Chapter 161 CHAPTER 161
Chapter 161 CHAPTER 161
ROBIN
“Oh, Robin.” Mum gasped, immediately grabbing a tissue paper and dabbing beneath her eyes.
“No mum, please.” She took the tissue to her nose, blowing loudly before her eyes toured the vast area of my magnificent dress.
“What?”
“Angel is going to literally kill me if I ruin this fresh makeup.” I sniffled softly, forcing myself to breathe. I needed to stay composed. My eyes drifted towards Lana and Margaret and I immediately regretted it. Two pairs of gooey eyes remained cemented on me.
“Lana, you too?” I groaned softly. “Please stop, all of you.”
Margaret rushed to my side, reverting to taking my hand when Angel’s gaze followed her movements intensely. She most likely would’ve climbed onto a chair and pressed a kiss to my cheek if she could, but my knuckles received it instead.
“You look really beautiful, Robin. Extremely beautiful.” She smiled, running back to Lana and hugging her.
Angel stepped out of the room, but not before barking a long list of instructions to follow, only to return a brief moment later.
“Veil!” She barked, retrieving the royal cathedral veil and blusher veil, fixing them delicately into my braids and letting the cathedral veil cascade down in a breathtaking sweep of tulle, stretching several feet behind me like a second train, while the soft blusher fell over my face.
Mum ran to the bathroom, and before long I heard frantic yanking of toilet paper followed by the loud blowing of her nose. She emerged soon after, dabbing lightly beneath her eyes.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered, shooting us a warm smile.
“Mrs Betton, I’ll need you —”
“Just Lindsey will do.”
Angel nodded. “I’ll need you to bring Robin out in five minutes.” She took a quick glance at her wrist watch. “We’re a few minutes late but not to worry, it’s her day. And one reminder… no one should fucking make her cry!” She roved warning eyes across everyone’s faces before doing one final touches to my train, making damn sure it was flowing as it should—to perfection.
Lana and Margaret left first, followed by Angel leaving Mum and me alone, before she did a little twirl to face me with a soft smile.
“Your father would have been so happy to see you today. You look absolutely breathtaking, sweetheart.” Mum choked, her voice trembling and I instantly knew a big flood was coming but she reined it in, goading me to keep mine in check.
“Thank you, Mum.”
“I know Jack is a good man. A little overwhelming. A little intense. Very overbearing.” We both chuckled softly. “I’ve never seen a man love a woman so fiercely as Jack loves you but baby… don’t let him change you.”
“He won’t, Mum.” I breathed, forcing with all my strength not to tear up.
“He has money, loads of it, exquisite taste. He has a larger-than-life personality, but I want you to remain my simple, warm hearted and gentle, Robin.” I nodded repeatedly, huffing softly.
“I’m always going to be your Robin, Mum. I’m always going to be a Betton.”
She gasped softly, drawing me in for a brief hug, before linking my arms with hers.
“Are you ready, darling?”
I nodded.
“Take me to Jack.”
We walked out slowly, stepping into the private bridal preparation room where Lana and Margaret were waiting. In Lana’s hand was a bouquet of white O’Hara roses, while Margaret carried a smaller arrangement of the same flowers in her grip.
“You look more than beautiful, Robin.
“Thank you, Margaret.” My gaze drifted to Lana and I saw she was forcing herself from crying.
“I know we all scolded mum for crying, but I’m fucking forcing here.” She laughed softly, shaking her head. “You’re just perfect, Sis. Way perfect.” I laughed too, before Angel steamed into the room.
“Ready?” We all nodded, then, she disappeared again, this time for good.
Margaret led the way, throwing white O’Hara rose petals across the floor ahead of us before the soft hiss of the door opened to the most exceptionally enchanting view at the orangery of Blenheim palace, a sight so magnificent I forgot how to breathe.
The soft opening notes of Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love filled the entire room. I still couldn’t believe the only contribution I had made to this entire wedding was simply showing up and looking beautiful for my Lord.
I closed my eyes briefly, gripping my roses tightly to prevent my quivering hands. My nerves were flying all over the place and it was only when I felt mum’s gentlest nudge that I glanced over at her, smiling softly at me and nodding. I simply knew everything was going to be fine.
Behind us, Lana carefully followed, occasionally bending down to spread my impossibly long train perfectly across the floor.
The moment Mum and I gracefully stepped fully into the vast room with my arms locked in hers, every head turned in my direction, soft murmuring sounds paddling the entire magical orangery before the shuffling sound of feet rising over the music hung in the air. I let out a shaky breath, my gaze staying pivoted on Jack’s blues standing at the end of the aisle in an ivory three-piece suit with peak lapel tuxedo, turned fully in my direction, one hand covering his mouth as he shook his head countless times. Like he couldn’t believe I was real.
Then, the unthinkable happened. Before I could process what was happening in my anxious state, I saw Jack walking towards us down the aisle, gently unlocking my hand from my mum’s before continuing the journey with me.
My heart stopped.
I turned slightly to see Mum shaking her head mildly on a little exasperated huff before taking her seat in the front row. She was definitely despairing by Jack’s lack of respect for tradition.
Another nervous breath left me and Jack was standing directly in my face in his towering height, so very close to me, then he dipped, his warm breath scorching the skin of my ear.
“You look very, very, very, beautiful, my baby. Absolutely fuckable.” I gasped softly, smiling. Then I felt him moving his hands over my blusher veil. “There’s lace everywhere… I love it, so breathtaking,” he whispered, biting down on his lips.
“Jack, what are you doing?” I murmured, glancing towards a very unhappy officiant but my attention was quickly snapped back to his lustful gaze, his hand slowly drawing the soft blusher over my face.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” His eyes widened as he looked at me, a minute passed ... two, before my eyes drifted over the congregation. Noticing mum’s shocked expression, Miller flashing a wide grin, Lana softly chuckling behind me and Mike forcing down an amusing smile. The rest displaying gaping mouths, wide eyes and soft muttering.
I was stunned to the core.
Why would he behave like this on our wedding day? In front of my family and a whole bunch of people I didn’t even know. The worse part unfolded when he started a slow trail of his tongue over my lips before taking me deeply into his mouth. I was supposed to fight him off, ask him to not be himself— to not be Jack today, to not be territorial and possessive but then again, I found myself gasping into his mouth, returning his kiss and moving my arms all around his shoulders. This man totally dragged me in all his crazies and this was his latest insane trampling yet.
This was Jack, my Jack, the man who never loved me quietly.