The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 318

Chapter 276: The Vow Renewal

Bella POV

Clam

I woke up before anyone else on the morning of our vow renewal. I walked downstairs into the kitchen in the early quiet, pulled open the glass back door, and looked out at the garden.

Maya had come the evening before carrying armfuls of flowers from the market. White blossoms, pale yellow roses, and long, trailing green vines that she had twisted directly into the wooden fence along the garden wall. It did not look like a staged venue. It looked like something that had grown there naturally over time.

Caleb came downstairs at six in the morning, his bare feet silent on the hardwood floor. He carried two warm mugs of tea and stopped beside me at the window.

“You’re supposed to be asleep,” he said softly, handing me a mug.

“So are you,” I replied, taking a warm sip.

He looked out at the gate post. “Maya left flowers on the fence.”

“She had extras,” I said.

“She also left a note,” Caleb said, pulling a folded scrap of paper from his pocket. “It says, and I quote: If either of you is late, I will personally drag you out by your collar. This is not a drill.”

“That tracks,” I said, smiling into my mug. “She’s been threatening me with that since Crestwood.”

“Are you nervous?” he asked, turning his body toward mine.

“Not at all,” I said, looking up into those grey eyes. “Are you?”

“I’ve been ready for this since the day we decided to renew our promises,” Caleb said gently. “I just want the sun to come up so we can stand out there and reaffirm everything.”

“It’s already rising,” I whispered, gesturing toward the pale golden light hitting the fence.

“Look at this,” he said softly, putting his arm around my shoulders. “We made it here.”

“We did,” I said. “No board meetings today. No legal battles. Just us.”

By ten in the morning, the garden was alive with color and quiet voices.

Maya stood in the front row, already wiping tears from her eyes before the music even started. Diana stood next to her in a dark navy dress, holding Victor securely in her arms. Victor slept straight through the chatter, his small face pressed against her shoulder.

Nadia stood beside them, keeping a watchful eye on Grace, who scattered flower petals for a few steps before picking one up.

Diana watched Grace, letting out a heavy, dramatic sigh. “At this point, we single Pringles are just jealous of her peace,” Diana said, shaking her head. “She’s out here eating garden foliage while the rest of us are trying not to cry.”

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<Chapter 226 The Vow Renewal

Cam

Maya let out a loud, snorting laugh, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. “I can’t help it! I’ve been crying since I parked the car!”

I looked over from where I stood waiting with Caleb and shook my head at Maya. “Maya, bitch, you have to go get married next! You’re using up all the emotional energy!”

Maya gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth as her face turned red from laughing. “Ma’am! There are children around! You cannot be shouting profanities at your own vow renewal!”

Near the back fence beneath the trailing green wines, Sebastien stood beside my younger half-brothers. Sebastien looked across the grass at me, his eyes shining with unshed tears as he swallowed hard and offered a slow, proud nod. Beside him, Enzo was visibly dabbing at his eyes with a silk handkerchief.

Olivier stood on Sebastien’s other side, his posture rigid and correct. But as he watched Sebastien wipe a stray tear from his cheek, Olivier’s composure cracked, his jaw trembling slightly as he pulled out his own handkerchief.

“Look at them,” Enzo whispered loudly, pointing at his father and brother while grinning through his own teary eyes. “The stoic Marchetti men are completely falling apart.”

“Quiet, Enzo,” Olivier muttered, clearing his throat harshly and looking away. “It’s just the pollen from Maya’s flowers.”

“Right, pollen,” Enzo laughed, flashing me a wide thumbs-up across the lawn.

Olivier turned his gaze toward Caleb. The cold distance that had once lived between them was completely gone. Olivier gave Caleb a single, firm nod-a silent, brotherly sign that trust had been fully earned.

Tom stepped onto the grass, wearing a small dark suit. He held the white ring cushion level with both hands, taking slow, deliberate steps toward us.

“Is the cushion too heavy, Tom?” Caleb asked softly as he reached us.

“No, Dad,” Tom whispered, keeping his eyes glued to the rings. “I rehearsed this in the mirror all week. I practiced walking slow so they wouldn’t slide off.”

“You are doing a fantastic job,” I said, leaning down slightly. “Are you ready to hand them to us?”

“Yes, Mom,” Tom said, holding the cushion up higher. “Take yours carefully.”

“I have mine,” I said, taking the gold band.

“And I have mine,” Caleb said, lifting his ring. “Thank you, son.”

“Did I do it right?” Tom asked, looking between the two of us.

“You did it perfectly,” Caleb smiled, patting his shoulder.

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