<h4>Chapter 145: Chapter ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FIVE:The Forever Deal</h4>


    Christy’s POV


    I sat by the window of Kendrick’s new penthouse, the morning sun streaming through the ss and warming my skin.


    While in Curtis’ hands, I always hoped that I would see the sun again but as time went on, I began losing hope. But at this moment it felt like a blessing.


    I looked down at my left hand, watching the sunlight dance off the massive diamond perched on my finger. It was heavy, a constant weight that reminded me I wasn’t dreaming.


    It has been three weeks since I was rescued at the river bank. My physical wounds had healed but the mental ones took longer. Sometimes, if I closed my eyes too fast, I still saw Curtis’s nk stare. Sometimes, I still heard Piper’s scream.


    But then, I would feel a warm hand on my shoulder or hear a familiar, deep voice calling my name, and the shadows would retreat.


    A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I didn’t even have to turn around to know who it was, as my heart did that familiar little skip, the one it only ever did for him.


    "You’re staring at it again," Kendrick said, his voice a low rumble as he stepped into the room.


    I turned and smiled as he walked toward me, looking every bit the powerful CEO in his charcoal suit. But the moment he reached me, that cold professional mask melted. He leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss to my forehead.


    "It’s a very nice ring, Mr. ck," I teased, my voice finally steady and clear. "I have to make sure it hasn’t disappeared."


    "It’s never disappearing," he promised, his eyes darkening with a possessiveness that used to scare me, but now only made me feel cherished. "And neither are you."


    He sat on the edge of the chaise lounge, pulling me into hisp. I leaned my head against his shoulder, breathing in his scent.


    "I have news from the court," he said quietly.


    I stiffened slightly, as this was thest piece of the puzzle. The final cleanup of the mess the ck family had be.


    "Sameen?" I whispered.


    "Life imprisonment," Kendrick said, his jaw tightening. " With no parole...The evidence of the murders, the embezzlement, and her involvement in Raymond’s death... it was too much for even herwyers to fight. She’ll never step foot outside a cell again."


    I let out a breath I felt like I’d been holding for a month. Sameen ck deserves every bit of what she is getting, as she was such a terrible mother and misled her own son until he became a monster.


    "And Zain?"


    Kendrick hesitated for a second. "Fifteen years, because he wasn’t directly involved in the murders, and eventually surrendered, the judge showed a small amount of mercy."


    I nodded and I didn’t feel anything for him. No pity at all, he deserved what he got and ruined his family because of his and his father’s greed.


    But Zain had made his choices. He had stood by while Curtis terrorized me, he even tried to kill me a couple of times, Fifteen years was a long time to think about those choices.


    "It’s really over, isn’t it?" I asked, looking into Kendrick’s eyes.


    "It’s over, Christy. The lies, the revenge... it’s all buried." He lifted my hand, kissing the palm. "Now, there’s only us. And a very big party tomorrow that my mother-inw is currently losing her mind over."


    Iughed, the sound bright and real. "My mother has been nning this wedding since the second we got back. I think she’s personally inspected every single flower in the city."


    "Let her," Kendrick smiled. "She deserves to celebrate...We all do."


    He touched my stomach softly and smiled. I can’t wait to be his wife and the mother of his child.


    The day of the wedding arrived like a scene out of a fairy tale.


    I stood in front of the full-length mirror in the bridal suite, staring at the woman looking back at me. The dress was a masterpiece, white silk that hugged my curves and flowed out into a train that seemed to go on forever.


    My hair was swept up, pinned with delicate pearls, and my veil trailed behind me like a cloud.


    The gown was a perfect fit as my stomach was still not big yet..


    "Oh, my sweet girl..." My mother stood in the doorway, her eyes welling with tears. She rushed over, taking my hands in hers. "You look breathtaking...Simply breathtaking."


    "Thanks to you, Mom," I said, hugging her tightly. "Everything is perfect."


    Kelvin stepped in behind her, looking uncharacteristically sharp in a ck tuxedo. He cleared his throat, trying to look tough, but I could see his eyes shimmering.


    "Don’t start crying, Kel," I warned with a watery smile. "You’ll ruin the photos."


    "I’m not crying, it’s the flowers," he lied, stepping forward to offer me his arm.


    "Ready to give that CEO the shock of his


    life? He’s been pacing at the altar for twenty minutes. I think he’s afraid you’ve changed your mind."


    "Never," I said firmly.


    As the heavy oak doors of the cathedral opened, the music swelled, filling the massive space with a beautiful, soaring melody. I took a deep breath and stepped forward.


    The church was packed. All of Country N’s elite were there, but I didn’t see them. I only saw the man standing at the end of the long, white aisle.


    Kendrick stood on his side of the altar. The only person on his side was surprisingly Raina and Gary. Then I looked at the front pews, I saw my mother, Kelvin, and Mason all leaning forward, their faces full of love.


    They weren’t just my family anymore. They were his. They were the Lancasters, and they had imed him as their own.


    Kendrick’s breath hitched as he saw me. For a man who was always in control, he lookedpletely undone. His eyes were fixed on mine, full of a raw, intense emotion that made my heart swell.


    When my father ced my hand in Kendrick’s, I felt a spark of electricity as his grip was firm and warm.


    The ceremony was a blur of beautiful words and promises. I didn’t hear much of the priest’s sermon as I was too busy reading the promises in Kendrick’s eyes. When it was time for the vows, he didn’t read from a paper...He spoke from his soul.


    "Christy," he started, his voice thick with emotion. "I started this journey with a contract and a cold heart. I thought I knew what I wanted and I thought power was the only thing that mattered. But you showed me that power is nothing if you have no one to share it with. You are my light, my strength, and my home. I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never feel a second of fear again."


    I couldn’t help it. The tears fell freely then. "Kendrick... I was lost until you found me. Not just in that small town but also in that riverbank. You gave me a reason to fight and a future. I love you more than words can say."


    "I pronounce you husband and wife," the priest said. "You may kiss your bride."


    Kendrick didn’t wait, he pulled me in, his lips meeting mine in a kiss that tasted like victory and peace. The guests erupted into apuse, the sound echoing off the high stone ceilings, but to me, it was quiet.. It was just us.


    The reception was a whirlwind of dancing, champagne, andughter. We sat at the head table, watching our loved ones celebrate. Kelvin was already on his third ss of champagne,ughing with Mason, while my mother was busy being the perfect hostess.


    Kendrick leaned in close to me, his arm draped over the back of my chair. He looked at the grand ballroom, then back at me, a small, knowing smirk on his lips.


    "You know," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "This is a long way from where we started."


    I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder. "It really is. No more schemes? No more hidden agendas?"


    "None," he promised. "But I was thinking... about the paperwork."


    I pulled back, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "The paperwork? Kendrick ck, if you mention a contract on our wedding night..."


    He chuckled, the sound deep and rich. "I was just thinking that this was supposed to be a 90-day contract. We’re well past the deadline, Christy and the term is up."


    Iughed and looped my arms around his neck, looking into the eyes of the man who had be my entire world.


    "The contract is void, Kendrick," I whispered, my smile growing wide. "Forever is the deal now."


    He didn’t say anything else, he just pulled me into another kiss as the music yed on, a final seal on a story that was no longer about revenge, but about a love that had survived the dark and stepped into the light.


    THE END


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