Page 185 of My Ruthless Opponent

Today I am getting married. And I have decided to confess my love before the wedding.

I am going to be brave and tell my broken prince that I love him with all my heart.

When we’ll exchange our vows, I want to say them with true intentions. When I’ll utterI do,I want to mean it.

Last night, he opened up to me. Hearing him speak about his past made me feel helpless because I couldn’t do anything but listen and cry.

Perhaps we never get everything we want in life, but I’ll be damned if I don’t try. I want him and I am going to show him how much he means to me.

Raleigh took my pain and gave me reasons to smile. He became my strength when I felt low.

Never once did he let me see that he was hurting too. He gave me a shoulder to cry on, became my pillar when I was breaking in front of him without asking anything in return.

That beautiful and brave man was consolingmewhen he was divulging his gut-wrenching secrets.

If he can be brave for me. I can be brave for him, too. I am going to tell him that in this dark cold world, I want to give him warmth.

I am going to tell him that I want him to be my star and bring light to the darkness of my life.

I promise to love you for every moment of forever, Raleigh. I practice the words by repeating them in my mind as I walk to the elevator.

Brielle came early in the morning to move me into the suite one floor down.

“It’s the tradition.” She had said. “You both are not allowed to see each other before the wedding.” She had a devilish smirk when Raleigh scowled.

As much as I wanted to spend every waking moment with him, I had to let Brielle take me away.

Throughout the ride down, she scolded me for the bags under my eyes. My eyes were puffy and swollen, thanks to the hours of crying.

She fed me breakfast in the suite and half an hour later, the room was filling in with girls.

“They are here to doll you up.” She smiled and left me alone.

They waxed every inch of my body, did my nails, and gave me hair spa treatment.

After my makeup, they moved to my hair. I was kind of stunned to see them twist my bob hair in a messy chignon.

The updo that rested at my nape was then decorated with white flowers and a line of pearls.

My face was framed in curtain bangs. The soft wispy strands fell gracefully to the side of my eyebrows and cheekbones.

By the time they were done, my eyes didn’t appear puffy and there weren’t any traces of fatigue on my face. I looked… like abride.

I couldn’t wait for a second then. I excused myself by lying about making a call and went upstairs to Raleigh.

As soon as the suite comes into the view, my palms become clammy.

I am in a blush pink satin bride robe. I am nervous and equal part excited.

Tiptoeing to the door, I twist the doorknob and it opens.

I let myself in and find the living room empty.

“Bro, you look nervous.” Summer’s laughter stops me in my track.

My head snaps to the bedroom. I sneak closer to the ajar door.

Raleigh is standing on the balcony, his back to me.

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