Page 95 of The Pakhan's Arranged Bride

“No, leave it for now. He might get bored and give up. It hasn’t been anything serious yet. He’s just taking out his frustration.”

“I don’t like it. He’s asking for trouble.”

“No more business talk,” Lara says loudly, grabbing everyone’s attention. She lifts her champagne glass. “I want to say how nice it is to have everyone sitting at one table together.”

“Yes, it’s amazing,” Nestor agrees. “It’s been a while.”

Dinner is wonderful. We laugh and talk and share stories, catching up on the past few months since we last saw each other.

Being surrounded by real family, having this sense of comfort and homeliness without stress or worry—it’s all I ever wanted.

The smile on my face reflects the warmth in my heart as my husband, the most beautiful man alive, the one who fills my life in ways I didn’t know were possible, wraps his arm around me and pulls me into a hug.

In front of everyone, he says, “I love you more than words, little fox. And every day I wake up smiling, thankful that we found each other. I can’t imagine a life without you.”

I fight back my tears, over-emotional and flooded with hormones. He chuckles and brushes one off my cheek.

I reach up and touch his beautiful face.

“I love you too, Benedikt. You’ve changed my life. Everything about you—it’s exactly what I’ve always wanted.”

He pulls me close and kisses me.

My heart bursts with happiness.

My life is perfect.

*****

THE END