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I intended to keep all three.

Chapter 21

Samantha

Ibarely made it to the sink before my stomach rebelled again.

I gripped the edge, retching violently into the basin. Nothing came up this time but bile and the bitter taste of grief. I rinsed my mouth with shaking hands and straightened up, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

My face was pale, clammy, eyes swollen from days of crying. The simple all-white silk wedding dress skimmed my body with thin straps on my shoulders and fell right above my ankles. My dark hair was pulled up and pinned in an elegant updo, with a few soft strands framing my face.

I barely recognized the woman looking back at me. The guilt sat in my chest, pressing harder with every breath. Dad had been gone less than a month. I could still hear his voice from our last fight. And yet here I was, about to marry Richard at city hall.

Only weeks earlier, after the funeral, Richard had surprised me with a trip to Florence. Leanne had helped him arrange every detail in secret. I had dreamed of seeing the city for years, visiting its galleries, studying the architecture, and finally standing in front of the artwork I had only seen in books. On our final evening, Richard took me to a private terrace overlooking Florence. He dropped to one knee and gave me a real proposal, slipping a beautiful diamond ring onto my finger.

That trip should’ve been the happiest moment of my life, filled with stolen kisses under blooming wisteria and quiet nights where the weight of the world seemed to lift for a moment. Yet even then, the guilt over my father’s death clouded every joy. It lingered in the background, pressing into my chest during the quiet moments and twisting my smile when Richard looked at me with such hope and certainty.

Of course I said yes.

We planned to have a simple city hall wedding once we returned to America, keeping everything intimate and focused only on us. No big ceremony, no family, no one but the two of us and the officiant. Richard was the only solid thing left in a world that had shattered overnight.

Tears pricked at my eyes again. I blinked them back quickly, dabbing at the corners so I would not ruin what little makeup I had on. A soft knock sounded on the bathroom door.

“Sam? You ready?”

Despite everything, a small smile broke through. I took one last look in the mirror, smoothing the silk over my hips, then opened the door.

Richard stood there in a sharp black suit, looking every bit the strong, successful man I had fallen for. His eyes swept over me, darkening with appreciation.

“God, Sam. You look beautiful,” he said. He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. “Perfect. Absolutely perfect.”

I managed a watery smile and leaned into his touch. “Thank you. I wasn’t sure about the dress. It’s so simple.”

“It looks perfect on you.” He offered his arm. “Come on. Let’s do this.”

He walked me down the quiet hallway toward the center of the city hall building. Our footsteps echoed softly on the polished marble floors. This grand historic building drew couples for photos on its sweeping staircases and elegant columns. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, and a heaviness lingered in the air.

The officiant, a kind-faced older man in a suit, waited for us in a small, sunlit chamber. No guests. No flowers beyond a single arrangement on a side table. Just the three of us. My gaze caught on the empty chair placed where a father might have sat. Dad should’ve been there. The absence pressed against my ribs until it hurt to breathe.

“Shall we begin?” the officiant asked gently.

Richard took both of my hands in his as we faced each other. His grip was firm, possessive in a way that made me feel loved and safe. My own hands trembled as the officiant spoke, the words muted while I focused on the warmth of Richard’s skin against mine.

The officiant’s voice carried unexpected gravity. “Marriage is a solemn covenant. Once two lives are joined in this bond, there is no undoing it. You will belong to each other completely, through better or worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you part. It is a promise that demands everything. Are you both prepared to give that?”

The words settled over me. They should have felt comforting, but something in the phrasing sent a faint chill down my spine.

Until death do you part.

I pushed the unease away. Grief was making me paranoid. This was my wedding day.

When it came time for the vows, I went first. My voice trembled, thick with everything I’d been carrying.

“Richard… meeting you changed everything for me. In the middle of all the chaos, you became my safe place. My lifeline. I don’t know how I would have survived these last weeks without you. You’ve been there through the worst days of my life, holding me together when I couldn’t even stand. I love you. You’re all I have, and I choose you. I promise to never leave you, no matter what comes. You’re my future.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks as I spoke. The words felt raw and true, desperate in a way I didn’t fully understand. He was my everything now.

Richard’s turn came. He looked at me with that intense, unwavering gaze.