WEDDING VOWS

Edward took my hand into his and squeezed it. I instinctively squeezed his hand back to comfort and

reassure him that I would be by his side.

“I wanted to get our marriage registered the day after we got off the cruise ship…but then I thought that

that would just freak you out,” Edward admitted a little shyly.

I found this version of Edward so adorable. It was a stark contrast to his fully confident self who

declared boldly that he was sure that I would become his wife. Perhaps now that our wedding is so

close, he’s getting cold feet?

“We can get that done whenever you wish…” I replied, before pulling up his hand and kissing it.

“Really?” Edward asked, his green eyes sparkling like a kid that had just gotten his long-awaited

Christmas present.

“Really,” I replied firmly.

I closed my eyes in bliss when Edward’s face came in closer, and his lips sealed mine in a sweet and

tender kiss. His kiss made me understand his feelings better because I felt the same way. As I shared

his kiss, I also shared his feelings of wanting to protect our new relationship.

…

“Master Lucien is here for you, Miss,” Laura whispered excitedly behind me as she fixed my hair.

I snapped out of my thoughts as I returned to the present. I have to focus on the present, after all,

today is Edward and my wedding day.

“Natalia…” Lucien said my name as his eyes swept over my body from head to toe taking me in.

“Lucien…” I whispered.

Laura quickly and silently excused herself from the room. I heard the door click close softly at her exit;

however, I did not see her leave because my eyes were focused on Lucien. He looked like he had

many things that he wanted to say and was deciding on what to actually voice.

“You look enchantingly beautiful…” Lucien complimented me with a smile. His smile was so kind that

for a moment my body froze.

“Thank you, Lucien,” I said as I smiled back.

Lucien and I didn’t get a chance to talk before my wedding day arrived. I knew that this wedding must

feel like a deep betrayal to Lucien, and I was scared to face him to discuss it. I thought that whatever

we said would end up hurting us both and there was no way that I would change my mind. I have

chosen to marry Edward and he has chosen to spend his life with me and that was that. It was final. copyrighted © content.

Perhaps Lucien felt the same way because he never asked to meet with me to discuss this either. I

wasn’t sure what Edward said to his brother when he announced our engagement and intent to get

married but it had magically worked. When I asked Edward about it, he had refused flat out to tell me

and had stayed stubbornly silent on the matter.

“Are you sure you won’t regret this?” Lucien asked in a low voice.

“I’m sure,” I replied, my voice steadier than I thought possible. I was honest though, I was sure.

This was a decision that I made and because I chose this path myself, I was sure that I would not

regret it. For once in a very long time, I could choose something for myself by myself.

“I’ll always be here for you,” Lucien said with a smile before touching his warm hand to the side of my

cheek softly.

“…Thank you, Lucien,” I said as I felt tears sting my eyes. I blinked rapidly to keep them from falling.

When I felt his touch, I felt like I had reverted to the little girl that I was around ten years ago again.

“Let’s go,” Lucien said as he offered me his arm.

I didn’t think I would feel this excited but now that I was about to walk down the aisle, my legs were

shaking in fear. It was so nerve wrecking that my hands that were gripping the flower bouquet was

beginning to sweat. I took in deep breaths to try to calm myself down as the classical band played the

wedding march.

“Come on,” Lucien whispered encouragingly in my ear when he realized that I couldn’t take a step

forward.

I looked around at the very few selected guests that were seated and found myself smiling. Very few

close friends I had managed to gather during my years in university and some of my close colleagues.

Zak was there with an unreadable expression on his face and a very smiley Annie next to him. Some of

Edward’s close friends and colleagues and, thankfully, no other Rosenhall family members.

Before I knew it, I had reached the altar where Edward was waiting for me. My heart was beating so

fast, and I felt like I could faint at any moment as I watched Lucien hug his brother. The two men

whispered some words that I couldn’t catch to each other before Lucien placed my hand in Edward’s.

I bit my lower lip as my eyes darted randomly everywhere in my anxiousness. Edward held and

squeezed my hand firmly giving me comfort and strength. The priest started saying things that I

presumed were standard for a wedding because for the life of me I was too excited to hear a word that

he was saying.

They say that your wedding is supposed to be memorable but to me everything just passed by in a blur

as we both said our vows to each other. The next moment, Edward had lifted my vow and held the

back of my head. I closed my eyes tight, and I felt his warm lips on mine as he sealed our vow with a

kiss. The kiss was ceremonial and unlike his usual kisses that I truly enjoyed; however, his lips were

warm and welcoming as always.

However, Edward’s stunning smiling face and beautiful green eyes that I saw when I opened my eyes

when our lips parted was enough to take my breath away. He bent down to whisper softy into my ears

a secret vow of his own that he wanted to keep a secret between us, and I couldn’t stop my cheeks

from burning hot and turning red.

“I love you…so much…” was all that I could whisper back as I smiled shyly at him.

--To be continued…

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