Chapter 149: Where It All Began

**Chapter 149: Where It All Began**

ELLIE

I never thought I’d come back to this house. Much less that it would be the place where I’d get married.

But here I was, a year later, standing in front of the same window of the room I shared with Ethan by accident—or rather, by Zoe’s scheme.

Back then, the idea of having to share a room with him almost drove me crazy. Today, I was choosing to share the rest of my life with him.

I didn’t exactly know why, but there was something about this house that made us both agree it was the perfect place. It just felt right.

Maybe because it was here that it all began. Where I first began to see who Ethan really was and where I chose not to give up on him.

It was here, between the vineyards, the stone walls, and the teasing, that he managed to break down my walls. Despite trying to fight it with everything I had, I ended up falling in love with him without even realizing it.

The memory of the two of us in the rain, falling in the mud, made me laugh. It was my favorite.

Even though it was hard to choose, considering all the amazing sex we had in every part of this house—and outside of it too.

Outside that restaurant, in the bathtub, in the pool, on the living room couch while everyone else slept…

God, that wasn’t helping. Not after two weeks without sex.

I tried to focus on another memory, one less sexual. Him throwing me into the lake. That one also made me smile, calming me even more.

I always thought that on the most important day of my life, I’d be nervous and anxious, practically pulling my hair out.

But no. I wasn’t feeling like that at all. In fact, I was strangely calm. Except for a small flutter in my stomach, caused by the thought of seeing him and the idea that soon, he’d be my husband.

The truth was, knowing it was him who would be waiting for me calmed me more than anything else.

Because he was my calm.

The man with whom I wasn’t afraid to face anything. My beautiful and delicious bastard.

I couldn’t wait for us to be alone.

In the end, I think I was more anxious about the night—which was normal, after two weeks of built-up tension.

I also knew he was almost losing his mind, and I couldn’t wait to watch him explode.

The way he almost begged me last night to let him in, not caring at all that our parents were here…

“Ellie?” Anna called, knocking on the door and pulling me out of my thoughts. “We’re back,” she said, coming in, followed by Zoe, Zara, Rosie, Phillipa, and finally my mom.

“And we brought someone,” my mom said with a smile.

“Hello, sweetheart,” my dad said as he walked in.

I saw the emotional sparkle in his eyes grow stronger as he came closer. And when he stopped in front of me, his eyes were brimming with tears.

“You look beautiful…” he murmured, emotional, as I took his hands. “Are you ready?” he asked.

I nodded, once again trying to hold back the tears, while the girls and my mom were already tearing up—again.

✽

ETHAN

I was trying to fix the damn tie in front of the mirror when I heard a knock at the door.

In the mirror, I saw my brother walk in, followed by Neil.

Impatient, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever shit was about to come.

“If you keep it up like this, it’ll be Ellie waiting for you at the altar,” Ben teased, stepping closer.

“Go fuck yourself,” I growled, giving up on the tie and turning to face the two of them, both dressed in suits.

“Let me do it,” Neil said, trying not to smile as he walked over, making me want to punch him in the jaw.

“I already told you I had nothing to do with it,” he argued.

“And you didn’t try to stop them either,” I shot back.

He shrugged, probably laughing at me on the inside.

“If you want to blame someone, blame your brother for not being able to hide anything from his wife,” he said, giving my shoulder a squeeze after finishing the tie.

“It was Will who took the photo. But we didn’t know she was going to punish you like that,” Ben argued, leaning against a small table with his arms crossed over his chest. “Not that you don’t deserve it, but it’s over now, isn’t it? Was it really that hard? Was it?” he teased with a smirk.

“You’re an asshole.”

“Alright, that’s enough. Everyone already knows you’re pissed because your fiancée cut you off for two weeks. But now, wipe that look off your face and put on a smile. It’s your wedding, after all,” he said, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yeah, cheer up. Now she’s going to cut you off for the rest of your life,” Neil teased with a small smile.

“You know what? Fuck both of you.”

“He’s right,” Ben said, stepping closer. “So make tonight worth the rest of your life.”

“You two better get out of here before I kick your asses,” I threatened.

“Alright, we’re leaving…” he sighed, stopping in front of me, his expression shifting to something more somber. “Who would’ve thought?” He grabbed my shoulders. “You’re really one stubborn son of a bitch… even after all my warnings to stay away from her… and here we are. I’m proud of you,” he said, then pulled me into a hug. “I’m glad I was wrong.”

“As always,” I teased.

“I’m sure she’ll make you very happy… and I’m even happier knowing she’ll make your life hell sometimes.”

“Compared to your wife, she’s an angel,” I shot back when he let go of me, making us both smile.

That was our way of saying we loved each other.

“Hurry up. I’m going to check if everything’s ready downstairs,” he said before leaving me alone with Neil.

“He’s right. I have no doubt she’s the right girl for you…” Neil said, stepping closer again. “After all, she managed to get you here… after everything. I’m happy for you, my friend. And proud of you,” he said, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “I know you had to go through a lot. But you made it. So now it’s time to enjoy it.”

“I will. Thank you. For everything.”

“For your sake, I hope you’re not thinking of backing out,” Will said, suddenly coming in and walking toward me.

“If I were you, I’d back the fuck off,” I warned him as Neil left the room.

“Still in a bad mood?” he said, stopping in front of me with a wide grin, clearly amused by my misery. “Come on, cheer up. Your punishment is almost over.”

“Fuck you, Will.”

He laughed.

“You ready? You’re taking longer than the bride. Everyone’s waiting.”

“I’m coming,” I said, turning back to the mirror.

He stayed quiet for a moment, but I could feel his gaze on me, studying me.

“Is it just me, or are you more nervous than I was on my first time?” he asked.

“I was just… remembering the last time I was about to get married,” I admitted.

“I’m being serious… if you’re thinking of backing out… shit… you’re not, are you?” His tone shifted to concern.

I turned to face him.

“Don’t worry. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”

✽

I had no idea why I was so nervous. Maybe it was all the tension from the past two weeks.

Two weeks of hell, without touching her. I had no idea how I’d managed to survive. I think I was just irritable and impatient most of the time.

Taking a deep breath, I looked at the faces of my friends, family, and in-laws, all seated in the chairs on the green grass.

Between them, white petals covered the green aisle.

Everything looked perfect. There was no reason to be nervous.

Turning around, under the arch draped in green foliage and white flowers, I faced the sun, about to set, painting the sky gold and reflecting on the lake ahead.

She was going to love the view.

Feeling the light breeze against my face, I took another deep breath, trying to calm myself.

Then, the first notes of the song I chose for her—*“Say You Won’t Let Go”* on the violin—filled the air, making me turn instantly.

Then I saw her.

The most beautiful woman in the world.

I lost my breath, and my heart stopped for a second when our eyes met.

She smiled, and suddenly, nothing else around us mattered.

I didn’t allow myself to blink, not for a second as she walked toward me.

All the nervousness from before vanished, replaced by a lump in my throat, my eyes filling with tears.

*Beautiful… and about to be mine forever.*

*Finally.*

*A movie of all our moments played through my mind.*

*It was all worth it…*

*And I would go through it all again to get us here.*

*God… She looked like an angel in the white dress, with a long train and veil. Breathtaking. Almost ethereal…*

*And mine.*

*She always had been. From the moment I laid eyes on her.*

Then, she stopped in front of me, and the music faded softly, pulling me out of my trance.

I blinked quickly, brushing away the tears and finally remembering how to breathe.

“She’s the best thing you’ll ever have in your life. So, take good care of her,” her father said, handing me her hand.

“I promise,” I said, looking at her, then giving Mr. Brown a firm look.

He stepped back, and instinctively, I reached out to wipe the tears from her face.

“Don’t cry,” I murmured. “Better save those tears for later…” I teased in a whisper as we turned. “Because I’m going to make you cry in another way.”

She smiled, a little shocked.

“But you look so damn beautiful… I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait until later.”