Ties of Blood (Book One)

Epilogue

Gianna Rostova

Walking down the isle alone didn't feel so bad, I could feel a few eyes of pity on me but I didn't care. All I could see in front of me was the most incredible man I'd ever met.

His brown eyes, shone when he saw me, I clutched onto the bouquet of orchids in front of me, he looked so handsome.

A perfectly fitted tuxedo, and his hair was gelled to perfection, his hands were placed in front of him as he waited patiently for me.

Matteo Morreti, the man who had broken my heart, mended it and stole it all over again.

Now he was waiting for me at the altar waiting for me to join him.

My heart beat so fast and hard I thought it would fall out of my chest. Every step felt like a promise, like a vow that had been forged long before this day.

Matteo's lips curled into the smallest, softest smile when he saw me, his eyes crinkling at the corners. For a man who kept his emotions so closely guarded, the sight of him looking at me like I was his whole world made my chest tighten.

As I reached the altar, Matteo stepped forward, his hand extending toward mine. His touch was warm, grounding me, and I realized that my fingers were trembling slightly as they wrapped around his.

"Hi," he murmured, his voice steady despite the slight quiver of his smile.

"Hi," I replied, a breathless laugh escaping my lips. The air between us buzzed with unspoken words, memories that filled the space between each heartbeat.

The officiant's voice broke the moment, beginning the ceremony, but I barely registered the words. All I could see was Matteo—my soon to be husband—standing before me.

I tightened my grip on his hand, feeling his thumb gently brush against my knuckles, a silent reassurance.

It didn't matter how we got here, how many broken pieces we'd had to put back together. What mattered was that, against all odds, we were here.

As the officiant's words flowed over us, I tried to focus, but all I could think about was how surreal this moment felt. This day, this promise we were about to make, was something I once thought would be impossible.

"Do you, Gianna Rostova, take Matteo Moretti to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

I felt the weight of the question sink in, and I glanced up at Matteo, his brown eyes never leaving mine. And in his gaze, I found my answer.

"I do," I whispered, my voice steady and sure.

The officiant turned to Matteo, but Matteo's eyes remained locked on mine. His lips quirked into a small smile before he replied, "I do." The words were simple, but the way he said them felt like a promise all on its own.

He slipped the ring onto my finger, his hand surprisingly steady despite the emotion swirling between us. When it was my turn, my fingers trembled as I slid the band onto his. It felt like sealing a vow that had already been made a thousand times over, in whispered apologies, in late-night conversations, in the way he held me when I thought the world had turned its back on me.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Matteo cupped my face gently, his thumb brushing along my cheekbone. The world around us seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us standing in the soft glow of the church's light. He leaned in slowly, as if savoring the moment, and when his lips finally met mine, everything fell into place. It was a kiss that held all the words we hadn't said, all the forgiveness, all the hope for what was to come.