Chapter 20 Do you still hate him?
The wedding day finally arrived. Alistair's family was also present and unfazed by Danieru's absence. They knew the wedding would still go ahead, even if he hadn't brought his family.
Camilla wasn't nervous, but rather annoyed that the wedding hadn't even begun. She felt incredibly bored in the waiting room, unsure what to do. Maybe... if this were a love marriage, Camilla would be nervous.
For the ceremony, Danieru chose a church in the city center. He also invited many guests and paparazzi to cover the wedding. It was as if he wanted to tell the whole world that he was married.
Camilla wasn't moved; this wasn't what she wanted. It was as if Danieru had created a prison for her, requiring her to constantly maintain his reputation. Whatever his plans were, if this were an official wedding, Camilla would certainly be happy.
"Camilla, why are you daydreaming?" asked a middle-aged man.
Camilla turned her attention to see her father standing at the door, smiling.
“Dad,” Camilla murmured.
Mr. Alistair exhaled softly, then smiled, then stepped forward and closed the door. He approached his daughter, deeply impressed by her beauty.
“You look just like your mother, Camilla. She was also very beautiful on our wedding day,” the man said.
Camilla, hearing her father’s words, smiled bitterly, feeling a little displeased.
“Do you still hate him?” Mr. Alistair asked.
“Yes, I still hate him very much,” Camilla replied.
“Be a good wife, even if your marriage wasn’t based on love.”
Camilla smiled slightly and looked at her father. If he knew this was only a contractual marriage, would he still remain silent?
“Don’t fight your husband, you can definitely win his love.”
Camilla stood up and hugged her father.
“Dad, I love you. I’m sorry I haven’t been a good daughter to you.”
Mr. Alistair returned his daughter’s hug, kissing her forehead and patting her back.
“Why don’t you divorce that woman, Dad? Do you really love her? She’s caused so much trouble, and I hate that.”
Mr. Alistair tightened his embrace. “Listen… marriage isn’t something that can be broken so easily. It’s a bond and a promise we make before God. Only death can separate that marriage. If our partner isn’t a good person, then we have to guide them on the right path. Their flaws are our strengths, and their strengths are our weaknesses. It’s easy for people who don’t understand marriage to say divorce, but that’s not how it should be.”
Camilla burst into tears, unable to hold them back any longer. Despite the suffering, her father had remained in the marriage; even when her mother was in prison, he remained faithful and guarded her heart.
“Dad… why? Why endure if it’s so painful?” Camilla felt her body trembling violently.
“Because humans make mistakes, and humans are imperfect. Forgiveness is a good thing, but you have to forgive that person sincerely.”
“Dad! I-I…” Camilla buried her face in her father’s broad chest.
“I understand. It’s not easy for you, but try to open your heart. After all, you are your mother’s child, you were born to her. No matter how much you hate her, you are still mother and daughter.”
Camilla remained silent, focusing solely on enjoying her father’s warm embrace. A man who was truly steadfast in his convictions, and a man no one could ever replace.
“Do you remember when Dad told you you were getting married two years ago?”
Camilla nodded, remembering it well.
“Danieru was the man you were supposed to marry back then,” Mr. Alistair said again.
Camilla released her hug and looked at her father. He smiled, then wiped away her tears with his thumb.
"Dad is good friends with his mother; we're like brothers."
"So is that why I didn't stop this wedding?"
"Yes. Because I believe the son of my best friend is a responsible man. Just like his mother," replied Mr. Alistair.
Hearing this fact made Camilla feel like she'd fallen to the bottom of the abyss. Indeed... Danieru's mother did seem patient. Very different from her mother.
"Camilla, now's not the time to daydream. Danieru is waiting for you at the altar," said Mr. Alistair.
Camilla nodded and quickly reached for the bouquet of flowers on the table. She immediately took her father's hand, and they left the room.
"Are you happy to have a son-in-law?" Camilla asked.
"Of course. After all, he's the son of my best friend. He'll definitely take care of your daughter and won't let her cry." Mr. Alistair winked, then felt pleased when Camilla chuckled.
"Dad, I love you."
"Dad loves you more and more," replied Mr. Alistair.
...
The Evangelical Lutheran Church, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, United States. This church was Danieru's choice, and it was an excellent venue for his wedding. Danieru deliberately chose the same venue as his mother's wedding, wanting his wife to be as strong as her.
Initially, this wasn't the church Danieru had chosen. But when he realized Camilla was a kind, yet fragile, woman, he quickly chose it. Danieru wanted to treat Camilla well, and he also wanted to learn about her past.
Danieru didn't know when their game would end, but he was confident he could live well with Camilla. Although the marriage contract would end if either of them fell in love, that clearly wasn't going to happen.
He couldn't love Camilla because his heart was still attached to Rachel. As for Camilla, who knew what would happen to her, he hoped no one would fall in love, and their life would be peaceful.
"The bride is entering the room." The voice brought Danieru out of his reverie. He saw Camilla walking slowly and embracing Mr. Alistair's hand. Honestly, Camilla was very beautiful. She was like an angel in her white dress, and she looked very graceful today.
Danieru would live a good life with Camilla. Love wasn't important; he would just guard his friend carefully. And if Camilla ever fell in love with someone else, he would set her free. Danieru knew that if Camilla changed for the better, many men would want her.
Danieru felt nervous, especially when Camilla lifted her head and looked at him. Camilla's face was covered by a thin white veil, but it couldn't hide his bride's charm.
Deg!
Her heart reacted as Mr. Alistair stopped right in front of her. The middle-aged man immediately took Camilla's hand and smiled. It felt so reassuring when Mr. Alistair smiled; it made her, who had been nervous, feel better. If only her father could be as warm as Mr. Alistair, perhaps she would be very happy.
Danieru immediately stepped forward and took Camilla's hand, which was held by Mr. Alistair.
"Danieru, take care of my daughter. Love her more than I love her. And... call me Dad. From today on, you will be my daughter too."
Danieru took Camilla's hand and smiled. Honestly, he was very touched; he even wanted to talk to his father-in-law about many things.
"I entrust my daughter to you," said Mr. Alistair, releasing his hand from Camilla's.
"Dad, I promise to take care of her."
"I have your word, my child." Mr. Alistair immediately left Camilla.
Danieru looked at Camilla and smiled. The man was also pleased when Camilla stepped toward him, and he immediately led her to the priest who would be officiating their wedding.
"Very well, we shall begin this sacred marriage blessing." The priest gazed at Danieru and Camilla, quite impressed with the couple.
Inside the church, the invited guests were also thronging, including Alistair's family and their business associates. Then, Danieru's business associates and friends from their school days also joined in.
The wedding was even more lively thanks to the presence of the paparazzi. They truly felt fortunate to have been invited and invited to take photos, video, and even broadcast their wedding.
Back to Danieru and Camilla, they were now holding hands, encouraging each other. Danieru could sense that Camilla wasn't nervous, and was making the same effort.
"By the grace of Almighty God, today these two human beings will be united in holy matrimony. I will first ask Brother Danieru Malaike."
Danieru, hearing the priest's words, came to his senses. He was ready for everything, and he couldn't wait to say he was ready.
“Danieru Malaike, are you willing to take Camilla Alistair as your wife? To protect her and be with her. Through thick and thin, through tears and laughter, through sickness and health, through poverty and richness. Are you willing to accept her flaws and love her until death do you part? Please answer my question and recite your wedding vows.”
Danieru steeled himself and then firmly grasped Camilla’s hand. He turned his gaze to Camilla and was pleased when she returned his hand.
“I am willing to take Camilla Alistair as my wife. I am also willing to accept her as she is, to be with her until death do us part. I swear to make her happy, to be the only person who will love her. I swear that if anyone has bad intentions, says unkind things, or interferes with our lives, I will persevere. I will do anything for her, and I swear this before God, with all the congregation present today as witnesses.”
Applause rang out; everyone was touched by Danieru’s words, even Mr. Alistair shed tears. As for Camilla, she hadn't expected Danieru to say such a thing.
Camilla now understood why her father had so strongly defended the marriage. He had made a promise and sworn an oath. He had been so loyal, and Camilla felt herself increasingly devastated. On one hand, she wanted to run away from this event, but on the other, she didn't want to run away and cause trouble.
The woman swallowed hard and turned her face away as Danieru stared at her. Damn... why was she so nervous now?
“Camilla Alistair. Are you willing to take Danieru Malaike as your husband? To protect him, and to be with him. Through thick and thin, through tears and laughter, through sickness and health, through poverty and richness. Are you willing to accept his flaws and love him until death do you part? Please answer my question and recite your wedding vows.”
Camilla, hearing this, felt even more nervous. She then looked at Danieru, who was holding her hand, and he also nodded his head.
‘God, forgive me! Father… forgive your daughter!’ Camilla's heart screamed. She then took a breath and smiled.
"I take Danieru Malaike as my husband, and I vow to be with him, to complete him, to be his strength. I vow to be faithful until death do us part. I swear this before God, and all the congregation present today are witnesses."
Camilla closed her eyes after saying those words, feeling even more overwhelmed as the applause echoed.
"Very well, the bride and groom have exchanged their wedding vows. They have also accepted each other as husband and wife. Now we will exchange wedding rings. This will be a symbol that binds and strengthens them," said the priest.
A woman stepped forward, carrying Camilla and Danieru's wedding rings. The woman smiled, relieved as Danieru and Camilla stared at her. She resumed her steps, oblivious to the shocked reactions of the bride and groom.
"Mom..." Danieru muttered very quietly, not expecting her mother to actually be there.
Mrs. Malaike opened the ring box in her hand and stepped before her son, her eyes welling with tears.
Danieru, not wanting to waste his mother's presence, immediately took one of the rings. He took Camilla's left hand and placed it on his wife's ring finger.
"You will be a good husband, Danieru. I trust you," Mrs. Malaike said.
Applause echoed, and Danieru looked back at his mother. That woman, she would not disappoint him.
Mrs. Malaike then stepped toward Camilla daughter-in-law. "Camilla, I entrust my son to you. From now on, I am your mother, and you are my daughter."
"M-mom," Camilla murmured.
Mrs. Malaike nodded her head.
Camilla, seeing this, smiled back and looked down at her. She took a deep breath, calming herself. Carefully, Camilla reached for the ring and then took Danieru's left hand.
Danieru looked at Camilla. ‘Camilla, don't hesitate. We'll be together forever, I'll take care of you, and be your best friend. If love isn't on the table, that's okay. I'll let you go when you find the right person.’
Camilla put the ring on, feeling a sense of relief as it fit perfectly on Danieru's ring finger. Applause rang out again, and Camilla immediately looked at her mother-in-law, who had come down from the altar and sat in the front seat, not far from her father and the woman she hated.
"Matthew chapter nineteen, verse six. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate."
Danieru and Camilla couldn't help but smile. They looked somewhat relieved that everything was over.
"Danieru Malaike, you may remove your wife's veil and kiss her."
Danieru took a step forward and removed the veil that had been covering Camilla's face. The man was stunned; Camilla was so beautiful today. Danieru immediately kissed Camilla, wrapping his arms around her waist. Camilla, feeling Danieru's kiss, closed her eyes and returned his kiss.
Danieru stopped his antics, kissed Camilla gently on the forehead, and looked back at her. "Kitty, you're my wife now."
"I know that, Doggie."