Chapter 15 - THE MAN SHE CHOSE IN DAYLIGHT
Two years after the night at Valerius, Christa stood in the restored greenhouse at Bellweather.
Sunlight poured through the glass ceiling.
White roses climbed the stone walls.
A small group of friends and family waited beneath an arch of greenery.
Leo Flores stood at the far end of the aisle.
No bodyguards.
No black SUVs.
No men whispering into radios.
Just Leo.
Wearing a dark suit.
Looking nervous.
Christa smiled.
She had never imagined that the most feared man on the East Coast would be the one trembling at the sight of her wedding dress.
When she reached him, he took her hands.
“You're beautiful,” he whispered.
She smiled.
“You look terrified.”
He laughed softly.
“I am.”
“Why?”
He looked into her eyes.
“Because this matters more than anything I've ever done.”
Tears filled her eyes.
Their vows were simple.
Leo promised honesty.
Respect.
And a life where Christa would never have to surrender her independence to be loved.
Christa promised to stand beside him.
To tell him the truth.
To challenge him when he was wrong.
And to love the man he was becoming.
When they exchanged rings, Leo's hands trembled.
Christa squeezed them gently.
Then she smiled.
“Remember the first time we kissed?”
Leo laughed.
“How could I forget?”
She leaned closer.
“You told me to do it again.”
He smiled.
“I did.”
She whispered:
“Do it again.”
Leo kissed her.
The guests cheered.
And for one beautiful moment, the past disappeared beneath the sound of laughter.
Later, they stood alone in the greenhouse.
Christa looked around.
The building her mother had loved was alive again.
The man she'd once feared was standing beside her.
And the future no longer looked like something other people could decide for her.
Leo wrapped his arms around her.
“Happy?”
She smiled.
“Very.”
He kissed her forehead.
“Good.”
Christa looked up.
“You know something?”
“What?”
“I didn't marry you because you saved me that night.”
Leo smiled.
“I know.”
She touched his cheek.
“I married you because you learned to let me save myself.”
His eyes softened.
Then he kissed her again.
And this time, there was no Gregory Hammond.
No threat.
No bargain.
May you like
No reason to pretend.
Just two people who had chosen each other freely.
