A Eternal Love

chapter 34

The morning sun spilled into the house, illuminating the chaos of wedding preparations. Mia flitted between flower arrangements and invitation samples, her hands dusted with petals, her smile radiant. Jeremy and Rebecca worked alongside her, laughing as they debated between blush pink and ivory for the bridesmaid dresses.

“Honestly,” Mia said, holding up two swatches, “one is soft, romantic, and the other screams… regal. Which one?”

Jeremy rolled his eyes. “Neither. You’re too indecisive for this kind of thing. Just pick pink.”

Rebecca swatted his arm playfully. “You pick the pink, you’re officially the fun police.”

Mia laughed, feeling lighter than she had in months. Every small detail—from seating charts to flower arrangements—felt like reclaiming a piece of normalcy after years of chaos.

Yet behind her laughter, Daniel’s presence lingered, unseen. He followed her every move silently, his concern hidden beneath casual gestures. Every time she smiled, he felt a tug at his chest—a mixture of relief and dread. Christian’s words and the impending curse weighed heavily on him.

Meanwhile, Christian had not stopped torturing the captured clan leader. The vampire’s screams echoed through the abandoned warehouse, each confession dripping with fragmented truths. In a rare moment of sharpness, Christian leaned in close, his voice low and venomous.

“That old women holds a secret,” he hissed. “Something she’s never told anyone… even you, Daniel. And when it comes out, it will shake everything you hold dear.”

Daniel’s grip on the phone tightened, his jaw stiff. He had to protect Mia, and yet, every move forward reminded him how little time he had before Christian’s ultimate deadline.

Back at the house, Mia was unaware of the looming darkness. She was so caught up in planning that she didn’t notice Christian’s presence until she caught his silhouette in the hallway.

“Christian!” she exclaimed, rushing over. “Are you okay? You look… pale. Did something happen?”

Christian raised a brow, hiding his usual cold edge with a small, almost imperceptible smile. “I’m fine,” he said. “Just… enjoying the preparations.”

Mia’s concern softened him slightly. “You should sit down,” she insisted, tugging him to a chair. “Here, drink some water. Don’t be stubborn.”

They lingered, and for a rare moment, Christian allowed himself to be human—sharing a small laugh at Mia’s teasing, commenting on the flowers, even admitting he liked the blush pink fabric. Mia felt a subtle bond forming, a bridge between her family and the mysterious, dangerous man who had so often lurked at the edges of their lives.

That evening, Daniel whisked Mia away on another date. The city lights sparkled as he held her hand, guiding her to a quiet rooftop café. They ate, talked, and then leaned into one another as the world fell away.

When Daniel kissed her, it was slow and deliberate, building heat and intimacy. Their hands roamed cautiously but eagerly, and the kisses deepened until Mia felt herself melting into him, her worries briefly forgotten.

Afterward, Daniel helped her back home, brushing a stray hair from her face, whispering soft reassurances. The warmth between them lingered like a protective shield as Mia returned to her family.

At home, the laughter picked up again. Grandma and Grandpa shared stories from decades ago, teasing Jeremy and Rebecca while Mia joined in with playful commentary. Her father smiled proudly, the tension of years seeming to melt away in the comfort of familial joy.

“And guess what?” her father said, leaning forward with a grin. “Reese and her mother are coming to the wedding.”

Mia froze mid-laugh, eyes wide. “They’re… really coming?”

Rebecca nudged her. “See? Everything’s falling into place.”

Mia’s heart swelled, relief and excitement mingling. Finally, after years of missed chances and misunderstandings, it felt like her family—and Reese—could be together under one roof.

And yet, Daniel’s furrowed brow reminded her that not all threats were gone. Somewhere in the shadows, Christian’s plan was still in motion, and the secrets of her grandmother’s past waited quietly to emerge.
Daniel sat in the corner of the family estate, sipping a black coffee, eyes flicking continuously toward Christian. Every movement of his brother—the tilt of his head, the way he swirled the whiskey glass, the subtle smirk—set Daniel on edge. Christian had always been unpredictable, but now the stakes felt higher than ever.

Mia was oblivious to the tension at home. Today, she was at a boutique, picking out her sister’s wedding dress. Rows of gowns glimmered under the soft lights, fabrics brushing her fingertips. She giggled as she twirled in a delicate blush-pink dress, its tulle skirt fanning around her.

“Rebecca is going to love this,” Mia whispered to herself, snapping a picture and sending it to Daniel.

Almost instantly, her phone buzzed.

Daniel’s response was a simple heart emoji and a text: “You look… breathtaking.”

Mia’s cheeks warmed as she grinned at her phone. “He’s such a softie,” she murmured.

But before she could enjoy the thought too long, another notification appeared—Christian’s contact, rare and unsettling:

“Blush pink suits you. It almost distracts me from the whiskey in my hand.”

Mia rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a laugh. Christian always had a way of making even a compliment feel dangerous.

Back at the estate, Daniel’s gaze hardened. He didn’t like Christian’s smirk, the casual tone, or the way he casually commented about Mia. Worse, Christian leaned back in his chair, whiskey glass catching the light, and casually dropped a remark that sent chills down Daniel’s spine.

“When Mia’s great-grandmother died,” Christian said slowly, “she whispered a secret to bella (grandmother). Something the vampire clan didn’t want anyone to know. That’s why they tried to kill her.”

Daniel’s hands clenched around his coffee cup. “What secret?” he demanded, but Christian only smirked, a spark of amusement in his dark eyes.

“We’ll find out… in time,” Christian said, swirling his whiskey. “Patience, little brother. It’ll come to light. And when it does… well, I hope you’re ready.”

Daniel’s jaw tightened. He took a deep breath and tried to focus, though his mind raced. Every smile, every carefree gesture from Mia now carried an undercurrent of danger. He couldn’t lose focus—not now, not ever.

Meanwhile, Mia, completely unaware of the brewing storm, snapped another picture of herself in the boutique mirror and sent it with a playful caption: “Do I pass for bridesmaid material?”

Daniel’s phone buzzed again—this time, a simple reply: “Absolutely. And don’t let anyone, especially him, distract you.”

Mia bit her lip, smiling at the message, completely oblivious to the tension building just miles away.

And Christian? He sipped his whiskey slowly, eyes glinting with amusement and something darker. “She’s beautiful,” he murmured to himself. “But she has no idea what’s coming—or what secrets are hidden in that family.”

Daniel’s fists tightened around the phone. He would protect her—no matter what it took.