by LLP, Lan
“Gabby, we’re going to enjoy that garden together,” Francine heartens. “We’ll plant all kinds of flowers, just you and me.”
“Yay!” she celebrates. “Can we grow pink tulips?” she asks. “I know how to draw them really good.”
“Yes, of course,” Francine answers. “I love my card you made me,” she praises, pointing over to the shelf by the TV. Gabby grins ridiculously big, warming our hearts with her hopefulness.
“Gabby, we should probably take you back to your room before your mother worries about you,” Carson suggests after settling his emotions and clearing his throat. She walks over to me and holds onto my hand.
“Miss Lucy only took me on two elevator rides. Can we go on another one before I go back?”
Carson stoops down to her eye level to speak to her. “For you, Gabby—anything.”
She wraps her little limbs around his neck to demand his attention and whispers, “Can I come to your wedding when you marry Miss Lucy?”
Carson glances up to me and then back to Gabby. “Yes. Most definitely,” he assures her and then kisses her forehead.
~~~~
Together, Carson and I rode the elevator up and down twice before we took Gabby back to her room. She was drained, but completely satisfied. We tucked her fragile little body back into her hospital bed and met with Jane in private to discuss an alternate drug regimen. Our hopeful news for her daughter was the miracle she’d been praying for. It was as if she had an elixir of life poured back into her depleted frame, rejuvenating her to her former glory. This was the Jane before she sacrificed her youth and happiness for the sake of her daughter’s life.
Carson explained the process in detail to her. He stressed there are no guarantees on the success of the drug so that Jane will not be disillusioned, but he feels very confident about it. Gabby and Francine, along with three others, will be monitored and cared for by physicians employed by him. All five candidates are required to stay at BPC lab for two consecutive weeks for observation. Jane eagerly agreed to everything. This was Gabby’s last fighting chance. I’m going to pray really hard for her.
Chapter 36
Carson Bradley
My two painful weeks of abstinence are finally over. I’m damn close to being a born-again-virgin. Lil and I have slept with a body pillow between us every single night. Only once did she cave in and give me a deserving blowjob for playing her foolish game. I had to squander one of my valuable Christmas coupons for that favor. It wasn’t a freebie. She wouldn’t allow me to redeem the ‘Fuck Me Hard’ coupon. It is only good for use after we are married. That is the stipulation written in bold type so there would be no confusion on my part. Unfortunately, since I had been so deprived, it only took me a few minutes before I came violently in a burst of hot cum. Frustrated, I swore off abstinence forever. Once she declares me her husband, her body will be mine to own and never will I agree to no sex again.
Lil, Isabella, Emma, Bridgette, Nik, Andrew, and Remée just landed into the Massimo private tarmac. Captain Franco radioed to confirm their safe arrival. The ladies and Andrew threw her a supposedly tame bachelorette party last night, while the boys—Hayden, Owen, Wes, Stuart, Devan and I—parachuted out of an airplane into the wine countryside. It was exhilarating and fucking terrifying at the same time. We topped our reckless venture with a speed race. Wes and I chose Bugattis while the others selected Ferraris and Lamborghinis. The winner was me, but I’m sure it was rigged. We ended my last bachelor night with bottomless shots of scotch and shit talk. I stressed there would be no strippers at my party. I have no interest in looking at or touching other women. Lil is the only one my heart wants.
After getting over my hangover, I spent part of this morning finalizing the small details I know will be most significant to Lil. She’s more partial to sentimental things rather than expensive things. I have no doubt my surprises will be received with happy tears. I hope to make this the most blissful and unforgettable day of her life. On pins and needles, I wait for the driver to pick her up from the tarmac and then drop her off at the villa where I’m residing.
~~~~
“Carson, where are you taking me with a picnic basket?” Lil pries with enthusiasm. She’s belted in securely as we drive up a rolling, verdant hillside. I’ve seen many picturesque places in my lifetime but this country has to be the most remarkable. There are stretches of vineyards as far as the eye can reach with scattered historical buildings and farmhouses intermingled in the landscape of cypress trees, sunflowers, and lavender. For any artist in search of inspiration, this would be the perfect location for a masterpiece.
“Do you not understand what a surprise is, Lil?” I ask, reaching for her hand and brushing my lips along her knuckles.
She shakes her head. “Can’t you just give me a little hint?” she persuades with the angelic smile, only she can pull off. “Pretty please?”
“Nice try, babe, but the answer is still no. You’ll find out soon,” I reply. “Be a good bride and enjoy the incredible view.”
“Fine,” she surrenders and tosses her eyes out the window. “This place reminds me of that beautiful mural at your penthouse,” she notes. “I can’t believe this slice of paradise really exists on earth,” Lil praises as her glowing face basks appreciatively in the brilliant sun filtering through the tinted glass.
“You mean our penthouse,” I remind her. “It is indeed a magical place. Why else would I bring you here?”
“Because you’re wonderful and you always make me happy,” she gushes.
“Keep talking, angel. My ego’s loving it,” I encourage with a growing smirk.
“Omgeez! That’s a very big tree,” she exclaims as we curve around the hillside to reach its summit. Lil isn’t exaggerating either. It is an enormous tree. If I had to guess, it looks more than a hundred feet tall and about four feet wide.
“It’s actually two elm trees fused together. It’s at least three hundred years old with a legendary fable,” I tell her, putting the car in park.
“Really? Do you know it?” she asks excitedly. Her eyes double in size with eagerness.
“Yes. Do you want to hear it?” I tantalize, drawing my brows mischievously together.
“Well, yeah,” she answers.
“About three hundred years ago, there was a prince who fell in love with a peasant girl. He stumbled upon her in the woods while she was foraging for herbs and roots for her father, who was a shaman. After months of a secret courtship, the prince told the king and queen he wanted to marry this peasant girl. They denied his requests of course. ‘A prince cannot marry a common peasant girl,’ they declared. He argued that he would only marry for love.” I stall to read her expression. She’s completely mesmerized and engrossed in the story like I thought she would be.
“Don’t stop,” she urges.
“Okay,” I tell her. “They kept the prince confined in the palace and accused the peasant girl of sorcery because her father knew how to heal people. They ordered their guards to capture the helpless girl. Somehow she managed to escape to the top of this hill, but when they surrounded her, she refused to go with them. She had carved the everlasting love symbol on this very elm tree before the guards arrived.” I point to the mystical giant trunk. “The peasant girl wanted the prince to know that she would love him forever. She jumped off the hilltop and fell to her death.”
“Oh my gosh!” she cries. “That’s so sad. What happened after that?”
“The prince was released after news of the peasant girl’s death was confirmed. He rode his horse to this hilltop and mourned her for days, staring at the symbol she had left him, but his heart would not heal. He planted another elm tree beside this one and then jumped to his death to meet her.”
“What a horrible ending,” she complains. “They both died.”
“They did, but they’re together forever. People have claimed they’ve seen their spirits here, guarding over this tree of love. Couples engrave their names and whatever’s significant
to them on the trunk to declare their love is true and eternal,” I explain, taking her hand and helping her out of the car with the picnic basket.
“Is their symbol still on there?” she asks, ambling by my side with her arm looped around mine.
“Let’s go see,” I suggest.
For minutes, Lil studies all the markings and engravings on the massive base while I set our picnic lunch on the ground nearby. Moving toward her, I pull out a pocket knife. “Did you find a place for us?” I ask. She nods and points to a spot where it appears the two trees had merged into one. “It’s perfect,” I tell her and jab into the tough bark with the point of my pocket knife.
“What are you going to carve?”
“A circle with our initials in it,” I answer, making her smile grow ridiculously large.
“It’s perfectly us.” She wraps her arms around my waist from behind and squeezes her body against mine.
“It certainly is,” I agree. “Are my babies hungry yet?” I turn my head to face her with a grin. “I packed us an authentic Italian pizza.”
“Yes. Why go through all this trouble, Carson?”
Reversing my arm so she’s under my wing, I drown in her alluring brown eyes. “Because you wanted this day to be about us and no one else,” I remind.
Lillian Ly
“Carson, that hot air balloon is landing here,” I holler, pointing to the pink heart-shaped thing.
“Don’t you recognize it? It’s like the one you surprised me with at the penthouse, but slightly bigger,” he understates.
“You mean we’re getting in that thing?” I ask nervously as my heart riots inside my pounding chest.
“Yes. It’ll be magical. I promise.”
“Are you sure it’s safe?” I fret, feeling my palms sweat profusely.
“Positive. We have a captain with more than twenty years of experience,” I assure her.
The large wicker basket lowers as the captain reduces the intensity of the burner. He waves his free hand to greet us with a cordial smile. The balloon is partially deflated for us to climb aboard. As soon as Carson helps me inside, the captain, who appears to be middle-aged with a Greek-Italian accent, increases the blazing flames above our heads. To me, the sounds roar like a blast from a fire-breathing dragon. After he introduces himself as Captain Rocco, he goes over the safety instructions and then leaves us to situate ourselves in a constraint spot of our choice. Carson stands astride me with his arms caging my body and his chin resting on my shoulder. Up, up and away we go. The dragon carries us above the tree tops and across the hills and valleys. Just like Carson promised, it’s magical as the wind blows us through the clear blue sky. Like birds, we soar boundlessly.
“What do you think?” he murmurs into my ear and then nips at the delicate skin along my neck, sending goosebumps down that entire side of my body.
“I think you’re the most wonderful man on this planet,” I tell him, releasing my death grip of the railing to cup his face.
“If you keep flattering me like this, my ego might grow too big to pass through any doors,” he teases. “Even the ones in there.” He points down to an ivory castle with terracotta rooftops in the distance, situated on the side of a mountain with waterfalls streaming below it.
“Holy laughing Buddha!” I scream, turning to face him. “Are you really taking me there? It looks like an enchanted castle from a storybook.”
“You deserve nothing but the happiest of endings, angel. I promise you and our babies I’ll never stop finding ways to keep our love alive,” he vows, pressing his lips gently on top of mine, allowing the fervor of his promise to flow into my heart, swelling it.
“So this is the fairytale you wanted us to write about?” I sniffle, gazing up into his gleaming hazel eyes where there’s only admiration and tenderness for me.
“It’s a good start. Wouldn’t you say?” I nod because I’m too choked up to speak. This man makes me happier than I could ever imagine.
Chapter 37
Carson Bradley
Captain Rocco lands the balloon smoothly on an open grassy plane on the side of the ivory palace. According to my watch, we’re right on schedule, but Nik snatches Lil as soon as she climbs out of the basket as if we’re really late.
“There’s no time to waste,” she hurries and waves me away. “Lillian, come with me. The makeup crew is upstairs waiting for you,” she bustles. “I have our target,” she speaks into her mouthpiece, letting the group know she’s apprehended my bride. Nik’s all business today. I’ve never seen her so fanatical about punctuality. I’m truly impressed. Lil turns her head to blow me a kiss and scurries away with Nik.
I sprint up a flight of travertine steps to enter through the back of the majestic castle and notice the dinner tables are elegantly dressed in ivory. Lighting and flowers are plentiful in the garden just as I expected knowing Nik and Mother are behind the wedding details.
Luke waits for me by the massive wooden doors in his usual bodyguard stance. “Good afternoon, sir,” he greets.
“Hello, Luke. Have all the guests arrived?” I ask, particularly interested in one.
“Yes, everyone is here,” he replies.
“Can you take me to Mr. Montgomery? I’d like to speak to him before the ceremony begins.”
“He’s anxious to meet you as well, sir,” Luke responds.
Following Luke’s lead, I stride through several expansive hallways with paintings of the king, queen, prince, and their ancestors before entering a room reeking of cigar fumes. I spot a tall man, standing with his back to me, observing out a vaulted window draped in regal-red brocade. It’s facing the side of the palace where Lil and I landed. He must’ve gotten a quick glimpse of his daughter.
“Mr. Montgomery,” I call out to grab his attention.
Slowly, he pivots on his heel to offer me his awareness. “Hello, Mr. Bradley,” he addresses, regarding me with his pensive, dark eyes and dense brows. I can certainly see some resemblances of Lil in him, especially the shape of their round, deep-set eyes. He meets me in the center of the stifling room and grips my hand firmly. “I’m honored to be here today and indebted to you for finding me,” he offers his gratitude humbly. I know he’s a Montgomery, but there’s a genuineness about him that sets him apart from his father and brother. I can’t pinpoint what it is. Call it intuition. Even though his manner is pleasant, I’m still cautious.
“So we have an understanding, Mr. Montgomery. I brought you here to give my bride her dream wedding. If you can refrain from mentioning anything discouraging, I’d really appreciate it,” I warn politely. “And please, call me Carson,” I insist. My goal is to keep things informal between us to avoid any drama that might spoil my and Lil’s day.
“Yes, of course. I would never consider ruining this special day for my daughter or you. I’ve loved her from afar all her life,” he discloses.
“What do you mean from afar?” I prod nosily, interested in hearing his side of the story.
“Lia and I were both warned to stay away from each other when my father discovered she was pregnant. At first, I disregarded his caution. I snuck back to Indiana to check on Lia during her pregnancy. I knew we were going to have a daughter. After my brother discovered my visits, he sent his bodyguards to nail fear into our hearts—the kind that stayed with you day and night and never went away. They pinned Lia down in front of me and threatened to stab an army knife into her belly. She bawled hysterically. Can you imagine what a painful and horrific sight that was for me?” he stops to ask me. I could. I would’ve done whatever they wanted to save them. “We both begged for mercy. I wasn’t afraid for myself. I was afraid for Lia and our baby. I even offered them my life if they’d release her.” I would’ve too. “They demanded I leave immediately and never return. ‘Defy and suffer the consequences,’ one of the assholes grumbled at me. Lia and I agreed to never take a chance on our baby’s life again.” Collin’s voice trembles as he recalls the appalling images from that night. “For years
, I pictured Lillian’s face to look like her mother’s. I had no idea what a beautiful woman she’d grown into until her photo appeared in a national newspaper for USA’s top scholars. My daughter was perfect and brilliant. I wanted to see her desperately, but I remembered my promise to Lia.”
God damn it! Those fuckers deserve nothing but eternal suffering for all the malice they’ve inflicted on innocent people. I can barely contain my composure as anger devours me. “Mr. Montgomery, you won’t have to make that choice again,” I grit, attempting to shrug off my rage.
“I thank you for bringing us together. Today should be a day of celebration for all of us. Let’s forget the hurt and bitterness,” his forgiving voice urges. “And call me Collin,” he adds. “Or Dad if you’d like,” he kids with a pat on my shoulder. I think I could grow to really like him.
“Collin, I agree. Let’s have a wonderful time. I better get ready. I can’t keep my gorgeous bride waiting.”
“Take good care of her for me, son,” he pleads like a father who’d sacrifice anything for a daughter he loves with all his heart.
“I will, sir. There’s no doubt about that.”
Lillian Ly
The entourage just left, sparing me a few minutes to reflect. I’m fixed in front of a trifold mirror, admiring the polished woman staring back at me with seasoned eyes that have faced danger and wonder for a man she can’t be without. Today, she will marry him, her eternal partner. He’s the one responsible for swelling her heart with his unwavering love and attention. She will spend the rest of her days making him as happy as he makes her. Together, they will have their forever.
I twirl like a ballerina and watch my strapless ballgown with layers of charmeuse and pearls sweep in a perfect circle. Nikki disclosed that Carson personally selected the dress with her help. He wanted a gown so spectacular that it would even top Cinderella’s.