Chapter 10
Their wedding took place the following June.
Not in a luxury hotel.
Not beneath a ceiling covered in imported flowers.
But in a beautiful garden beside Nathan's grandmother's home.
Claire wore a simple ivory gown with delicate lace sleeves.
Her grandmother sat in the front row.
Nathan's grandmother cried before the ceremony even started.
Oliver, wearing a ridiculous little bow tie, carried the rings attached to his collar.
And when Claire walked down the aisle, Nathan was already crying.
Her sister whispered, “Well, at least this one showed up.”
Claire laughed so hard she nearly ruined her makeup.
At the altar, Nathan took both her hands.
There was no nervous glance at his watch.
No phone vibrating in his pocket.
No assistant waiting with urgent business.
Just Nathan.
Looking at her as though nothing in the world mattered more.
When it was time for his vows, he said:
“Claire, I cannot promise that every day will be easy. But I can promise you will never have to wonder whether I want to be here.”
Her lips trembled.
“I choose you on ordinary mornings, difficult evenings, and every imperfect day in between.”
He squeezed her hands.
“And if the world ever offers me something that requires breaking my promises to you, then it isn't an opportunity worth taking.”
Claire cried openly.
When her turn came, she took a deep breath.
“I used to think love was something I had to earn by waiting.”
She looked straight into Nathan's eyes.
“You taught me that love isn't measured by how much pain someone is willing to endure.”
Her voice strengthened.
“It's measured by how carefully two people protect what they've chosen to build.”
She smiled.
“So today, I'm not promising to wait for you.”
Nathan laughed through his tears.
“I'm promising to walk beside you.”
When they kissed, the entire garden erupted in applause.
And somewhere in the crowd, Claire's grandmother whispered:
“Finally.”
Adrian learned about the wedding three days later.
He was sitting alone in his office when a colleague mentioned it.
“Did you hear Nathan Mercer got married?”
Adrian looked up.
“To whom?”
The colleague hesitated.
Then realization dawned.
“Oh. I'm sorry. I assumed you knew.”
Adrian didn't move.
He already knew the answer.
“Claire?”
The man nodded.
Adrian dismissed him quietly.
Then opened his phone.
The first photograph appeared almost immediately.
Claire in an ivory dress.
Nathan holding her waist.