After the Business Trip

Chapter 28

A/N:  This is the final chapter of this story.  I will have an epilogue, but the main story is done.  I have to admit that I had a tough time trying to figure out how I want to end the story.  I didn't want the story to drag on and everything that I came up for an ending left things unsaid or opened something new that would need some sort of resolution.  However, I cut it down to just a simple and short chapter.  I hope that you aren't too disappointed with how I end it.

Thank you so much for coming along with me on the journey for this story.  I have enjoyed it and I'm sure that I'll write more Ae and Pete stories in the future, but I don't know when.  I write whatever comes to my mind.  

I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all you lovely readers.  ❤❤  Thank you again and I hope to see you at my next book.  :)

Ae POV

The days have flown by. Granted there weren't that many, but Pete's family have amazed me in what they can accomplish in a short period of time. I have also come to the realization that not only is Pete's mother a force to reckon with, but his grandparents are too. When they decide to do something, there isn't anything that is going to stop them.

I haven't had much time to even catch my breath this whole week. Ever spare minute has been consumed with doing something for the wedding, from getting our suits to looking over the seating chart for the meal and reception. However, I don't feel like I've done much. Pete and his family did the bulk of the work and I mainly provided a yes or no when picking between things.

I take a deep breath as my hands begin to sweat and my stomach swirls around. If I didn't know better, I would have thought that there were a thousand butterflies in there.

I glance around the garden and at the chairs facing me. There are several faces that I don't recognize and are friends of Pete, but there are a few people that it feels like years since I've last seen them. However, it has only been several months. I wasn't sure if my friends from back home would come or not, but I'm so happy that they are here. I'm sure that they had figured this day would be coming. However, I'm sure that I shocked them a little bit with how fast it came.

They were also the ones that supported me when I was trying to decide on whether to move here to be with Pete. I practically drove them crazy with my whining and complaining about not being able to see or be with Pete.

I smile at them. They smile and wave back.

Suddenly, the music begins, and my attention is pulled to the doorway. My breath hitches as Pete comes into view with his mother at his side. This is exactly how I've dreamt that he would look. He is so beautiful.

The rest of the ceremony is a blur. Well, except the part where they introduced us as husbands, and I was able to kiss Pete. Those moments are ones that I will never forget.

***

Ring...ring...ring....

Ugh... What time is it? And why is someone waking me up this early? Don't they know that I was up late with my husband celebrating?

I pull my arm out from under Pete as I try not to wake him up before I roll over and grab my phone. I don't look at the phone.  I just answer it. "H.hello." Oh, my throat seems to be dry this morning.

I glance over to Pete to make sure that he didn't wake up. He is so beautiful. My eyes travel down his body to his finger and a smile pops onto my face when I see his wedding ring.

Pete's mother chimes, "I'm sorry to disturb you so early, but I'm sure that you would want to see this. You know that we had a family friend at the wedding that is actually a reporter and she posted an exclusive this morning for her newspaper."

What! They didn't tell me that there was a reporter there yesterday. I bolt upright in bed. "Where is it? I want to see what it says."

She chuckles. "Oh, the best part of it is that she interviewed both your parents and the 'fake' fiancé earlier this week once she received our wedding invitation. She had incorporated their comments into the article too. It is rather hysterical."

YES! This is exactly what we needed. This should stop them in their tracks, especially if they provide some of our wedding pictures with the article.

"Send me the link to the article. I wish I could see my parents' face when they read it. I'm sure that they are fuming."

She chuckles a little louder this time.  "I'll send the link as soon as I hang up. I also agree that your parents are probably going crazy right now. With this one article, we pretty much shut down their only chance to save their company."

I hate to have to go to this extreme, but they just wouldn't listen. Maybe if they had listened, then they may have been invited to my wedding.  I don't really care about the company anymore.  

I glance over to Pete again. He is sleeping so soundly, but I'm almost tempted to wake him up to tell him the good news. However, I won't. I'll let him sleep and I'll tell him everything when he wakes up later.

"I can't wait to read it. Bye and thanks for everything that you have done for me."

Pete's mother chimes, "It has been my pleasure and I will do anything to make my son happy. Bye."

I end the call and I'm practically bouncing around on the bed. I'm too anxious to read the article. I can only imagine what it says.

Beep.

I quickly open my messages and I click on the link. A smirk slowly glides across my face as I begin to read the article. This is perfect.

***

Pete is still asleep on the bed while I'm trying to keep from laughing as I read through the comments on the article. Oh, I know my parents are pissed right now.

I glance over at my beautiful husband and I can't wait for him to wake up, so I can show him what has happened. I turn my attention back to the article and the slew of comments that are currently bashing my parents when the reporter disclosed that my parents have lied about the arranged marriage. A small chuckle escapes my mouth.

I scan through the article again. I don't know who told the reporter about the fact that the picture of my 'fake' fiancé and me in the last article isn't really me, but I can't hardly contain my laughter. The reporter even included that picture in this article along with my height and exactly where I should come to in height alongside the pole. This is too good. Everything that my parents claimed in the previous articles have all been exposed. I don't know exactly how they did it, but they provided evidence that everything was a lie. In addition, the new article states that I got married yesterday. They don't disclose Pete's name, but they do provide some pictures. Luckily, they blurred Pete's face, but you can clearly see that I married a man and not a girl.

This is perfect.

I can only imagine how much my parents are fuming right now. Well, this is what they deserve after treating me like a pawn and using me for their own benefit.

Regardless of what they tried to do now, I stillhave Pete and I'm happy. They can tryall they want, but I have people on my side now, and there is nothing that theycan do to change the fact that I love Pete and I'm married to him.  

Posted November 7, 2019