Chapter 52:

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ONE MONTH LATER

“Alright, everyone! It’s time. Let’s do this!” Maggie shouts, smiling and clutching a big notepad in her arms.

She is my second favorite cousin after Jennie. She also happens to be the planner of my wedding with Isla, and ever since she took on the job of carrying around that notepad, I’ve had a little trouble telling apart my “real cousin Maggie” from “workaholic Maggie.”

The fresh ocean breeze whips through the back of my hair, blowing some strands forward into my face. The beach is —the stunning choice for our wedding tomorrow.

As I lift my hands to push the hair from my face, Isla appears by my side. Her smile, as always, is infectious. She brushes the strands away for me, doing what my hands were about to do. She plants a soft kiss on my lips and gazes up at me like I’m the only man in the world.

“You are so fucking handsome, you know that, right?”

I laugh, waving my hand over my face. “Being this handsome requires a lot of work, you know.”

“Well,” she leans closer to my ear, “I’m glad I’m here to help you with all the work. Forever.”

My heart leaps at her saying “forever.” I’m marrying her tomorrow, and it still feels like a miracle. Like I’m dreaming. I shake my head, failing miserably at hiding the blush creeping onto my cheeks. Isla winks and laces her fingers through mine before glancing at the small group of people—mostly family and friends—who’ve joined us for our rehearsal dinner.

“God, Isla,” I groan. “I can’t believe you managed to coax me into having a mini wedding with you.”

She shrugs. “I succeeded because you love me too much.”

I sigh. Oh well, she’s damn right.

To be honest, I wanted us to have a big wedding. A grand event where the entire city could watch me pledge my undying love and vows to the only woman Icould ever love for eternity. I wanted fireworks, trumpets, and every possible spectacle to show the world how head over heels I am for this woman beside me.

But Isla didn’t want the pomp and pageantry. In her words, she wanted “a quiet, , serene place where the intimate celebration of our love will be witnessed by the people we love most in the entire world.” And God knows how quickly I abandoned my grand plans to give her exactly what she truly wanted.

“Hey, guys!” Maggie yells at Isla and me, waving from across the long table draped in white linen with golden tassels. “You’re keeping us waiting with your annoying display of love.”

Isla and I chuckle and walk over to the table, which is set for fifteen people. Thirteen seats are already filled, and the two empty ones are obviously for us.

Sandra and Ethan are snuggled up together as always, despite sitting on separate chairs. Victor sits beside Ethan, and I’m both surprised and amused to see him alone without a girl clinging to him.

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My mum chats happily with Mrs. Kate Ackerman, Isla’s aunt. Mr. Marcus Ackerman, Kate’s husband, is deep in conversation with the priest who will be officiating our wedding tomorrow. Claire, Kate’s youngest daughter, sits beside Jennie, the two teenage girls snapping selfies and making silly poses that almost make me laugh. Isabel, my older cousin and Jennie’s elder sister, sits with her husband Bryant, the two of them looking absolutely lovely. Their twins—James and Annie, both eight years old—are busy tugging at a plate of chocolate cookies.

I hope they don’t tug at each other’s hands tomorrow when they carry the boxes bearing the custom-made identical diamond rings I had a jeweler in Russia design for Isla and me.

Since Isla didn’t want a grand wedding, I decided to pour the extravagance into the rings. I had them custom-made because, as they are one of a kind in the world, so is my love for Isla. It has no replica.

Isla and I finally take our seats. I smile to myself, looking around once more at the people we love gathered here. I want to shout to them, to the whole world, again and again, that I am so damn happy to be marrying the love of my life tomorrow. On this beach.

I can’t wait.

“Why are you smiling?” Isla whispers, leaning in.

“I love you that I want to marry you right now,” I whisper back, taking her hand in mine. “Tonight should end already.”

She gives me that smile that tugs at my heartstrings. “Well, baby, you’ll get your wish tomorrow. But right now, someone’s about to rip our heads off if we don’t stand up and give our speeches.” She glances quickly at Maggie, who looks like she’s about to set fire to our seats.

I bite my lower lip to stifle a laugh. “We better keep our heads.”

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