Chapter 32

Emily's POV

*TWO MONTHS LATER*

"I can't find the hair pins. Jasmine where did you put them, in here?"

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

"No, you got the flowers wrong. There're 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. 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 learnt from the pregnancy classes we were attending until the birth of our baby. My baby bump was just beginning to show, but the earlier the classes, the bigger the knowledge. I didn't want to fail at being a mom. I couldn't fail.

Gen, my maid of honor and my best friend, calmed down. So did Jasmine, Zenia and two of Sebastian's cousins. I had selected them to be my bridemaids. 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 specially 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 they were covered in diamonds.

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

"Sebastian had them made specifically 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 having her own life."

"Ethan, don't you start crying," Mom teased 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 let go of 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 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 with my father's right.

"Ready?"

"Of course."

He took pleasure in placing my veil over my face and we walked out of the room and headed into the awaiting chapel where many had already gathered— inside and outside— to be apart 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 hear my father and my appointed body guards' wrath.

We waited outside the door for the music to indicate my arrival. Everyone else had taken their places, including Evan Jr. 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 on a slash around his upper body. His hair was neatly slicked backwards, showing his handsome facial features.

Everyone rose when I took the first step and only turned in my direction when I walked past down the middle of the aisle. I heard 'wow' and 'aww' as I walked by. My father joined my mother at the front row when I reached the alter.

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 said and I couldn't help but laugh, so did everyone else who heard him. Just 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 very powerful union between two beautiful souls before God, before me, and before each and everyone of you." The priest said a lengthy prayer and more words about the union before our eyes.

When he got to the objection 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, produce 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 the rings on their partner's finger."

Sebastian 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 upon you, I knew we'd be special for each other, and no amount of distance, time and negative energy... and arranged marriage," he just had to say that to make me and others laugh again, "none of those things stopped 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 can'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 went 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-like.

He slid the ring on and it was my turn.

I did the same as he had 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 had to explain it 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've 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, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?" the priest asked.

"I do," he answered.

The priest 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 your bride."

Sebastian lifted my veil up. "I've been waiting."

The church erupted in laughter, claps and cheers as our lips collided on the alter.

It was official. I wasn't a well-kept secret or a girlfriend anymore. I was the wife of a soon-to-be king and I was going to be his queen and queen for all his people.

_______________________

Narrator's POV

As the wedding ceremony came 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 were soon joined to have the first dance as husband and wife. They danced until they couldn't stand 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 a final opportunity to strike and bring everything to an end once and for all.