CHAPTER 560: WEDDING BELLS ... OR NOT (6)

"I am so glad that those two are out of this car!" Matt fumed, referring to how touchy Rocky and Ava had been in the ride there, as they finally got out of the car, handing the keys to a valet at the Thornston estate. The two, Matt and Nicholas, had now visited the estate so often that they had gotten over the novelty of a person valet greeting them at the parking lot.

They followed the directions of a worker to the wedding grounds.

"Now, we’re late!"

Ahead of them, Ava quickened her pace.

"Slow down, Ava... you’re ...."

"We’re late because of you! Why did you-" Ava sighed, knowing that she had enjoyed every moment of that morning. However, when they turned the last corner to the grounds, expecting the wedding to be over, they stopped short.

On one side of the platform stood the groom, Brad, dressed in tailored formalwear, dark, elegant, trimmed in muted gold.

All the guests had their eyes trained on the back, as the music shifted to a gentler, more reverent tone.

On the opposite side of where Ava and the rest had appeared, she appeared, along the garden path, riddled with flower petals of all kinds, arm in arm with her father, Carmichaels.

The bride, Alicia Fanny!

She walked slowly, her dress sweeping across the ground like a breath of mist. The gown was an ivory-and-blush blend of old-world design and modern lines. Intricate embroidery traced patterns along her sleeves and bodice with sacred knots and designs hidden among the lace.

Her hair, adorned with blooming pearls and pale blossoms, shimmered in the sunlight. Alicia appeared half-stunned, half-serene, but she was what they would call the typical Thornston Bride, whatever that may mean.

Ava, Rocky, Matt and Nicholas slipped into the back seat, declining to go to the front where their seats were located, so as not to disrupt the ceremony.

But Ava caught a statement just as she couldn’t help but smirk at the lengths people would go to try to associate.

"Is that Shelby’s brother?"

"Do you have to ask? They look so much alike that there’s no need."

"But... he’s also taken, too? WTH!!!! Can’t we have any chance at all?"

"Shhhhh!"

On the other hand, Brad watched Alicia the entire way, trying not to look too awestruck and failing a little.

When she reached him, her father joined their hands and then stepped away, whispering something to Brad that almost everyone could guess.

Their fingers curled, tense, hesitant, but did not pull away.

The officiant began, voice steady but warm.

"We gather here not merely to witness a union, but to bless it. To bind two souls, two paths, into one."

Then lots of words followed, ritualistic, poetic, timeless.

When the officiant asked the question, Alicia hesitated for only a breath before answering, voice clear.

"I do."

Brad answered without pause.

"I do."

The kiss to seal the deal in front of all was not passionate, nor loud, but full of quiet wonder. A brush of lips that promised a thousand more. A gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by applause, and a few sentimental sniffles.

As they turned to face the gathering, now husband and wife, the breeze caught the petals at their feet and gently spun them into the air, like a blessing from nature itself. The guests let out a unified gasp, but the family itself were more used to things like that.

Ian sat stiffly in his chair as the new couple stepped down and among the guests. His fingers curled around the armrest as laughter and music floated through the air.

The ceremony was perfect in every way. And yet, all he could think was: I missed mine. Yes, he had seen the pictures and videos, but that was not him! In this moment, he felt a level of dissatisfaction towards Brad, ’How dare he attend my wedding in my stead!’

It was ridiculous, really. Everyone knew that Ian loved Shelby more than his own breath. He had moved and done the impossible for her, shielding her from unimaginable things, but only Ian knew that she was his only anchor, without whom he was nothing.

But watching the couple through the ceremony, standing there in their vows and finery, his chest tightened with a sharp, irrational ache.

He pictured Shelby as if she were the one on the altar. The gown she’d wear, the sexy curve of her smile, the way her eyes had sparkled when she looked at him. And he hadn’t been there.

No matter what legit reason Ian had then, it all felt mushy to him and caused him a great deal of pain, as his mind betrayed him by unspooling foolish thoughts.

What if she had looked even more radiant that day than she did now? What if she had glanced at someone else the way she sometimes teased him .... half-amused, half-challenging? What if... What if ....

’I have wronged my Elfin!’

He clenched his jaw, forcing the thoughts away. It felt stupid and pointless, but still there, nevertheless.

Still, he couldn’t stop his eyes from drifting to her now, seated and leaning against him. She turned to look up at him, sensing his gaze, and gave him a little smile that belonged to no one else.

It should have soothed him. It did, for a moment.

But deep down, that stubborn ember of jealousy kept smouldering ... irrational, unnecessary, but undeniably there. He kissed the top of her hair and vowed to give her the best of the best!

"I’ll give you a better one... soon!"

It took a moment for Shelby to understand what he was saying, and she playfully swatted his arm,

"Get those loose, unwanted thoughts out!"

But he just hugged her close, just as the crowd let out loud shrieks, prompting Shely to turn quickly to see what was going on.

***

It had been a rollercoaster morning for Alicia, and even more surprising. The squeals and congratulations were still echoing in her ears as they made their way down the aisle, petals scattering under their steps. She tried to take it all in ... the smiles, the warm wishes, the music ... but her chest felt too tight, her head spinning from the enormity of it all.

The rush from the morning and all that had come with it was still in her system, keeping her on an adrenaline high. She barely heard anything anyone had said, and the only tether to life was Brad’s cool palms around hers.

Then, before she could even steady herself, the world tilted.

A surprised gasp escaped her lips as Brad bent, swept her clean off her feet, and cradled her bridal-style against his chest. They were still on the isle!

Gasps and startled murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"What the hell are you doing?" she hissed under her breath, clinging to him for balance.

"Oh? Miss Prim can curse?" Brad’s mouth curved in a wicked smile, and without warning, he kissed her full on the lips, hard and unapologetic, right there in front of everyone. The first kiss had only been a show, but this one had some parents covering their children’s eyes.

This was the Brad that all knew, the reckless, handsome one that made people’s legs bend over and turn to jelly!

Heat flooded Alicia’s cheeks, but Brad didn’t slow his stride. In fact, his long, purposeful steps only grew quicker, his arm tightening around her.

"Finishing off what we started last night," he murmured against her lips, stealing another kiss before she could protest.

She finally tore away enough to speak, breathless and bewildered. "But... what about the guests? Isn’t this incredibly rude? Wha-"

He glanced down at her, his eyes glinting with mischief. "They’ll forgive us. Just for today. Besides, I waited long enough, and we are now a married couple, so who can stop us?"

Before she could argue, or even catch her breath, the crowd, the music, the garden all blurred into the background. The next thing she knew, they were beyond the doors of the garden and into the estate, the hum of voices long faded behind them.

And then, with the heavy doors of the bridal chamber swinging open before them, she realized there was no stopping whatever came next.

He set her down, went back for her lips, not even giving Alicia time to say a word.

"Damn! I love the perfume you used.... And did I tell you that you look amazing today?"

He murmured against her when they came up for a breath, but Brad didn’t stay there for long. He turned her around and started using his lips to open the small, lined buttons at her back, kissing along the way, and Alicia couldn’t take it anymore. She moaned loudly, blushing at the same time.

’What is he doing?!’ she thought back to the scene of them leaving and what Alex , Geneva, her dad and the rest would think of her. She was the reason! The bridal after party or reception was just about to begin, and they, the main couple, had about an hour left? What was the news even going to report?

"B-rad.... Ngg..." She clamped her mouth shut, trying to anchor herself to anything so that she could think clearly, but did Brad want to do that? His hand snuck through her arms to her lacy bra as soon as her top was loose enough....

And she tensed, goosebumps rolling all over her as an involuntary long moan left her.

___

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