Page 106 of Liam
“Should we tell her about the woman who thought you were her long-lost twin?” Diego asks.
“Check, please!”
Chapter Thirty-One
LIAM
Iadjust my tie, catching Aleria’s eye in the mirror. She smiles, smoothing down her dress, a vision in gold that makes my heart skip a beat.
“Ready to watch your brother tie the knot?” she asks, a hint of excitement in her voice.
I grin, turning to face her. “Ready to bet on how long it takes for something ridiculously over-the-top to happen at a Valeur wedding?”
Aleria laughs. She takes my arm, her touch sending a pleasant shiver through me. “Oh, I give it ten minutes, tops.”
We make our way to the venue. A stunning outdoor garden transformed into a fairytale setting. Flowers cascade from every surface, twinkling lights strung between trees. It’s beautiful but unmistakably extra.
“I think your ten-minute prediction might beoptimistic,” I murmur to Aleria as we pass a fountain spouting what appears to be champagne. “We’re already at Valeur level ridiculous.”
She stifles a giggle. “Admit it. It’s impressive. In a ‘we have too much money’ kind of way.”
We greet family members, exchanging knowing looks at some of the more outrageous decorations. Aunt Mildred’s hat looks like it could house a small bird colony, and I’m pretty sure Uncle George’s cufflinks are actual gold nuggets.
As we near the ceremony area, I spot my siblings gathered in a quiet corner. “I should check on the groom,” I tell Aleria. “Make sure he hasn’t made a run for it.”
She kisses my cheek. “Go. I’ll save you a seat.”
I join Lucas, Cora, and Logan, our little circle a familiar comfort amidst the chaos.
“Well, big brother,” I say, clapping Logan on the shoulder. “Last chance to back out. I’ve got a getaway car fueled up and ready to go.”
Logan rolls his eyes, nervous excitement in his face. “Very funny, Liam. You know I’d never?—”
“Leave Sloane at the altar?” Cora finishes. “Please. We all know you’re completely whipped.”
We all laugh, the tension easing a bit.
Lucas raises an eyebrow at Logan. “Seriously though, you good?”
Logan takes a deep breath, nodding. “Yeah. I’m great. Ready, you know?”
I feel a surge of affection for my brother. “We’re proud of you, Lo. You and Sloane, you’re good together. She’s changed you. For the better.”
Cora nods, her eyes glistening. “I’ve never seen you so happy,” she adds, her voice thick with emotion.
Logan’s cheeks flush, but he doesn’t deny it. Instead, he straightens his shoulders, a quiet contentment radiating from him that was never there before.
The transformation in my older brother is striking. Gone is the cold, serious Logan who kept everyone at arm’s length. In his place stands a man softened by love, his usual sharp edges smoothed away by Sloane’s presence.
Across the room, Aleria catches my eye and gives a small wave, her smile brightening her whole face. She’s changed me, too, in ways I’m only beginning to understand. The constant need to prove myself, the weight of family expectations—they all seem lighter with her by my side.
“Places, everyone! It’s showtime!”
The garden transforms into a living fairytale. Thousands of bespoke lights illuminate the path, weaving through arbors dripping with rare orchids flown in from Southeast Asia. A string quartet strikes up a melody composed for this moment.
As I take my place beside Logan at the altar, I spot Aleria in the crowd. She winks, mouthing, “Don’t trip.” My retort dies on my lips as the music swells.
Sloane appears, flanked by her parents. Her mother, elegant in a silvery gown, dabs at her eyes with a handkerchief. Her father, a distinguished man with salt-and-pepper hair, stands tall and proud, though his trembling hands betray his emotion.
