Miller
I couldn’t believe it.
If anyone had told me weeks ago when we first arrived at SFE that I would be getting married right here on this private island, with Leo as my groom, I would have laughed and called them a complete liar.
Yet, here I was.
It was actually happening. I was really about to marry Leo—the love of my life, and the man I never in my wildest dreams expected to spend forever with.
A soft, helpless smile spread across my face as I stood in front of the full-length mirror, taking in my reflection.
Gerald had spared no expense with our attire. He had chosen a tailor-made, rich coffee-brown suit for me that fit impeccably. The jacket was finely structured, hugging my shoulders with perfection, while the soft, brushed wool had a subtle sheen that caught the morning light.
Below it, a tailored vest in a slightly lighter shade of bronze was buttoned neatly over a white dress shirt, anchored by a deep mocha silk tie. The warm earth tones suited my complexion surprisingly well, and for the first time in a long time, I stood tall, feeling a quiet sense of pride. I had survived so much to reach this point, and now, I was about to become a husband.
Leo was not in the villa with me. Gerald’s staff had insisted on following tradition, whisking him away to another villa early this morning because it was considered bad luck for us to see each other before the ceremony.
Standing alone in the quiet dressing room, listening to the ocean waves in the distance, a sudden wave of quiet nerves settled over me.
I was carefully adjusting the knot of my silk tie when a soft knock sounded against the wooden door.
"Yes, come in," I called out, assuming it was one of the villa’s attendants coming to check if I was ready.
Then, before the door even swung fully open, a familiar scent cut through the light lavender cologne I had sprayed on my wrists.
It was sharp, fresh, and grounded—a distinct scent of pine.
My breath hitched because I knew there was only person with such a distinct scent.
"Rhys?" I yelled, turning around so fast my polished dress shoes almost slipped on the hardwood floor.
I blinked twice, rubbing my palms over my eyes and opening them again just to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Gerald had explicitly told us that the island’s airspace and maritime access were locked down tight for private guests. I had resigned myself to a quiet, isolated ceremony with just the retreat staff. But standing right there in the doorway, wearing a tailored charcoal suit and grinning like an absolute idiot, was my best friend.
"Oh goodness! Rhys!" I shouted, the emotion hitting me like a physical wave.
It had been weeks—the longest stretch of time I had ever gone without seeing my best friend.
Seeing him standing there in the flesh brought a sudden rush of happy, burning tears straight to my eyes.
"How are you even real right now?" I choked out, stepping forward and wrapping him in a fierce, bone-crushing hug.
"Good to see you too, Miller," Rhys chuckled softly, embracing me back without hesitation and patting my back in that steady, familiar way of his. "I can’t believe you’ve only been here a few weeks and you’re already dragging us out to an island for a wedding. That’s pretty fast, even for you."
I let out a breathless laugh, pulling back just far enough to grip his shoulders and look at his face. "You are actually here. I... I honestly thought I was going to stand up there with no one by my side, Rhys. Having you here means everything to me."
"Well, don’t get too emotional yet, because I definitely didn’t travel all this way alone," Rhys smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Kayden is here, along with Rhoda, Gabriella, Andrew Park, and even Nico Park and Alaric de Villier. They’re all waiting at the venue."
My eyes widened in absolute shock. Kayden, Leo’s mother, Gabriella, and his close circle had made it too.
For a second, a small, tender ache touched my chest as I thought of my own parents, wishing with all my heart that they could be here to see me in my suit.
Rhys saw the sudden shift in my expression and bumped his shoulder against mine gently. "And that’s not all, Miller. Your aunt and uncle are here."
My heart did a violent stutter. "Aunt Melinda and Uncle Dennis?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly.
My aunt and uncle were the only family members who had stood by me when my parents passed away. They were the ones who had sheltered me, supported me, and loved me when my world was completely falling apart.
"The very same," Rhys confirmed with a warm nod.
I instinctively looked past him toward the hallway, half-expecting them to burst through the door.
"They’re already seated at the coastal pavilion," Rhys explained, catching my eager look. "I practically broke away from the escort group to come up here first. I missed you too much to wait at the altar, and besides... I’m your best man, Miller. You didn’t really think you were getting married without me standing right next to you, did you?"
A tear finally escaped, tracking down my cheek, but I quickly wiped it away with the back of my hand, letting out a bright laugh. "Man, I can’t believe this is happening. I’m getting married, Rhys. A year ago, I couldn’t even picture my future, and now..."
"Hey," Rhys interrupted, placing a warm, grounded hand on my shoulder. His tone softened, carrying a rare, sincere tenderness. "Everybody deserves to be loved, Miller. And out of everyone I know, nobody deserves a happily ever after more than you. Even if you’re beating the main characters to the altar."
I let out a sudden, loud laugh at his joke, the quiet tension in my chest completely dissolving as we both chuckled.
Before I could reply, a quiet chime sounded from Rhys’s jacket pocket. He pulled out his phone, checking the glowing screen. "Speaking of the main characters, Kayden is calling me right now, which means it’s showtime."
I blinked, noticing the device in his hand. "Wait, you have full cell service here now?"
Rhys nodded as he swiped to dismiss the call. "Ever since the global broadcast about the Enigma ban being lifted yesterday, Gerald opened up the island’s communications. By the way, congratulations on that huge news. Who would have thought everything would align so perfectly in our favor right when you needed it?"
I smiled softly, looking back at the mirror one last time. The brown suit looked sharp, but the confidence in my eyes looked even better.
"Yeah. Things really have a strange way of working out."
"Uhm..." Rhys checked the sleek Rolex on his wrist, raising an eyebrow at me. "We should probably move, or Kayden will personally march over here and drag us both down to the pavilion by our collars."
I chuckled, stepping toward the door with him. "Tell me on the way—how is Kayden? How are things going with you two?"
As we walked out of the villa into the warm island breeze, Rhys paused slightly on the stone steps.
A bright, soft look overspread his features, softer than I had ever seen on him before. "We actually managed to figure out the scary pregnancy complications, Miller. Everything is completely stable now... and we are going to have a healthy baby."
I froze dead in my tracks right in front of the sleek black limousine waiting for us at the driveway.
"Are you serious?" I shouted, clapping my hands together in joy. "Rhys, that is amazing news!"
I stepped forward and threw my arms around him again, giving him a tight, congratulatory squeeze. "I am so, so happy for you both. You’re going to be an incredible father."
"Thanks, man," Rhys grinned, patting my shoulder before wrapping an arm over my neck in a playful headlock as he steered me toward the open limousine door. "Now, as wonderful as my life is, today is about you. Get inside before your groom thinks you got cold feet."
"Cold feet? Never!" I shouted excitedly, sliding onto the plush leather interior of the limousine. "I’m getting married!"
Rhys climbed in right behind me, pulling the heavy door shut. He immediately reached for the crystal decanter resting in the side ice bucket, popping the cork on a bottle of chilled champagne with a satisfying pop. He then poured it into two tall flutes, handing one directly to me.
"A toast," Rhys said, raising his glass with a proud, warm smile. "To my best friend. Congratulations on your wedding, Miller."
I looked down at the sparkling wine, then looked up at him, my heart overflowing with absolute gratitude for the past, the present, and the incredible future waiting for us.
"And congratulations to you too, Rhys," I replied, my voice steady and filled with joy.
We clinked our glasses together with a clear, ringing sound and took a deep drink, ready to face the best day of our lives.
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