The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Dawn POV

I get dressed quickly, still in a state of shock. Flair helps me, handing me a bouquet from seemingly out of nowhere, purple and white roses to match the white simple dress and shoes. I don't care about what I'm wearing, but I know that Flair has designed it and I thank her profusely, tears in my eyes.

"Thank you" I whisper, hugging her tight.

"Welcome to the family, sister-in-law" she responds, her smile warm, her excitement genuine.

I blink, Flair guiding me down the stairs as the flash of a camera goes off. A photographer continues to subtly take pictures in the background. I am met at the base of the stairs by Lorelai, Rachel, and my daughter Faith whose smile goes from ear to ear. The women are wearing matching purple bridesmaid dresses and Faith, I'm stunned to see is wearing a miniature version of the same dress, a small basket of rose petals in her hand. The flower girl. My mother must already be in the room, I surmise, ready to witness the ceremony. It's like a fairytale. Like a dream come true. "Are you ready?" Lorelai asks.

Was I? This was not the wedding I had been planning, all too aware of the Grant's name and the impact the wedding was supposed to have as the media witnessed and documented it. This was entirely the opposite, small, intimate, and casual. It brought tears to my eyes. Many paragraphs are missing. Read the complete book on Jo-b n-l b. c (o) m. Only family and friends were here. It was everything I had always said would make the perfect wedding. It was the wedding I had imagined but never dreamed I would be able to have for myself. lan had listened to me. He had heard my words and he had done exactly as I had envisioned in my mind. I could not believe it. I was stunned. "Mummy?" Faith's voice broke my concentration, her body bouncing up and down in her enthusiasm. I smiled down at her, stroking her hair. "I think the flower girl is supposed to go first?" I rasped.

But Faith shook her head "I want to walk with you" she said and Flair smiled.

"Then we'll go first," she said shrugging "It's your wedding" she added with a small laugh "You get to choose the order." Lorelai was the first to walk into the living room, holding her bouquet and making her way to her husband's side. I watched as Rachel went next, her own eyes focussed on Timothy who nervously adjusted his tie. It was adorable. Flair moved me closer to the doorway and then walked in, the music playing softly in the background. I took hold of Faith's hand on one side, as Mr Grant moved to my other side. "If you would give me the honor of escorting you," he said gravely and I nodded, fighting back more tears.

"I would love you to walk me down the aisle," I said and saw my mother nodding, Faith running ahead and making us laugh as she haphazardly threw rose petals in the air and then flung herself into my mother's arms as she beamed."

Mr Grant held tightly onto my hand, walking me to lan's side. Ian had never looked more handsome, more sexy. I hitched in a breath as Mr Grant turned me and kissed me on the forehead.

"Welcome to the Grant family," he said formally and then joined my mother and Faith, standing back as I turned and took lan's hand, lan's own eyes looking shiny as he blinked at me.

"You look like a beautiful angel" he whispered thickly "More beautiful than any other woman I've ever seen" he added, ignoring the disgruntled looks on the other women's faces as I tried not to giggle.

"He only gets away with that because she's marrying him today" I heard Flair hiss to her husband "Otherwise..."

I didn't hear the rest of the conversation, my lips curving as I stared at the man soon to be my husband.

"I can't believe you did all of this" I whispered, still awestruck.

"You're worth it," he said, his eyes fixated on me "You're worth everything to me, you and Faith" he added, glancing over towards my little girl who was beaming as she stood in front of my mother and Mr Grant who was beside her. The sound of a throat clearing had both of us turning slightly as the minister gave a sheepish smile, looking apologetic.

"I hate to interrupt" he began amidst a sea of laughter "but seeing as you would like to be married today" he continued, making me giggle and lan's face flush slightly "Perhaps it would be okay if I made a start?" he suggested kindly. "By all means" lan nodded as I gripped his hand tighter.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

The minister began to speak "Ladies and gentlemen we are here today to witness the nuptials between Dawn Evans and lan Grant"

lan never took his eyes off me. My heart pounded loudly in my chest. It was so loud I wondered if anybody else could hear it. I could hear Faith giggling slightly in the background while my mother tried to shush her in a futile effort to keep her quiet. I could hear the sound of Patches barking from outside. I wondered absently where Midnight was, vehemently hoping he wasn't about to snatch the wedding rings from unsuspecting hands, a grin appearing on my face as the image of exactly that appeared in my mind. "Do you, Dawn, take lan to be your lawful wedded husband?" the question caught me unawares but there was no hesitation in my mind, no doubts.

"I do" I answered solemnly as Flair quickly handed me a ring to place on lan's finger, the ring a perfect fit, a white gold band with diamonds to match my own.

I saw Knox hand over a ring to lan. The minister coughed "Do you lan take..."

"I do" he growled before the minister could finish the sentence, causing the minister to look a bit taken aback, while I held back my laughter.

lan slid the ring on my finger, his hand refusing to stop gripping mine. For a moment it was like time was suspended. I could hear the sound of soft sobbing in the background and didn't even have to turn to know it was my mother. She always got emotional at weddings. She would no doubt cry at her own wedding when the time eventually came.

"I now declare you man and wife. You may now kiss the..." the minister trailed off as lan promptly kissed me hard on the lips, leaving my cheeks burning bright red.

I forgot about the others in the room. I forgot about the ceremony. All that existed at that moment was him. I felt the softness of his lips as he pressed them against me. I felt the strength of his hand as it gripped the back of my neck. I felt his tongue delve inside my mouth, causing me to moan, and my knees began to tremble. I wanted more. I kissed back with enthusiasm. Time slipped by. The sound of a voice clearing brought me back to my senses, and lan, the two of us separated hastily as my mother's voice cut through with amusement "Save the rest for the honeymoon you two. There is a child in the room you know" she pointed out with amusement.

Faith was giggling and pointing at the two of us. I held out my arm in invitation and she raced up, flinging herself into my arms and nuzzling into the crook of my neck. "I love you mummy, you look beautiful" she squealed.

lan touched her on the back and she held out her hands, allowing me to transfer her to lan's arms. "Hey sweetheart" he murmured "I'm married to your mummy now, are you happy?" he asked her seriously.

Faith smiled as she leaned into lan's embrace. It made a beautiful picture. I could see everyone's eyes sparkling, the women blinking back tears as they took in the tender scene. I waited to see what Faith would say. She must have been in on the wedding, but I wanted to know that this was okay, that she didn't harbor any resentment towards lan for taking the father role in her life. I held my breath.

lan held her tight, his strength remarkable compared to what it had been like a few months ago. Faith giggled as she touched the slight stubble on his chin, feeling the roughness of it.

"I'm happy," she told lan seriously, patting his cheeks as he smiled at her "Are you going to be my daddy now?"

Tears filled my eyes. She looked at lan, biting her lip. To her, this was important. lan regarded her seriously. I heard my mother give another sob and saw Flair take a handkerchief from her husband and quickly wipe her eyes while trying not to ruin her makeup. "I want very much to be your father," lan told her as Faith listened intently "And I will be your father if you let me," he said quietly "because I already love you as my daughter."

The floodgate opened. Despite myself, tears trickled down my cheeks as I sobbed. Faith looked confused "Why are you sad mummy?" she asked.

I gave her a wavy smile "I'm not crying because I'm sad baby" I told her, reaching out to stroke her hair and tuck a loose tendril behind her ear, my eyes meeting lan's "I'm crying because I'm happy" I said, wiping my eyes.

I was happy. Happier than I could have ever imagined. My life had changed. I never would have imagined when I applied for the job of nursing aide, that I would be standing here, in a few months time, clad in a wedding gown, pregnant, and getting married to the infamous lan Grant. Life was funny that way. It had a way of turning everything upside down and making things turn out for the better. As my mother came up to congratulate me, she reached out and took Faith, while I felt my husband place his arm around my waist.

"I'm so happy for you" my mother breathed, as I looked at her, seeing nothing but pride on her face, while Mr Grant came up to congratulate his son "You've done well honey."

I looked meaningfully at Mr Grant and raised a brow "I don't think I'm the only one who has managed to find a good man, Mother" I said with a laugh as my mother blushed becomingly "Maybe it's time you thought about your own wedding" I teased as she swatted at me.

"Get off you," she said in a strangled voice "How about we go out to the reception now" she suggested avoiding my gaze and blushing profusely as Mr Grant looked at her with a small smile on his face.

The room quickly emptied, leaving me alone with my new husband who looked at me with hungry eyes, his lips seeking mine again.

"It's a shame we have to attend the reception" he murmured regretfully "because with the way you look..."

I laughed and dragged him towards the doorway "Plenty of time for that later" I promised, feeling my heart skip a beat at how intense his gaze turned as he looked me up and down "we have a whole lifetime for that."