The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
[Book 2] Chapter 129

lan POV

We'd been busy. Or rather Flair and Rachel had been busy, decorating the main house with the maids, while Carina had kept Dawn occupied in the flat and outside. The house was filled with flowers, purple and white roses trailing down the stairs, on the tables as centerpieces, on the mantlepieces, and in the front foyer. Purple roses were one of Dawn's favorite flowers. The living room had been transformed, the couches removed, courtesy of Knox and some male servants, and now it was empty except for the space and the flowers, one minister standing at the ready. My father looked at the house in shock and then sighed, a wry smile on his face, adjusting the tie on his suit, a twinkle in his eyes.

"The house looks lovely" he commented ruefully.

Flair snorted "It looks gorgeous" she corrected smugly, while Grayson nodded in the corner, also dressed in a suit. Lorelai giggled, helping Rachel to hang up some white ivy. "It's stunning, you've done a great job, Flair and Rachel," she said sincerely. Timothy adjusted his spectacles, beaming at his wife. "You look stunning babe," he told her sincerely.

Flair, Lorelai, and Rachel were dressed in bridesmaid dresses, a purple lilac color that was off the shoulder and flowing down to their ankles. All of them were currently barefoot as they trailed around the house, taking care of the necessities. I smiled, joining Knox who was frowning and gazing around, a critical expression on his face.

"They aren't quite spaced evenly" he muttered in exasperation.

I clapped a hand on his shoulder "Breathe Knox, it's not the end of the world" I told him as he frowned at me.

I knew it would bug him but he nodded solemnly and tried to relax. He, Timothy, and Grayson were dressed in matching black suits, as they were my groomsmen. I saw him adjust his tie again and knew that it probably felt like it was strangling him. I would be lucky if he managed to keep it on long enough for this impromptu casual ceremony. There were no children, Hunter and Gabrie were being watched over upstairs by a nanny to keep distractions from the ceremony part to a minimum, but they would be welcome afterward at the reception. Rachel's baby was being looked after at home by a trusted friend. It was perfect. Everything was coming together as I had imagined it would.

"All I need now is the bride" I murmured, glancing around "And she has no idea she's getting married today" I added slightly concerned.

Flair giggled "You better hope she's up for it because we didn't decorate this house for nothing" she advised me with a scowl.

The notion made me look at her panicked. Rachel eyed her friend "Great, now he looks like he's going to be sick. Flair have a heart" she chided. Lorelai hugged me "I'm sure she's going to be thrilled by this," she said, embracing me while Knox eyed his wife with hungry eyes "Don't panic."

I brought out the rings. Knox had mine but I was holding Dawn's. "Ooh let's see" Flair shrieked, coming over and peering over my shoulder.

The girls all clustered around while the boys just sighed and shook their heads. I opened the box to show them the white gold and pink band with diamonds that matched Dawn's engagement ring. I'd had it personally made by the jeweler. Flair gazed at it in awe "It's beautiful lan."

I heard a skittering noise behind me but didn't pay much attention to it. At least not until I heard Knox make a strangled noise that sounded like a laugh, the ring still in my fingers. Something ran up my body and grabbed the ring, quickly jumping down as I gave an indignant yell of frustration.

"Damnit Midnight" I cursed as the girls began to double over and giggle "Of all days" I growled.

Knox sighed "I'm on it," he said apologetically as I glowered at him.

"That ferret is a menace" I snapped as he ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm pretty sure he ran outside" he muttered and disappeared before I could yell at him some more.

"Aw don't be mad lan" cooed Flair "The ferret's kind of adorable."

I sighed "Yeah, well, maybe. Still, if he loses that ring" I grumped as Grayson and my father chuckled "I'll wring his skinny little neck." "Maybe the ferret went to go give it to Dawn" suggested Rachel smirking "he did go outside" she added meaningfully.

"Well that's my cue then," I said sighing "I'm about to go steal me a bride" I added with a grin.

"Good luck son," my father said, with a grin "and make sure you get that ring back."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the smile from spreading on my face. I couldn't wait for the look of surprise on Dawn's face. I had been keeping this secret from her, working on it with Flair, Rachel, and Dawn's mother Carina. I knew it was probably driving Dawn crazy with how detached and busy I had been over the last few days or weeks but I had been heavily invested in this, wanting to show her just how much she meant to me. Now was the time to put all of this together and I hoped, that she would appreciate the time and effort everyone had put into this, even though it might appear as a simple ceremony, we had worked hard to have her favorite foods for the reception afterward and her favorite flowers. I even had a dress hanging up for her in a room in the main house. All I needed was for Dawn to say yes. Everything else was ready.

I stepped outside, glaring at the ferret in lan's hand, making a few sharp comments. Dawn held the ring in her hand and lan subtly disappeared, along with Carina and Faith, who Carina would help to get ready.

"This ring is mine?" Dawn breathed surprised.

I wasn't finished. I got on one knee, looking my fiancee in the eyes as she put a hand to her mouth, a look of shock on her face. "Dawn Evans," I said loudly and clearly "I'm asking you to marry me, right here and now, in that house" I pointed to the main house "because I sure as hell can't wait any longer."

I saw her eyes shimmer with tears. She had never looked more beautiful to me. I waited, hand on knee and she burst into tears.

"Yes" she whispered, as I stood back up, gently taking the ring in my hand "Yes" she shrieked.

"I have everything ready" I murmured, kissing her on the lips and then stepping back as she looked at me dazed and stunned "There's a dress waiting for you and shoes, everyone else is dressed. All we need is the bride" I told her as she blinked and looked at me incredulously "There is nothing else you need to do."

"But, but, how did you manage all of this" she cried, her eyes still suspiciously shining "Is this what you've been talking to my mother about all this time?" she demanded.

I nodded smiling "It was meant to be a surprise" I scowled down at the ring "It doesn't help when a certain naughty ferret goes rogue" I added as she giggled.

I took her hand. She looked lost for words. I gently led her into the house and her mouth dropped open as she saw the decorations and the way the house had been made up. Her lower lip quivered. "lan it's beautiful" she whispered.

"You're beautiful," I told her, meaning every word "Now go upstairs with Flair" I paused and nodded towards my sister, who appeared in the doorway as though I had summoned her with magic "And get ready. I'll be downstairs waiting for you" I murmured, kissing her on the forehead.

"What about Faith? What about Mother?" she asked, even as Flair began to tug her towards the stairs, a look of panic on her face.

"Already getting ready" I assured her confidently.

"Oh," she said faintly as I smirked, "you really thought about everything."

I watched her head upstairs, Flair right behind her. I gathered it would take some time before she came back downstairs. The photographer headed upstairs to get some photos of the women getting ready, the women looking efficient and business-like. I smoothed down my jacket, suddenly feeling anxious. I had been so busy getting everything prepared that I hadn't had time to worry about myself or about this moment but now it was coming crashing down on me. In a few minutes time, I would be getting married to the woman I loved. I would be committing myself to a lifetime with the same woman as my wife and pledging my life to hers. It caused me some anxiety, but not because I was afraid. But because I was looking forward to it so much. There was no doubt in my mind that Dawn was the one for me. She was the one who filled my dreams at night and the one I looked forward to waking up next to in bed each morning. She was the one who made each day bearable with just a smile or a kiss. I had trouble keeping my hands off her, her pregnancy making her more alluring and sexy to me. The woman was a goddess to me, the woman of dreams I had always been searching for and never known until I found her. She was the one. There was no question in my mind. I had found what everybody hoped to replace in their lifetime: true love.

I stepped into the living room, taking my place by the mantelpiece my heart thumping wildly in my chest, as Knox gave me a crooked grin, understanding my nervousness.

"Breathe," he said quietly, as my father nodded from the doorway where he would walk Dawn inside "The last thing you want to do is pass out when you see how gorgeous your bride looks. Trust me" he advised as I turned my head towards him "I came dangerously close when I married Lorelai" he divulged in a low whisper.

I couldn't help but smile at my twin. "Thank you for everything Knox" I whispered past the lump in my throat "I couldn't have done any of this without you."

I swear there were tears in his eyes as he blinked and then nodded, his gaze going towards the doorway as Lorelai stepped in, her bridesmaid dress flowing behind her, his eyes widening as he stared at his wife, a look of awe on his face Even now, Lorelai still caused that reaction in my brother. I knew that Dawn would always make me look at her the same way too.

"Showtime" Knox whispered and I watched as the first bridesmaid began to make her way towards us, a wide smile on her face.

Suddenly it was like all the air had disappeared out of the room and I couldn't breathe as I stared longingly towards the doorway, waiting to see Dawn, my heart racing a mile a minute as my hands began to tremble and my body slightly shook in anticipation. All I had to do was get through the ceremony and she was mine forever, her and Faith.