CHAPTER 32

Emily's POV

Two Months Later "I can't find the hairpins. Jasmine, where did you put them?"

"Hold on, you'll wrinkle her dress!"

"No, you got the flowers wrong. There are supposed to be twelve, not thirteen. Do you wanna give her bad luck on her special day?"

"I swear, I put all the concealers in this bag. Emma, did you remove them to do your own makeup?"

"Yes, I did, I left them on the table, right next to the brushes."

"They're not here!"

"Oh, check in the top drawer. I forgot I put them in there."

The females around me were going into panic mode, and I was the only calm one in the room, with a wide smile on my face as I took them in. It was my wedding day, shouldn't I be the one panicking?

"Ladies, ladies! Relax. Just calm your nerves and repeat after me 'woosah.'" I commanded. It was a technique Sebastian and I had learned from the pregnancy classes we were attending before the birth of our baby. My baby bump was just beginning to show, but the earlier the classes, the broader the knowledge. I didn't want to fail at being a mom. I couldn't fail.

Gen, my maid of honor and best friend, calmed down. So did Jasmine, Zenia, and two of Sebastian's cousins. I had selected them to be my bridesmaids. Lastly, I looked at my mom, and she was saying 'woosah' over and over to herself.

I had taken control of the situation. I had Zenia assist me with my hair and makeup, and she did an excellent job. My mother helped me into my cloud-like wedding dress. White, big, and puffy but a perfect fit. Well, it was made special for me, so it had to be perfect. I took in the gems that lined the sheer sleeves as Sebastian's cousins attached my veil to my hair. Jasmine fetched my heels that were a match to the dress but were covered in diamonds.

"Those are so beautiful," they gasped as I slipped my feet into them.

"Sebastian had them made special for me, and I wanted to wear them today. It was an early wedding present from him," I informed.

"You are so blessed to have him. He's a perfect match for you," one of his cousins said.

"Thank you."

"Are you ready?" my father poked his head into the room, "Oh Emily, you look so beautiful. My little girl is all grown up and living her own life."

"Ethan, don't you start crying," mom teased him and handed him a napkin. We laughed as he dabbed his eyes with it and handed it back to mom.

"I believe I'm ready," I said as I went and stood in front of the mirror. Seeing myself fully dressed, from head to toe, it was now sinking in that I was going to get married to the man I had always carried in my heart. The man I had always loved and couldn't stop loving. The man who I had broken others' hearts for because they just weren't him. I had finally gotten him and would be standing next to him as his queen. Literally.

"It's about to begin. Ladies, time to take your places," dad said again, and everyone filed out of the room. Mom quickly handed me my bouquet of roses, and I took a deep breath and wrapped my left arm in my father's right.

"Ready?"

"Of course."

He took the pleasure of placing my veil over my face, and we walked out of the room and headed into the waiting chapel, where many had already gathered, inside and outside, to be a part of my and Sebastian's union.

As I walked on, being guided by my father, photographers snapped pictures of me, but if they got too close, they would face my father's and my appointed bodyguards' wrath.

_____

We waited outside the door for the music to cue my arrival. Everyone else had taken their places, including Evan. Sebastian had asked him to be his Best Man, and Evan couldn't resist. My darling nephew, Jevan, was going to be our ring bearer, and several little girls from the kingdom had been chosen as flower girls.

The music started, and my heart leaped with excitement. The doors were pulled in, and I was revealed. My eyes immediately landed on Sebastian. He was dressed in a full white suit with his medals pinned to him, and the colors of the country's flag were on a slash around his upper body. His hair was neatly slick backwards, showing his handsome facial features.

Everyone rose when I took the first step and only turned in my direction when I walked passed, right down the middle of the aisle. I heard murmurs of 'wow' and 'aww' as I walked by. My father joined my mother in the front row when I reached the altar. I composed and stilled myself because I had been shaking with excitement, joy, and wonder.

I took my place opposite Sebastian.

"You cleaned up nicely," he began, and I couldn't help but laugh, so did everyone else who heard him. Leave it to Sebastian to make you feel at home and put a smile on your face.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, welcome. Today, we're about to witness a powerful union between two beautiful souls, before God, before me, and before each and every one of you," the priest began. He said a lengthy prayer and more words about the union.

When he got to the 'object' part, no one stood. You could hear a pin drop on the floor.

"The rings and the vows," the priest said, and Evan helped Jevan, his son, produced the rings. He was only one year and some months old, but he was so adorable, and everyone clapped when he lifted up the rings to Sebastian.

"Thank you, Jevan," Sebastian dropped to his level and gave him a quick hug. It warmed my heart that he was so appreciative of the smaller things in life.

"Now, the couple will say their vows as they place their ring on their partners' finger."

Sebastian went first. He took my ring finger and made the ring touch the tip before he began. "Emily Hollen, there aren't enough words out there to describe the way you make me feel, but I'm going to try. You mean the world and more to me. Since the first day I set eyes on you, I knew we'd be special to each other and no amount of distance, time, negative energy...or arranged marriages," he just had to say that to make me and others laugh again, "None of those things could stop me from getting to you and having you at my side, where you rightfully belong. I love you. I never stopped loving you even if I tried to love someone else."

I knew just what and who he was referring to.

"You're my perfect match. Through everything, I'll be there for you. I promise," he finished, and tears flooded my eyes. Damn it, I couldn't stop crying now.

My mother had told me that she had to chase Sebastian away from my side at the hospital when I had gone into a coma and wasn't waking up. Sebastian didn't even want to leave. I imagined how much pain he had to go through, seeing me motionless and dead-looking.

He slid the ring on, and now it was my turn.

I did the same as he did with my ring, stopping at the tip. "Sebastian, you've always been the one I carried in my heart. You mean so much to me that if I tried to explain accurately, it would take the rest of the year to do so. You're my dreams and my reality, and I wouldn't trade you for anything because nothing and no one compares to you and the love that I have for you. I'm happy that I found my way back to you."

More tears slipped out.

"I do believe we're meant to be," I finished and slid his ring on.

"Do you, Sebastian Andrew Fabian, take Emily Emma Hollen to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do you part?" the priest asks Sebastian.

"I do," he answered.

The priest now turned to me and asked the same.

"I do," I answered once he was finished.

"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Sebastian lifted my veil up. "I've been waiting," he let out, and the church erupted in laughter, claps, and cheers as our lips collided on the altar.

It was official. I wasn't a well-kept secret nor a girlfriend anymore. I was the wife of a soon-to-be king. I was going to be his queen and the queen of all his people.

_______________________

Narrator's POV

As the wedding ceremony was coming to an end, the reception had just begun at the palace. Emily changed into a skimpier dress that she could move more freely in, and she was circled by people who adored her.

Sebastian laughed and mingled with Emily's brothers and his own peers.

Music blasted, food and drinks were in abundance, and everyone was having a wonderful time. Sebastian and Emily soon joined each other to dance their first dance as husband and wife. They danced until they couldn't stand anymore, and then it was time for Emily to throw her bouquet. Her best friend, Gen, caught it.

But what they didn't catch was that somewhere in the crowd, hidden by a hat over their face, was someone waiting for the right opportunity to strike and bring everything to an end once and for all.