Chapter 9

“Ann Henson, you’re going to marry me someday. No take-backs.”

“When I grow up, I’ll design a one-of-a-kind wedding dress just for you. You’ll be the most

After You Broke Me, I Became the Billionaire’s Bride

beautiful bride in the world.”

A silly promise between two children, and he’d held onto it all these years.

The moment the fitting room curtain drew back, my eyes met Nicholas Vance’s. Those

striking, warm eyes of his.

Tears blurred my vision before I could stop them.

My heart leapt in my chest, alive again..

“Thank you for loving me, Nick. For waiting twenty years without giving up.”

He smiled, tears pooling in his own eyes.

His hands trembled as he slid the jade bracelet onto my wrist.

“I should be the one thanking you, for coming back into my life.”

“From the day you went missing, my mother and I never stopped looking. Every trace of you had been erased, deliberately. But by some grace, you found your way back to your mother,

and back to me.”

That bracelet, translucent and flawless, I recognized it.

When I was little, I’d pointed at it on June Vance’s wrist, bright-eyed and shameless.

“Auntie, your bracelet is so pretty! Can I have one?”

June had laughed and stroked my hair gently.

“Annie, this is the Vance family heirloom. It only goes to the lady of the house. When you’re

older, Nick will give it to you himself.”

Through my tears, I leaned up and pressed my lips to his.

By some grace, there was still someone in this world who loved me.

The Sanchez family had an heirloom too, a ring, meant for their family’s bride. But I’d seen

that ring on Maria’s finger.

It wasn’t as though I hadn’t confronted Otto about it, demanding answers until my voice broke.

All I got in return was a single dismissive line.

“She’s just wearing it for fun. On our wedding day, I’ll give it to you properly.”

Otto Sanchez, I never got to wait for that day.

But it turned out I didn’t need to. I’d found what was truly mine.

On the day of the wedding, Nicholas dropped to one knee, hands shaking, crying without a

shred of composure.

“All these years, I’ve finally waited long enough.”

“I swear I will love you until the end of time. Nothing, not even death, will change that.”

The guests erupted in laughter and cheers.

“So the great Nicholas Vance does have a soft side after all!”

“Twenty-some years of waiting just to finally get himself hitched!”

Boom.

Fireworks burst across the sky behind us, a cascade of brilliant color. We looked at each other

in that moment, and both our eyes were red.

Mom. Grandpa. Can you see this?

I finally found my way to happiness.

When I first arrived in London, I was like anyone else who’d lost a seven-year love. I cried. I

stood by the window day after day, numb and hollow.

But every night, I could see Nicholas’s silhouette outside that window. And every time I

lowered my head, he would look up.

No one is meant to stay trapped forever. We all deserve to walk toward something new.

Halfway through the ceremony, a disheveled figure burst through the doors. Security couldn’t

hold him back.