Chapter 31

THIRTY-ONE

O live Russo stood in the center of a bridal boutique, surrounded by a sea of white tulle and lace. Her honey-blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders as she twirled in yet another wedding gown, the soft fabric swishing around her ankles. She caught her reflection in the mirror and couldn't help but grin.

"Is it just me," she mused aloud, "or is this like a romance novel come to life?"

Athena lounged on a plush velvet couch, a glass of champagne in hand. "If it is, you're definitely the protagonist," she quipped.

Olive laughed. She turned to face the camera perched on a tripod nearby, its red light blinking steadily. "All right, vlog followers, what do you think? Is this the one?"

As she posed for her audience, Olive marveled at how surreal this all felt. Just months ago, she had been dreading an arranged marriage, skeptical of true love. Now here she was, preparing to marry Chaos Amato – tech tycoon, lion shifter, and the man who had stolen her heart in the most unexpected way.

"You know," Athena said, setting down her glass, "when you first told me about Chaos, I thought you were exaggerating. But he really is like something out of one of the romance novels you read, isn't he?"

Olive's cheeks flushed pink. "He's even better," she admitted. "Because he's real."

The boutique owner, a petite woman with a shock of silver hair, bustled over with another gown. "Try this one, dear. I think it might be perfect."

As Olive disappeared behind the changing screen, her phone buzzed with a text from Chaos.

How's the dress hunting going? Found anything that can compete with my dashing good looks yet?

Olive grinned, typing back a quick response.

Wouldn't you like to know? How's suit shopping with Baxter?

The reply came almost instantly.

Baxter keeps suggesting I go with a lion print tie. Says it'll bring out my "wild side."

Olive snorted, picturing Chaos's best friend and right-hand man teasing the usually stoic CEO. She could almost hear Baxter's voice: "Come on, man. You're marrying a romance vlogger. Gotta give the people what they want!"

As she slipped into the new dress, Olive's mind wandered to all the wedding preparations still ahead. They had decided on a venue that perfectly blended their styles – a historic mansion with sprawling gardens for the ceremony, and a sleek, modern reception hall for the party afterward.

The cake tasting had been a particular highlight. Chaos, usually so composed, had turned into a kid in a candy store, insisting they try every flavor. Olive had documented the whole thing for her vlog, much to her followers' delight.

"Okay, I'm coming out!" Olive called, stepping from behind the screen.

Athena gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh, Olive..."

Olive turned to face the mirror and her breath caught in her throat. The dress was stunning – a vintage-inspired gown with delicate lace sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. The bodice hugged her curves before flowing into a full skirt that seemed to float around her.

"This is it," she whispered, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. "This is the one."

Later that evening, Olive curled up on the couch in her penthouse, laptop balanced on her knees as she edited the day's vlog footage. Chaos's key turned in the lock, and she looked up with a smile as he entered.

"How was your day, future husband?" she called out, her blue eyes sparkling.

Chaos groaned dramatically, loosening his tie as he collapsed onto the couch beside her. "If I never have to look at another cummerbund again, it'll be too soon."

Olive laughed, setting aside her laptop to snuggle into his side. "Poor baby. Want me to kiss it better?"

"Well, if you insist," Chaos replied with a grin, pulling her in for a kiss that left her breathless.

As they parted, Olive's gaze fell on the stack of RSVPs on the coffee table. "I still can't believe how many people are coming," she mused. "Your tech world, my charity and book world, both our families..."

"Speaking of families," Chaos said, his tone growing serious, "I talked to my parents today. They said Tia's settled into her new role in Africa."

Olive nodded, a mix of emotions swirling in her chest. While she was relieved that Chaos's sister was no longer a threat to their happiness, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness for the family rift.

"She's still so young. Do you think she'll ever change?" Olive asked softly.

Chaos sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "I hope so. But for now, I'm just glad we can focus on us without worrying about her schemes."

Olive nodded, grateful for the peace they had found. She reached for her phone, pulling up her to-do list. "Okay, Mr. Amato, we still need to finalize the seating chart and pick our first dance song. Any preferences?"

Chaos pretended to think hard. "How about The Lion Sleeps Tonight ?" he suggested with a smirk.

Olive swatted his arm playfully. "Very funny, lion man. Keep it up and I'll have Gerri officiate the ceremony in a ringmaster outfit."

As the weeks flew by, their wedding day approached with alarming speed. Olive found herself caught up in a whirlwind of final fittings, confirming vendors, and last-minute crises that seemed to pop up at every turn.

The night before the wedding, Olive sat cross-legged on her bed, surrounded by scattered notecards covered in her neat, flowing handwriting.

"Chaos Amato," she read aloud, practicing her vows. "From the moment we met, you turned my world upside down. You challenged everything I thought I knew about love, about myself..."

A soft knock at the door interrupted her. "Olive?" Athena's voice called out. "Can I come in?"

"Of course," Olive replied, hastily gathering up her notecards.

Athena entered, carrying two steaming mugs of tea. She handed one to Olive before settling onto the bed beside her. "How are you feeling?"

Olive took a sip of tea, letting the warmth spread through her. "Excited. Nervous. A little bit like I'm living in one of my books."

Athena smiled knowingly. "You know, when I suggested Gerri's Paranormal Dating Agency, I only hoped she could help you avoid an arranged marriage. But look at you now – marrying a lion shifter billionaire. It's like something straight out of your vlogs."

Olive laughed, shaking her head. "Life is stranger than fiction, I guess. Who would have thought I'd end up here when I was trying to avoid that arranged marriage?"

"And now you're walking right into it," Athena teased. "Just with a lot more fur involved."

They chatted late into the night, reminiscing about their childhood dreams and marveling at where life had taken them. As Athena finally bid her goodnight, Olive felt a sense of calm settle over her. Tomorrow, she would become Mrs. Chaos Amato, and she couldn't wait.