Chris wasn't used to surprises, but when Andrew insisted he "come out for one drink," he knew something was being planned. The sleek lounge they walked into wasn't filled with noise or strangers it was intimate, private, with only familiar faces waiting.
Joe stood near the bar, a glass already in hand. Jayden and Kayden were leaning against the pool table, grinning. Even Cyprus, who had been at Chris's side for years as security, was there, looking slightly awkward in casual clothes.
"Really?" Chris muttered, glancing at Andrew.
His brother smirked. "Relax. No strippers, no chaos. Just family. You're getting married, little brother. That deserves a proper night."
Jayden tossed a pool ball in the air. "We wanted to roast you a bit too. Consider it a rite of passage."
The men laughed, and slowly the tension bled away. Chris loosened his tie, accepting a drink from Joe.
"To tomorrow," Joe said simply, raising his glass. "To you, to Bella, and to the family you're building. After everything... I'm proud of you."
The words hit Chris harder than he expected. He gave a small nod, swallowing the lump in his throat before clinking glasses.
The night flowed with light teasing and heavier talks. Kayden brought up how terrified Chris had looked the first time he held Jessy. Jayden swore Chris nearly dropped the baby according to what Bella had told them. Chris smirked but didn't deny it.
"You've changed," Andrew said after a while, his tone more serious. "When I left, you were a boy suffocating under Cassandra's thumb. Now you're a man making choices for himself. A man Bella trusts with her life. I'm glad I lived to see that."
Chris stared at his brother for a long time before replying softly, "I just wish you'd been here sooner."
Andrew's eyes flickered with regret. "So do I."
The group fell quiet, each of them lost in their own thoughts. It was Joe who broke the silence, setting down his glass. "Marriage isn't just about love. It's about choosing, every day, to show up for her. To fight for her when she's too tired to fight for herself. You've already proven you can do that, Chris. Don't stop now."
Chris nodded, the weight of the words sinking deep.
As the night ended, the men gathered around, raising their glasses one final time.
"To tomorrow," Andrew repeated, his eyes on his younger brother. "To new beginnings."
"To tomorrow," the rest echoed.
Chris left the lounge with a quiet resolve burning inside him. Tomorrow, he would stand before everyone and make the vow he had already been living for months: Bella was his, and he was hers no shadows, no lies, no distance.
Tomorrow was the start of forever.
The sun broke over London with a soft golden glow, the kind of light that felt like a blessing. The air was crisp, almost still, as if the world itself paused to witness what was about to unfold.
At Romero, Bella's suite was alive with warmth and laughter. Vera hovered near the vanity, fussing over every detail, while Bianca and Alexis unpacked boxes of last-minute touches. Raquel darted between them with the energy only she had, making jokes to keep Bella from dissolving into nerves.
"Careful with that eyeliner," Alexis teased, watching Bella's trembling hand. "You don't want to look like you fought your vows instead of saying them."
Bella let out a nervous laugh. "I feel like I'm going to faint already."
Hailey stepped forward, elegant and calm, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're stronger than you think. Today isn't about fear, Bella. It's about love. And you've already lived through storms together today is only sunshine."
Bella's eyes shimmered as she looked around at the women who had stood with her through it all. "I never thought I'd make it here. Not after... everything. But I'm glad I'm not walking this path alone."
Vera bent down, pressing her lips to Bella's temple. "I almost lost you more times than I can count. To see you here, alive, radiant, about to marry the man you love... this is God's mercy."
The room stilled, heavy with emotion, until Jessy's giggles broke the silence. The toddler toddled in, dressed in tiny suspenders, his teeth flashing as he pointed to Bella. "Mama!"
Everyone laughed, the tension easing. Bella scooped him up, kissing his cheek. "Yes, baby. Mama's getting married today."
Arabella appeared shyly in the doorway, her white dress making her look like a flower herself. "Do I look pretty, Mummy?"
Bella's heart swelled. "You look perfect. My angel." She kissed her daughter's head, her chest tightening with gratitude. This....these two were her greatest vows already.
Across the estate, Chris's room held its own atmosphere. Jayden and Kayden were bickering over cufflinks, Andrew leaned back in his chair with a smirk, and Joe adjusted his tie in the mirror.
"Stand still," Kayden muttered, trying to fix Chris's boutonnière.
"I'm not moving," Chris said, though his hands were clenched tightly at his sides.
Andrew chuckled. "You look like you're preparing for battle, not a wedding."
"In a way, I am," Chris replied dryly. But then his gaze softened. "Except this time, it's a fight I want. A promise I'll never break."
Joe turned from the mirror, his expression serious. "You know marriage isn't just ceremony. It's sacrifice. It's showing up on the days when love feels like work. Can you do that, Chris?"
Chris met his future father-in-law's gaze without flinching. "I've already been doing it. And I'll keep doing it. For Bella, for Arabella, for Jessy. For us."
For the first time, Joe gave him a small, approving nod. "Then let's get you married."
Jayden grinned, patting Chris's shoulder. "Finally. About time our sister gets her happy ending."
Chris adjusted his tie, glancing at his reflection one last time. His heart pounded, not with nerves, but with certainty. He was ready.
As the clock struck noon, both houses stilled. The music was ready, the guests were gathering, and the vows waited just beyond the doors.
Bella, standing in her gown, whispered to herself, This is it. The end of all the storms. The beginning of forever.
And across the hall, Chris straightened his cuffs, his lips curving in the faintest smile. I won't lose her again. Not ever.
Today, their worlds would finally become one.