Chapter 4

James's eye twitched. He snatched the ring and clenched it in his fist. "Whose car? Where did Ashley go? Did you check?"

"The car went to St. Paul's Cathedral," Nick answered.

James clenched the diamond ring tighter, caught off guard for a moment. "St. Paul's Cathedral? That's the most exclusive place in Bay City. What's she doing there?"

"James, check this out!" Nick said, his voice suddenly tense as he thrust his phone toward James.

[Harrison Porter, the Prince of Harbor City, has booked St. Paul's Cathedral in Bay City for a once-in-a-century wedding!] James took the phone and glanced at the news alert, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"Why would the big boss from Harbor City come all the way to Bay City for a wedding?" he muttered, as if realizing something. "Ashley must've known he was coming. She's trying to force me to show up in front of the media."

Nick opened his mouth, hesitating. "But the Maybach Ashley got into is actually..."

"What else? You think she could actually be Harrison's bride?" James cut him off.

He slipped the pink diamond into his pocket and walked out with big strides. He walked out faster than he came in, but his attitude didn't change at all.

"Ashley's just an orphan. Harrison's way out of her league. She could never hope to get close to him," he added. But he couldn't help but feel a twinge of panic.

'She told me she was an orphan, raised by her mother, and that after her mother passed, she had no one left. She loves me to the bone. No matter what happened, that would never change,' James thought.

*****

In the car, Harrison's jaw finally relaxed. "Had it ready every time. Finally got to use it," he said.

Every time? I glanced at him, but my throat tightened, and I couldn't get a word out.

For three years, even as his plans fell apart, he never stopped waiting for me.

I leaned back in my seat and squeezed my eyes shut.

He'd waited for me for three years.

When I finally chose him, my heart was filled with nothing but the determination to break free from James.

I wasn't sure if I would've ever noticed Harrison if James hadn't walked away from me over and over again.

It wasn't fair to Harrison.

I opened my eyes and turned to look at him. "Harrison, thank you."

"For what?" he turned to me, a gentle smile tugging at his lips.

That smile, so soft and warm, healed the broken version of me in this moment.

The car pulled up to the entrance of St. Paul's Cathedral, and the staff was already waiting on the steps.

Inside it, the lights sparkled brilliantly. I knew this church.

Three years ago, after I broke things off with my family, Harrison sat with me here all night until sunrise. "Was it worth it, for James?" he asked.

Back then, I really believed love was worth any fight.

He didn't argue. His eyes grew wet, and he turned his head away so I couldn't see.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "If James ever treats you badly, call me... I'll come running, no matter what."

When I tried to leave, he blocked the church door and refused to let me go. "I'll give you three years. If you're not married to him by then, marry me. Do you dare?"

"Don't think about it, Harrison." I thought he was being stubborn, so I laughed and pushed his hand away.

Harrison's fingers tightened around mine, pulling me back to the present. "Nervous?" he asked.

His eyes were full of tenderness, a far cry from the clingy boy he used to be.

I looked up at him.

The light from the stained glass washed over his profile, catching the tight line of his lips, the sharp edge of his jaw, the bob of his Adam's apple as he swallowed. My heart skipped a beat.

The man who once turned away to hide his tears here three years ago now stood before me, and there was a quiet peace in his eyes.

I squeezed his fingers back, a small smile curling at my lips. "I'm not nervous. I only feel like I need to put the past behind me before I can really start over."

He squeezed my hand a little tighter, his palm dry and warm. "You look beautiful today. And from now on..."

He paused, choosing his words carefully, then finally said, "I'll protect you."

The orchestral music began to play, filling the air with its beautiful melody.

Harrison held my hand as we walked slowly toward the altar.

I looked at him, his face beaming with happiness, and my heart hammered in my chest.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the church.

"Bang!" The doors burst open, and James rushed in, disheveled.