CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY : WEDDING

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY : WEDDING

She asked, her eyes looking at me in curiosity.

My hands trembled as I brought them to my side.

And then, I struggled to school my expression as I spoke.

“You don‘t need to worry about him, grandma.

He is dead to me, and he won’t cause any problems.

Killian had been their father since they were born, and he will always be,” I reassured her.

And I saw something flickered in her eyes, before she nodded, giving me a bright smile.

“Come on, Aveline, let’s go.

The music should be starting any moment now.

You don’t want to keep your groom waiting do you?” She teased and I laughed lightly, moving to follow her.

But then, I paused, a frown on my face.

“Grandma, where are the twins?” I asked in somewhat panic.

The last I had seen them was early this morning, and they were still asleep when the beautician came.

So I had to leave them in bed.

She rolled her eyes in exasperation at me as she mumbled.

“They must be with their nanny, you worry too much, Aveline.

You’ll still see them at the altar.

They are your ring bearers after all,” she said, and I took in a deep breath to calm myself.

“Let’s go, Killian must be waiting,” she said and I trailed behind her.

The moment we got to the closed door, my anxiousness multiplied and it was unexplainable.

Grandma stopped.

And then, she stretched slightly, lifting my veil, and falling it down my face.

I stood still, watching as she curved her elbow for me to take, and I gave her a watery smile as my hands latched on it.

And then, the door opened.

The church hall was full, crowded with guests who were dressed to the nines.

And it reminded me so much of my wedding with Ethan.

I looked ahead, the veil covering my face, but I could still see.

Killian stood at the altar, his gaze mesmerized and transfixed on me, almost as if he couldn’t look away for even one minute.

And I knew he couldn’t.

This was such an irony to my wedding with Ethan.

Because, my case had been reversed.

I had stood at the altar that day waiting for him to come.

And that was enough to tell me that I made the right decision with Killian.

I could hear gasps and awes in the crowd as they gushed over how beautiful I was.

But five years ago, most of these people here had sat at mine and Ethan’s wedding and mocked me for being left on the altar by my groom.

I barely realized when exactly we got to where Killian was standing, but grandma paused in her steps, and

released my hands.

I watched as Killian stretched both his hands for me to take, and I did so without any hesitation.

He lifted me gently, just like he always does.

And then, I stood on the pillar with him.

The priest started, and I zoned out because everything happened in a blur.

I read my vows to Killian and he did his.

“Aveline Landers, do you take Killian Thompson to be your lawfully wedded husband?

To stand by him in sickness and health?” The priest said and I froze.

My lips flickered, tongue tied.

I looked up to Killian as he watched me, his eyes gazing at me in nothing but joy.

I could swear the entire hall could hear the sound of my heart beat because everywhere went silent when I took too long to answer.

I parted my lips to speak, but then, for some strange reason, I could not utter those words.

Something flickered in Killian’s gaze, like a flash of pain, and I snapped my head away turning slightly to the crowd.

‘What are you doing, Aveline?

You have come this far to back out now,’ I said to myself turning back to face Killian.

With my lips curved into a smile as I muttered,

“I do.”

Killian’s lips parted as he let out a small breath.

As the priest directed the same question to him, and he said “I do.”

Without any hesitation and with so much sincerity.

My heart pounded erratically against my chest, knowing just one more part of the ceremony to be completed, and then, I’ll officially be Killian’s wife.

“It’s time for the couples to exchange their rings,” the priest announced.

I looked towards the door along with every other person in the hall.

The twins were the ring bearers.

And they were supposed to step in the hall and make their walk with the rings even before the priest announced it.

We stood still for minutes waiting but still nothing.

I watched as grandmother shifted on her seat, no longer composed as she glanced at the door in confusion.

And the moment my eyes found hers, she looked at me with an expression that told me she had no idea what was going on as much as I did.

The door opened, and I almost breathed in relief when I saw it was one of the staff I had hired for the twins.

‘The twins must be behind her, but where was their nanny?’ I wondered.

But then, I was left astounded when she entered with no one behind her.

Her eyes darted around the hall in what looked like fear and desperation.

Before they finally landed on my grandmother, she rushed towards her.

She bent down, muttering something in my grandmother's ear.

I observed, watching as my grandmother’s face went deathly pale, her hands lifted to her chest as she breathed unsteadily.

I could not take it anymore.

Something very wrong was happening.

Something had happened to my children—I could feel it.

Not minding what anyone would say, I rushed down the altar, not even listening to what Killian said behind me.

“Where are my children, grandma?

What happened to them?” The words slipped out of my lips without stopping.

My voice was loud, enough to make the guest gasp, but I barely cared.

I could not process anything as it was.

My grandmother's pale face lifted up to me.

I could see the tears which glistened her eyes as she whispered slowly.

“I’m sorry Aveline, but the twins have been kidnapped,” she said.

And then, the temperature in the air fell, growing cold as a shiver ran down my entire spine.

I knew it, because I felt goosebumps erupt all over my skin.

I grew numb, with that continuous ringing in my head echoing endlessly.

“Wh…what are you saying grandma?” I stammered feeling like I just heard a sick joke.

The ringing of a phone echoed through the quiet air snapping my attention.

My assistant flinched in shock because of the noise.

But then, she opened her back and brought out the phone, ready to end the call, only to pause when she realized it was my phone.

I had given her to keep it for me during the wedding.

My heart pounded against my rib cage as my gaze fixed on the phone in her hands.

“Bring it,” I said, and I could barely recognize my voice again.

She nodded, walking up to me without a hint of hesitation.

And the moment I took the phone from her hands, I connected the call.

As a very familiar voice filled the air.

One I had thought I’ll never hear again.

“Hello Leah dearest,

How is your wedding going?

I heard your children were missing.

Yeesh, poor thing, it’s a shame they cry too much.

Do you want to hear their voices?” She said laughing darkly.

I felt blood drain from my body as I whispered her name.

“Jennifer.”