Emilia stood in front of the full-length mirror in her private dressing room, the weight of satin and emotion pooling around her. The gown was exactly how she'd envisioned—fitted bodice, delicate lace crawling along her shoulders like whispered promises, and a soft sweep of ivory fabric trailing behind her like a dream made tangible. She took a steady breath, grounding herself. Not out of fear, but the quiet awe that came with realizing everything she'd fought for had finally led her here.
Tasha dabbed gently under her eyes with a tissue. "You're going to make everyone cry before you even walk down the aisle."
Emilia smiled, her reflection softening. "That's not the plan."
Tasha tilted her head. "Still, I'm glad you're here. After everything."
Emilia reached for her hand, squeezing it. "Thank you for staying by my side, for believing in me... even when I didn't."
Tasha's eyes shimmered. "You believed in me first ... for the both of us... The company. And now look—you're about to marry the man who would burn the world just to keep you warm."
A knock interrupted them.
Charles stepped in slowly, his expression uncertain but open. Emilia's chest pinched, a familiar ache returning, but softer this time. He looked far from the man who had once stood on the wrong side—less burdened, more human.
"I didn't think I'd be allowed in," he said quietly.
She walked toward him, each step deliberate, her heels barely making a sound on the polished marble floor. The silence between them crackled with unspoken pain, but she didn't waver. Her gaze held his, steady and unwavering, as she stopped just inches away from him.
"You're here now," she said softly, her voice threaded with both relief and quiet strength. "That matters more than anything else."
He couldn't meet her eyes. His head dipped, shame etched into every line of his face. "I was weak, Em," he murmured, voice thick with regret. "I let my ego control me. Twist me. I knew it was wrong, but I still went along with it." His hands clenched at his sides. "And I can't take any of it back. No matter how much I wish I could."
"You don't need to," she whispered. "But you can move forward. If you're ready."
He looked up, emotion unguarded. "I want to."
She nodded once, then leaned in, resting her forehead against his for a fleeting moment. "Then start by walking me halfway down the aisle."
He blinked, stunned. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
Later, as the sun dipped low and gold poured through the glass panels of the secluded vineyard chapel, Emilia stepped outside. The ceremony hadn't started yet. Guests were settling, and the breeze carried whispers of florals and the low hum of string instruments tuning up. She needed a moment—not for nerves, but something deeper.
Behind the ivy-wrapped archway, she found him.
Sebastian stood facing away, hands tucked in the pockets of his deep navy suit. He didn't turn when she approached. He didn't need to.
"I thought it was bad luck to see the bride," he murmured with a smirk.
Emilia leaned into him from behind, arms circling his waist. "You've never been one to follow rules."
He turned, eyes darkening the moment he saw her.
Then, with a gentleness that contradicted the fire in his eyes, he cupped her face in his hands. His thumbs trembled slightly against her skin, overwhelmed by the reality of her.
He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip, as if memorizing its softness, as if afraid she might disappear if he didn't touch her now. The contact was feather-light, but it held the weight of everything they couldn't say.
"You're unreal," he breathed. "I still feel like I'm dreaming."
She laughed softly, tears rising again. "Then let's both dream together."
Sebastian leaned in, resting his forehead against hers. "I don't have vows written on paper, Emilia. Because nothing I could write would compare to what I feel when I look at you. You saved me... even when I didn't deserve it."
"You gave me a reason to fight back," she replied. "To build again. To love like it was safe."
He kissed her then—slow, tender, but full of everything unsaid. A seal to the promise they were moments from making in front of the world.