Chapter 180:

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Kelly’s POV

I smiled at Pierce as the female staff helped me choose a wedding gown. He was watching me intently, his eyes soft and full of admiration. I couldn’t help but feel flushed, butterflies in my stomach, and a shiver running through my body.

Pierce Anderson. The man who protected me. The man I fell in love with. My first love, my first heartbreak. Who would’ve thought we’d come this far? I never imagined that after I left, he would find me again and wait for me. I wasn’t expecting him to wait, actually. I prepared myself for the possibility that when I returned, he’d be married. But he wasn’t. He waited for me, even without any assurances.

“This one,” I said to the staff when I found the gown I liked.

Pierce walked over to me to examine the dress. He smiled when he saw the design. Then, he turned to me and gently caressed my shoulder. “That’s the same design you wore when we first got married.”

I chuckled. “You remember my wedding gown?”

He smiled and nodded. “How could I forget the day you promised to stay with me forever?”

My heart skipped a beat as I stared at his handsome face. His eyes were soft, filled with tenderness. Deep in my heart, I knew I had always wanted him—always. Even after we parted ways, and now that we were back in each other’s arms.

Maybe love is always meant to be complicated. There’s no shortcut in love. There are struggles, pain, heartache, disappointment, and anger. But above all, there is happiness, light, and, in the end, a happy ending.

“Our next stop is the wedding ring,” I said as Pierce accompanied me out of the shop. He caressed my hand and kissed the back of it before opening the passenger door for me.

“I can’t wait to marry you again,” he whispered, squeezing my hand. He carefully fastened my seatbelt before heading to the driver’s side.

We arrived at the jewelry shop where we had chosen the design for our wedding rings. The owner had called Pierce this morning to let him know that the rings were ready for pickup.

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“Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson,” the manager greeted us with a smile as we entered.

“Good afternoon. We’re here to pick up our rings,” Pierce replied, speaking with the manager while I looked around.

As I scanned the area, my eyes landed on someone standing outside the shop, just a few meters away from Pierce’s car.

I pressed my lips together as I locked eyes with him. He stood silently, watching us. His bull cap didn’t hide his face, and I recognized every part of it. A man I once loved.

Kelly stared at me for a few seconds before adjusting his bull cap and walking away. He wasn’t stalking me, at least not in the way I feared. When he apologized to me, I didn’t believe him. When he helped me escape the man who had tried to hurt me in the mall, I didn’t trust him either.

Speaking of the shooter, he had been caught but still wasn’t saying anything about who had paid him to kill me. I knew my life was still in danger, which is why Pierce was always by my side. His father even offered to hire bodyguards for me, but I refused vehemently, knowing that Connor Foster would only see it as an alarm bell.

We had a packed schedule for our upcoming wedding, so by the time we got home, it was already 6 PM. The house felt unusually quiet, and it made me nervous.

I glanced at Pierce, who was following me, his expression just as troubled as mine. I swallowed hard and quickened my pace, feeling an ominous sense of dread that something had happened to our family. But as soon as I opened the double doors, confetti exploded in front of my eyes, and light flooded the living room.

My lips parted in surprise when I saw Snow, wearing a party hat and carrying a round cake, with Phoebe helping her.

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…”

I gasped, covering my mouth as I looked at everyone gathered inside the house. Pierce’s parents, his sister, our daughter, Emily, Yara, Ana, and even Mary and her mother Martha were all there.

“Happy birthday, mommy!” Snow rushed to me, and I immediately kissed her on the lips.

“Thank you, pumpkin,” I said, smiling.

“Mommy, make a wish!”

I chuckled and nodded, feeling Pierce’s hand gently resting on my waist. I closed my eyes for a moment and caressed my belly.

“I have nothing to wish for, except for the safety of the people I love.”

I smiled and blew out the candles as I slowly opened my eyes. Everyone clapped, and my heart warmed at the sight of them all gathered here to celebrate me.

“It’s good to see you again, Elle—I mean, Kelly,” Martha said as she kissed my cheek and gave me a gentle hug.

I smiled and returned the embrace. “Thank you, Martha. I owe you big time.”

I turned to Mary, who wiped away her tears while looking at me. “I’m so happy for you, Kelly. You deserve the life and love you have.”

I nodded, feeling tears well in my eyes as she hugged me. Emily came over and greeted me too, followed by Phoebe and then her parents.

A smile stayed on my lips until it was Pierce’s turn to greet me.

He smiled at me and caressed my cheek, gently wiping away the tears that had dampened it.

“They surprised me too,” he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

I chuckled softly. “They must have known you’d spoil the surprise if you knew.”

He chuckled and caressed my cheek as he stared deeply into my eyes. “I love you, Kelly. And I will never tire of reassuring you. I will remind you every day, every month, every year—until we’re old and gray, until my last breath…”

I sobbed. “I love you too.”

Maybe it’s my hormones making me so emotional, but I don’t care. This year is extra special because I’m not alone.

“I promise I will celebrate more birthdays with you. Forever, if possible. I love you, and I will love you forever…”

He pulled me closer and claimed my lips after his heartfelt speech. I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck, ignoring Phoebe, who cleared her throat and groaned while covering Snow’s eyes.

I smiled against Pierce’s lips and kissed him more. This was one of our special moments, and I loved it.

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