The Royal Wedding by Shree Lakshmi (best books for 7th graders TXT) 📕

the rock while watching Suri playing with her friends. Knowing that there will be no harm to leave them alone, she went inside her house and showered. She changed herself into short jeans and a tank top. A hot coffee is the best thing to ease her pain, she thought.
She turned on her coffee maker. After a few minutes she poured herself coffee in the mug and sat in the hall where she could see Suri playing. The hot coffee ran through her throat bring the warm inside her body. She closed her eyes and leaned back.
A door bell was the one which makes her open her eyes. Two rings went on when she finally stood and yell,” coming,”
She looked out and realized its dark out. Hope Suri had come home; she took a lot of time.
Sam opened the door and saw no one. She came out to see further. She heard voices coming from her garden. There are two voices—one is of Suri’s, another she can’t make it. There is a male chuckle sound. She turned to see in her garden. There she saw Suri standing along with a man.
From the dark and his back, she can see who he is. She can never mistake anyone with him. Sam went further towards them hoping that man may be a stranger asking for directions or someone around from neighborhood. Only thing--- her thoughts never matches hers.
“Suri?”
“Mommy, we have a guest,” she yelled in excitement and raced towards her to hug. Sam bends down to take her in her arms and looked directly at him.
His eyebrows joined together while his hands shoved into his pockets.
“Hello Sam,” his sweet yet anger filled voice filled in the air.


Chapter 14
“Hello, Stefan,” she managed to speak.
He had changed a bit, maybe because he grew up more mature and responsible. He was wearing black trousers along with the white check shirt. He stood before her shoving his hands in pocket. Suddenly there were lightening in the sky indicating the rain will pour down anytime.
“I… I think it’s going to rain. Why don’t you come inside,” Sam walked inside the home and Suri went to him clutching his hand.
“Suri, go shower,” Sam commanded her.
“No mama, I will stay with Stefan,” he said while sitting on his lap.
She went to her and picked her,” if you excuse me,” she entered the room holding Suri, who is insisting to stay there.
When Sam went inside, he sat there looking around the room. It’s quite a house, filled with fresh flowers, dolls scattered here and there. There were a series of photos on the firewall. He stood and strolled there still unbelievable to think he came here to meet her.
Only two days back Elena told him how she saw Sam in the shopping mall but couldn’t talk to her. On further searching he came to know that she is having a house in France. And now he is here, in her house. He doesn’t even know what to talk to her. She hasn’t changed a bit; she is same when he saw her the last time.
He looked at the photos of Sam along with Suri. They both look adorable. He didn’t know she had a daughter until he came to her house.
“So, what brought you here?” He was interrupted by Sam, who entered the kitchen.
“Well, I was just passing by,” he said casually leaning on the door.
“Oh, so how are all?” She switched the coffee maker.
“Yeah, fine. How’s your work. Heard you worked in Italy?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Stefan, you are not following me, right,” she chuckled.
“No, I am not,” he said rather coldly.
She might have sensed the tension in the air. She smiled and handed him the coffee. He took it and sipped it still staring at her.
“How’s your Mom?” She changed the topic.
“Fine,”
“Hope she is not angry with me,”
“No, she is not,”
“Oh, that’s better,” he handed her the mug.
They stood there in silence. Stefan has been waiting for this very day, rehearsed each word he wants to ask her. But now he doesn’t know what to say. All these years his wait is getting wasted. But what can he do… he loves her.
“Why did you leave me?” He suddenly came to the point.
“Stefan, it’s been 5 years. Now it’s no use to talk,” she held her mug to her mouth.
“5 years without any explanation?” He coldly replied her.
“Maybe it’s time we forget it,” she said softly hoping he will relax a bit.
She knew why he is here. He wants to know the truth, the answer. But what’s the point in saying this now after 5 years. He is now standing there, holding his anger.
“Forget? What I have to forget? Forget how you ran away twice without any explanation? Forget how you ditched me,” he yelled in an undertone.
“I didn’t ditch you,” she raised her voice.
“Yeah, it explains a lot. You didn’t wait for me. You didn’t trust me.”
“I trust you. What I don’t trust is me. I ran away cowardly. I agree,” she turned away to the window. She heard him exhale.
He grabbed her hand and made her turn towards her. They both looked into each other eyes and were lost in that until they interrupted by the thunder.
“Why didn’t you wait?” He asked her in a soft tone. His eyes were pleading her for an answer. Seeing his eyes, she found herself guilty.
“Stefan, I didn’t wait because I don’t want to be the one of the reasons, Reason to break the marriage, reason to hurt the ones who shouldn’t be hurt. I couldn’t face your parents, I…” she trailed off and tears began to roll down.
Outside the thunders started and heavy rain began. Stefan wrapped his hands around her. She laid her head on his shoulder and cried.
“Anyways, it’s over now. How’s Elena?” She raised and wiped her tears. “I think you both...”
“I called off the wedding,” there was a hint of irritation in his voice.
She looked shocked and covered her mouth with her hands.
“You did what?” She managed to ask him.
“Yeah that day when you left me, I talked to my mom and convinced her. She was in anger but when she understood that the girl I love is you she managed to agree,”
She couldn’t move or say any. He indeed cancelled the wedding for her and she ran away. What she worried for years, she has actually done that. Five years back she didn’t want to hurt anyone, but actually she wounded the one who loved her.
“I searched you for years. You didn’t give your address to anyone. For two years I tried and tried. Those years were the most horrible ones. I couldn’t concentrate for my people. I lost the major projects and everything. After my dad’s death, I had to concentrate on my work. I left it to the destiny, one day I will find you,”
All those words were stabbing inside her heart. He waited for her and she…
“It was two days back; I came to know about you from Elena…” he looked at her.
“I saw her at that mall with a man, I thought it was you..” She trailed off looking confused. She remembers the day well, when she saw her with a man, who look familiar to him. How can she mistake it?
“It’s not me. It’s Edward,” he said.
“What… you mean”
“Yes, Elena and Edward got married. That day after convincing my mom I went straight to her. I didn’t want to hurt her. So I and Edward went to visit her. I said that I called off the wedding. At that moment I saw the happiness in her eyes but it faded quickly. At that time I realized the way she looked at Edward. Then I realized those words you told me that day. “He sighed. Sam felt happy for them. Edward didn’t have to wait.
“I got them married by convincing Elena’s parents,” he looked at her,” I came running, hoping to see you, talk to you, hoping that you will come back to me” he nervously ran his hand on his hair.
“When I saw the photos, I realized you moved on and now I lost you completely,” he sighed.
Sam now realized why he looked so dull after she entered the hall. It was the time to tell him the truth.
“She is not my daughter,” she murmured.
“What? Then whose” he sounded confused.
“She is the daughter of Sara and Noah,” she looked at him for a reaction.
He stared at her “Sara and Noah?”
“Yeah, they were in love. Noah told me that he was dating Sara during our stay in the palace,”
“But Noah was...”
“Yeah I know Noah was killed in a car accident. That day he was coming to meet Sara, to see his daughter, to propose Sara. But it didn’t happen,”
“How do you know …?”
“I was right there when Sara was giving birth to Suri. I met her after I left you. We talked about the past and I forgave her. I was waiting anxiously for Noah. I know Noah was going to propose her. But he never came that day. But fate turned worse. Sara died in childbirth. She made me her guardian but I couldn’t tell her about Noah,”
He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.
“Does she know?” He pointed towards the room.
“No, I took care of her since she was born. She calls me mom. I accepted. I didn’t move on Stefan. I couldn’t…” she started crying.
He hugged her tightly, stroking her back to stop crying.
“I didn’t Stef, I couldn’t. I tried a lot to forget you, but it was like there is no life without you, I am now living only because of Suri. I know I hurt you. I didn’t think that …”
“Shh… oh dear Sam, there is still hope,”
She leaned back, “hope?” She looked confused.
He smirked and kneeled down on one leg and held her hand, “my dear Samantha white, will you do the honor of being my wife,”
She gasped in horror, “Stef, I can’t … I don’t know…”
“Just say yes,” he was looking at her with eyes will with love.
“Yes… yes,” she smiled still crying.
He held her face with his hands and kissed her.
“Mama, is he going to stay with us,” suddenly Suri came running and hugged his leg.
“Yes baby, he is going to,” she smiled.
Stefan released Sam and hugged Suri, “I am going to live with you forever,”
“Forever?”
“Yes forever,” he kissed her forehead.
“Wait… I will tell everyone that I got my papa,” she yelled in excitement and ran outside.
“Oh feels so great to hear that word,” Stefan chuckled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Sam laughed aloud.
Chapter 15
She closed her eyes and took a long breath. She is nervous. But today she has to be courageous. She smiled to herself. All those days are going to vanish; her suffering is going to vanish in thin air. She found herself smiling.
“Ready to go, princess,” she turned to see her friend Rachael, standing there in a beautiful white knee length dress holding a bunch of white tulip flowers. She smiled at Sam and handed her the flowers.
Just then the door opened and Elena came inside running to her and hugging her.
“Oh my god, I am so excited. I am more excited than my marriage,” she giggled. She looks beautiful in her knee length wine color dress with a low neckline; after all, she is the maid of honor. She smiled at her.
Sam gently took her