I deserve that, by the way things have progressed for us, but I will make her fucking learn her care comes first to me. “You might not believe it, but I want to make you happy. And eventually, once we get through all of this, I think you will be.”
Her eyes search mine. “Why, though? That’s something I’m having trouble with.”
I smirk and kiss her knuckles. “Because you belong to me. And I take care of what’s mine.”
A heavy pounding on the door tells me it’s time. “I’ll see you downstairs,” I tell her and turn to go.
It takes everything in me not to look back. Watch her for signs she might have doubts. Because even if I see those signs, I won’t be able to let her go.
Soo and I head down to the ballroom. Lucas is sitting in one of the chairs as I stride up the aisle. He hadn’t wanted to be here today, but I know Celia would want him to be. He’s still acting as if I don’t exist and that I’ve somehow fucked up his entire plan, but soon he’ll realize I saved his fucking life.
I glare at him with a warning before taking my place in front of the priest, a small elderly man who looks slightly bemused about this entire situation but is amenable to doing his job.
Soft strains of piano music rise out of the speakers built into the room. Soo, of course, cues the song when Celia arrives to walk down the aisle. When she appears in the doorway, a white bouquet in her hands, I freeze, unable to take my eyes off her.
I’d already seen her in this dress, but not in this room, in this context, and I can’t stop watching her as she slowly walks up the aisle alone.
When she reaches me, I’m still dumbstruck, so she takes my hand in hers and shifts me around to face the priest.
At my request, he keeps the ceremony brief and to the basics. And when I slip a slim platinum band onto her left ring finger, it’s as if I can breathe fully for the first time since we began the ceremony.
The priest is smiling at us both when he says, “You may kiss your bride.”
I face Celia, but before I can lower my lips to hers, she has her hand wrapped around the back of my neck, dragging me to meet her. She tastes sweet, like the wine she’d been drinking in her room, no doubt, and her mouth is smooth and warm as I clutch her tighter to my chest.
I don’t know how long we stay this way, kissing, feeling each other, but someone clears their throat loud enough that we finally break apart. The assembled give us a small round of applause, including the priest. All except Lucas, who is staring with his usual brooding intensity as if he’s waiting for something to happen, which might actually be worth his time.
We walk back down the aisle toward the door, and when we reach the threshold, I swing her up into my arms.
She lets out a squeal and fumbles with her bouquet.
“Are you ready?” I ask, nibbling on the outer shell of her ear.
“Almost. I have to get out of this dress first… and these shoes. They look amazing but feel like they are trying to strangle my toes.”
“All right, but hurry. I’ll be waiting at the door.” I don’t particularly want to let her out of my sight, but I have to talk to Soo and my men one last time before I can leave. Setting her back on her feet, I lean down. I kiss my bride on her painted lips softly before I watch her walk toward the staircase.
My stellina.
My bride… until death do us part.
18
Celia
I hate the fact that one of the first things I say as his wife is a lie, but I know he wouldn’t have let me talk to Lucas. Especially not on my own again.
Instead of heading upstairs, I spin around and speed walk back to the other side of the house. I saw Lucas go out to the terrace, and I hope that’s where he is now. My high heels click on the tile floor, somehow louder than before.
Stopping, I quickly slip them off to carry them the rest of the way. Wife or not, I don’t think the guards would listen to me and not rat me out to Nic.
Pushing open the terrace door, I step outside and immediately spot Lucas at the edge of the garden. He turns to look at me as I approach and shakes his head, almost like he is disappointed.
“Don’t you have a honeymoon to go on?” He pulls out a pack of cigarettes, flips it open, and places one between his lips.