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ELSIE

He lied when he said that it was going to be a small wedding.

There were more than hundred people here. I was expecting at most twenty.

I pushed the curtains back on its place and fanned my face. I was definitely not prepared for this. Did Fenix consider this a small gathering?

His whole family was here and friends. All of them in suits and nice elegant dresses. Never in my life have I witnessed something like this.

I worked at a luxurious restaurant but I have never seen so many people dressed so formally in one place.

"Does this look good?" Aspen spoke behind me and I turned around, my hand immediately flying to my stomach that was tucked in a corset.

The wedding dress Bridget chose for me was heavenly beautiful. It was made out a soft silky material and flew down my legs elegantly.

The corset was making it hard to breathe. Or maybe it was just the fact that I was getting married in half an hour.

Aspen was retouching her make up. Her blond hair was straightened and was falling down her back. The baby blue dress clung to her body and made her slender figure even more flattering.

"Elsie?" She spoke again and I connected my eyes with hers.

"Yeah?"

"You look pale. You okay?"

"I'm nervous, that's all." She jutted her lip and her eyes softened. She stood up from the chair and walked towards me with long strides.

"You look stunning. And that man over there, wherever he is, is going to faint when he sees you." She chuckled and tried to poke my stomach but her face quickly morphed into pain when her finger hit my corset.

"Ouch! I forgot about that." She looked down at her hand. "And I almost broke my nail."

"That's what you get when you try to tickle me." Aspen knew how ticklish I was and every time my mood was down, she tried to cheer me up with it.

I let out a sigh and wrapped my arms around her. She quickly did the same and I rested my forehead on her shoulder.

"Elsie everything will be fine. Please, you're breaking my heart like this. You're gonna make me cry." She pulled away and her eyes bore into mine.

"I told you I'm on a rich husband hunt today. I have to look my best." A laugh broke through my lips and I shook my head at her words. She was something else.

"That's right. You should laugh and not sulk." She brought her hands to my veil and fixed the top of it.

My hair was down and curled in luscious locks. My make up was extremely beautiful and I stared at myself the whole time the team painted my face.

I loved makeup and try to do it whenever I had time. But I have never had it done professionally. It looked stunning.

The necklace sat on my chest and I ran my fingers over it. It was a birthday gift. I keep it safe at all cost but I wanted to wear it today. It made me feel safer. Knowing I had something that means a lot to me, eased my nerves a bit.

It was a gold thin necklace with a tiny emerald crystal, shaped like a tear.

"Are you gonna walk down the aisle alone?" Aspen asked.

"Ian's gonna walk with me. He was really excited when I told him." A sad smile stretched on my face.

I have always envisioned to marry the love of my life. Reading books made me think that my life will be perfect and that the perfect man will magically appear out of nowhere.

That he was going to whisk me away and show me all the beautiful things in the world.

He was going to complete my life and finally make me realise what true love was.

On my wedding day it was going to be my brother Aiden who was going to walk me down the aisle. He always said that he was going to be there with me, holding my hand.

Somewhere deep down even when I was younger, when Aiden was still alive, I knew that dad was not gonna be there for me at my most important moments in life.

And I was right.

He was not there when I started college, when I graduated, when I got my first apartment and he is not gonna be at my real wedding, when I give birth, when Ian grows up and so much more.

A loud knock echoed inside the room and my eyes immediately flew to the door.

Bridget peeked her head inside and smiled while walking further into the room. Ian was next to her, holding her hand.

She was dressed in a beautiful emerald dress, with sheer long sleeves and small crystals on the neckline. Her hair was up in a bun and her make up made her look eyes colour pop out even more.

Ian was dressed in a suit and had a tiny flower in the pocket of the jacket. I have tried my best to style his hair back and I guess Bridget fixed while they were outside, greeting the guests.

He asked Bridget if they could go to the driveway and see all of the guests cars.

She was nice enough to do that even though she has been running around and making sure everything is done well.

"You look absolutely stunning, honey." Bridget exclaimed and her hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes softened and a pinch of sadness tickled my heart.

My mom would have never said this.

She never did and she never will.

Having Fenix's mother say it made me realise how lucky he was to have her in his life. His parents were what I always wanted in my own parents.

Someone supportive and loving.

"Thank you. You look beautiful as well." I said back and felt my cheeks blush in gratefulness. Ian grinned at me, his adorable dimples showing off.

"Eli looks like a princess." He said and walked towards me.

"And you look like a prince. Huh? Look at the suit you have on." I crouched down and felt the corset restrain me from completing bending down to his height.

"Fenix said I will grow up like him. And that I will have muscles like he has."

"Of course you will." He smiled proudly. "Did you eat something?"

"No, I'm not hungry. We saw the cars outside. There are so many of them." He said in awe and his eyes sprinkled with excitement.

"But if you're hungry tell me. Okay? You shouldn't walk around with an empty tummy." I rubbed his stomach and he laughed.

I took hold of his hand and looked at Bridget. The ceremony is supposed to start soon.

Aspen walked over to Bridget and extended her hand. They still haven't meet officially. When Bridget came by earlier Aspen was in the bathroom, doing her hair and they didn't see each other.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Aspen. Elsie's friend." They shook hands.

"Oh nice to meet you dear. I'm her mother in law." They parted their palms and Bridget wrapped her hands around Aspen as soon ad they did.

Aspen chucked and hugged her back.

"Is there any bachelors outside?" My friend asked. Oh God she had no shame in asking anything that came to her mind. She placed her hands on her hips and waited for the answer.

"Aspen..." I tried to laugh it off because I didn't want Bridget to think we are some gold diggers, running after their money.

"No, it's okay." Bridget waved her hand at me and turned fully to Aspen.

"I love this. You know I have arranged many marriages? This is my thing. I'll find you the perfect husband. Don't worry." She winked and they both started to laugh.

What was happening?

I wish I had Aspen's confidence. I looked down at Ian and he shrugged his shoulders. He was way too cute today.

I left Bridget and Aspen to talk between themselves while I took another look at myself in the mirror. They continued to joke around themselves and all of the sounds faded away as I took a couple of breaths.

The makeup artist decided on a very simple and neat makeup look. The only thing that he added was a dark red lips. The colour almost matched my hair.

Why was I getting so nervous? All of this will pass and I'll finally leave with Ian.

We'll live like before. It will be all like before.

I repeated the words in my head over and over again until I felt Bridget's hand on shoulder.

"It's time, dear."

"Oh, okay." I said quietly and ran my hands down the skirt of my dress. Ian then took my hand and we all exited.

We walked down the hallway of the building and Bridget and Aspen left before us.

The wedding was held at a hotel venue. It was close by the lake and the garden was decorated with tables and chairs. There was a lot of flower decorations as well. From what I was able to see.

The hotel was beautiful and it had an old style to it.

It was half an hour away from his house which was located on a more remote area. There were still neighbours but they were all probably rich people, with a similar life style like Fenix.

I walked down the hallway with Ian beside me and when we reached the doors, I took a deep breath.

The man standing by the door was supposed to tell me when to walk out. He gave me an encouraging smile while nodding his head once.

Ian squeezed my hand and stood next to me as close as possible. We weren't use to a lot of people. This was all new to him and to me.

There were too many guests. Too many noises. Too many eyes were going to be on me, on the bride. The fake bride.

The elderly man opened the door and gestured for me to go outside.

Here we go.

Together with Ian, we made our way out. There was a white carpet down to where Fenix was waiting for me.

The corset felt too tight as I lowered my eyes on the floor and moved my legs. They were like made of jelly.

I noticed the guest turn their heads and saw Bridget and Cillian at the front chairs. They had smiles on their faces and so did the other guests.

I didn't know any other member of his family. Fenix said that he has a sister but she won't be able to attend the wedding due to her husband's work.

He said that it would be too dangerous for her to travel alone. Whatever that means. Maybe it was better if I don't know at all.

Bridget showed me a photo of her and I can say that she looked exactly like Fenix. If I didn't know, I would have guessed that they were twins.

Next, I spotted Aspen. She was grinning and had her hands clasped together in front of her.

When my eyes caught a sight of Fenix, it felt like my breath got stuck in my throat. It was like the whole air was exiled from my lungs.

He was standing by the officiant. A black suit wrapped around him like a second skin. The white shirt underneath was complimented with a black tie.

His hair was pushed back and he somehow looked more intimidating than ever with his eyes narrowed at me. The ring on his pinky finger was glistening on the natural light.

When we got close enough to him, Ian let go of my hand and ran to Bridget.

I stood opposite Fenix and fixed my gaze on his tie. He took a small step forward and I finally looked up at him.

His eyes were on me and then went to my chest, where the necklace set.

A flash of recognition raced through his eyes but it was soon gone.

Maybe he has bought a similar necklace for someone.

The officiant started to talk. Blood rushed through to my ears and the sounds faded away. The only sound in my ears was my hammering heartbeat.

Time passed slowly or maybe it was just me because all of a sudden the question left the officiant lips.

"Fenix Carolingian do you take Elsie Darlington to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do promise to love and cherish her, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?" He asked.

Fenix didn't seem to be bothered very much because he answered immediately.

"Yes." The answer echoed around and people started to clap and cheer.

"Elsie Darlington do you take Fenix Carolingian to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do promise to love and cherish him, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, for so long as you both shall live?" He then pointed the question on me.

All I wanted to do was run and hide away.

I looked at the man who had a book in his hand from which he was reading and gulped the lump in my throat.

The glasses on his nose were standing low and were maybe a bit too big for his face. But when he looked at me with his kind eyes and a heartwarming smile, I felt ease enter my body.

Okay, I can do it.

I turned to Fenix and gathered the courage I had left in me.

"Yes." The cheering got louder and Kieran behind Fenix, tapped his shoulders and laughed.

And at that moment my life to a complete one eighty turn.

Where do you think Fenix recognised the necklace from?🧐 it wouldn't be my book if it doesn't have a little bit of a plot twist :D

Guys I have been struggling to write this chapter and it turned out bad😔

I've been trying to learn how to knit and I still have a headache from it😅😭

Also I already made aesthetics for the psychological thriller/romance I have planned to write🫣 and I'm very excited.

🤍🤍🤍