He sighs, and a soft smile touches his lips. He gestures for me to link my arm with his, raising his brows. "Ready?" He's going to help me walk down the aisle.
I nod, and I hear Paul bursting intohappy tears.
9
________
CASSIE
When I enter the famous crystal garden in which my wedding will take place, my heart beats like a drum in my chest. The garden is beautifully decorated, filled with flowers, most of which are my favorite white daisies, except for the aisle, which is covered in white rose petals.
All the guests stare at me, stunned, watching as I slowly make my way down the aisle with Oscar. I smile softly even though my heart is restless—I'm trying my best to ignore the thought that they're mocking me in their heads, and what Luke said back in the dressing room helps, boosting my confidence and keeping my shaking legs moving forward.
Then I see him. My ex-boyfriend. Jude Scott. It's impossible for my eyes to escape him because he's standing next to the aisle. What shocks me even more is that he brought a date with him, and the girl isn't the backup dancer with whom he cheated on me.
I know this new girl. She's a famous model.
Typical Jude with another shiny girl toy. Such a heartbreaker. Why am I even surprised?
I'm trying my best to control my emotions, involuntarily gripping Oscar's arm as I continue walking. Oscar stiffens, knowing exactly why my mood suddenly becomes worse than it already is.
When I pass Jude and his pretty companion, I can feel him staring at me. His gaze is piercing, like he's stripping all my clothes off and seeing right through me.
I quickly compose myself, still looking straight ahead. Thecloser I get to the altar, the clearer I can see Luke. Our eyes meet, and he stares at me so deeply and intensely that I feel like breaking our eye contact.
But the hold he has on me is too strong, like there's so much more he's trying to say to me.
Shit. He can't possibly have been serious when he said that he's going to fuck me at the altar, can he? Because that's the only assumption I have about his mind right now.
I hate him even more because he just made me see Jude again with another girl right before I enter a marriage that I don't even want to be in.
That's a reminder of how messed up I am.
When I finally reach Luke and face him, I'm too angry to feel depressed.
The procession begins, and I listen as the priest says, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered today to join this man and this woman together. In this holy estate, these two come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause as to why these two may not be joined together, let him speak now, or forever hold his peace."
No one interrupts, and I don't know whether it's fortunate or unfortunate.
The priest clears his throat and continues, "Lucas Klein, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, will you keep only unto her, as long as you both shall live?"
"I will," Luke vows. There isn't the slightest hint of doubt or guilt in his voice, like he was born to lie.
I take a deep breath, waiting as the priest opens his mouth to say the next words for me.
"Cassandra Castillo, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, will you keep only unto him, as long as you both shall live?"
Tears threaten to fall from my eyes, but I muster all the strength in me to keep calm, to face what needs to be done.
"I will," I say, my voice slightly shaking, but I think that it's only Luke, the person standing closest to me, who can notice it.
It's done. I'm fucking married to this bastard. I don't even know what will happen to me after we live together. I just hope that I'm still alive at the end of the day.
When it's time to put on our wedding rings, I notice that Paul, who brings them for us, is tearful. He has such a soft heart.
Luke and I place our wedding rings on each other's fingers one after another, and I'm glad that the childish ring that was once on his finger is now gone.
"Because you have consented together to holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and have given and pledged your loyalties one to the other, and have evidenced this by the giving and receiving of rings and joining hands, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you as husband and wife," the priest says. "You may now kiss the bride."
