BROKEN COURAGE (Broken Redemption Book 3)

Chapter 63

Emilia

Uncle David clears his throat, and the sound pulls me from the haze of emotion. My breath hitches as I realize—it's my turn.

"Emilia, if you're ready to vow your heart to Lucas, now is the time."

I swallow hard, the enormity of this moment pressing down on me as I let it sink in. After this, there's nothing left for us but forever. With a shaky breath, I begin, my voice soft but steady.

"Lucas, I've loved you in a thousand different ways across moments we shared and years we lost." My voice catches, but I push on, letting the words flow straight from my soul. "You were my best friend long before I understood what that truly meant. You were my reason to believe in love, long after I'd lost all hope of ever finding it again. Through every trial, every mile that separated us, and all the years we were apart, I held onto this quiet truth—that you were the one my heart was meant for. And even when I thought I'd lost you, that love never faded. It stayed alive inside me, waiting for this day."

Lucas's gaze holds mine, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, and I feel every memory flooding back. The ache of every second we were apart, the warmth of each moment that stitched us back together—all of it presses into this instant, binding us in ways words can't touch.

"You came back to me after all this time," I begin again, my voice thick with emotion. "You said you were broken and scarred, yet the man standing before me was stronger and more whole than I'd ever seen him. It was you, Lucas, who showed me that love isn't just about the easy moments, but about holding it tight and keeping it close when everything feels like it's falling apart. You taught me that love can survive the darkness—that we can survive anything as long as we have each other."

A tear slips down my cheek, and Lucas reaches up, his touch gentle as he brushes it away with his thumb.

"Today, I vow to be that constant for you, just as you've always been for me," I continue, my voice soft but unwavering. "I promise to be your light when shadows creep in, to bring you joy when sorrow settles in, and to be your safehouse when the world feels uncertain. I promise to love you with a strength that time and distance could never weaken, and to hold on fiercely to the man who fought his way back to me."

I see Lucas's jaw clench, his own emotions brimming just below the surface, and warmth floods my heart, knowing that my words have reached him just as deeply as his reached me.

"I will stand by you, Lucas, through every unknown that the future may hold, just as you held on to us through all the uncertainties of the past. You are my hero, my love, my forever. And I promise that, together, we will make every second, every moment, count—because this, right here, is the time you fought for. This is the life we both waited for. And I am yours, now and always."

A light breeze blows through the trees, filling the silence as if the world itself is breathing a sigh of relief now that Lucas and I are back on the path that was meant for us. The raw emotion in Lucas's eye mirrors my own, as quiet tears trace paths down our cheeks. Uncle David allows the silence to settle around us, his gaze warm and knowing, as if he, too, feels the weight and depth of our love and commitment. Then, with a gentle clearing of his throat, he guides us to the next part of the ceremony.

"Lucas and Emilia, your vows are the foundation of the love and life you're building together. But a promise is only the beginning. Now, as you exchange rings, remember that these are a symbol of the vows you've just spoken—a visible reminder of the bond you share and of the commitment you've made to one another, here and always. Ben, will you please come forward and give Emilia's ring to Lucas?"

My breath catches as Lucas steps back, extending his hand to Ben, who places the simple platinum band on his palm. With steady calm, Lucas takes my hand in his, my fingers trembling slightly as he slips the cool metal onto my ring finger.