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I will not be getting that look.
As the bridal march starts, my dad turns to me with a sad smile.
"You look absolutely gorgeous, sweetheart. I know if you give this man a chance, he will make you very happy. Much happier than you could have ever been with Eric."
Then my dad kisses me on the cheek, and we slowly descend the stairs. Everyone turns to look at us and my eyes search to get the first look at my groom's face. Only there are decorations in the way. So as we walk up the aisle, I try to smile and focus on who's around me because the groom has his back to me.
Turning my head, I see Bella's parents sitting there. When I look back to the front, the groom has turned. But he's looking down at his feet and I still can't see his face.
It isn't until my father gives me a kiss on the cheek and places my hand in the groom's that he finally looks up at me and I gasp.
"Matteo?" I ask, trembling with shock.
He leans in and whispers in my ear. "You didn't think that I was going to allow anyone else to marry you. Did you, baby girl? Especially not while you're carrying my child."
My eyes go wide and he pulls away, smiling as the priest starts the ceremony. I have no idea how he knew I was pregnant. Especially since I'm sure it wasn't my parents who told him.
Throughout the ceremony, I'm in a daze, so much so it's all a blur. Thankfully, I know there will be a recording because there always is. Every time I look over at Matteo, he's smiling.
Why is he looking at me the way I always thought a groom should look at his bride? We say the words and exchange our rings, and then I hear the phrase I had been dreading. Though now I dread it for a whole new reason.
"You may kiss the bride."
I never thought I'd see this man again. Yet now I am his wife, and he's about to kiss me in front of everyone. He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me into him. His other hand gently cups my cheek, so he doesn’t mess up my hair and makeup. Without asking for permission, he leans in and kisses me.
My body remembers these kisses. Every night, it dreamed of the moment his lips touched mine.
So I simply melt into him. As I kiss him back, he pulls away. But not before I see the heat in his eyes. Then, kissing my forehead, he takes a deep but shaky breath before turning to face the crowd.
"I now present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Matteo Marchetti!"
Everyone claps as we walk down the aisle hand in hand. The reception is going to be held in my dad's dining room, which can easily seat one hundred people. Later, there will be a formal dinner to welcome the new members of the family. As we walk to the hall that will lead to the dining room, I pull my new husband into an unused room and close the door behind us.
"You knew who I was all along, didn't you?" I ask. Still trying to make sense of what just happened.
"Yes, and I had no plans on touching you until you came to me. My goal was to keep you safe so there was no war on my family from your family. We both know it wouldn’t have ended well if anything were to happen to you that night," he says. Then he steps closer to me.
The closer he gets, the harder it is for me to think.
"How did you know I was pregnant?" I ask, needing answers before we go any further.
He looks at me hesitantly almost like he doesn't want to answer the question or he's worried what my reaction will be.
"The night we spent together was the best night of my life. I had already told my men to watch you because I wanted to make sure that you were okay and safe. But when I realized that I had forgotten the condom, I knew that this was a possibility. So when you went to the doctor that day, I had to know."
"Does my father know that you're the father of my baby?" I ask him, trying to sort through everything.
"Our baby. No, your father doesn't even know that I know that you're pregnant, which made for some interesting negotiations."
"I can imagine." I fight the urge to roll my eyes.
"We have a lot to talk about, baby girl, and we will. But let's go out there and do all the wedding things. I have a honeymoon planned for us, and we can talk later. And I promise we will talk. I need answers to like why you disappeared before I could even say goodbye."
Before I can answer, he opens the door, takes my hand, and pulls me down the hall to where all of our wedding family is.
The rest of the day is spent taking photos, meeting new people, and smiling as best as I can. Matteo never leaves my side. He keeps his arm around my waist, constantly making sure I'm drinking water and eating as needed.
The only time I'm out of his sight was when I had to use the restroom and even then he waited outside the door for me.
