow Express to the airport, and I heard your laugh."

"My laugh?"

"Your laughter is the most beautiful sound in the world. I heard it that day at the pub and never forgot it. Every time I remembered it, it made me feel hopeful and happy and wistful, all at the same time."

"Wistful?"

"You were so young, just a child, and yet I couldn't forget your face. And then I saw you all grown up on the railway platform, and knew you were the one for me, but the timing was all wrong."

"All these years," a ball of emotion fills my throat, "all this time, you knew?"

He nods. "I thought I'd never find you again." He cups my cheek, peers into my eyes, "And then when I did, I knew the most important thing was for you to be happy. It didn't matter who you were with, as long as you were happy."

"That's why you left?"

He nods, "And I thought my life was over. I thought..." His throat moves as he swallows, "I thought that I'd lost you, Eve."

"But you didn't," I glance up into those glistening blue eyes, "I am here and I am never leaving you again."

"I'll hold you to that." He smirks, "There’s one more thing I need to confess."

I tilt my head, "What?" I frown, "What is it?"

He slides his hand into his pocket then holds up something purple.

I blink. "My hair tie?" I turn to him, "Where did you find it?"

"At your place, that first day I carried you home. I took it without telling you." He glances at the purple hair restraint then back at me, "I needed something of you to carry around, apparently."

He holds the hairband out to me and I shake my head, "You found it, you keep it. It's yours now."

"And you?" He searches my eyes, "What about you?"

"I'm yours, Baron. Only yours."

"Mine." He lowers his lips to mine.

45

Ava

I glance at myself in the mirror in Summer’s town house. The simple white gown I’ve chosen has a sweetheart neckline and cinches in at the waist before flowing down to my feet. My hair’s flowing around my shoulders, just how he likes it. On my feet, I am wearing green colored heels which match the green of my ring. My make-up is light, a touch of lip gloss, and purple eyeshadow to bring out the green of my eyes.

"What do you think?" I meet Isla’s gaze in the mirror. "Too simple?"

"It’s," she looks me up and down, "gorgeous; very you."

"Not that I had much time to find a dress," I mutter. "I mean, how did he manage to accelerate all the paperwork so we could be married in 24 hours?"