Chapter 10 - The Real Wedding
One year after the scandal that nearly broke me, Newport Harbor welcomed another September wedding.
This time, there were no two-hundred-person guest lists stuffed with superficial socialites, business associates, or cameras looking for gossip. There were no boxwood hedges to hide behind. There were no secret contracts or hidden motives.
There were only thirty of the people who truly loved us gathered on the private cliffside garden of Julian’s estate, surrounded by fragrant hydrangeas and the endless blue horizon of the Atlantic ocean. Hannah stood beside me as my maid of honor, radiant in a blush gown, wiping tears of happiness from her eyes. Aunt Clara sat in the front row, holding hands with Julian’s sister, beaming with unconditional pride.
I wore an ivory lace gown designed specifically for me—graceful, timeless, and completely mine. And anchored securely in my hair with antique pearl combs, floating gently in the ocean breeze, was my grandmother’s vintage French lace veil. It was where it had always belonged: worn with pride, honor, and genuine joy.
The quartet played a soft, beautiful melody as I walked down the stone path alone. I didn't need anyone to give me away. I had walked out of darkness on my own two feet, and I was walking into my future as an independent, whole woman.
At the end of the aisle stood Julian.
He wore a classic black tuxedo, his tall, broad frame standing proud beneath an arch of simple white lilies. As he watched me walk toward him, the formidable Wall Street titan wiped a stray tear from his cheek, looking at me as if I were the only miracle left in the world.
When I reached him, Julian reached out both hands, taking mine in a firm, tender clasp. His hands were warm, steady, and full of life.
Reverend Hale did not officiate today. Instead, a kind, retired federal judge who had been my father’s lifelong friend stood before us, smiling warmly.
“Do you, Julian Sterling, take Emily Vance to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, through triumph and adversity, as your partner, your equal, and your greatest love?”
Julian looked deep into my eyes, his voice steady, deep, and ringing with absolute certainty. “With every breath in my body, I do.”
“And do you, Emily Vance, take Julian Sterling to be your lawfully wedded husband, to cherish, honor, and build a life of truth beside him, as his partner and his equal?”
I squeezed Julian’s hands, feeling the smooth platinum band against his skin, feeling the heavy, joyful beat of my own heart.
“With all my heart and soul, I do.”
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Julian, you may kiss your bride.”
Julian didn't hesitate. He gently lifted the front of my grandmother’s veil, cupped my face in his strong, gentle hands, and kissed me deeply, sealing our vows beneath the bright New England sun. The small crowd erupted into cheers, applause, and joyful laughter, throwing white petals into the breeze.
Later that evening, after the toasts had been drunk and the jazz band was playing softly under strings of fairy lights, Julian and I stepped out onto the oceanfront terrace.
The harbor below was calm, reflecting the silver light of the autumn moon. The ocean breeze fluttered my veil against Julian’s shoulder as he wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin gently against my hair.
“Happy, Mrs. Sterling?” Julian murmured, his lips brushing the crown of my head.
I looked out over the endless ocean, touching the sapphire ring on my left hand, feeling the absolute peace that settled deep within my bones.
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I had lost a lying fiancé, but I had gained my self-worth. I had walked away from a fake marriage, and in doing so, I had found an empire, an unshakeable love, and a partner who would stand beside me through whatever storm the world could bring.
“Happier than I’ve ever been,” I whispered, turning in his arms to kiss my husband beneath the stars.
