Part 7: The Bridal Veil and the Rose Garden
Spring melted into summer, and the Chicago heat settled heavily over the city. Inside the Blackwood mansion, preparations were underway for an event far more important than any corporate merger or political summit: a wedding.
Unlike the extravagant, cold spectacle Serena had tried to plan, Lily wanted something intimate, beautiful, and filled with genuine warmth. The ceremony would take place in the private rose gardens behind the estate, surrounded by close friends, trusted allies, and family.
Toby was running around like a frantic best man, tying white silk ribbons to the white iron chairs set up on the lawn.
Upstairs in the bridal suite, Lily stood in front of a full-length antique mirror. She wore a stunning ivory lace gown, simple yet breathtakingly elegant, designed by one of Milan’s finest houses at Victor’s personal request. Her dark hair was styled in soft, cascading waves, accented with a delicate diamond-and-pearl hairpin.
The door opened softly, and Victor stepped inside. He was dressed in a classic black tuxedo, looking impeccably sharp, though his gray eyes softened the moment he saw her.
He stopped dead in his tracks.
“Wow,” Victor breathed out, the word escaping him before he could stop it.
Lily turned around, her heart fluttering as if they had just met yesterday. A radiant smile broke across her face. “Is that all you can say, Mr. Blackwood? ‘Wow’?”
Victor crossed the room in three long strides, taking her hands in his. He pressed a tender kiss to her knuckles, then to her wrist, before looking up into her eyes.
“I am trying to find words worthy of describing how stunning you look,” Victor whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “But my vocabulary seems to fail me every time I look at you.”
“You’re doing just fine,” Lily laughed softly, reaching up to adjust the lapel of his jacket. “Are you nervous?”
“Me? Never,” Victor smirked, though a fond smile gave him away. “I’ve faced down rival syndicates, federal indictments, and hostile boardrooms. But walking down the aisle with you today? That’s the most important thing I’ve ever done.”
Suddenly, the door popped open further, and fourteen-month-old Ethan—now walking steadily and talking in delightful mini-sentences—trotted into the room. He was dressed in a miniature matching tuxedo with a tiny bow tie.
“Mama! Pretty!” Ethan cheered, holding up his hands to be picked up.
May you like
Lily scooped him up, careful not to wrinkle her dress, and kissed his chubby cheek. “Look at you, handsome! Are you ready for the wedding?”
“Party!” Ethan shouted, making both Victor and Lily burst out laughing.
