Page 121 of His Wicked Revenge

My eyes scan his face, and then I face forward and nod. “Keep my eyes on you.”

“Yup,” he says, squeezing my hand.

The music starts, and each bridesmaid walks down the aisle with a groomsman at their side. I look straight ahead, not wanting to make eye contact with any of the guests. A fake smile is plastered on my face, and I feel calmer once we reach the altar.

Leo lets go of me, the warmth of his touch disappearing. It makes my body run cold. But when I take my spot, I keep my eyes on him and immediately flood with that heat.

Myles is standing next to Leo and is smiling ear to ear. So much for my worried thought of him having second thoughts. I hear awes from the pews, and when I turn my head, I watch as Carter walks down with a small girl.

I can’t remember the relationship between her and Leo, but I think it was a cousin's daughter. She tosses flower petals onto the ground, wearing a huge smile. Carter guides her with a hand to her back. Chloe told me that her son was so excited to do this because it allowed him to practice being an older brother.

When the two kids get to where we are standing, another song begins playing, the one that Chloe is walking down the aisle to. I know this because she played it for me to get my opinion. Every guest stands and faces the back of the church.

She and her father step into view. She looks gorgeous in her dress and with the makeup she had done. I smile at her image and want to cry when I look at Myles.

Tears stream down his face, his hand covering his mouth to smother any sounds that might escape. He looks at her with so much love that if it were a light, it would fill the entire church.

Looking over Myles’s shoulder, I see Leo watching his baby sister walk to the love of her life. His eyes shine with tears.

He must sense my stare because he removes his eyes from Chloe and looks at me. We hold eye contact as the music plays out. He flashes me a soft smile, and at that moment, I think I’d be okay with marrying him.

My smile becomes broader with each moment that passes, and now, I don’t feel nervous anymore. I feel—what’s the word? Content?

Throughout the ceremony, my eyes danced between the bride and the groom to Leo. I could sense his eyes on me even when mine weren’t on him.

As he told me earlier, the ceremony was short and sweet. Soon, we were walking back down the aisle to take photos. Again, I only know this because Chloe talked me through the entire day.

Ceremony. Photos. Reception.

She even detailed what would be happening at the reception at certain times.

“You left a scar on Sylvia’s face,” Leo whispers when we head outside to the back garden.

I glance over my shoulder, searching for her. When our eyes meet, she immediately drops hers. There is a scar on her forehead where her face took the most impact. I smirk, loving that she is scared of me. Despite everything, I still enjoy instilling fear into people.

I shrug nonchalantly. “She deserved it.”

He rolls his neck, and I hear the crack of a bone. “You’re going to behave tonight like you promised?”

I stop in my tracks. He is a few steps ahead of me but stops and turns around. “I told you I would.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you doubting me?” My hands settle on my hips as I stare him down.

“Words are words, Vee,” he tells me what he has always told me.

“I understand that.” I drop my arms to my side and walk toward him. “I’m proving I’ll keep my promise tonight with actions.”

He stares at me for a moment. The way he always does when he tries to detect a lie. When he is satisfied, he sighs. “Okay.”

Pictures felt like they lasted forever, and my cheeks hurt from smiling. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled that much in my life. I’m exhausted and in need of a glass of wine, and when we get to the reception hall, which has an open bar, that is precisely what I do.

I make a beeline for the bar, sensing Leo following me. There isn’t much of a line, as everyone else already has drinks in their hands. What else were they supposed to do for an hour while we got attacked by a camera?

With the glass in my hand, I take a lengthy sip. Shutting my eyes, I savor the taste as it rolls down my throat.

“Not a fan of getting your picture taken?” Leo laughs, grabbing his glass of whiskey from the bartender.