The Gondola the Don Made for Me Chapter 07

The Gondola the Don Made for Me Chapter 07

The final day dawned bright and clear. Spring sunlight glinted across the canals of Water City, casting reflections of the old riverside buildings onto the water, painting a scene of pure tranquility.

Sophia licked her ice cream, her tone bright and excited. “Julian, look over there! There’s a wedding going on. It looks so lively! Can we go watch?”

Julian had no desire to go out, but he gave in to her persistent begging. He also hoped to ease the guilt gnawing at him, so he agreed.

They strolled along the canal. The further they walked, the more festive the atmosphere became. White flowers and silk ribbons lined every railing, and crowds of locals gathered to watch, chattering animatedly.

“Which family’s wedding is this? The scale is incredible! There must be hundreds of gondolas surrounding the city!”

“It’s the young master of the Gracie family! Wonder who the bride is?”

“Wow, here comes the groom! He’s absolutely stunning!”

Julian followed their gazes. Standing at the bow of the lead gondola was none other than Liam Gracie. What a coincidence.

Liam sailed his wedding boat forward to meet the bride’s vessel.

Ten meters. Eight meters. Two meters.

Just as the two gondolas were about to meet, a gust of wind lifted a corner of the bride’s veil.

The curve of her chin came into view, and a strange sense of familiarity washed over Julian. The next second, he froze completely.

The veil was about to flutter higher when a bridesmaid quickly pressed it back down. As she moved, her face turned toward them—it was Summer, Vera’s closest friend.

Julian’s heart lurched into his throat. His eyes locked firmly on the bride. Every feature felt hauntingly familiar, and a wave of surreal dread crashed over him.

Why had he instantly thought it was Vera? That was ridiculous. Yet the uneasy feeling refused to fade.

Sophia tugged at his arm, her voice cheerful. “Julian, look! The entire boat is covered in white orchids. It’s gorgeous!”

Her words struck Julian like a thunderclap. He remembered what Vera had once told him: Julian, on our wedding day, I want our gondola covered entirely in white orchids. It’ll be one of a kind.

His stomach dropped sharply.

No. It couldn’t be. There was no way the bride was Vera.

He struggled to calm his rising panic, forcing himself to deny the thought. But long-overlooked details flooded his mind one after another: her calm, tearless expression at the boat launching ceremony; her quiet line about being an awkward ex; her blunt words that she intended to marry someone else; the sincere look in her eyes when she returned the sapphire ring.

Back then, he’d dismissed everything as petty tactics to pressure him into marriage and scoffed at her attempts. But what if none of it had been an act?

He dared not follow that line of thought any further. Hands shaking, he fumbled to unlock his phone multiple times. He dialed Vera’s number, only to find her phone was powered off.

His breathing grew heavy. Though it was spring, his hands and feet turned cold. He pulled up their chat history. The last message was from him: [Vera, if you keep pouting, I might change my mind.]

Vera had always been stubborn. She’d throw fits when wronged, shed tears when ignored. No matter how fierce their arguments grew, she would never hand back that family heirloom ring, never let go so easily. But on Grandma Romano’s birthday, she had looked relaxed and relieved, without a single trace of regret.