Chapter 191: The wedding

Chapter 191: The wedding
Vida's POV

The night was fast but it felt like forever because after the wedding rehearsal, they didn't let me see Meredith, they said it was bad for the groom to see the bride before the big day, though it was torturing for me but I didn't complain, I just follow everything that these women asked me to do because I know it was just one night. And here it was, morning had come, the day had finally come. For a moment, I just stood there, staring at my reflection like I was afraid that if I blinked, everything would disappear.

I looked different, not just because of the dress, though the dress was breathtaking, every delicate detail fitting me like it had been made by fate itself but because of what it meant, what I was becoming wearing this dress.

I was going to be a bride, not just anyone's bride but Meredith's bride. My fingers trembled slightly as I touched the soft fabric, my heart swelling In my chest, even though the gown was a decent one covering every skin of mine, it was perfect, I turned once more on the mirror, checking my reflection, behind me, I heard the soft creak of a chair, "I didn't know a day would come where my little one would be this grown and ready for marriage." My throat tightened instantly, and I met my aunt's reflection in the mirror. She sat there, her eyes filled with something warm and a little sadness, "I always knew you would be the most beautiful bride I would ever see," she continues softly, "but I didn't know it would be this soon. How old are you again?"

I smiled weakly as emotions rushed through me, thick and overwhelming, I turned to face her fully, and she stood, walking towards me with a bouquet in her hands, she placed it gently into mine, "Thank you," I whispered my voice trembling,  "Have you forgotten, I'm Nineteen already?"

She smiled, "Oh mine, how times fly," she whispered, staring at me in admiration, "you are beautiful." She added.

"Thank you," I said again, "for grooming me into who I am today."

She shook her head immediately, "No, you were always destined for greatness. Everything you are today is because of you." My vision blurred, "I'm just glad," she added, her voice softening, "that you turned out this way. And I'm happy for the man God has blessed you with." Tears pooled in my eyes before I could stop them. She clicked her tongue lightly and reached up, wiping one away before it could fall, "No, crying today." She warned gently, "It's your big day, the day you start your own family." Her voice wavered just slightly, "Even though I will miss you, I am happy that you are slowly turning into a woman."

My chest tightened, "You are not losing me," I said quickly, gripping her hand, "Look at it from the bright side, you are gaining a son."

She smiled faintly, "I know, and he is a good man. The right man for you, I couldn't ask for anything else. That day I saw him, I knew my princess was in good hands." Her gaze softened as she took me in again, "I'm glad I lived to see this day."

"You will see many more days," I said firmly

She didn't argue, she just nodded, "Come on," she said after a moment, "it's time."

I smiled as she pressed soft kisses on my forehead, the walk to the hall felt like stepping into a dream, everything around me blurred, the voices, the movement, the quiet excitement in the air, felt like a dream until the doors came into view, my heart began to race, this was it, the moment I had been waiting for.

The doors slowly pulled open, light spilled in, my eyes lifted, scanning the hall, and then I saw him, my Meredith, standing at the altar, waiting for me. My breath caught, he looked perfect, strong, steady, and yet there was something in his eyes, something soft, something vulnerable that made my chest tighten. Alonso stood beside him, looking unusually composed for once. For the first time, Alonso looked serious and wasn't joking around. A small smile curved my lips. This was really turning into reality, and then a quiet chuckle came from beside me. I turned slightly, "What?"

Catherine smirked, "Meredith wants to tell you something."

I blink, "I don't have my phone."

She rolled her eyes, "Even if you did, you can't exactly text while walking down the aisle. I will pass the message through the mindlink. You can reply too."

Excitement bubbled inside me, "What did he say?"

She snorted softly, "This is hilarious, but it's fine." 

I bit back a laugh, my grip tightened slightly on the bouquet, "Go on."

Catherine shook her head, "he said, he didn't know this day would ever come."

My smile softened, "neither did I," I whispered, "it still feels like a dream."

She relayed the message, then paused as Meredith responded again, Catherine's lips twitched, "he says, it's the best dream that ever came true. And that he almost threw it away because he was stupid." My chest tightened painfully, "and he is sorry,"

I swallowed hard, my eyes fixed on him as I walked forward, "Tell him, there is no need to apologize because I already forgave him."

Catherine relayed it instantly, then she huffed softly, "he says, you are beautiful in white."

A small laugh escaped me, my cheeks warming, "Tell him, he is handsome in anything..." I pause, I wanted to say, even in nothing but I decided to stop there, my voice softened, "and I love him."

Catherine relayed it, then her expression shifted slightly as Meredith replied, "he says..." She began then rolled her eyes faintly, "I love you now and forever, my little minx."

My heart skipped. Before I could respond, she cut the link. "We are here," she whispered. I hadn't even realized we had reached the aisle. Uncle Ross stood waiting, while Aunt Amelia stood beside him. I stepped forward, and Uncle Ross took my hand gently.

"You look beautiful, daughter." The word hit me like a wave, daughter. My eyes filled instantly. He smirked softly, "I may not be your real father, but thank you for giving me the privilege to walk beside you today." Emotion clogged my throat, "I may not have shown you how much I appreciate everything you've done for my family," he continues, his voice thickening slightly, "but this..." He paused and looked at me, "This is my way of saying I will always be grateful." Tears slipped down my cheeks despite my aunt's earlier warning, and I smiled through them. He leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. Then the music swelled, and we began walking. Each step felt heavier than the last, not with doubt, but with meaning, with everything we had been through, every pain, every misunderstanding, every moment that almost tore us apart, and yet, here we were.

At the end of the aisle, Meredith stood waiting, just for me. When we reached him, Uncle Ross gently placed my hand into his, "Take care of her, protect her," he said firmly.

Meredith didn't hesitate, "with my life." Something in Uncle Ross's expression softened, he pulled Meredith into a tight, firm hug like a father would do, and Meredith held him back. My heart squeezed painfully when Uncle Ross stepped aside, and suddenly, I was standing there, beside Meredith, where I belonged.

Before I could fully process it, his parents stepped forward, pulling me into a warm embrace, "I didn't realize this day would come," his mother whispered. Neither did I, not like this, not without pain, but now, now we are Standing here, Meredith’s hand tighten around mine, feeling the warmth of his presence beside me, I understood, every broken moment, every tears, every fight, every bad decision had led us here and now we stand in front of this crowd, no resentment, just our love against everything, raw, deep and unshakable. I turned slightly, meeting his eyes.

"Are you ready?" He had whispered.

I nodded, smiling sweetly at him, "never being more ready than I am today."