CHAPTER 24: GREAT-GRANDCHILD

The sound of waves crashing filled the background as Bianca stood on the balcony, holding a cup of coffee in her hands. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted to drink it. Her stomach was already in knots.

This was it. Her wedding day.

Adrian stepped out beside her, also holding a cup. He didn’t say anything at first. Neither did she. It was still early, and the team was probably setting up at the venue.

Bianca finally spoke. "I still can’t believe this is really happening."

Adrian let out a quiet breath. "Yeah. Same."

She turned slightly to look at him. "I mean, yesterday we were in New York. Now we’re in Bali. About to get married."

He nodded once. "If it weren’t for my grandfather, we wouldn’t even be here."

Bianca gave a small smile. "He wanted something more grand?"

Adrian looked at her. "He wanted a royal wedding. I told him no. This Bali plan was our middle ground."

Bianca looked away. "It’s still pretty grand."

"Blame the wedding planner. I gave her one instruction. Don’t make it boring," he said. "Apparently this is what ’not boring’ looks like."

She let out a small laugh. Then silence returned.

After a moment, Adrian said, "Look, about all this... You know it’s just to make Grandpa happy, right?"

Bianca nodded slowly. "I know."

"Good." He seemed relieved. "I don’t want you to get the wrong idea."

"I won’t." She looked straight at him. "I’m not expecting anything."

Adrian held her gaze for a second. Then he looked away and finished his coffee.

With both hands tucked into his pockets, Adrian stood by the side of the room, staring at the swimming pool just outside. His eyes were fixed on the water, but his thoughts were somewhere else entirely.

The deep voice of a man snapped him back to reality.

"Adrian, my man... Can’t believe you’re actually getting married, bro," Zak said as he walked in, grinning wide. Rafael followed him, both wearing light gray suits that still looked designer-sharp despite being last-minute picks.

Zak stepped forward and pulled Adrian into a bear hug. "Seriously, man. Wishing you and Bianca the best. I still remember when you swore you’d never get married. Look at you now. All grown up and domesticated."

"Appreciate it, Zak," Adrian said with a half-smile.

Zak glanced at Rafael. "Can you believe this guy’s getting hitched before us?"

Rafael said faintly, "Yeah. Didn’t see that coming."

Zak leaned in dramatically. "If someone told me five years ago that Adrian Williams would get married willingly, I would’ve bet my entire company against it."

Adrian rolled his eyes.

"Congrats on the wedding, Ad," Rafael said quietly. "I hope it’s a good start... and that you’ll be a good husband to Bianca."

Rafael’s smile was genuine. But only he knew the storm brewing inside. Today, he had to let Bianca go completely. And it was killing him silently.

Adrian paused, his eyes briefly meeting Rafael’s. He wasn’t sure what exactly Rafael meant, but something was there.

"Thanks, Raf," he said, keeping his tone steady.

Rafael gave a small smile and said nothing else. He didn’t need to. And Adrian didn’t ask. Whatever was behind those words, they both left it alone.

Zak snorted. "You’re next though, right? I heard Miranda’s already planning the wedding even though you haven’t set a date." He nudged Rafael teasingly. "What’s the hold up, huh? Cold feet?"

The air shifted.

Rafael’s smile disappeared. His jaw tightened just slightly. "I don’t want to talk about that."

Zak blinked. "Okay. Damn. Chill."

Rafael looked away. He didn’t want to talk about Miranda. He never did. Not when every time he saw Bianca, like today, he was reminded of what he lost. What he ruined.

They stood in silence for a moment before Zak muttered, "I mean, if you don’t want her, you should just say it. She deserves better than being stuck in some emotional purgatory."

Rafael’s voice was low and too calm. "You like her. That’s why you’re pissed."

Zak didn’t deny it.

Rafael continued, "You want her? Take her."

Zak’s expression darkened. He knew Rafael meant it. He also knew Rafael saw Miranda’s feelings and simply didn’t care. And that pissed him off.

"She doesn’t want me," Zak said, his voice tight. "She wants you. Even after everything, it’s still you."

He stepped back slightly, shaking his head. "And the worst part? You know that. And you’re still willing to throw her away like she’s nothing."

Rafael didn’t respond. He just looked away again.

Zak scoffed under his breath. "You’re not the guy for her. You never were."

Adrian, who had been quietly watching the exchange, finally stepped in.

"Enough," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the tension. "This is my wedding day. I don’t care what history you two are dragging in here. But today isn’t about that."

Zak exhaled sharply, his jaw clenched, but he said nothing.

Rafael’s gaze dropped. He nodded once, stiffly.

As Adrian’s closest friends, Zak and Rafael were, of course, his groomsmen. After greeting Adrian, they also exchanged pleasantries with Sean and Dean, who were in the room with them.

Not long after, a staff member from the event organizer walked in to let Adrian know it was almost time.

Suddenly, a wave of nerves hit him. For just a second, he thought about calling the whole thing off. He wasn’t ready. Not really.

But then Dean placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him.

"I hope you’ll be the kind of man who leads his family well, Adrian," his father said softly. "A husband your wife can rely on. A father your kids will look up to. I’m proud of you, son. Really proud. If only your mom—"

Dean stopped himself. He caught the flicker of pain in Adrian’s expression as soon as he said that word.

"Adrian, don’t blame your mother. It was my fault she left. Not hers."

Dean gave a sad smile. He knew his son still hadn’t forgiven her.

"Don’t," Adrian said coldly. "Don’t bring up that woman again in front of me."

His jaw was already clenched tight.

She was the deepest wound Adrian carried. And that wound, no matter how much time had passed, still stung whenever someone touched it.

Out of the corner of his eye, Adrian noticed a woman in a nurse’s uniform approaching, gently pushing a wheelchair. Sitting in it was his grandfather.

"Adrian," his grandfather said softly, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Before I leave this world, I finally get to see you married. Now I can go in peace, knowing my one and only grandson is settling down."

"Don’t say that, Grandpa," Adrian replied, crouching slightly beside him. "You’re going to live a long life. You’ll live to see me give you a great-grandchild."

He meant it as encouragement, something to lift his grandfather’s spirits. But what he didn’t realize was that his words had just triggered a whole new mission in his grandfather’s mind: planning Adrian and Bianca’s honeymoon.

If Adrian had known that, he probably would have chosen his words more carefully.

***