Page 85 of Arranged with Twins
I hesitate and then shrug. “I guess then I’ll know for sure, and I can close that door permanently with no regrets.” I shift carefully to face him more directly. “If there’s any possibility they could be genuine grandparents to these children, shouldn’twe at least give them the chance to prove it? Your parents are dead and have no chance to be part of their lives. I guess I just want to see if our babies have the possibility of having that relationship. I know it sounds stupid?—”
“No, it doesn’t.” Leo studies my face in the soft hospital lighting. “This matters to you.”
“It does. Not because I need their approval or love anymore, but because I need to know I gave them every opportunity to be better.” I gesture toward our sleeping children. “Elizaveta and Lev will grow up surrounded by love and security. If Vincent and Katherine can add to that, wonderful. If they can’t, then at least I’ll know I tried.” I abruptly realize I no longer call them Mother and Father and haven’t for months.
“You’re stronger than I am for giving them a chance they haven’t earned.” Leo cups my face gently. “I want to protect you from any possibility of them hurting you again.”
“They can’t hurt me the way they used to.” I lean into his touch. “I know who I am now, what I want, and who loves me unconditionally. They don’t have power over me anymore.”
“Then if that’s what you want, we’ll try.” His agreement comes slowly but sincerely. “We’ll give them one opportunity to prove they can be grandparents worthy of these children. If they fail, that’s the end of it.”
“One opportunity.” I nod. “With very clear boundaries and consequences.”
“I love you.” Leo leans forward to kiss me softly. “Your capacity for forgiveness amazes me, even when it terrifies me.”
“I love you too.” I smile against his lips. “I loveourfamily, built on choice, trust, and unconditional support.”
Later that night, after Leo has reluctantly gone home to shower and check on estate security, I lie in the hospital bed with both babies sleeping peacefully in their bassinets beside me. The private room is quiet except for the soft sounds of their breathing and the distant hum of hospital activity.
I think about the past year, with the arranged engagement that became real love, the betrayal that revealed true loyalty, and the fear that transformed into strength. Looking at Elizaveta and Lev, I see not just Leo’s features and mine, but the promise of a future built on a foundation we chose rather than one imposed on us.
I reach over to stroke Elizaveta’s soft cheek, marveling at how something so small can represent such enormous love and possibility. “Welcome to the world, little ones,” I whisper to my sleeping children. “You’re going to love the life your father and I have waiting for you.”
EPILOGUE
Leo - One year later
Sunlight pours across the terraced gardens of the Villa Margherita, a private estate I leased in Tuscany for our wedding. The venue sits on a hillside overlooking vineyards that stretch toward the horizon, creating a backdrop that makes everything feel like a painting come to life.
I stand at the altar wearing a perfectly tailored suit, watching guests settle into their seats. The gathering is small, with fewer than fifty people, but each person here matters to us. Ilya stands beside me as best man, looking uncomfortable in formal wear but proud to be here.
In the second row, Vincent and Katherine Cooper sit with careful space between them and the rest of the guests. Katherine keeps her gaze fixed on her hands, her designer dress elegant but understated compared to her former wardrobe. She hasn’t met my gaze once today, and her reluctance to be here radiates from her posture.
Vincent, however, watches the aisle expectantly, waiting for his daughter to appear. I’ve observed his micro-expressions throughout the morning, noting the slight tightening around his eyes when he realized he wouldn’t be walking Sienna down the aisle, the way he straightens whenever footsteps approach, and the hopeful glances toward the villa’s entrance.
This is the third time Sienna has seen her parents since reaching out shortly after the twins’ birth. The first meeting was tense and awkward, filled with careful apologies and conditional promises. The second went slightly better, though Katherine still seems incapable of genuine maternal warmth.
Vincent, at least, appears to be trying. He’s sold his remaining assets to pay off debts, taken a position with a financial consulting firm, and speaks to Sienna with something approaching humility. Whether his change is genuine or calculated for access to his grandchildren and/or my financial reserves remains to be seen, but Sienna believes people deserve the chance to evolve.
I’m less optimistic about Katherine’s capacity for transformation, but I support Sienna’s decision to keep the door open, even if only slightly.
Music begins to drift from the string quartet positioned near the villa’s stone terrace. The ceremony is starting, and my pulse accelerates with anticipation and joy rather than the nervous energy I might have expected.
Nadia appears first, walking down the petal-scattered aisle in a flowing dress of her own design. She carries a small bouquet of wildflowers and grins at me as she passes, clearly delighted to be part of this celebration.
Then Sienna emerges from the villa’s arched doorway, and everything else fades into insignificance.
She wears a dress that’s uniquely her and designed by her friend. White silk flows like water, with intricate beadwork that catches the afternoon light. The design is unconventional and asymmetrical in places, with unexpected details that somehow make it perfect for the woman who now refuses to conform to anyone else’s expectations. Nadia outdid herself creating something that’s both a wedding dress and a work of art. The veil is short and almost jaunty, with similar intricate beadwork.
Instead of a bouquet, Sienna carries our children. Elizaveta, now a year old with her father’s dark hair and curious blue eyes, peers at the gathered guests with solemn interest. Lev, slightly larger than his sister and already showing signs of his mother’s stubborn independence, reaches for everything within his grasp.
Sienna walks with her head high, confidence radiating from every step. She’s no longer the uncertain young woman who was handed over in an arranged marriage. This is a woman who knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to claim it.
When she reaches the altar, she hands Elizaveta to Ilya and Lev to Nadia. Both children settle immediately into their honorary aunt and uncle’s arms, comfortable with the people who’ve become extended family.
“You look beautiful,” I tell Sienna as I take her hands in mine.
“So do you.” Her smile lights up her entire face. “Ready to make this official?”
