Page 52 of The Fall of Sin (The Sins of Saint 2)

“Oh, nothing.” She waved it off. “My little nephew is going to love that pleated crown of curls. I’m sure I remembered him telling you he likes it when you wear your hair up.”

“He did.”

“Well, then, Marcello is in for a treat tonight because you, my dear, look like a queen.”

I curtsied and laughed. Elena snickered and walked up to me, looking like royalty herself in an emerald green dress that complimented her complexion perfectly.

“You’re a true beauty, Mila. Strong. Resilient.”

She took my hand and looked at me in a way I had always imagined a mother would look at her daughter. Lovingly. Affectionately. Proud.

She cupped my cheek. “I never had the privilege of having a daughter, but I imagine that if I did, she’d be exactly like you.”

“Elena,” I whispered, tears stinging my eyes. “Thank you.”

“Come here,bambina.” She pulled me close for a hug, and I settled with ease into the comfort of her arms. It was something I had never experienced before yet longed for my entire life. The loving embrace of a mother—a role Elena had played ever since this ordeal had started. A void in my heart she had slowly begun to fill.

She leaned back. “I knew the day I saw you that you’d be the one to change him.”

“I don’t want to change him, Elena.” I smiled and held her hands. “I love him just the way he is.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Love?”

I swallowed. “Yes. Love. I’ve fallen in love with him. I’ve fallen in love with everything about him. Even his darkness.”

“If one is willing to accept even the worst part of someone, then that is undeniably true love.”

“Let’s see how it goes before we start reciting true-love poems, shall we?”

She chuckled. “Of course. For now, let’s take Cinderella to the ball.” She winked at me playfully and was about to walk out of the bedroom when I called her back.

“Elena?”

“Yes,bambina?”

“You never told me the meaning of the last card. The Empress?”

Elena’s gave me a curt smile. “I have a feeling I won’t need to since you will find out soon enough.”

“What does that—”

James appeared by the door. “Ladies, ready to go?”

“We are,” Elena replied and hooked her arm into his elbow. “You coming, Mila?”

“Yes. I’ll be right behind you.”

She nodded and walked with James, the sound from the click of her heels fading as she disappeared down the hall.

I turned to my reflection in the mirror and dabbed some more of the cherry-red lipstick onto my bottom lip. I couldn’t remember when last I felt this…light. No panic. No fear. Just light and, dared I say it, happy. This was how I was supposed to feel on my wedding day, staring at my reflection and wanting nothing more than to look perfect for my groom. If I could have it all over again, I’d want this to be that moment. The moment I’d look at myself in a wedding dress and wonder what the future held in store for me. Maybe in some twisted way of fate, this was my wedding day. For me, anyway.

I stepped out on the deck and saw Saint before he saw me. I took a moment to admire him from afar, how dapper and handsome he looked in his tuxedo. The last time I saw him in a tux, I was consumed with hate for him, but now…that hate was gone, replaced by something far more powerful.

He looked up, and our eyes met. A second, a moment, a lifetime passed as we stared at each other. The distance between us was filled with a sense of calm, a serene space that drew us together, rather than a looming storm forcing us with thunderous waves. I couldn’t describe it. It was like a sense of longing cocooned in the safety of tranquility so it couldn’t snap and ruin us both.

The way he stared at me, I couldn’t not blush as I walked toward him. The blue in his eyes shined brighter than I had ever seen it before.

He took my hand in his. “Sei la perfezione.”

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