spanng="EN"Charlie’s POV

    spanng="EN"I’m sick of Holden just showing up, but I knew he would tonight. Her father, Reid, explicitly told Holden not to disrupt the wedding. Holden wasn’t going to let Ana marry me without ast–ditch effort. He didn’t want me to touch her. I’m going to make sure that he knows that I intend to touch every square inch of her on our honeymoon. God willing, she will be pregnant by the time we return.

    spanng="EN"I knew what he was doing out there; it’s his Hail Mary trying to stop the wedding. He was out there pleading his case. I also knew that there was no hurry tonight. Mark had friends in the police force, and he had submitted everything earlier this week. I asked them to wait to pick him up for the assault until tonight. Holden thought he was so smart, but this was my n all along. I had him admit that he hit me. Jon was quick to start filming after Holden sucker punched me. None of us thought the pretty boy was willing to go that far.

    spanng="EN"But there was no way in hell I was going to give him a pass for what he did. He will be in jail all weekend long, as he will need a judge to sign off for him to be bonded out. I was serious when I told Ana I wouldn’t allow our wedding to be interrupted. I see Seth speed walking behind the officers. I knew he wasn’t going to stay out of it. He needs to, because if he interferes, he might be missing the wedding, too.

    spanng="EN"“Do you know who he is? Holden Vaughn is a business leader, along with his father, Hudson Vaughn. He’s an important member of our society. I don’t see how this is legal? What are the charges against him? Do you really think that you’ll get away with arresting him without some serious repercussions?” Seth snapped out. He was mad and wasn’t trying to hide it. Holden was too stunned by the police showing up to arrest him to speak.

    spanng="EN"“Assault charges,” one of the officers briefly replied as he removed his handcuffs from his duty belt. He then instructed Holden, “ce your hands together like you are praying.”

    spanng="EN"Holdenplied, but still seemed stunned that he was being arrested. Once the cuffs were on, he finally snapped out of it, with reality setting in. He looked at me and said, “You did this, didn’t you?”

    spanng="EN"“Actually, I filled out the paperwork and handed over the evidence. But you were the one who did it, not

    spanng="EN"Charlie,” Mark replied.

    spanng="EN"“So you are so scared that Ana is going to change her mind ande back to me that you’re willing to do this? I didn’t take you for a petty person, Charlie. Take the charges back. I swear I will leave right now, and I won’t interrupt the wedding tomorrow,” Holden assured.

    spanng="EN"“Sorry, I can’t do that, Holden. I can’t trust you to follow through with what you just said. You sucker punched me while I was putting my ring on Ana’s finger. She could have been injured. I can’t just let that go. Let this be a reminder for you from now on. Don’t put your hands on or near Ana again. She is mine to protect, and mine to love. She never really was yours anyway. You made sure of that yourself. I underestimated your willingness tosh out in frustration. You lost out on a wonderful woman, but don’t expect me to be willing to listen to you. You don’t know me or what I’m capable of, so I would suggest you leave her alone. Your time with her was up ten years ago. I won’t be caught by surprise by you ever again,” I responded.

    spanng="EN"“Charlie, you need to stop this madness right now. Is this how you n to start a rtionship with your new family? Going after Holden? He already said he wouldn’t disrupt the wedding. You could easily withdraw the assault charges if you wanted to. Holden won’te tomorrow if that’s what you’re worried about,” Seth stiffly stated.

    spanng="EN"“He wasn’t going to do that because we forbade him toe to the wedding. You two decided in your infinite wisdom that the next best thing to do was to crash our rehearsal? Seth, can you even hear yourself right now? Oh, and who are you referring to about family? Mom and Dad are on my side in this. We made it clear that Holden wasn’t allowed toe to any wedding–rted events. You have to stop. The overprotective brother routine is getting old. You keep trying to shove what I ‘need‘ to do down my throat. I’m twenty–seven, Seth, not seventeen. I know what’s best for me. You’re not helping matters. You seem to be solely focused on Holden’s happiness, but not mine. I know you two are like brothers, but I’m your sister, Seth. Don’t I deserve the same love and consideration as Holden?” Ana asked.

    spanng="EN"That got his attention. “Ana, of course, you matter. You’re my baby sister, and I’ve spent most of my life looking out for you. I’m sorry you’re upset. I never intended for you to go through what you did. Don’t you see that I’m trying to make it up to you? I trust Holden. We know him. We don’t know anything about this guy,” Seth said before motioning towards me. “Holden has promised me that he will love and take care of you. You don’t have to worry about Tiffany anymore. She’s going to be sent away. Holden is the better choice for you. He’s the one our parents picked out for you to marry. We would all be thrilled for you to unite our families. At the very least, you know he’s not after your money. You loved Holden once, Ana. I get that you’re angry with him. But I know you can learn to love him again. He wants to make this work, Ana. I’ll be there for you if his foot ever slips again.”

    spanng="EN"“So this is the brilliant idea that you two came up with in thest few days? Let me be clear, as I can tell you are not getting it. Charlie has cared about me from day one. Not because I pay him, but because he saw me. He saw the real me, and he started paying attention. He wasn’t deterred by my weight, like Holden and Roger were. He wants me, for me. You think you know everything, but you don’t. Our rtionship doesn’t need either of you involved in it. I want to be Charlie’s wife. I love him, and he loves me. I feel safe and protected when he’s with me. I know what I feel. Please stop, it’s getting to the point of harassment now,” Ana advised.

    spanng="EN"“Seth, I warned you, and Holden, not to do this. You’ve already said your piece, but Analise has made her decision. You’ve been thinking of this from your own perspective. When she told us why she changed her mind about marrying Holden in the hospital, you were on her side. You were outraged for her and willing to fight Holden over it. How has that changed? How did you get to where you forgave him? Are you seriously willing to threaten Charlie and coerce Ana into doing what you want her to?” Ana’s father snapped out.

    spanng="EN"“Dad, I’m just trying to stop her from making a mistake. I am thinking of her. I’m trying to protect her from a man who only wants her for her money. He doesn’t care about her at all. He knew who she was, and came after her. I don’t believe for a second that he loves her for who she is. He just sees dor signs when he looks at her,” Seth replied angrily. ring at me like it’s true.

    spanng="EN"“You don’t know anything about him, Seth. He already signed a prenup. The one you kept harping on. Charlie is just as excited as I am to start our family. He’s a good man, but you never gave him a chance. I don’t have to beg for his time or attention; he willingly gives it to me. He actually desires me. He didn’t need to be forced into an arranged marriage or extorted to marry me. He decided to marry me on his own. He said that I was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, and I want that too. I want the same love that our parents and grandparents have. Both Dad and Charlie’s grandfather know the kind of love he has for me. They fell in love instantly. So I know it can happen. If you continue to press Seth, we will have to avoid each other for a while until you can learn to ept and respect Charlie,” Ana replied.

    spanng="EN"“It’s like he put a spell on you, Ana. You’re smarter than this. Are you so desperate for love and affection that you’re willing to fall for him?” Seth asked.

    spanng="EN"“Get out. Get out of here right now You’re not needed for this rehearsal to continue. If you can’t be kind of at least use manners, you’re not wee tomorrow, either. I won’t forgive you if you dare to cause a disturbance. Seth,” Ana snapped back.

    spanng="EN"Things were tense with Ana and her brother ring at each other when Holden spoke again. “Cancel the charges, Charlie. I won’t disrupt your wedding, but I won’t give up on getting Ana back. I messed up, but I know she’ll eventually forgive me. But I will destroy you if you go through with this, Charlie. If I get arrested, I’ll find a way to buy thepany you work for, and make your life a living hell. I have the means to do just that. You need to think carefully before you make a career–ending decision like this.”

    spanng="EN"Markughed first, and I gave a chuckle as well. “The reason you couldn’t buy thepany the first–time around, Holden, was because we own it. Ana was a high–value client, so Mark and I flipped a coin to see who would get the honor. I know now that a higher power made me win it, as Ana and I were meant to be,” I responded.

    spanng="EN"“You spoke to me, Holden. You seemed pretty shocked that I refused to sell. I knew what happened and knew what you wanted to do. We got a pretty goodugh out of it, actually,” Mark stated beforeughing again.

    spanng="EN"Holden and Seth looked shocked once they realized we owned it, but when Mark mocked Holden, he became furious. “I might not be able to buy you out, but I can start my own securitypany and run you out of business,” Holden snarled out.

    spanng="EN"“You do that, but there was a reason that Ana went with us; we’re the best. Good luck wasting your money trying topete against us,” Mark replied.

    spanng="EN"“Do you really think that you can threaten Charlie and get away with it?” someone asked from the aisle.

    spanng="EN"“Dad, I appreciate the backup, but I don’t need it to deal with these two. There’s nothing they can do to me to hurt me. I just haven’t clued them into that fact yet,” I replied.

    spanng="EN"“What are you doing here, Mr. Billingsley?” Seth asked.

    spanng="EN"“I’m a littlete, due to a meeting I couldn’t reschedule. But why on earth would I miss my only son’s wedding rehearsal?” Chuck Billinsley replied.