Jenny’s POV
The day had finally come—my wedding day. I should’ve been nervous, or maybe overwhelmed by everything, but instead, I felt oddly calm as I sat in the small room at the back of the church, waiting for my moment to walk down the aisle. My fingers traced the intricate lace on my wedding dress, a soft white gown that had been perfect the moment I saw it. It was exactly how I had imagined my wedding to be—simple, intimate, and with the people I cared about most.
Sophia sat next to me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You look incredible, Jenny,” she said with a smile that reached her eyes.
“Thanks, Soph,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but there was a catch in my throat. “It’s kind of crazy, isn’t it? That I’m actually doing this?”
She laughed softly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “A little bit, yeah. I thought you were joking last week when you said you and Jacob are getting married. But you and Jacob are meant to be. I’m just happy you’re doing this the way you wanted.”
I nodded, thinking about how much had happened to get us to this point. I glanced down at my hand, where a simple gold band would soon replace the engagement ring Jacob had given me. Everything about today felt so… normal. And after everything, normal was exactly what I needed.
Sophia leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially, “So, did you and Jacob talk about the honeymoon? I mean, you deserve a real break.”
I grinned. “We’re thinking of somewhere quiet, far away from all the madness. Maybe a beach where we can pretend none of this crazy world exists.”
Sophia’s smile faded a little, and I knew she was thinking about the same thing I had been—the betrayal, the secrets we had to keep, the danger and darkness that would always be apart of our lives. But today wasn’t about that. I wasn’t going to let it be.
A knock on the door interrupted our conversation, and the pastor poked his head in. “It’s time,” he said with a warm smile.
My heart skipped a beat, and I stood, smoothing the fabric of my dress. “This is it,” I whispered, more to myself than to Sophia.
Sophia stood with me, squeezing my hand. “You’ve got this. I’ll see you out there.”
As she left to take her place, I took a deep breath and walked to the door. The soft rhythm of the wedding march began to fill the church, and I stepped into the light.
The aisle stretched out before me, and Jacob was standing at the end, looking more handsome than ever. He wasn’t the same person I had met so long ago. He had changed, we both had, but what hadn’t changed was how we felt about each other. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, everything else fell away. It was just us.
As I made my way toward him, I could feel the eyes of everyone in the room, but none of it mattered. All I could see was Jacob, and the love in his eyes. When I reached him, he took my hand, and I felt like I was at peace.
The pastor began speaking, but I barely heard the words. My mind was focused on the man standing next to me, the vows we were about to make. It felt surreal, like something out of a dream, but it was real. This was our life now, and despite everything, it felt right.
When it was time for the vows, Jacob turned to me, his voice steady and filled with love. “Jenny, from the moment I met you, my life changed in ways I couldn’t have imagined. You’ve been my strength, my hope, and my reason to keep going. Today, I vow to love you, protect you, and stand by your side, no matter what comes our way.”
My throat tightened, but I managed to speak, my voice shaking just a little. “Jacob, you’ve been my rock, my partner, and my greatest adventure. Through all the chaos, you’ve been the one constant thing in my life, and I can’t imagine a future without you. I vow to love you, to trust you, and to face whatever comes together.”
The pastor smiled as we exchanged rings, and then, finally, he said the words I had been waiting for. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Jacob didn’t hesitate, pulling me close and kissing me like it was the only thing that mattered in the world. The church erupted in applause, but I barely heard it. All I could think was how lucky I was to have him, to have this moment.
As we walked back down the aisle together, hand in hand, I felt lighter than I had in months. This was it. This was our fresh start.
**
At the reception, which was held in a quaint little hall down the street, everyone gathered around, laughing and talking like we hadn’t just come out of the most intense, dangerous part of our lives. It was like we were normal people, with normal lives, celebrating a normal wedding. And that, more than anything, made me happy.
Sophia found me again, dragging me to the side as Jacob was whisked away by a group of his cousins. “How are you feeling, Mrs Grant?” she teased, a grin on her face.
I laughed, the sound surprising even me. “Honestly? I feel… good. Really good.”
Her expression softened, and she leaned in closer. “You deserve this, Jenny. You and Jacob both. After everything… it’s nice to see you happy.”
I nodded, glancing across the room to where Jacob stood, talking animatedly with his brother and a few of the trusted council members. “I know it won’t always be like this,” I said quietly. “But for now, it’s perfect.”
Sophia followed my gaze, her smile fading just a little. “Yeah. For now.”
We spent the rest of the evening talking, laughing, and celebrating with the people in attendance. There were moments when I caught Jacob looking at me, and every time, my heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t believe we had made it here, that we were really married. That I was now Mrs Grant, Jacob’s wife and Ian and Sophia’s sister-in-law.
Toward the end of the night, after most of the guests had left, Jacob and I found a quiet corner of the hall, away from the noise. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close, and I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
“Today was perfect,” I whispered, my fingers tracing the buttons on his shirt.
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “It was. But you know what? This is just the beginning.”
I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. “Yeah. It is.”
For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was at peace. Like I was human. I felt like I was happy.