Two months later, Avery stood in the construction site that would soon be her new bakery.
The building was twice the size of the original. Large windows for natural light. A commercial kitchen with state-of-the-art equipment. A community space in the back for local artists and musicians. And upstairs, a small culinary school where she could teach baking to kids from low-income families.
"What do you think?" Rohan asked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I think it's perfect." Avery leaned back against him. "Almost too perfect. Are you sure about the culinary school? That's a lot of extra expense."
"Are you kidding? It was your idea and it's brilliant. Teaching kids to bake, giving them skills, maybe even future careers? That's what your grandmother would have wanted."
Avery felt tears prick her eyes. He was right. Her grandmother had always believed in giving back to the community.
"When does construction finish?" she asked.
"Contractor says six weeks. Just in time for the grand opening." Rohan kissed her neck. "And our wedding."
"About that." Avery turned in his arms. "Your mother wants to invite three hundred people. Three hundred, Rohan. I don't even know three hundred people."
"Mom's excited. She's been planning this wedding since the day I was born, I think." He grinned. "But if you want something smaller, just tell her. She'll understand."
"Will she though?"
"Okay, she'll be disappointed but she'll get over it." Rohan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "This is your day too. Our day. Whatever you want, we'll make it happen."
Avery's phone buzzed. A text from Maya.
Maya: Emergency! Need you at the bridal shop NOW. They messed up your dress!
"Oh no," Avery groaned. "The dress. I have to go."
"Want me to come with you?"
"Absolutely not. You can't see the dress before the wedding. Bad luck."
"We got married in Vegas by an Elvis impersonator. I think we've already used up all our bad luck." But he kissed her forehead. "Go. I have a meeting with the board anyway. Dinner tonight?"
"It's a date."
At the bridal boutique, Avery found Maya pacing outside.
"What's wrong? What happened to the dress?" Avery asked frantically.
Maya grabbed her arm and pulled her inside. "Nothing's wrong with the dress. But there's someone here who wants to see you."
Sitting in the waiting area, looking nervous and uncomfortable, was Priya.
Avery stopped. They hadn't spoken since the board meeting two months ago.
"I'll give you two some privacy," Maya said, squeezing Avery's hand before disappearing into the back.
"Hi," Priya said quietly.
"Hi." Avery sat down across from her. "How are you?"
"Okay. Better. I've been seeing a therapist. Working through everything." Priya twisted her hands in her lap. "I wanted to apologize. In person. For what I did at the board meeting. For trying to sabotage you and Rohan."
"You were grieving. I understand."
"That's not an excuse. I was cruel and vindictive and I almost destroyed something beautiful because I was drowning in my own pain." Priya's eyes filled with tears. "Anjali would have hated what I became. She would have loved you and Rohan together."
"I wish I could have met her," Avery said softly.
"She would have liked you. You're both stubborn and brave and you don't take any nonsense from powerful men." Priya smiled through her tears. "When I saw you stand up to that board, declare your love in front of everyone, I realized—you're the kind of person Anjali wanted Rohan to find. Someone who loved him for him, not his money or his name."
"Thank you for saying that."
"I also wanted to give you something." Priya pulled out a small box. "Anjali had a tradition. She collected charms from every important moment in her life. Her first day of college. Her first job. Places she traveled. She wore them on a bracelet."
She opened the box. Inside was a delicate silver charm—a tiny heart with wings.
"She bought this one the week before she died. She told me it represented love and freedom. She never got to wear it." Priya's voice cracked. "I want you to have it. For your wedding. Something borrowed, something that carries her blessing."
Avery took the charm with shaking hands. "Priya, I can't—this is too precious—"
"Please. Anjali believed in love. Real love. The kind you and Rohan have. Let her be part of your day. Let something good come from all this pain."
Avery pulled Priya into a hug. They both cried, releasing months of grief and misunderstanding.
"Thank you," Avery whispered. "This means everything."
"There's one more thing," Priya said, pulling back. "I'm leaving Seattle. Moving to New York. Fresh start. But before I go, I wanted to ask—would it be okay if I came to the wedding? I understand if you don't want me there after everything—"
"Of course you should come. Anjali should be represented. And Priya, you're not our enemy. You never were. You're family."
Priya broke down completely. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
After Priya left, Maya emerged from the back room.
"That was intense," she said. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Actually, I'm better than okay." Avery looked at the charm in her hand. "I feel like something just healed. For all of us."
"Good. Now come on. Your dress is ready and it's absolutely stunning."
That evening, Avery met Rohan at their favorite restaurant—a small Italian place where they'd had their first real date (not counting Vegas).
"You're smiling," Rohan observed. "Good day?"
"The best. Priya came to see me. We talked. Really talked. She's coming to the wedding."
Rohan's eyebrows rose. "Really?"
"Really. And she gave me something." Avery showed him the charm. "It was Anjali's. She wanted me to wear it at the wedding."
Rohan stared at the charm, his eyes glistening. "That's... that's very like Anjali. She always believed in happy endings."
"She got one. Through us. We're finishing what she started—taking down Arjun, building something good from all that pain."
"Speaking of building things," Rohan pulled out a folder. "I have something for you too."
Inside were legal documents. Avery scanned them, her eyes widening.
"You're making me co-owner of Rathore Industries?"
"Fifty percent. Equal partners. In business and in life." Rohan took her hand. "I don't want a wife who just stands beside me. I want a partner who stands with me. Someone who challenges me and keeps me honest and throws croissants at my head when I'm being an arrogant idiot."
Avery laughed through tears. "That was one time!"
"It was the moment I knew you were special. Anyone can say yes to a billionaire. But you? You told me exactly where to shove my money and my attitude. You saw through all the corporate armor to the person underneath. You made me want to be better."
"Rohan, I can't accept half your company—"
"Our company. And yes, you can. You've earned it. Fighting beside me. Saving my life. Believing in me when the whole board questioned my judgment. We're a team, Avery. In everything."
"What about the bakery? I can't run both—"
"So we hire managers. We build systems. We figure it out together." He squeezed her hand. "That's what partners do."
Avery looked at the documents, then at the man she loved. The man who'd started as her worst enemy and become her everything.
"Okay," she said. "Partners. In everything."
They sealed it with a kiss.
Outside the restaurant, neither of them noticed the photographer capturing the moment. Or the headline that would run in tomorrow's business section: "The Rathores: Seattle's New Power Couple."
But they wouldn't have cared anyway.
They had each other. They had their future. They had love.
Everything else was just noise.