Chapter 14 - The Wedding Emma Finally Deserved
The wedding took place on a warm spring morning.
There were no reporters.
No politicians.
No criminals.
Only family and a handful of friends.
Emma wore a simple white dress.
Dante wore a dark suit.
Sophia carried flowers down the aisle, stumbling twice and laughing both times.
Emma's mother watched from the front row.
Dante's mother sat beside her.
Two women who had once spent years hiding were finally sitting together in peace.
When Emma reached Dante, he took both her hands.
“You know,” he whispered, “the first time we were married, you thought I hated you.”
“I did.”
“And now?”
“I think you're impossible.”
He smiled.
“I'll accept that.”
The minister asked them to repeat their vows.
Dante looked directly into Emma's eyes.
“I can't promise a perfect life.”
Emma smiled.
“Good.”
“I can't promise danger will never find us.”
“I know.”
“But I promise you will never face it alone.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
She answered:
“And I promise our daughter will grow up knowing she was loved before she ever knew your name.”
Dante's eyes softened.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They kissed.
Sophia clapped from between the guests.
Everyone laughed.
Later, Dante took Emma outside.
The evening sun painted the garden gold.
Emma rested her head against his shoulder.
“Do you ever think about the hospital?”
“All the time.”
“The envelope?”
“Yes.”
“The DNA test?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“If that envelope hadn't existed, none of this would have happened.”
Dante looked at her.
“No.”
He touched her hand.
“Because I would have found you anyway.”
Emma smiled.
For the first time, she believed him completely.
Then Sophia ran toward them.
“Mommy! Daddy!”
May you like
They both turned.
And Dante realized that the little girl who had once been treated like property was now the center of a family built entirely on choice.
