Chapter 9 - The Wedding in Emerald
The wedding was not held in a church or a commercial catering hall. Julian had bought an entire historic estate on the cliffs overlooking the Hudson River, turning it into a private fortress of flowers, music, and security.
The guest list was small—only the people who truly mattered. Nadia’s mother sat in the front row, crying tears of genuine happiness. Next to her sat Marcus, looking sharp in a tuxedo, keeping a watchful eye on the perimeter.
Even Aunt Diane was there, sitting in the very back row, dressed in a plain, faded dress. She kept her head down, her hands raw from her first week of washing pots at The Copper Spoon. Every time she looked toward the altar, her eyes were filled with a mixture of profound awe and absolute terror. She had finally learned the cost of cruelty.
The music swelled, a beautiful arrangement of cellos and violins echoing across the manicured lawns.
Nadia stepped onto the white runner. She didn't wear a traditional white gown. She wore a custom-designed, sweeping emerald silk dress that hugged every curve of her full, magnificent body. Her natural curls were piled high, adorned with tiny diamonds that caught the afternoon sun like a halo. She looked like a goddess of abundance, powerful, radiant, and entirely unbothered by the world's expectations.
At the end of the aisle stood Julian. For the first time since she had known him, he had a genuine, brilliant smile on his face. The silver at his temples gleamed, and the scar on his jaw seemed to soften completely as he watched her walk toward him.
When her hand met his, Julian leaned in and whispered so only she could hear, "You are the most beautiful sight this city has ever seen."
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The vows were short but binding. They didn't promise a peaceful life, nor did they promise an easy one. They promised loyalty, protection, and an unbreakable alliance against whatever darkness the world tried to throw at them.
As the priest declared them husband and wife, Julian pulled her into a passionate, breathtaking kiss, and the crowd erupted into cheers. Fireworks burst into the twilight sky over the Hudson River, painting the water in brilliant shades of green and gold.
