Chapter 360: Before I Call You My Husband
He smiled softly. "Honestly, I’ve never done this before. I’ve never been married, so I’m figuring things out as I go. But I’m happy you want our families to meet. I’ll talk to my family, and you can talk to your family too. We’ll make it happen."
They stayed wrapped in each other’s arms for a long moment, basking in the simple perfection of it all.
Finally, Matteo pulled back just enough to press a lingering kiss to Adrian’s forehead. He gently pushed Adrian back down against the pillows, pulling the duvet up over his shoulders.
"You," Matteo whispered playfully, his eyes sparkling with affection, "You do not need to leave this room today."
Adrian blinked up at him, amused. "And why is that?"
"Because you’re going to stay right here, relax, and freshen up," Matteo said. "I’m going downstairs to make you breakfast. I want to spoil my mama, my baby, my princess, and my favorite spoiled brat. I’m getting married to you in two days, which means my full-time job right now is treating you like royalty. No stress allowed."
Adrian laughed softly. "Okay, papa," he teased, leaning back against the pillows with a happy smile.
Matteo groaned playfully at the nickname and leaned down until their faces were inches apart. "Give me a kiss before I go, or I’m never leaving this room."
Adrian smiled and tilted his chin up, meeting him halfway. Their lips touched in a slow, sweet kiss that lasted a few moments before they finally pulled apart.
Matteo smiled as he straightened up. "All right. I’m going."
Adrian rested his chin on his hand, watching him fondly. "Alright, go on then, baby."
Matteo turned and walked toward the bedroom door, but when he reached the middle of the room, he suddenly paused and looked back at Adrian with a goofy, lovestruck grin.
Adrian narrowed his eyes playfully, trying not to laugh. "What is wrong with you?"
"Nothing," Matteo said, unable to hide his smile. "I’m just happy. I’m so damn happy. In two days, I get to call you my husband."
Adrian’s expression softened. "Yeah. I know. It’s real."
"And you’re happy too?" Matteo asked.
Adrian answered. "I’m very happy, papa."
Matteo chuckled softly. "Okay, now I’m really going. Before I change my mind and stay in bed with you all morning."
"Go make me my breakfast, husband," Adrian teased.
Matteo smiled at the word before finally turning toward the door. "Coming right up."
With one last loving look, he left the room, stepping into the quiet hallway and heading downstairs to the spacious kitchen to make breakfast for his soon-to-be husband.
When he reached the ground floor, he found his mother already awake, sitting quietly in the dining room with a cup of coffee. Matteo walked over with a soft smile and pulled out a chair beside her.
"Good morning, Mom," he said warmly.
His mother looked up, her eyes lighting up as she smiled at him. "Good morning, my son. Did you sleep well?"
"I did." Matteo poured himself a cup of coffee and sat beside her for a moment.
His mother glanced toward the staircase. "And Adrian?"
Matteo said. "I told him to stay upstairs. He was tired, so I want him to rest."
Before Matteo could get up and head into the kitchen, Selene approached them.
"Good morning, sir. Would you like me to have breakfast served here in the dining room, or should I have it taken upstairs?"
Matteo shook his head. "No, thank you, Selene. I want to make it myself. I’m going to cook for him."
Selene nodded. "Alright, sir."
Matteo’s mother watched him with a warm smile. She couldn’t help but feel happy seeing how naturally he cared for Adrian.
Before heading into the kitchen, Matteo turned back to his mother.
"Mom, Adrian and I talked this morning. We decided to have a quiet family dinner here tomorrow night, just before the wedding. Nothing big. Just our immediate families sitting together and getting to know each other properly."
His mother’s face lit up. "I think that’s a wonderful idea. I’ll be here."
Matteo nodded, then turned back to Selene to discuss the menu and the arrangements for the long outdoor dining table on the garden terrace. Once everything was settled, he rolled up his sleeves and headed into the kitchen to prepare his baby’s breakfast himself.
Upstairs, Adrian sat on the edge of the bed and made his calls before heading into the bathroom to shower. He called Maya first and told her about the family dinner planned for the following evening. She happily agreed to come.
He then called his father. After a few rings, his father answered, and Adrian extended the same invitation. His father accepted without hesitation, sounding genuinely pleased that Adrian wanted him there.
With both sides of the family informed, Adrian finally put his phone aside and headed into the bathroom.
Not long after, Matteo finished preparing breakfast and carried the tray upstairs. He found Adrian waiting for him on the bedroom sofa. Matteo set the tray down on the coffee table before sitting beside him, and they enjoyed a quiet breakfast together.
They spent the rest of the day indoors, enjoying each other’s company without worrying about anything else. They talked, teased each other, watched movies, and simply enjoyed having nowhere they needed to be.
By the following evening, a cool, pleasant breeze had settled over the estate, making it the perfect night for the family dinner.
Out on the garden terrace, the long dining table had been arranged beneath the open sky, with soft fairy lights hanging among the greenery above them. The setting was elegant but warm, creating a comfortable atmosphere for both families to spend the evening together.
Matteo’s mother was already there, welcoming everyone with a warm smile as they arrived. Maya came next, greeting Matteo and Adrian with tight, affectionate hugs before taking her seat.
Not long after, Adrian’s father arrived, offering everyone a polite greeting before settling into his place at the table.
Then the final guests arrived: Matteo’s father, walking in alongside Mark.
There was no awkwardness when Matteo’s mother looked up and saw her ex-husband. The two of them had already met a week earlier, before the wedding preparations became too busy, and they had talked about everything that had happened between them. They both knew they could never go back to being husband and wife, but they were still the parents of the same children, and they had decided to leave the past behind and move forward for their family.
Matteo’s parents exchanged a small nod of understanding before his father took a seat beside Mark.
For a moment, there was a little hesitation as everyone settled into their seats. It was the first time both families had gathered together like this, and no one was quite sure how to begin the conversation.
But the awkwardness didn’t last long.
Maya naturally kept the conversation going, asking questions and drawing everyone into the discussion. Soon, the quiet tension began to disappear.
As dinner continued, the conversation became easier. They talked about the wedding, shared stories, laughed over small things, and slowly became more comfortable with one another.
Adrian and Matteo sat beside each other, their hands occasionally finding each other beneath the table. Every now and then, they exchanged a smile, quietly taking in the sight of their families sitting together.
For Adrian, there was something deeply comforting about seeing his father sitting among the people who had become such an important part of his life.
For Matteo, seeing his mother there with Adrian’s family made the evening feel just as meaningful.
By the end of dinner, everyone seemed much more relaxed. What had started with a little uncertainty had turned into a warm evening filled with conversation and laughter.
When the night finally came to an end, they said their goodbyes and promised to see one another the following day.
Neither Adrian nor Matteo knew how quickly the hours would pass.
Because when morning came, there would be no more waiting.
Their wedding day had finally arrived.
The morning of the wedding dawned bright and clear, wrapping the estate in a quiet, breathless kind of magic.
Matteo woke up first. For a long moment, he didn’t move. He simply lay there in the soft morning light, propped up on his side, looking down at Adrian sleeping peacefully beside him. The heavy platinum band of their engagement ring caught the early sunlight glinting through the curtains.
Carefully, Matteo reached across the mattress and gently took Adrian’s hand, lacing their fingers together. As he held his hand, Matteo closed his eyes and offered a silent, heartfelt prayer. He prayed for their future, for the safety of everyone they loved, and for every detail they had planned that day to go smoothly. He wanted everything to be perfect, not just for himself, but for the man sleeping beside him, who had been through so much just to reach this happy moment."
After the prayer, Matteo opened his eyes and looked at Adrian with a soft smile.
He had originally considered holding the wedding at his own estate. It would have been easier to keep everything close and under his control, but he eventually decided that a separate venue would be better.
For privacy and security, he had chosen a luxurious hotel with a private ballroom and a beautiful outdoor terrace where the ceremony would take place. The entire venue had been secured for the wedding, with his security team already in place to make sure everything went smoothly.
To keep everything secure, Matteo had arranged for their families to stay at their respective homes overnight. Instead of having everyone arrive at the hotel the night before, they would all travel there that morning.
The wedding ceremony was scheduled for 4:00 PM, followed by the reception inside the ballroom...
Yes 😭❤️ Wedding o’clock is finally here!