Chapter 8
724words
After Damien was "escorted" out, the wedding continued.
The priest restarted the ceremony. The guests settled down.
"Elara Rossi, do you take Julian Moretti to be your husband?"
"I do." My voice was firm.
"Julian Moretti, do you take Elara Rossi to be your wife?"
"I do." Julian's voice was gentle and strong.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Julian gently cupped my face and pressed a soft kiss to my lips.
It was tender. Respectful.
Nothing like Damien's kisses. Those were wild, possessive. A claim.
That night, at the Moretti estate.
I stood outside the door to our new bedroom, my palms sweating.
My first real wedding night.
In four years with Damien, we never had this.
He just took me when he wanted, never caring how I felt.
Julian pushed the door open and saw me standing there. He smiled.
"Nervous?"
I nodded, a little embarrassed.
"I'll take the guest room, then." He started to turn. "Get some rest."
"Julian, wait," I called out.
He turned back, his eyes patient.
"I'm sorry," I said, looking down. "I know this was a business arrangement for you, but... but I shouldn't have dragged you into my personal drama."
What happened at the church must have been humiliating for him.
No man wants to hear on his wedding day that his bride had a four-year affair.
"Elara." Julian walked toward me. "Look at me."
I lifted my head and met his deep brown eyes.
"First, this isn't an arrangement," he said seriously. "Not to me."
I was stunned.
"Second, I knew about your past," he continued. "Leo told me there was a man. He just didn't know it was Damien."
My face burned.
"You don't mind?"
"Why would I mind?" Julian brushed his thumb over my cheek. "Everyone has a past. What matters is the present. And our future."
His words made my eyes burn with tears.
In four years, Damien had never tried to understand me like this.
"And..." Julian paused, choosing his words. "I like you, Elara. Not because of our families. Not for politics. I just... I like you."
I stared at him, shocked.
"Do you remember fifteen years ago?" he asked softly. "That summer, in Lincoln Park."
Lincoln Park?
Fifteen years ago, I was only seven...
"Some kids from the Castellano family were picking on you," Julian's eyes were warm. "They had me cornered in an alley, too."
The memory started to come back.
I was in Chicago on vacation that summer. I got separated from my nanny and ended up in a small alley near the park.
I saw a few older kids bullying a boy with dark hair.
"And then this little girl appeared out of nowhere," Julian smiled. "She was holding a baseball bat she'd found, yelling at them, 'It's wrong to bully people!'"
My eyes went wide.
The boy being bullied... that was Julian?
"You scared them off," Julian went on. "Then you asked if I was hurt and put your band-aid on my face."
I remembered.
The boy was crying. I gave him the only band-aid I had, the one with a little bear on it.
"I never forgot you after that day," Julian said, his voice soft. "Leo's little sister, Elara Rossi. My brave, kind little angel who protected me."
Tears started to fall from my eyes.
"I've watched you from a distance all these years," he said, gently wiping a tear away. "I knew you went to med school. I knew how brilliant you were. And I knew... you'd found someone you liked."
"Julian..."
"I thought I'd never have a chance," he said with a sad smile. "Until Leo told me you were considering the marriage."
He took my hand, his gaze serious and intense.
"Marrying you is the best thing that's ever happened to me, Elara. Not for family. Not for politics. But because I finally get to protect the little angel who once protected me."
My heart was hammering in my chest.
No one had ever said anything like that to me.
No one had ever cherished me like this.
"I know you're not ready to love me yet," Julian said gently. "And I know it takes time to forget someone."
He paused, his eyes locking with mine.
"I can wait, Elara. But please... don't make me wait too long."
