The Ultimate Chance-Chapter 137

It all felt crazy. A scheduled visit to the gynecologist had morphed into a proposal and then a wedding—all within half a day. Even for Mina, who often made decisions on a whim, it was shocking.

Damon and Avery giggled at what Gabriel had just said. The priest looked baffled too, as though he was one second away from asking him what he was doing at the altar with a woman whose name he didn’t know.

In his defense, he turned to them with a smile. "Prince Charming didn’t know his lover’s name either. All he had was one shoe—which should logically be able to fit thousands of other girls in the kingdom, by the way—and he used it to find her. I have more than that. I know her surname, her best friend is my sister, and I have her family." He smiled at her at the last words. Family. The word felt surreal. If there was anything he had done to deserve having one, he wanted to do it again to maintain it.

The priest seemed to recover his wit when he put it that way. "The bride and groom would like to recite their vows out of thin air."

Gabriel cleared his throat and went first. "Wilhelmina Romano. Wait." He cleared his throat. "I’ll just call you Mina. Mina, my love, I didn’t know what those two words met until now. We may have made this decision on a whim but I know with my entire being that it is one I will never regret. I love you, Mina, And I’m ready to spend the rest of our lives proving this to you. To both of you."

Mina’s eyes watered but she blinked the emotions away. "Is it okay if I just repeat what he said? Because I feel the same way." She asked, making their few guests burst into laughter. She looked into Gabriel’s eyes as she spoke. "I have to admit, I didn’t think I would ever fall for a man like you. I mean look at you. You are so handsome, so charming...and Mine. I’m the Cinderella who got lucky to meet her Prince Charming, and for the rest of my life, I would like to give my all for you and our family."

The last-minute ring bearer, Angel, brought forward the rings in a little velvet box. Gabriel took out the ring he had picked out ages ago, but which he didn’t believe he would need so soon, and slid it onto her ring finger. As expected, it was a size too big. Deciding he would have it resized later, he kissed her hand and let her put the other ring on his finger.

He kissed her lips without waiting to be allowed to. "Everything I have is yours now. My home, my heart, my body..."

Everyone laughed, including the priest, but he soon recovered.

"By the power given to me by the church and the Republic of Olphire, I pronounce you husband and wife."

...

"I can’t believe I’m married." She was still in disbelief when they arrived at Gabriel’s apartment that evening. They had not made any prior arrangements about where they would live, and going home with him had just seemed like the right thing to do.

"Me either. But what’s the worst that could happen? Waking up to the loving gaze of my wife or with a little one sitting on my head and screaming ’daddy’ to wake me up? I’m sure I can survive that." He grinned like he was looking forward to it.

____

The wedding might have happened in a rush and on a whim, but Gabriel wanted to give Mina the best after party she could ever ask for. He invited most of the friends they had made at work and booked a banquet hall at Imperial Resort.

Since it was the weekend, most of the guests made it and Mina couldn’t be any happier.

Even then, Avery was still reeling in shock when she arrived at the banquet.

"You guys got married just like that?" She asked as Mina showed her to her table.

"It’s been almost a week, Avery." Mina laughed.

"And?" It wasn’t like she could simply move on from such a shock. It was way too dramatic to be forgotten.

"And I didn’t have a bachelorette party. I didn’t have a yearlong headache deciding what to wear or eat at the wedding and I ended up wearing a dress a little too tight and a ring too big." She blurted in one breath. "But you know what? It was the best day of my life. It had its imperfections but somehow it was still perfect—if that makes any logical sense."

"Actually, it does." Avery hugged her. She then placed the small box she had carried on the gift table. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Mina secretly tapped her belly. "I can’t wait until you announce this." She winked. She knew Avery was keeping it to herself to avoid shifting all the attention from her friend’s wedding.

Avery was puzzled. "How did you know?"

"Like I’m not expecting one myself?" Mina giggled as she reminded her. It was going to be magical, experiencing pregnancy together. "Do you want to go shopping after the banquet?" She suggested. Avery instantly knew what kind of shopping the latter was suggesting, and she couldn’t wait.

The banquet was going on perfectly. Mina looked like the graceful bride she was in her cream, floor-length gown that matched Gabriel’s pocket square and tie. She was the epitome of perfection with all her friends wishing her good luck and congratulating her.

Alas, just when it was time for the opening dance, a commotion erupted at the entrance. There had to be something unusual happening so Mina pulled away from Gabriel momentarily and looked over, just in time to see Dominic course through the crowd of guests and walk towards her. Beside him was Eloise, who she had not expected to see here either.

"What are you doing here?" She couldn’t hide her displeasure.

"I’m here to join my sister and her friends in celebrating her wedding. Aren’t you going to welcome me?" Dominic grinned and when his gaze fell on Avery, he smirked. "Do you have a date tonight? You could ditch him and dance with me."

Avery wasn’t planning to say a word but she quickly realized what Dominic was up to. He was here to ruin the banquet and it didn’t matter at what cost that happened. She knitted her brows and confronted him.

"Mr. Romano, I have no idea who invited you and it honestly doesn’t matter. It would be best of you leave."

"And what if I don’t? Will you scream?" He threw his head back and laughed evilly. "Actually, it would not be such a bad thing. I would like to hear you scream. Just not in fear. I prefer other feelings on you."

Damon had left for a minute to bring her a glass of water and he arrived just in time to hear the man make such a lewd comment about Avery. Without thinking, he poured all the water he was carrying on Dominic’s tuxedo.

"I think you need to get changed, Romano. You cannot go around looking like a sponge."

"Avery will overlook that, seeing as I’m so handsome and all. She did like me in the parking lot." He deliberately made a comment that would irk Damon. She shut her eyes and wanted to kick him in the balls but it would only cause more commotion. That was exactly what this idiot wanted—for the banquet to be a wreck.

"Speaking of handsome, how could Gabriel marry another woman when he has such a beautiful sister? If I had a sister as beautiful as you and I found out you were not my biological sister, I would never fall in love with anyone else. Just saying." His words were a low whisper but it was some kind of twisted warning. If he wanted, he could tell the whole world about her relationship with Gabriel—or lack thereof—and make them the talk of the city .

To her relief, a security guard came over and escorted him away. Mina let out the breath she had been holding and stalked over to Eloise.

"I can’t believe you would condone this." She shook her head.

"I only wanted to see you. It’s your big day, Mina. And I love you." Eloise reached to take her hand, and Mina swatted hers away.

"Stay out of my life." She then turned to the pale-faced Avery. "She’s Eloise. The woman I told you about. You know, the one who would look like a copy of you if she wanted to."

Avery shot a glare at the woman and wanted to rip her into shreds. She was yet to forget how terrified she had been that she would lose her son and it was all because of this woman. But at the same time, there had already been too much of a scene and she did not want to add any more fuel to the fire.

Making a mental note to find her and settle scores later, she left the scene to avoid another confrontation.

Alas, the damage had already been done. Mina pulled Gabriel aside in tandem.

"Is anything the matter?" Gabriel asked her, nervous at her sudden change of mood. "If you want to make sure Dominic doesn’t ever come here, I can..."

"Forget about Dominic. I want to know one thing. Have you ever had amorous feelings towards Avery?"

____

AN

Yes or no? What do you think his answer will be?