I'm getting married...well not now but in a week I get to become Lex's wife. The excitement is palpable. I can't contain it.

The wedding planning has been a smooth process..thankfully. Having Val and Isadora in charge was good decision making on my part. Gigi and I do help them out but they really have everything under control.

As long as they follow my instructions of how I want our special day to be then I am happy.

"I am so excited you guys.", Isadora says from where she sits next to me. Myself, her and GIgi and are in the kitchen at the mansion currently on a video call with Val, Charlotte and Jocelyn.

"Calm down.", Gigo playfully says to her. I smile at both of them.

Isa giggles, "I can't keep calm. My big brother is getting married." she takes a breath, "do you know how long I have been waiting for this day to come?!"her voice rises towards the end as she speaks.

"I thought that boy was going to die a bachelor", Jocelyn says. Her voice directing my attention back to the screen.

Well he's going to die a married man.

The conversation goes on for two more hours as we iron out the last few details for the upcoming week.

"We'll be flying in on Monday night so we will have the rest of the week to decorate and get all the other stuff done', Val says. Her tone in business mode.

That means they will be here in about three days.

"That's great. I can't wait for you guys to get here." I say with a wide smile.

We end the call a few minutes later and I am left with the two women next to me. "Well now that all the drama is over. I know that it's a bit short notice but Gigi."...I turn to look at her, "My friend...you have been through a lot with me and have been a rock. So would you please be my maid of honor?".

Her happy squeal causes me to flinch. Gosh...she really is a banshee. "Of course I'll be your maid of honor.", she pulls me into a hug.

I look at Isa over Gigi's shoulders, "Please be my bridesmaid?". She nods with a smile and joins in the hug.

***

There aren't a lot of moments in my life where I have seen my mother cry. She's a tough woman and only shows her vulnerable emotional side at certain moments.

Right now that moment is her seeing me in my wedding dress for the first time. I'm at a fitting and I brought my entire female entourage with me; Val, Charlotte and Jocelyn included.

They flew in from Paris a day ago and this is my final fitting before the wedding, which is in a few days.

Tears fill my eyes as I continue to stare at myself in the mirror. I look good. This dress really was made for me. I like not being conventional and traditional so I always dreamed that my wedding dress would be bohemian inspired.

It's a Finn inspired wedding gown with a clean skirt made of pure silk chiffon which perfectly contrasts the sheer bodice of French and organic-inspired laces. It has a faux off-the-shoulder look with nude illusion tulle to highlight my collarbone. Classic fabric-covered buttons float along my seemingly bare back and detachable lace bell sleeves that taper at the wrists to form a full bluson shape.

I love slits and this gown has one of my left side tat exposes my thigh as when I walk or move as the tain ripples behind me.

"You look like a goddess", Gigi says in awe. There is a chorus of agreeing "mmhms" that follows her comment.

I watch from the mirror as mom stands from her seat and walks towards me. She stands next to me and holds my hand. "You look absolutely beautiful honey."

Holding back the tears I give her a wobbly smile, "I love you mom." .She sniffles and wraps her arms around me in a warm motherly embrace, "I love you too sweetheart".

Gigi and Isadora also get their final fittings done for their dresses. It was not as intricate a process as mine as we got the dresses from the ones that the store already had. They both look beautiful in their darn navy blue dresses. They are some similarities between them but at the same time they are different.

Isadora's dress is a trumpet mermaid off-the-shoulder floor length crepe gown with a split front. Gigi went for a an A-line off-the-shoulder floor length dress with a ruffle slit on her right side.

Once the dresses are finalised, we all go out for lunch. I called ahead at the restaurant to get a big table since it is eight of us, including Nana. There was no way I was going to leaver her behind for this. She is a very big part of my life and I need her around to experience these moments with me.

I don't know how much longer we have with her. This disease seems to be taking more of her essence as each day passes.

So I am going to savor each day and make every second count.

We arrive at the restaurant and get seated at our table. A waiter comes to hand us menus and take our drink orders. A few minutes later our drinks arrive and then we place our food orders.

"This is so good", Gigi says right after taking a huge gulp of her margarita.

I shake my head at her, "It's three in the afternoon G."

"It's my week off work and I plan to get drunk right until the day after your wedding."

"I totally agree with you.", Isadora says as she raises her not so virgin mojito in salute. I can tell how happy she is to be getting a break from Shiloh. Thankfully Elizabeth did not mind being a baby sitter. We left her at home with Shiloh, Anya and Juliette.

I thought that leaving her with three kids would be a bit too much for her, but she assured me that she can handle being with them for a few hours.

We eat and have a cheery conversation, it warms my heart to see everyone so happy and looking forward to this coming Saturday. My phone vibrates with a text from Lex.

Heat creeps up my cheeks as I blush. I feel my lips curve into a wide smile as I reread the taxt a few more times.

"She's got it bad.", Gigi says. I look up from the phone and see how all seven of these women are just watching me with grins on their faces.

"You're so in love it's sickening.", Val says as she nudges me with her elbow. She is seated next to me on my left at the table.

I playfully roll my eyes at them and reply to my man.

After I hit send I go back to enjoying lunch with my favourite women in the world.

***

Stacy Walker is different.

This woman is everything that Belle is not. I haven't spoken a word to her yet and I can already sense that she is not the same as her sister.

Lex ushers us to the leaving room before retreating back to his study. He has been in there most of the day as he is finalising a few things. He said that he does not want any work to disrupt our honeymoon.

Stacy and I sit on the two armchairs we have in the living room facing each other. Silence falls up on us for three heartbeats before she speaks, "How are you?", her voice soft and gentle.

I try to mirror her tone as I respond, "I'm okay, despite the recent circumstances. How are you?"

Her lips move but I don't listen to what she says. I am too caught up in staring at her. Analyzing every single detail that I can about her. As unfair as it may sound, I am trying to find Belle in her. Pieces of Belle that may be in Stacy but I see none.

She really is the total opposite of Belle, even with the hair that now looks similar to Belle's recent color change. Stacy exudes a more positive energy.

Stacy's hold on my hand pulls me back into reality, "Hey...I can leave if you want." she says with concern filled eyes.

I smile at her, "No, it's okay."

We spend almost thirty minutes talking about what happened. She dives into her sister's mental history and this is how I find out the severity of Belle's fragile mental health.

"I'm so sorry she put you through this.", she says before taking a sip of her coffee.

My dear fiancé made us two mugs filled with delicious Moroccan brew coffee. I almost swooned to death when he brought out two plates filled with cupcakes and cookies. Alexander is just too much for me at times.

I hug my mug close to my chest as I let Stacy's words wash over me. "It's over now. I'm just glad that she will be getting the help that she needs."

She scoffs, "And the punishment that she deserves."

My hand automatically reaches over to lightly swat hers, "Stacy!", I exclaim in shock. How can she say such a thing about her own flesh and blood?

She laughs at my reaction, "What? It's the truth."

"Yeah but...she's still your sister."

A roll of her eyes is what I get, "You're too nice for your own good. Yes she's my sister but she is a horrible person who has done bad things to people--heck she's done them to you!"

She continues, "I love her but she needs to learn that there are dire consequences to her actions especially when she refuses to take her meds. That's what got us here in the first place. Hopefully she'll learn and not repeat the same mistakes."

I nod in understanding. I can tell that Stacy only wants what's best for her sister. She deeply cares for Belle even if she shows it in her own strict way.

That's tough love in action.

I hope that Belle does get better and that she receives all the help that she can get. She messed up and I know that I am supposed to be angry at her and scream for her head on a platter but...that's not me. That's not how I was raised. I was taught to never harbour the need for revenge and that God will avenge any bad that may come my way.

I'm not saying that I wasn't entirely pissed off at her for what she did because it is basic human nature to feel like that but I also took the time to imagine what it must be like to be her. To have a mental illness that distorts your idea of what reality is and what it should be.

I mean yeah...I could just be bitter and pissed for all eternity at her but then I would not be true to who I am. And besides being unforgiving is a dangerous thing to have in your heart. I don't want to be blocking my blessings by holding eternal grudges.

I didn't get to be blessed with the people and opportunities I have by being bitter. I've never been like that and I'm not about to start now. All I can do is take what I can from this horrible experience and move on with my life.

Stacy leaves an hour later after a nice chat. We got to know each other a little bit and she even congratulated me on the upcoming nuptials. I think I may have gained an acquaintance in her, she is such a cool person to talk to.

After watching her drive off, I walk back inside the house and start to work on dinner. Mom and dad took Nana to a doctor a few hours ago, they should be on their way back. I'm lucky that Pierre's family is staying at the house he has here, otherwise I would be cooking for an army.

Warm , muscular arms wrap themselves around my waist, I don't move away from the counter but focus on chopping peppers. His scent evades my senses when he places a light kiss on the exposed skin of my shoulder. I'm wearing an oversized knit sweater, so the right side is completely off the shoulder.

Lex continues to place kisses on shoulder and I try to fight off the overwhelming pull of desire. Leaving the peppers and knife on the countertop, I wipe my hands on a dishcloth and turn in his arms. I look up at his gorgeous blue eyes and immediately get lost in them.

"You're distracting me.", I say as I move my arms up his chest. His shirt-covered pecs flex and ripple under my touch.

He lifts me up in his strong arms and places on the countertop. His hands roam my back, leaving a nice tingling sensation.

"Lex, I need to make dinner." trying to escape his embrace is hard. My mind is telling me that I need to get back to the food but my body is resisting and wants to stay in this position and enjoy being in this moment with him.

I feel his lips on my neck as he kisses, nips and sucks. A moan escapes my lips as I crane my neck to the side to give him more surface area to kiss.

"We can go out to eat, I'm sure your parents won't mind." he bites another spot.

That sounds like a good idea. "But I've already started with the veget-." his lips crashing on mine cuts me off. He kisses me deeply but at the same time softly. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back with as much vigor. My fingers find their way into the hair at the nape of his neck, and tangle them in his luscious locks.

I push him back after a few seconds of our lip lock, "Wait", I say sounding like I've just gotten the wind knocked out of me. His kisses always leave me breathless. "I really need to continue 'because I already started with these.", I gesture to the various chopped vegetables next to me. "We can't just go out t-"

He huffs and looks at me with lust filled eyes, "Baby, right now I don't give a damn about some carrots and bell peppers." his hands hold my waist and pull closer to his chest as my legs continue to dangle on the counter.

"We will eat out.", he gruffly commands and even though it wasn't a question I find myself nodding.

He cracks a grin before bringing his face closer to mine, "Now be a good girl, shut up and let me kiss you".

I nod, staring at him like deer caught in headlights, "Yes sir", I say my voice almost a whisper.

Our lips meet in a passionate clash. He nips and bites and sucks on my bottom lip like a starved man. I moan and pant and run my hands under his shirt to feel his abs. The muscles flex underneath my palms. Just as my hands go lower to unbutton his jeans, footsteps and voices coming our way make him pull away from our steamy make out.

My parents, along with Nana, June and Harvey walk in while Lex helps me off the counter.

"What are you doing?", Dad asks us.

I smile at him, "Nothing!", I say a little too loudly.

"That doesn't look like nothing." mom says as she points to the messed up chopped vegetables next to me.

An awkward laugh makes its way out of my lips, "I was going to make dinner, but then Lex said that it's better if we all had a night out."

June shoots me an all-knowing smile. She can tell what we were doing. Our swollen lips and Lex's messy hair are enough evidence. Mom doesn't look convinced.

I'm so embarrassed, my face is burning from the blood rushing to my cheeks.

"Well let's get ready then. I'm in the mood for a large juicy steak.", dad breaks the silence with his jolly voice as he walks out of the kitchen followed by Harvey and a giggling Miss June.

Mom stares us down for two more seconds before she also leaves us. I release a heavy breath and step away from Lex. He grabs my arm and pulls me in for one more kiss. I can't resist him as my body responds to him once more.

"Go freshen up, I'll fix all of this.", he says against my lips. I nod and detach from him. I walk towards the threshold slowly.

"Baby are you okay?", he asks.

"Yes I'm fine." I say before attempting to leave again.

He chuckles, "You're a horrible liar.", I turn to glare at him but he just grins instead.

Turning on my heel I quickly walk out and leave as the sound of his joyous laughter follows me.

He is right about one thing though, I am a horrible liar. Because I lied when I said I was okay.

I'm not.

My underwear is drenched and a part of me tells me that he knows that too.