Chapter 6
~Wedding day.
Linet beamed with a warm smile, peeking into the dressing room as she held the door open. “Wow, this looks stunning on you!”
Cressida shot her a sideways glance. “What are you doing here?” She sneered. She didn’t invite Linet and Havyn, preferring to keep them at a distance.
Linet brushed off Cressida’s brusqueness, her smile unwavering. “They’ll be calling you soon, and I’ll walk you down the aisle.” She responded.
Cressida’s scoff was incredulous. “Walk me down the aisle?” She repeated, her tone dripping with disdain. She turned to face Linet, her eyes narrowing. “Do you think I’d allow that to happen?”
“If she doesn’t walk you down the aisle, who will?” Hollis’s voice chimed in as she approached.
Cressida’s response was swift and authoritative. “Anyone else?” she said firmly, her brow arched. “But never her, you, or your daughter.”
Linet’s scoff was laced with frustration. “You may hate us, Cressida, but you can’t deny us. We’re still your family.”
Hollis’s question was probing. “We’re your parents, aren’t we?”
Cressida’s response was a bold, unflinching stare. “The answer I have isn’t one you’d want to hear,” she said, her voice unyielding.
Cressida exhaled, breaking eye contact with Hollis. “Not debating this. None of you will walk me down the aisle. You don’t deserve the honor, so I’m not letting you get it,” she declared. “It’s time I do things my way.”
Hollis’s jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists. The defiance in Cressida’s eyes ignited his anger, but he forced himself to calm down.
“Cressida, walking down the aisle by yourself isn’t fitting. Just—”
“Truly, it’s not fitting, and that’s why I’m here today.”
A new voice interrupted, drawing everyone’s attention. Cressida’s gaze followed the sound, her eyes narrowing as she took in the unfamiliar lady.
Linet and Hollis turned. “Who is she?” Their voices were urgent, their eyes fixed on the lady’s floor-length blue gown as she approached with a radiant smile.
Cressida rose slowly, her face furrowed in confusion.
The woman effortlessly sidestepped Linet, positioning herself beside Cressida. “I’ll take the honor of walking her down the aisle.”
Hollis and Linet exchanged shocked glances. “Who is she?” They demanded in unison, their questions directed at Cressida.
Floria’s introduction was swift, her gaze darting between Linet and Hollis. “I’m Floria, today’s bridesmaid.”
Cressida’s eyes widened in surprise. Her lips parted, but no words came out.
“How’s this possible?” Linet questioned.
Cressida’s eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed at Floria, her mind racing with questions. Who was this woman, and why was she claiming to be her bridesmaid?
The unfamiliarity was palpable, and Cressida’s instincts screamed caution. Yet, as she stood beside Floria, something about the woman’s calm demeanor put her at ease. She decided to play along, intrigued by the unexpected twist.
Her face lit up with a smile as she met Linet’s gaze, her voice steady. “Yes, it’s possible.”
She moved closer to Floria, their bodies almost touching. “We’ve been friends for a long time, and I’m revealing her now because I have nothing to fear anymore,” she revealed. She rested her head on Floria’s shoulder, her eyes locked on Linet’s, a hint of defiance in her voice. “Is there anything you can do?”
The air thickened with tension as Cressida’s words hung like a challenge.
Floria’s gaze lingered on Linet and Hollis, her expression twisted in distaste, before she turned to Cressida with a sugary sweet smile. She grasped Cressida’s hand firmly and led her toward the entrance.
“Time to go, girl.”
“Welcome the bride!”
The minister’s voice echoed through the intimate gathering, his white robes gleaming in the light.
Alaric, resplendent in his tuxedo, his piercing blue eyes shining with a newfound brightness, gazed expectantly at the doorway. His styled hair accentuated his features, lending him an undeniable allure.
As Cressida and Floria made their way down the flower-adorned aisle, the small crowd’s eyes followed their every step.
The wedding’s exclusivity was clear in the sparse attendance. Amabel, Felix, a maid, and guards in formal attire represented the groom’s side, while Hollis and Linet stood in for the bride’s family.
As Cressida and Floria reached the altar, they bowed their heads in unison. Floria released Cressida’s hand, stepping back to allow Cressida to turn and face Alaric, her eyes meeting his.
The minister stepped forward, standing between Alaric and Cressida, a warm smile on his face. “Do you, Cressida, accept Alaric as your husband?”
Cressida’s nod was swift, her voice clear. “Yes, I do.”
The minister turned to Alaric, but before he could finish the question, Alaric nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, I do.”
The minister’s smile broadened, pleased by Alaric’s eagerness. “Whoever breaks the rules that guide marriage shall face the law, under this city’s marital laws. Do you agree?”
“Yes.”
With a flourish, the minister declared, “with this, I pronounce Lawson Cressida and Palmer Alaric as husband and wife!”
The groom’s family erupted into applause, their cheers and congratulations filling the room, while Linet and Hollis remained seated, their faces unimpressed.
As the applause died down, the minister returned to the altar, gathered his files, and departed the reception.
The MC rushed to the stage, microphone in hand, his voice booming through the room. “Congratulations to the groom and his bride!” He grinned, his enthusiasm infectious. “And now, the bride and groom shall kiss!”
Cressida’s eyes widened in surprise, her gaze darting to Floria.
A reassuring smile accompanied Floria’s gentle push forward. “Move closer to him.” She encouraged, her voice soft.
Cressida’s lips trembled, her feet seemingly rooted to the spot. Alaric, however, took matters into his own hands. He rolled his wheelchair forward, stopping inches from Cressida, and grasped her hand.
Cressida’s eyes snapped shut as Alaric’s face drew near, a soft “hun” escaping her lips while Alaric’s gentle smile lingered as he gazed into her eyes.
As their eyes locked in a piercing gaze, the air seemed to vibrate with tension. Then, in a movement both sudden and deliberate, he drew her closer, their faces inches apart.
His hands cradled her head, his fingers tangling in her hair as he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a gentle, exploratory kiss. The spark of surprise in her eyes was palpable, but she was frozen, caught in the moment.
As he pulled back, his lips grazed her ear, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. “You’re not even bold?” He whispered, his voice low and husky.
His statement sent a jolt through her, and she let out a soft, bewildered, “huh?”
When she tried to jerk her head away, his grip tightened, holding her in place. “Stay calm,” he murmured, his voice a gentle command. “This is all part of the plan. Don’t get attached.”
The words hung in the air for a moment, and then he released her, leaving her to process the sudden intimacy and the cryptic message.
Cressida’s posture stiffened, her teeth clenched in a mixture of rage and humiliation. Her eyes flashed with anger as she met his gaze, but a subtle defiance simmered beneath the surface.
Without breaking eye contact, she discreetly raised her middle finger, hiding it from the rest of the room, a silent, venomous message meant only for him.
“Fuck you.”