Beautifully Revealed (21 page)

6 months later

Lillian walks in the room wearing the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. It’s contagious because before I know it
, my face is stretched out into a similar expression. She walks up behind me, leans over my chair, and hugs me from behind. I gaze at her in the mirror in front of us, amazed at the happiness love brings. Last month Liam and I joined her and Rich for their impromptu wedding in Vegas, and now…

“I can’t believe I’m getting married today,” I say
to Lillian’s reflection.

“Believe it
, because no one deserves a happily ever after more than you. You’re the strongest, most complicated, sometimes closed off, but loving woman I know.”

“Thank you-I think.”

“It’s a compliment, Isabella. When everyone can see you for who you are and love all the facets of your personality, it’s a true blessing. Now let’s get that beautiful dress on so you can go marry that hunk of a man before the vultures descend and try to steal him away.”

I laugh at her joke but I know there’s a huge crowd forming outside because the tabloids leaked the location of our very small, very private wedding. After the Damon incident the
press was relentless, constantly at my back hoping for any statement on what happened.

It was hard.

It’s still hard.

Cayden’s been helping me get through what I did. As much as I prayed for Damon’s death, actually being the one responsible for it
affected me more than I thought it would. One would think I would be relieved that I had my retribution, but his blood on my hands only made me feel doubly damaged by him. I had to learn to live with what he did to me and what I did to him. It’s a double-edged sword is how I look at it. But that’s my past, and today is the beginning of my future.

Three months ago,
Cayden went behind my back and told Liam his no sex suggestions. At first Liam thought he was trying to ruin our relationship but after talking to several other therapists he decided he needed to do whatever it took to help me heal. This has been the most educational yet sexually frustrating three months of my life. I learned so much about myself and the reasons for my destructive behavior. Liam and I have grown as a couple, sure I miss the sex as much as a drug addict going through withdrawal, but I like where we are now. I’m more nervous about having sex with Liam tonight than I was that first night we met. I wonder if my outlook on sex has changed. Will I still be able to satisfy him? What will it feel like to have him claim me again?

I’m like a giddy teenager,
but this time I get to choose the man that takes me. Damon stole a lot of things from me, but tonight will be different. It won’t be about trying to erase what Damon did or about my battle with my worthiness. Tonight will be me giving myself to the man I love and sharing that love in a way I never used to.

“I can’t believe you talked me into getting this dress.”

“You love it too, you were just afraid to admit it.” Lillian pushes me in front of the mirror as she zips me up. “You look like a princess.”

I look at my reflection in the mirror and see a little girl who dreamed of being princess. A little girl whose father told her she was a princess but never believed it. Today I don’t feel like an imposter. The white gown clings to me before flaring out
at my hips, the strapless top pushes up my cleavage and the huge diamond necklace Liam gave me as an engagement gift glimmers on my neck. Tears shine in my eyes as Lillian places the crown on my head.

“Don’t you dare cry. I
t took an hour to do your make-up, and if you mess it up Liam will think you stood him up by the time we fix it.”

I wave my hands frantically over my face to dry my eyes
, and by the time I walk down the aisle I’ve composed my wayward emotions. Liam’s dark tux fits him perfectly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything that didn’t look great on him. He takes hold of my hand and looks into my eyes throughout the short ceremony. In ten brief minutes we are walking down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. Liam Maddox. Unfortunately we have to exit through an underground garage in order to avoid the press. The dark tinted windows shield us from their prying eyes as the car pulls out the garage.

“How long do you think this blissful feeling will last?”
he asks.

“The blissful feeling will last forever, but the peaceful existence is questionable.” He nods his head in agreement before the door opens and we’re led into the restaurant we rented out for our reception. I refused to get a big hall with fancy lighting and high ceilings. Small and simple was the plan for two people who were disgusted by the word marriage a year ago.

Though Cayden was against me marrying Liam so quickly, he still showed up for the ceremony. In order to have Rich in the wedding party, I agreed to have Gabby as my matron of honor while Rich stood in as best man. It was a fair trade because Rich and I have grown even closer, and you can even call us inseparable in the way we constantly keep in contact.

Liam pulls me to the dance floor just as a song begins to play. I recognize the song but I did not pick
it out. “Who chose this song?” The guilty look on Liam’s face gives him away. “Savage Garden?  You’re so sappy,” I laugh at him.

“What? I do think I loved you before I met you.”

I stop dancing and stare at him incredulously. “Liam, you hated everyone before you met me, now you’re all mushy, you need to man up.”

He pulls me against his body and nuzzles my neck, “Soon as we get rid of all these people, I’ll show you just how much of a man I am.” A shiver of anticipation runs through my body.

“How quickly do you think can you clear a party?”

“You’re going to have to wait, besides I haven’t given you your gift yet.” The song ends and complete silence falls over the room.

“What’s going on Liam?” I ask, watching a huge smile spread across his face.

“Time for me to give you my gift.”

“I told you I don’t need expensive gifts.” I say rolling my eyes at his excited look.

“This gift is priceless.”

The music begins again and I recognize the song as Heartland’s
I Loved Her First
. Tears blur my eyes and it feels like a fist is wrapped around my heart. “What did you do?” I ask in an unrecognizably shaky voice.

“Turn around
, Ella.” I know what’s behind me, I can feel his warming presence, smell the discernible smell of the man who loved me first. I fight through the emotions threatening to choke me and slowly spin to greet my daddy. Ten years have aged him but he still has the same smile. His hand reaches out to cup my face, and I almost step back, afraid this is an illusion that will vanish with contact. A tear rolls down my face and he wipes it with his thumb. He kisses my face and I begin to sob uncontrollably as he pulls me into his arms. I cry against his chest and cling to him like he may disappear if I let go. We stand in the middle of the dance floor, involuntarily swaying to the music, and I feel like that little girl he used to cherish.

“You look beautiful
, princess,” he whispers into my ear. This is too much for me to take in. I never dreamed I deserved such happiness, but I’ve learned to accept it. When the song ends I glance around and realize there’s hardly a dry eye in the room.

“How did this happen?”

“That man of yours is pretty special, Ella. I think he was willing to move mountains to give you this gift.”

I glance over my shoulder at Liam and his expression reflects my joy. “Yeah
, he’s pretty amazing.”

He smiles down at me and I realize we have so much to catch up on. “Where are you staying? I still have
a lot of the money you gave me. I could find you a nice place. We can go somewhere quiet and talk if you want.”

He cups
my face and cuts off my rambling. “Don’t worry about me, Stephen took care of everything for me while I was away. We have plenty of time to catch up Ella, but right now you need to go be with your husband. This day is about the two of you.”

“He won’t mind, D
addy.”

“I
’m sure he won’t, but I’m not here to interrupt your life. I’m just here to join in it. I promise we’ll catch up next week when you get back from your honeymoon.”

I stand there staring at him
, not sure if I want to leave his sight. He nods his head in Liam’s direction and I know he’s not going to let me argue this. He’s just as commanding as Liam is. I lean forward and kiss his face. “I love you, Daddy.”

“I know baby, I love you too.”

I walk over to Liam and practically throw myself into his arm. “Thank you,” I whisper into his ear. I pull back and look into his eyes. “You’re an amazing man,” I say with a smile that won’t go away.

“You inspire me to be.” His green eyes sparkle happily and I’m completely and utterly bewildered. All those years I thought fate had cheated me
, somehow left me stranded, when all along it was leading me to this moment.

To this man.

The journey may have been riddled with hurt, pain, and so many twists I can’t even wrap my head around them, but it made me who I am.

It made me s
tronger.

It helped me reveal the real me. The Isabella
Moss who is worthy of love. The Isabella Maddox who is ready for love. I’m done entertaining the demons that chased me through life.

Have I changed enough to consider myself to be stable, courteous, or even-tempered? Hmm…F
uck no! But that’s the beauty that comes from horrible life experiences, they mold us into who we are and I’m ready to accept that.

I’m ready to love me.