Chapter 46 The wedding
Vivienne's POV
You just keep doing what you're doing. You stand firm. You don't let her pull you back in."
"What if she really does call the police?"
"Then they'll come. They'll see you're fine. They'll leave. It's not a crime to stay in a place you feel comfortable."
I nodded slowly, letting his words sink in. He was right. I was an adult. I could make my own choices. My mother couldn't force me to come back home just because she wanted me there.
This wasn't about me being in danger. This was about her losing control over me.
"You're right," I said quietly.
"I know I am," he said with a small smile.
"Now stop worrying about her and get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow."
Tomorrow. The wedding. My stomach did a little flip at the thought.
The wedding was intimate, small gathering and a friend that agreed to be the officiating minister.
It was not my dream wedding but it's not my real wedding ceremony either. It's just something for Rapheal's office, something to make him get back his position as CEO.
Our attendees were just his housekeepers, his chef, Lucien, his bodyguards, his driver, and his father weren't present which made it very easy for me.
I stood there in a simple white dress that one of the housekeepers had helped me pick out. It was nothing fancy, just a knee-length dress with lace sleeves. I didn't have time to go wedding dress shopping, and honestly, it didn't feel right to wear a big white gown for something that wasn't even real.
Raphael stood across from me in a dark suit. He looked handsome, I had to admit. His hair was combed back neatly, and he had shaved. He kept looking at me with this expression I couldn't quite read. Was he nervous? Excited? I couldn't tell.
The minister stood between us, holding a small book. He was an older man with kind eyes and a gentle smile. He had agreed to do this as a favor to Raphael, no questions asked.
"We are gathered here today," the minister began, his voice calm and steady, "to join Raphael and Vivienne in matrimony."
I tried to focus on his words, but my mind kept wandering. This wasn't real. This was just for show. Just paperwork. Just business. I needed to keep reminding myself of that.
"Marriage is a sacred bond," the minister continued, "a promise between two people to stand by each other through all of life's challenges."
I glanced at Raphael. He was staring straight at me, not even blinking. There was something intense in his eyes that made my heart beat faster.
"Do you, Raphael, take Vivienne to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," Raphael said immediately, his voice strong and clear. He didn't hesitate for even a second.
Now it was my turn. The minister turned to me with that same gentle smile.
"Would you take Rapheal to be your lawful wedded husband, in sickness and in health?" The officiating minister asked, and it made my heart skip.
Maybe I didn't know the gravity of what I'm about to do until the question came.
I was quiet for a few minutes and everyone was surprised. I could see the beads of sweat falling down from Rapheal's face.
The room suddenly felt too small, too warm. All eyes were on me. The housekeepers, the chef, Lucien, the bodyguards, the driver. Everyone was waiting. Everyone was watching.
This was it. This was the moment. Once I said those words, I would be married. Legally married. To Raphael. A man I barely knew. A man who was doing this for business reasons. A man who probably saw me as nothing more than a convenient solution to his problems.
But then again, what choice did I have? I had nowhere else to go. My mother was trying to control my life. I needed a way out. This was my way out.
I smiled. Dude come on, it's not even a real wedding.
"Hey, Vivienne says something, the minister is waiting," Rapheal pinched my nose.
"Ouch! Stop that," I said, earning the stares of the few people that were present.
His touch snapped me out of my thoughts. I rubbed my nose and glared at him. He had the audacity to look amused, a small smirk playing on his lips.
"Say something, you're beginning to scare me," Raphael said, this time he sounded as if he's pleading.
There was something in his voice that made me look at him more carefully. Was he actually worried? Did he think I was going to back out? Did he actually care about this, even if it was just a business arrangement?
I didn't reply to him but I turned my attention to the Minister.
The old man was watching me patiently, waiting for my answer. His expression was kind, understanding. He didn't seem annoyed or impatient. He just waited.
I took a deep breath. This was fine. These were just words. Just a ceremony
y. It didn't have to mean anything if I didn't want it to.
"Yes, I do!"