Contract Marriage: I Will Never Love You-Chapter 107: A Beginning

Sarah

I slip into the wedding dress, amazed that he remembered to get it sized over my baby bump. Matthew had thought of everything.

At precisely four o’clock, I make my way down to the beach, my bare feet sinking into the warm sand. In the distance, I see a white gazebo that’s decorated with flowers and flowing white fabric.

As I get closer, I see Matthew waiting, handsome in a white linen suit, his face lighting up when he spots me. But he’s not alone. Standing with him are Matthew’s family and Marishka. Even Josh and Rebecca is here.

"Oh my God," I breathe, tears threatening to ruin my perfect makeup.

Matthew steps forward to meet me, taking my hands in his.

"What is all this?" I whisper.

"A second chance," he says simply. "A new beginning for us. I wanted to see if you would marry me again so I can give you a proper wedding night this time. Sarah. Will you?"

I stare at him, tears flowing freely now. "You want to marry me again?"

"Yes," Matthew says, his voice husky with emotion. "I want to erase that first night. I want to start fresh with you, Sarah. I want a renewal of our vows, but this time with love, with truth between us."

I can hardly breathe through the tightness in my chest. All his secretive behavior suddenly makes perfect sense.

"Is this why you’ve been acting so strange?" I ask, laughing through my tears.

He nods, a sheepish smile crossing his face. "I’m terrible at surprises. I was so afraid I’d give it away."

I glance at our gathered family. Marishka is openly weeping, her hands clasped together in joy. Josh gives me a thumbs up and a wink.

Matthew’s mother steps forward, taking my hands in hers. "We wanted to be here for this moment," she says warmly.

I look back at Matthew, overwhelmed. "When did you plan all this?"

"I’ve been working on it since... well, since everything came out in the open," he admits. "I realized I never gave us a proper start. I was so angry, so hurt when we first married. I didn’t let myself love you the way I should have."

He takes a deep breath. "But I do love you, Sarah. I’ve loved you for longer than I was willing to admit to myself."

The words I’ve been longing to hear. The declaration I wasn’t sure would ever come.

"I love you too," I whisper, squeezing his hands.

Matthew glances at the officiant standing in the gazebo. "So, what do you say? Will you marry me again?"

I nod, unable to form words around the lump in my throat.

He leads me toward the gazebo, where white chairs have been set up facing the ocean.

This time, as I stand before Matthew and repeat my vows, there are no secrets between us. No lies. Just the truth of who we are and the love we’ve fought to build.

"I, Sarah, take you, Matthew, to be my husband once more," I say, my voice steady despite my tears. "With honesty and openness, I promise to love you through whatever life brings us."

Matthew’s eyes never leave mine as he speaks his vows. "I, Matthew, take you, Sarah, to be my wife again. This time with my whole heart, my complete trust, and all the love I have to give."

When the officiant pronounces us husband and wife, Matthew cups my face with both hands and kisses me tenderly. The small gathering of our loved ones erupts in applause, but I barely hear them.

In this moment, there is only Matthew and me.

"I can’t believe you did all this," I say, still in awe after several hours at the dance floor. "How did you manage to get everyone here without me knowing?"

He grins, spinning me gently. "Josh helped coordinate everything."

My eyes turn wide. "You let Josh help you? Are you serious? You can’t stand him!"

Matthew frowns. "Well, Rebecca and my parents helped too. Yeah, I still don’t like him, but he isn’t all that bad."

I grin. "Oh no? You don’t think he is trying to steal me away from you anymore?"

Matthew chuckles, pulling me closer as we sway to the music on the beach. The sun is setting, casting golden light across the water. Our small reception is intimate and perfect.

"No," he admits, his lips brushing my ear. "He can’t even if he tries. You chose me. You’re carrying my child. And he..." Matthew glances over at Josh, who’s laughing with Rebecca near the bar, "he’s actually been a good friend to both of us."

I lean back to study his face, searching for any trace of jealousy. "Who are you and what have you done with my husband?"

"Very funny," he says, rolling his eyes. "People change, Sarah. I’ve changed. We both have."

I rest my head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "For the better, I hope."

"Definitely for the better."

The music shifts to something slower, more intimate. Matthew’s arms tighten around me.

"So," he murmurs. "Are you ready for our wedding night? The proper one this time?"

Heat rushes to my cheeks. "I think I might be."

He presses a kiss on my forehead. "Good. And this time, I will be taking your dress off without tearing it. God knows I had a hard time finding the exact one."

I giggle. "How did you manage it anyway?"

Matthew smiles, looking pleased with himself. "I had a little help from Marishka. She remembered the designer and style. Turns out, they still had the pattern, so I commissioned a custom one."

"But how did you know it would fit?" I ask, glancing down at my growing baby bump.

"I may have stolen one of your dresses while you were sleeping and sent your measurements," he admits with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Plus, I added a note about accommodating for a five-month pregnancy."

I laugh, shaking my head in wonder. "You thought of everything."

"I tried," he says, his expression growing serious. "I wanted today to be perfect for you. To make up for—"

I place my finger against his lips. "Don’t. We’re not looking back anymore, remember? Only forward."

He kisses my fingertip, then takes my hand in his. "You’re right."

The party continues around us, but we’re in our own little world. Marishka catches my eye from across the beach and raises her glass to me, her face radiant with maternal pride. I smile back, feeling a completeness I’ve never known before.

After we finish our dance, Marishka approaches us, her eyes still bright with happy tears.

"My darling," she says, embracing me tightly. "I never thought I would see this day. To be here as your mother at your wedding."

I hug her back fiercely. "I’m so glad you’re here," I whisper.

She pulls back, cupping my face with her weathered hands. "Your father... Charles...he wanted to come," she says hesitantly. "He asked me to tell you."

I stiffen slightly, and Matthew’s hand finds the small of my back, steadying me.

"I’m not ready to forgive him yet," I admit. "Maybe someday, but not today."

Marishka nods, understanding in her eyes. "There is time. Healing comes slowly."

As the night deepens, our guests begin to disperse. Matthew’s parents and Hailey hug us both before retreating to their rooms.

"We’ll see you two tomorrow for brunch," his mother says, squeezing my hand. "And Sarah? Thank you for making my son happy."

Finally, it’s just Matthew and me, walking barefoot along the moonlit beach.

"So," I say, swinging our joined hands between us.

"So?" He raises an eyebrow.

"I thought you were going to divorce me," I confess.

He stops abruptly, turning to face me. "What? Why would you think that?"

I shrug, suddenly feeling foolish. "You were acting secretive, checking your phone constantly. And then you booked the spa appointment under my maiden name..."

Matthew chuckles. "Sorry to disappoint, wife, but I’m never letting you go again."

I rest my head against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat matching the sound of waves lapping at the shore.

"Do you remember the first time we were here?" I ask, looking up at him.

His eyes darken momentarily. "Yes. I was so angry then."

"And now?"

"Now I’m just grateful," he says, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Grateful that despite everything... all the lies, all the pain, we found our way back to each other."

I smile, tracing the contours of his face with my fingertips. "Not just the two of us anymore."

"No," he agrees, his palm warm against my belly. "The three of us now."

Matthew kisses me, slow and deep. There is no urgency, only the gentle certainty that we have all the time in the world.

This is just the beginning of our love story.