Chapter 21

I stare at the framed photo of my parents on their own wedding day, wishing they could see me in my wedding gown today. Would Mom have given me any marital advice, and would Dad have had tears in his eyes as he walked me down the aisle? Would he have given Xavier a stern warning, and told me I could always come home to him if I wanted to?

I draw a shaky breath, teetering on the verge of tears. I miss them more than ever before, and I wish they could’ve been here with me today. Perhaps my heart wouldn’t ache as much if they were.

“Sierra?”

I look up at the sound of Celeste’s voice, and the edges of my lips turn up when I see my five sisters-in-law entering the room in matching bespoke emerald Raven Windsor Couture gowns. Celeste holds up the hairpin I gave her when she married Zane, and tears fill my eyes. It was my mother’s.

“You once told me that this would bring the wearer happiness,” she says as she approaches me, her touch gentle as she slides it into my elaborate hairdo. “And it did, Sierra. It brought me happiness beyond anything I ever could’ve dreamed of, and now it’s your turn.”

“I also told you that I’d ask for it back when I was ready. Today isn’t… this isn’t real.”

My sisters-in-law all smile and exchange glances. It’s clear they believe I’ll be like them, and this union will result in the happily ever after they’ve all found, and I don’t know how to explain to them that it’s different for me. Xavier and I are different.

“Even if you have a second wedding ceremony someday, you’ll always remember this one as the day you legally became Mrs. Kingston. Besides, I’d argue that you need the hairpin a lot more today than you will in the future.”

“On that note,” Val says, stepping forward with a set of documents. “Together with your brothers, we have all decided to gift you 15% of our companies. That way, you’ll never lose your ties to us, and even if everything goes to hell and you choose to walk away from the company you’ll now share with Xavier, you will have this.”

I stare at them in disbelief. They’re giving me millions that they’ve all worked so incredibly hard for. How could they possibly have known that I’ve been feeling anxious about no longer being a Windsor? The closer we got to the wedding, the more I began to feel like everything would change, and I’d lose a part of myself forever. I tried to suggest that I keep the Windsor name, but Grandma absolutely wouldn’t have it.

Faye gently wraps her hand over my shoulder. “Of course we all hope things will work out,” she says carefully. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t do everything in our power to ensure you maintain a certain level of independence from Xavier.”

Raven smiles shakily. “You will always have us, Sierra, but we all know that you’d never ask for our help, so we hope you’ll at least accept this — the means to always jump back on your own two feet, until you’re stable enough to reach out your hand and take mine.”

“I think he might pleasantly surprise us, you know? I think he really cares about you,” Raya says. She takes a step closer and hands me a jewelry box with the illustrious Laurier logo on it. “Xavier asked me to give this to you, and it came with a note,” she says, her voice soft.

I raise a brow when I open up the box to find a stunning and priceless diamond choker inside, the clasp set with tiny blue diamonds. My hand trembles as I unfold the note, my heart racing.

Dear Kitten,

I deeply regret to inform you that I have decided not to leave you at the altar, much to your disappointment, I’m sure.

Time for your first act — pretending you’re overjoyed with this gift. It’s the first of many I’ll shower you with throughout our marriage, and nothing will bring me greater joy than seeing you wear it as you walk down the aisle toward me. I picked the best diamonds I could find, and yet, they don’t shine as brightly as you do.

I’ll be waiting at the altar; a million years and a day, if that’s what it takes.

Forever yours,

Xavier

Forever yours? Is that a threat? I don’t even realize I’m smiling until I hear my sisters-in-law chuckling, their tones teasing as they begin to question the contents of the note. I pull it to my chest as Faye leans in to take a look, my cheeks blazing. There isn’t anything particularly intimate about it, but it still feels private.

“There is more,” Raven says, the sweetest smile on her face as she hands me another box, a note stuck on top of it. “This is from Xavier’s mother.”

I pause, startled. His mother? I’ve only ever seen her in passing, and she’s always looked formidable and intimidating. She has a certain kind of aura that makes her feel entirely unapproachable, and she’s always struck me as someone you don’t want to mess with. My hand trembles as I reach for the note. It hadn’t yet occurred to me that the Kingstons haven’t taken an interest in this wedding, and I should’ve wondered why.

Dear Sierra,

By the end of the day, you will be my daughter-in-law, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome you into our family. I hope you aren’t upset I haven’t reached out before — Xavier made me promise not to.

In the box you’ll find a bracelet my mother gave me on my wedding day. I was hoping you’d wear it as your ‘something borrowed’, but please know that you don’t have to.

I can’t wait to finally get to know you, Sierra, and above all else, thank you.

Thank you for marrying my fool of a son.

All my love,

Gabriela (though I’d love it if you’d call me mom)

“Wow,” I whisper, feeling far more touched by her simple note than I expected to be. I’m shaking as Faye helps me put on the simple silver chain, one single tiny pendant on it that looks a little like a blue eye.

“It’s to ward off evil,” Raya explains, smiling. “She’s likely hoping it’ll shield you from any negativity or ill-wishes.”

My heart warms, and I smile when the door opens, and Grandma walks in. She pauses by the door, her eyes filling with tears. “Oh, my little girl,” she says, her voice trembling. “You look beautiful.”

“So do you, Grandma.”

“Are you ready, honey?”

No. “Yes,” I reply, happy to see her looking so radiant today. This is the healthiest I’ve seen her look since I found out about her diagnosis, and in part, I have Xavier to thank for it.

My sisters-in-law walk out of the cabin my brothers built inside the maze, through the secret doors disguised as hedges, and I smile at the thought of Xavier having to find his way through.

As if Grandma knows what I’m thinking, she leans in, her shoulder brushing against mine. “Xavier and his family arrived by helicopter,” she tells me, her tone amused.

“He what?”

She bursts out laughing and takes my hand. “You’ve met your match, sweet girl, and I’m beyond grateful I get to live to see you marry him.”