Page 103 of Cardinal

Opting for the less painful option, I went of my own accord. After changing into my little white robe with 'BRIDE' on the back, I parked my sweet ass in the chair to let my face and hair be tortured for the next hour or so before squeezing myself into my wedding dress just as the others finished up with their hair and makeup.

Casual or not, I was rather fond of my wedding dress. It wasn't typical or traditional, being on the short side and not overly fancy, but it was me. The dress itself was an off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved, lace-embroidered dress with a sweetheart neckline that came down to just above my knees. The whole thing hugged my body like a glove and made my curvy body look really plump and sexy. Then, my favorite part of the dress was the removable train made of layers of sheer lace with gems scattered about to match the scattered gems of the dress itself.

I didn't want to have a Cinderella ballgown of a dress or some frilly princess dress. I wanted something a little more on the simple side that still had its flare to it, and I wanted something I could move and enjoy being in for a whole damn day. When Evie suggested getting a convertible dress to me, I nearly blew up with joy because I could have the fancy for the vow ceremony and then the fun and sexy for the reception without having to change dresses.

Also, I didn't have to worry about tripping either because instead of heels, I opted for a pair of fancy sandals—perfect for the sandy ground. Going barefoot did make the list for a hot minute, but the thought of having my feet naked throughout my whole wedding wasn't pleasing though.

"Alright, it's almost time." The planner announced after popping her head into the living room where we were all gathered—all of us girls didn't know where the guys were.

Neither of us has heard a peep from any of the men since they left my graduation party to drag Luciano out to his bachelor party. Luciano didn't come to bed last night, much to my displeasure, and that should have been a sign for me to call and check up on him. But that kind of slipped my mind with everyone throwing up left and right this morning. Besides, Luciano was a grown-ass man. He didn't need me to call and check up on him like that. I trusted him not to get himself into some kind of stupid trouble, knowing our wedding was literally the next morning.

"The men are all down there waiting, and the priest just arrived, so he should be ready in the next couple of minutes. The photographer suggested getting some first-look shots and scenery pictures before everything began. If you want to, that is." The planner spoke with a warm smile on her face.

"I think that would be a great idea." I beamed with an excited smile and bounced a bit on the ball of my feet. "Let's do it!"

Excitement about the possibility of Luciano's reaction to seeing me in my wedding dress for the first time surged throughout my body as I eagerly dragged everyone outside. Surprisingly, he hadn't seen my wedding dress, not because I kept it from him, but it wasn't something I shoved in his face, nor was it something he asked about. If he had asked, then I probably would have shown him. But now, I was glad none of that happened because I actually wanted to possibly surprise him right now.

I carefully watched from behind the patio door as the photographer distracted Luciano. "Mister Agosti, please, can you look that way for me real quick?" The photographer pointed to a random area behind Luciano, making him turn. "Perfect, just some shots of the groom, and just keep looking, getting the perfect shot." While pretending to shoot some pictures, the photographer waved at me to come from behind his back. "Alright, just stay there for another second. I'm going to back away for another angle."

Unable to hold back my elated delight, I let it spread wide on my ruby-red lips as I reached up and placed a hand on Luciano's shoulder. The flinch from Luciano caused my body to jump slightly in response to the surge of adrenaline kicking my body.

Spinning around, Luciano opened his mouth, probably to say something mean to someone about sneaking up on him, but his expression quickly changed to an elated one when his eyes landed on me. Opening and closing his mouth like a gasping fish, all he could do was stare at me in shock while smiling like a goof. "Amorina… You… Wow…" His soft laughter cracked as tears welled up in his eyes.

"Babe, don't, you'll make me cry." Needless to say, Luciano never got emotional like this, ever. I could count the number of times he has on one hand.

Running his hands down his face, he looked at me through his sniffling as he dropped to his knees and hugged my waist. "I'm in heaven, I swear." He forced an emotional chuckle through as he buried his face into my stomach.

"Luciano, we can't cry yet. We haven't even started the ceremony or gotten to our vows yet." I mentioned with a cracking voice of my own as I struggled to hold my own emotions back.

"I thought about cutting your dress off later, but now… I don't want to ruin it because I want to see you wear this again and again to remind me what an angel you are to my life." He joked with a laugh, making me roll my eyes and slap his shoulder.

"Yes, please don't ruin this dress." I didn't care about all my other clothes, but this was too special now to ruin.

A soft set of claps interrupted our moment and tore our attention away from each other. "Alright, alright, everyone, take your places. We have a ceremony to get underway." The priest announced with a big grin on his face.

Unhappy grumbles breathed out of Luciano as he got up and forced himself away from me to take his spot at the front once more while I journeyed to the beginning of the aisle. Thankfully, it didn't take long for the ceremony to proceed once everyone scrambled to their seats, and I was down the end of the aisle standing across from my wonderful husband (husband-to-be again?).

As things continued, the priest's voice droned on and on, and honestly, none of what he said registered in my mind because I was too busy staring at Luciano like a schoolgirl on her first date with her long-time crush. Only reason why I snapped out of my daze was because of a nudge from someone.

"Miss Juliet, your vows, if you have any?" The priest urged me with a teasing smile, probably amused at the fact I stood there like an idiot drooling over this handsome hunk of mine.

"Of course, I wouldn't think of going to my own wedding without vows." I joked with a nervous chuckle.

Reaching out to Leah, I handed her my bouquet to take Luciano's hands into mine. "I know you tell me not to say it, but I never listen to you anyway. So, I will say it now and again until you go deaf." A brief pause to chuckle with Luciano as he rolled his eyes at me and looked at me knowingly. "Thank you. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being my rock, my peace, my comfort, my everything. I really don't know where I'd be if you hadn't run into me that night." Those who knew the circumstances of our first encounter snickered a bit along with us. "And I will forever be thankful that you never gave up on me."

At a loss of words, I forced my mouth to close before stupid stutters could strain out of me. "Thank you for believing in me and giving me a new life, one where you are in it every second of every day. I will forever cherish every morning I get to wake up to your handsome face and every night that I get to be safe in your arms. I swear, for the rest of our life as husband and wife, I will always do right by you, respect you as you respect me, love and care for you in sickness and in health, and be there by your side through thick and thin, for rich or for poor, until death tries to do us part."

A blow of worry punched me in the gut from the empty feeling of air in my hands. Did he change his mind after all this time? Why else would he let go of my hands during this moment?

I was about ready to cry from the rejection until a warmth cushioned my face and forced my attention up to Luciano's tearing eyes. It was as if his amber orbs needed to sparkle and shine more than they normally did—so rude.

"Sweetheart, I only gave you all that you deserved." He told me with a growing smile. "But even then, it is not enough. I won't ever be able to give you enough, even with all the wealth and power I have, but I am going to damn well try my best to. You deserve the world, the skies, the sun and moon, the stars, and all the galaxies. You are such an amazing woman, and I am so blessed to have you in my life. I truly don't deserve you and your good heart, but I'm selfish, so I'm going to keep and guard you like the devil I am."

Waves of comfort and happiness warmed my body until it felt like I would melt like heated chocolate from his words and the feeling of his thumbs stroking my cheeks.

Afraid of falling because of my knees growing weaker and weaker with each word out of that damn kissable mouth of his, I had to reach up and grab ahold of his hands and wrists.

"I will cherish you for now and ever. If anyone should be thanking anyone, it should be me thanking you for all the good you have brought to my life. I thought I had it all until you came along and gave my life the breath of fresh air it needed. You really are the best damn thing to ever happen to me, and I swear on my life that I will love and honor you through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, and rich or poor, until death comes for us. You will forever be my little brat, my amorina."

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