Chapter 15 - THE WEDDING SHE FINALLY CHOSE
Two years after the night my father sold me to Nico Ferrara, I stood inside a small chapel overlooking the Hudson River.
The windows were open.
Spring sunlight filled the room.
White flowers lined the aisle.
And Nico waited at the altar.
He wore a dark suit.
His expression was nervous.
I smiled.
For a moment, I remembered the first wedding.
The dress someone else had chosen.
The vows I'd spoken because I was afraid.
The man who had married me for revenge.
The terror.
The scars.
The gunshot.
And the moment Nico had finally understood that I was not responsible for my father's crimes.
Now everything was different.
I had completed my first year of university.
I had friends.
A home.
A life.
And most importantly, I had choices.
---
When I reached the altar, Nico took my hands.
“Nora.”
I smiled.
“Nico.”
The officiant began.
Then Nico spoke.
“Nora, the first time we stood together at an altar, I believed I had the right to decide your future.”
His voice trembled.
“I was wrong.”
My eyes filled.
He continued.
“You deserved kindness.”
“Safety.”
“Freedom.”
“And the right to choose who you wanted beside you.”
He squeezed my hands.
“I promise never to forget that.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
Then I spoke.
“Nico, when I first met you, I was afraid of everything.”
I took a breath.
“My father.”
“My past.”
“The future.”
“And you.”
Nico's eyes filled.
I continued.
“But you learned to listen.”
“You learned to ask.”
“And you gave me the space to discover who I was when nobody else was controlling my life.”
I smiled through tears.
“Today, I choose you.”
They exchanged rings.
The officiant pronounced them husband and wife.
Nico kissed me.
And the chapel erupted in applause.
---
Later that evening, we stood beside the river.
The city lights reflected across the water.
Nico wrapped his arm gently around my waist.
“Happy?”
I smiled.
“Very.”
He kissed my forehead.
For a moment, I remembered the girl I'd been at twelve.
Standing outside a locked study.
Hearing a gunshot.
Believing nobody would ever protect her.
I wished I could go back.
Not to change what happened.
But to tell her something.
You will survive.
You will grow up.
You will find people who believe you.
And one day, your life will belong to you.
Nico took my hand.
“Ready?”
I looked at him.
Then smiled.
“Yes.”
Together, we walked toward the celebration.
May you like
And for the first time in my life, I wasn't being taken anywhere.
I was choosing where to go.
