Chapter 87

FREYA

The weight of the diamond on my finger felt surreal. I kept staring at it, the huge, brilliant round cut catching the light in unfamiliar ways. It was too bright, too expensive. I shifted my gaze nervously, almost certain someone would notice it and try to steal it. It felt like a glaring beacon on my hand, making me feel vulnerable.

“God, there’s so much to do. A wedding is really hectic,” Reyna muttered, pacing the room. Her mind was clearly racing with a thousand to-do lists. Her face was a picture of exhaustion and excitement; her hands brushed through her hair as if she couldn't calm the frenzy inside. I could relate. Planning my wedding had somehow turned into managing an empire of decisions, and it all fell on me.

“You do this for a living. How can it be difficult for you?” I said absentmindedly, my eyes still glued to the ring. Its sheer size—Aiden had told me he hadn’t picked the biggest one in their collection. I didn’t want to know what that one looked like. This was already enough to make me feel like the center of unwanted attention.

I hadn’t even stepped outside with it yet, and the thought of being followed or approached churned my stomach.

“Well, it’s not my best friend’s wedding,” Reyna shot back, her voice tightening with a sense of responsibility that mirrored my own. “It has to be better than anything ever done before.”

I raised an eyebrow, amused and slightly shocked. “Wow, you’ve gone completely crazy.”

She didn’t blink, just gave me that look—the one that let me know she was committed, no matter how improbable. “Yep.” Then, as if the wedding hadn’t been enough to unleash her emotions, she ended with a soft smile. “Anyway, I thought for sure I’d still be maid of honor, even if you were with him. I mean, you’re all set for your new bestie now.”

It wasn’t that I’d replaced Reyna—she was irreplaceable—but Bianca’s quick arrival after “that mess” made me feel disloyal. Bianca was sweet and efficient, a refreshing breath of calm in the whirlwind that was my life. She’d started managing my accounts, and I admit, she was good at it. But she was also five years younger, which made me feel like the more experienced one in our growing friendship. At least she’d earned my trust.

“Shut up, you jealous boar.” I couldn’t help but laugh, trying to push down that nagging feeling of guilt.

“Well, I am jealous. Only a little,” Reyna said, scrunching up her face and holding her fingers apart to show just how “little.”

“You’re my best friend, no matter what,” I told her reassuringly. I felt the warmth of our friendship, and nothing would change that. Bianca and Erica would definitely be bridesmaids, but no one would replace Reyna. “I wouldn’t have anyone else for my maid of honor.”

Reyna dramatically placed a hand on her chest, as if my words had restored her entire being. “Okay, that makes me feel a bit better.”

I smiled, happy to ease her worry. Then, to distract her from the endless wedding tasks, I decided to stir the pot. “You know what else will make you feel better? Roman is coming to the wedding.”

Reyna’s reaction was instant; her eyes flashed. “What the fuck do I care about him?”

I chuckled. “You don’t.” Her face scrunched, and she turned away, but I knew her too well. I’d seen sparks fly between them at the charity event last month. I wasn’t blind. They’d exchanged glances, and there was something there.

I wasn’t sure if Reyna even noticed it, but I did. Roman, with sharp, cold eyes and an aura of someone who’d seen too much darkness, wasn’t someone you’d take home to meet Mom. He was a mafia guy, for crying out loud.

“No,” she mumbled, her voice light, almost defensive. “I didn’t—”

I chuckled softly, refusing to back down. “I saw you guys checking each other out at the charity event last month.”

She shot me a look that could kill. “You’re overanalyzing.” Her voice was clipped, but I could tell she wasn’t entirely convinced.

“Okay, if you say so,” I said, leaning back with a knowing smile. Reyna might not admit it, but I could see her eyes dart to the door every time someone mentioned Roman, as if she were waiting for him to walk in. As much as I wanted to tease her, my mind drifted back to the wedding—the little details I needed to finish, all the small things piling up.

There was the florist, and securing a venue had been a nightmare; the guest list felt like it was growing by the hour. Yet, in all that disorder, I found something that cheered me: this marriage wasn't just about Aiden and me, but about everyone who had stood by us. And that, really, was what thrilled me most.

Thinking of my ring, a fear crept in. Perhaps the wedding was too large, too much to bear, too complicated. Then I thought about why I was doing it all. This mattered—far more than the chaos, the cake, the preparations. Aiden and I were building a life together. There wasn’t a diamond in the world that could make it anything but priceless.