Finally married

The symphony in the church rose higher as Damien stepped forward to meet the officiating minister, Lucas following closely behind him.

"May we all rise to welcome the bride to be." The minister said in a sing-song manner.

The entire mass got on their feet and another tune started playing as everyone's eyes fell to the carpeted passage at the center of the cathedral.

"If you still have doubts about this, now is the right time to run brother." Lucas whispered in his ears.

Damien discreetly glared at him and Lucas smiled.

"Do not even think about it, I was only joking. Céline would kill me if I let you run off." He snickered.

Damien shook his head and focused his attention in front of him. He had no urge to turn to the passageway to watch how Céline was going to walk in. It would only make his rage increase. She didn't deserve any of the arrangements his mother had put together. She only deserved pain and anguish; not honor. The sooner this was over, the better he would feel.

There were gasps and murmurs as Céline entered the church, swaying to the tune of the orchestra.

Damien didn't have to look to his side to confirm she was the one. Her fragrance reached him, despite the amount of people in the Cathedral, his nostrils could still distinguish Céline's scent.

"Waoh! You didn't tell me, Céline's maid of honor was a gem!" Lucas whistled and Damien had to look to check what he was blabbing about.

He remembered Céline had mentioned a friend of hers coming from the provinces to be her maid of honor but he had never met her.

Unwillingly, he turned to find the friend Lucas was going on about, but as soon as his eyes fell on Céline, they couldn't move away.

She was painfully beautiful. How could someone be so heartless, yet so beautiful?

A veil covered her face but even a blind man could see the beauty under that veil. Her wedding dress had been fixed to fit even the smallest of curves on her body, flowing like liquid diamond from above her knees to her feet.

Shit.

Damien had to literally peel his eyes away from her. He had to hate her not gawk and drool at her.

They got in front of him and he finally noticed the brunette behind Céline. She was beautiful in the cream dress she wore. She had curves and sharp brown eyes that were captivating —But, she was probably a gold digger too. So beautiful or not, he had to warn Lucas to stay clear of her.

Céline's aunt, Elizabeth released her hand and patted Damien gently on the back before going to stand with Mrs Culhane.

The music stopped and the minister's sing-song voice filled the cathedral.

"Now that we have our bride here, you may all take your seats."

The sound of feet and other movements echoed in the large cathedral as everyone took their seats.

"We are all here today, to witness the union of Mr Damien Culhane and Miss Céline Fayet, who have decided to take the right step in the eyes of God in heaven and in the eyes of men."

Damien held his hands in front of him and starred at Céline. From under the veil, he noticed she was blushing as she listened to the minister.

"The book of our lord says, a man shall leave his parent's house and take for himself a wife with whom he shall start his own family..."

Damien's stare only deepened as Céline's blush grew. Of course, she would blush, this was what she wanted. To marry him and steal his money; Damien thought coldly.

"Mr Damien Culhane, do you wish to take Miss Céline Fayet as your lawfully wedded wife in front of all these good people seated here today, through the good times and the bad times, till death do you part?" The minister's sing-song voice boomed not just in the cathedral but deep within Damien's heart.

He could refuse this right here and now. Céline would go through so much pain, but it wouldn't be enough. And his mother would also be hurt. He didn't want that. He only wanted to hurt Céline and her accomplice not his innocent mother and friends.

Taking a deep breathe, he answered firmly. "I do.”

The minister nodded and turned to Céline. "Miss Céline Fayet, do you wish to take Mr Damien Culhane as your lawfully wedded husband in front of all these good people seated here today, through the good times and the bad times, till death do you part?"

"I do." She said, her smile so much she couldn't contain it.

"Before I pronounce you man and wife, Mr Damien Culhane please step forward and take off her veil..."

Damien took a step and pulled the thin veil over Céline's face. Her breathing was coming in gasps and she had goosebumps all over her skin. Usually, Damien would have found this trait of hers adorable, but it only pissed him off now, for he knew it was all a lie. A part of her game.

"Do you confirm this is Miss Céline Fayet?" The minister asked.

"Yes, it is."

"Good. Now, may the chief bride's maid and the groom's man please step forward with the rings."

Lucas came closer with the ring box and gave the ring to Damien. Olivia did the same with Céline and the minister continued.

"Mr Damien, please take her hands..."

Olivia raised Céline's hands and Damien reluctantly took it in his, holding the ring finger higher than the others, he placed the ring at the tips of her nails.

"You may exchange your rings." The minister told them in a low voice.

"I, Damien give you this ring, to be a symbol of my love and protection." The words were like fire on his tongue, it quickly left his lips and he wasted no time he placing the ring on Céline's finger.

Lucas gave him a gentle tap on the back. "You did great, brother."

Then it was Céline's turn. She took his hands and placed the ring at the tip of his ring finger and then she said,

“I, Céline, give you this ring as a sign of my love and commitment to you. I promise to support you, care for you, and stand alongside you for all of our days. I love you Damien."

There were whistles and claps as everyone fell in love with Céline words -if only they knew what Damien knew, they wouldn't make so much fuss about some fake words.

"I now pronounce you, husband and wife..."

Céline held on to his hands, smiling like the heavens had opened a door specially for her.

"You may now, kiss your bride."

Taking a deep breath, Damien leaned in and placed the lightest of kisses on her lips. He was pulling back when Céline held on to his neck and kissed him as hard as she could muster.

There were screams and shouts of joy as everyone clapped and the music returned louder than ever.

He pulled back and as required of him, he held her hand and they started walking down the isle. He threw his eyes to his mother and she was wiping tears of joy with her handkerchief, even Céline's aunt was in tears. If only they knew, those tears would have been for different reasons.

They got to the front of the car and received hugs and kisses from the guests. Céline was full of smiles. Damien was exhausted. He couldn't wait for the whole thing to be over so they could get into the car and move on unto the next stage which was the reception.

Eventually, the kisses and congratulations ended and they got ushered into their limousine. Inside a lawyer was waiting with their marriage document and certificates, all they had to do was sign. Damien had thought it would be difficult to convince Céline to sign off her rights for a divorce if ever the need came but it was too easy. She was so happy about finally marrying him, the dreams of the money she would steal filled her so much she signed the papers without a second thought.

Good, Damien thought with an evil grin. This was just what he wanted, now the real party could start.

The lawyer retrieved the papers and stepped out of the vehicle. As soon as he was out, the driver zoomed off to the reception where the rest of their guests and the media was waiting. For the wedding ceremony, his mother had insisted she didn't want any paparazzi and Lucas made sure it was done that way. But for the reception, a few of the media were invited exclusively.

"I can't believe it..." Céline's soft voice broke the silence in the limousine.

"We are finally married." She squeaked, gazing at her ring.

Damien had to pinch himself to avoid the scuff that was about leaving his lips. The party had to end before he did or said anything.

"Yeah, same here." He said instead.