Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Do I need to call security?” she asked like that would do a damn thing.
“Do you know who I am?”
“You are a guest that has overstayed his welcome in my unit. Leave, or I will have you escorted out.”
“I am Lucian Manwarring,” I said, getting to my feet, still refusing to let go of Stella’s hand.
“Is that supposed to mean something to me?” she asked in a bored tone.
“Go to the lobby and see the name printed on the plaque in front of this hospital. I paid for this entire wing. Every brick, every single piece of equipment was paid for by a generous donation by me.”
“Sir, that doesn’t mean the rules don’t apply to you.”
“That is exactly what that means!” I roared. “I will personally tear apart this entire hospital brick by brick if you don’t get the fuck out of here.”
“Sir, I will call security.” She put her hands on her hips like she could scold me like a small child.
“Do it, and I would love to have a conversation about how they let my daughter be kidnapped from this hospital a few months ago.”
“Sir, it is not appropriate for you to be here with her. She is unconscious, and you are not her parent.”
“I am the trustee of her estate,” I pointed out. “In charge of all medical and financial decisions.”
“She is an adult. And I thought you said she was your fiancée.”
“She is. I am her trustee and her fiancé. You cannot force me to leave.”
I didn’t care if I was the one being unreasonable.
Screaming and shouting like a madman probably had half the security on their way to this room right now.
They would have to shoot me to get me to leave this room.
“You need to go. I don’t know what kind of arrangement you have, but not here, not in my hospital.”
“My hospital. If you have a problem with it, leave it. I love her. I am not going anywhere unless she wakes up and tells me to leave. No one is making me leave. No one.”
There was a slight pulse around my hand, and I looked down to see Stella’s once limp fingers curled around mine.
Her eyes opened to the beautiful golden brown I had missed so much.
“Baby girl, you’re awake,” I said, choking up.
“Doctors, come quick,” the nurse called.
“I love you too, Lucian,” Stella’s voice cracked.
I placed a kiss on her forehead before whispering, “I love you so much. We have a new rule. You’re never, ever allowed to leave me again.”
CHAPTER 39
LUCIAN
“You know, I don’t think I have ever seen you nervous,” Luc joked, standing next to me at the altar.
“Fuck off,” I muttered under my breath.
We were standing in my back garden on a warm, sunny July afternoon.
This was not like a first wedding, a big stuffy affair with hundreds of guests all dressed in couture and crammed in a Catholic church.
No, this was what Stella wanted.
A ceremony in nature, full of life and color. She even had me in linen pants and a shirt, just this side of formal.
“I still can’t believe this is your wedding,” Luc said. “After you gave me so much shit about the sculpture garden.”
“Are you done?” I asked.
“If he is, can I start?” Charlotte asked as she took her place next to where Stella would be.
I pointed out, “You know, I can still remove both of you from the will.”
“Go ahead. I don’t need your money,” Charlotte said sweetly. It was true. I hated to admit it, but she had chosen well for herself.
Back to the task at hand.
I’d wanted to get married the second Stella was out of the hospital, but she’d insisted we waited until the garden was in full bloom, giving me time to spend with her first and even start the reconciliation process with Thomas, who was supposed to be here, but I hadn’t seen him.
The only guests were my children and their spouses.
The garden was full of butterflies and explosions of color, such as roses and other flowers, but I had no idea what they were called.
The string quartet went silent.
Our attention was at the end of the aisle, where Stella appeared in a gorgeous white gown with floral embroidery around her waist and down the flowing skirt. Her hair was freshly re-dyed in vivid pink, and flowers, little blue and white ones, were laced throughout.
She looked stunning. Like a fairy princess meant just for me.
Stella had recovered completely from the bombing like only she could.
She was a fighter and a survivor, and more importantly, she was mine forever.
I was prepared to spend the rest of my life proving to her how much I loved her and would cherish her always.
The ceremony was simple, with no need for pomp and circumstance.
This wasn’t the show of power and wealth I had originally planned. It was just a promise to love, honor, and protect this woman for the rest of my life, a promise I intended to keep.