Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 136

-Chase-

Georgia, Jessica, Mom, and even Carlota went crazy when we told them over dinner that Sofia and I would get married on Sunday.

I planned to take Sofia to the courthouse, profess my undying love for her, and take her to Croatia as originally planned. But women... they over exaggerate everything. Mom grabbed me by the ear, tugged me into the kitchen, and gave me an earful.

"What were you thinking, Chase!?" she parked her hands on her hips and started pacing. Fumes belched from her nose, like a dragon ready to burn me at any moment. I'm already a grown man, but I must admit, seeing Mom this mad still sent shivers down my spine. She was one second away from falling into a panic attack. 'Why did she even bring me here when her voice can be heard over the dining room?'

"A wedding is the most important event in a woman's life. You shouldn't rush it like this. This is Sofia's big day!" She stopped in front of me, her eyes shooting daggers. Mom was a foot shorter than I, but she looked at me like she was Shaquille O'Neal and I was Eva Longoria.

I suppress the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose. Ready to make my case, I pulled in a deep breath, but Sofia beat me to it.

"Clara, it's fine," she said, coming to my rescue. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on FindNovel.net. Visit FindNovel.net to read the complete chapters for free. She stood by my side, looped a hand around my arm, and leaned her head on my shoulder. "It was my choice to have our wedding on short notice."

Mom's sharp gaze slid from Sofia to me and back to Sofia. She was in her lie detector mode, but if there was someone who could pacify her anger, it was Sofia and Elise. They were her weakness.

"I know we spent a lot of effort and time planning our wedding, but things got out of hand." Sofia peered up at me, her eyes filled with hope and love. It made my chest tight. "Life must go on, and I refuse to let what happened hinder my future with Chase. We love each other, and that's what matters."

When Sofia was done, we both faced Mom. Her eyes were misting, and she came at us, throwing her arms around Sofia's and I's shoulders. I had to bend a little on the waist so she could reach me. We hugged her back, circling our hands on her back, and she fell into a wreck of tears. She pulled in a huge chunk of air and stepped back, wiping the side of her eyes melodramatically.

Mothers. I sighed.

"Fine," she sniffed. "But I get to plan the wedding!" she hissed at me, shaking her hands, and resumed marching back and forth. "There are so many things to do. The food, the place, the decoration, and, oh my God! What are you going to wear, Sofia?" "I got that covered," Carlota emerged from the kitchen entry, Jessica and Georgia walking behind her.

Women, I sighed. Do something ever get past their eavesdropping ears?

Mom's face brightened, her anger vanished, and soon they raved about planning our wedding. I should be thankful. Mom switched from beast mode to wedding planning mode. I get to keep my ears attached to my head.

I kissed Sofia's forehead. "I gotta get back to the guys."

"I'm not done with you, Chase!" Mom's sharp, warning voice followed me as I slipped back into the dining room.

I shook my head. The guys sniggered at me as I plonked back to my seat. Dad slapped my shoulder. "Are you sure you want to do this? That's your future." He smiled at me knowingly.

Mom wasn't kidding when she said she'd work her magic. I was skeptical when Sofia told me they decided to have the ceremony at the tree line behind the beach house. I expected them to choose the beach. But looking at the venue, I'd say it was perfect.

Fairy lights dangle from one tree to another, creating a thousand-star illusion against the dimmed forest canopy. Wooden chairs were arranged on each side of the makeshift aisle; our friends and family sat there while we waited for Sofia and her entourage. Santino was here, Jose, Mom, Dad, Ana, Michelle, and a few other employees at Montiero Holdings who became friends with Sofia. The ceremony was as intimate as it could get.

Mom threatened to disown me if I didn't show up in a white tux today. Eros came to my rescue and managed to find me one on short notice. Dressed in a gray suit, Rafa stood beside me on the makeshift altar and the wedding officiant, also courtesy of Eros. Perfect by Ed Sheeran started to spill from the speakers. Then, through the arch of veins dotted with white roses, Jessica appeared. She wore a white maxi dress, and a flower headdress sat on her hair like a crown. Beside her stood Eros; his glare directed at me could burn steel. I quelled the laughter that was ready to rumble from my chest. Rafa, on the other hand, snorted beside me.

The wedding officiant cleared his throat, pinning us with a sharp glare.

"Sorry," Rafa grumbled, still holding his laughter in.

Eros offered his arm for Jessica. Jessica's enthusiasm on Friday for meeting Eros was history. She glowered at Eros before looping her hand on his offered arm. It was Sofia's idea to pair them up, and I just hope this won't backfire on us. Eros was sporting a gray suit, but he looked like he'd rather eat nails than be here, while Jessica miraculously maintained a pageantry smile until they reached the end of the aisle. Rafa chuckled once more when Jessica huffed and snatched her hand from Eros' arms, then Eros narrowed his eyes at Jessica.

"Those two will end up killing each other before this day ends," Rafa murmured.

The wedding officiant cleared his throat, shaking his head.

Then Georgia walked down the aisle hand in hand with Miles. Followed by Carlota and Derek. Then came Julian, dressed in a suit paired with his cowboy boots, followed by my little Princess, who excitedly threw flowers as she walked down the wooden aisle. She was a real princess in her white dress, reaching her boot-clad feet. Her blond curls were sprinkled with little flowers, and her smile was brighter than the morning sun. She waved at me, mouthing 'I love you, Daddy, which melted my heart.

The lump in my throat thickened when Sofia emerged from the arch. Her strapless dress hugged her curves like it was made for her. The tiny beads lining the bodice caught the glowing lights above us, and the tulle flowed down to her sandaled feet. Small white flowers littered her braided brown hair; a few strands were curled and framed her beautiful face. She smiled at me when our gaze locked, then mist clouded my sight when she walked forward with Leo.

I blinked my tears away, but it was fucking tough to control my emotions when my dream was finally materializing before me.

Rafa set a hand on my shoulder, squeezing. "This is real, man," he murmured, "you still have time to back out."

I elbowed him. The wedding officiant cleared his throat and stabbed us with another warning glare, though I caught his lips tipping on a smile.

Everyone was on their feet, smiles etched on their faces as Sofia made her way to me. With each step she took, our life flashed before me, and how f*****g lucky I am that Sofia stayed through all the f**k ups I got myself into.

She was always the one waiting for me to come to my senses. When she set foot in my office, I never thought this would be our future. I pushed her away, keeping her at arm's length as best as I could. She was too good for me, but she waited for me patiently. She gave me time to grieve, taught me how to move forward, and forgive myself for losing Letty.

Then when this thing with Nikos started, Sofia again showed the tenacity of her love for me. She waited for me to treat her as my equal, not just someone I needed to protect, but a partner in good times and dire times.

It was always me who was coming to her while she patiently waited for me to get back to my senses.

"Chase?" Sofia touched my arm, blinking up at me with those familiar blue eyes I got used to seeing every morning when I woke up. This was it. She'll be Mrs. Chase Montiero, the final knot in our relationship.

I wiped the side of my eyes and smiled down at her, kissing her cheeks. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she giggled. "Are you having second thoughts?" her brows arched, lips curled teasingly.

I looped a hand around her waist, drawing her close to me. She made a little gasp that went straight to my dick. Fuck! Not yet; we still have to get through this ceremony.

"Not one fucking bit. You're mine, Sofia," I growled in her ears, kissing her cheeks once more. Wrong move. Her sweet scent engulfed me. I gripped her closer to me, and the officiant cleared his throat again.

Leo chuckled when I let Sofia go, shaking my hand. "I won't tell you to take care of her. You're already doing a pretty damn good job."

Everyone laughed. The tension in my shoulder is loosening. "Thanks, man."

We faced the wedding officiant, a smile finally etched on the old man's face.

"This is it," Sofia murmured.

"Fucking finally,"