I wasn't planning to publish this chapter this early but this wonderful cover⬆️⬆️
Made by AccioGoodBooks made me change my mind.

I couldn't wait!!

Thank you so much🤍🤍

TWENTY: CROWN & PROMISES

EVERY CLICK OF the heels echoed in my ears as I walked on the strip of the red carpet, down the aisle. My heart hammering and a decibel enhanced at every step. Maybe this wasn't my biggest fear but the consequences it led to were; commitment and bondage.

 I could feel my breath dropping as I tightened my fingers around Christian's arm. He was conventionally posing for the numerous cameras as I kept my eyes down and the veil, which felt like it'd slip off my head any moment, was gracefully keeping most of my expressions within the air in between me and the cloth. I don't know if I should be nagging about the pointed pins that kept the veil intact to my cranium or thank the camouflage it gifted. 

The garden was beautifully decorated but the expenses were kept to a minimum. There weren't crystals and stars falling from the curtain of the sky. Rather there was a wide view of roses as far as I could see. The altar was massive, it's pillars dressed in roses, tinted with various hues-red, peach, white, and all the colors between them.

The setting was breathtaking and serene but I forcefully kept my mouth shut from gawking,  threatening that my heart which was stuck in my throat would leap out. 

Christian placed his free hand when my fingers started twitching with anticipation and my nerve-wracking nervousness. 

"Breath and smile and repeat." He murmured, beaming a smile when a photographer passed in front of us to take the closure. 

"Not helping, man." I seethed out from between my clenched teeth. He just pressed his palm firmly to mine in return. 

I let out a breath from my mouth as my tension enhanced with each passing step and as we were just ten steps away from the elevated marble altar. 

The violinists and pianists were playing a soul quivering melancholy of 'A thousand years' and my heart soared within. This is harder than I conceived. 

"Christian, bring Lia here. Grandma has something for her." I didn't recognize the owner of the voice and my clogged throat wasn't helping either. 

Christian led me and we made a left turn. I looked at an old lady, in a wheelchair, under my lashes. She must be the grandma, my brain decoded. Now, we were five steps from the deathly altar. 

She was smiling ear to ear, her teeth shining pearly white and I wondered how it was possible for such an aged person.  I resisted myself from blaming her for this dramatic scenario. 

She motioned with her fingers for me to kneel down. 

With this heavy dress, do you want me to sit on the ground? Are you kidding me? 

Regardless, Theodore's mom helped me to sit on my knees, just beside the granny's feet. 

It was indeed a compromising situation. 

She looked at me with fawning eyes and I thanked the makeup artists internally. "Even the veil can't resist her beauty to ooze out. My grandson must be whipped and I can't blame him." She spoke lightly and chuckled, as I had to strain my ears to decipher the words. Nonetheless, I'd agree that she still had remnants of humor left in her system. 

"Aislynn, give me the crown." Her voice sent shivers down my spine. She spoke as if she owns the words, with full authority and knowingness. I see where Theodore gets his aura. 

I gulped subconsciously. 

In no time, she placed the ten kilograms crown over my head as Theodore's stepmom helped her but she kept insisting that she has still not lost her abilities yet and can work without anybody's help. 

Amidst there banter, I don't know what happened in my head but I couldn't complain. My lips were sealed and I forgot that I was tensed for a second. 

And here my wonderful mind reminded me! 

I got up and walked to the elevated floor, ignoring my feet which felt numb. And I was thoughtless. Blank and numb. 

My handheld Theodore's stretched palm and the priest started with the formalities. My fingers pricked and tingled at the contact. 

'Breathe and smile and repeat.'

Those were the only words going in my head, swirling and knocking at my skull, repeatedly. I kept rubbing my sweaty hands against the lacey fabric of the wedding gown. 

"Mr.Raymond, kindly repeat after me." The priest asked in his monotonous voice. He said his entire monologue, which he might have already said a million times before. 

"I, Theodore Almin Raymond, take you Aurellia Jadelyn Hargrave to be a lawfully wedded wife. I take you with all your flaws and all your strengths as I offer myself to you with all my faults and strengths. Before these witnesses, I pledge to share my life with you, to speak the truth to you in love. I promise to honor and care for you, to cherish and encourage your own fulfillment as an individual through all the changes in our lives. I choose you as my partner with whom I will spend my life." 

It felt as if this sound was coming from a distance and my ears had a layer of thick air around it which didn't let the vows break through the maze of concentrated and charged air to reach the core of my heart. But I felt my skin prickle with unspoken jubilance. 

"I do." He replied. It felt as if he had rehearsed it in front of the mirror, again and again. It held this definite edge and void, and it didn't come out that naturally from his mouth, the way it does when he orders people around or the way he cursed under his breath when I opposed him. 

And I didn't like the fact that I picked up those minute hints to decode his reaction. 

"Ms. Hargrave, do you?" The priest sounded as if he had been asking this question multiple times. And suddenly the realization dawns to me that I zoned out. I steal a glance at Theodore to witness him clenching his teeth and looking everywhere but me, shamefully. 

"I do." My voice, to my utter surprise, came out squeaky and raspy. My heart instantly soared and I was fighting to retain my composure. 

Yet, I feel as if a brick was lifted off my chest. Maybe because the faster it happens the quicker things would be over, a little part of my brain tried to convince. I believed it for the time being for I didn't have any other option. My mind was clouded and things were becoming hard to process. 

I do. I said that. 

"Now, you may kiss your bride for you have been taken as life partners in front of the Lord." 

I hold my breath, not daring to react. I knew this was coming but it was one of those things for which I couldn't prepare for nor skip. So, I waited. 

Theodore, lifted my veil up as cold air rushed to tint my cheeks crimson due to the million gazed trying to peer at my face. But the biggest part was contributed by him. His unflinching, stoic gaze. 

He didn't move for a moment. His eyes trying to capture mine. But mine were going haywire, as they dwindled here and there, anywhere, avoiding his intense stare. 

His feet moved one step closed below my eyes and a heavyweight dropped into the pit of my stomach making me restless, fidgeting. 

Can I run away? 

His sinful fingers held my chin, precisely and carefully, lifting it up. Those dark orbs held some unquestionably understood emotion, not ready to give away anything but my eyes drank some, unpermitted. I saw dominance. 

"May I kiss you?" He murmured so softly that I felt that I'd break. 

No. Never. 

NO. 

"Okay." My mouth bespoke at the mercy of his unwavering regard. I didn't recognize my voice. 

"Jadelyn, Yes or no?" His lips were just a from mine as his minty breath ignited goosebumps to raised sway on the surface of my flesh. 

"No." Somehow my voice came whispery but firm. I was proud of my reaction. 

"But I will." With that, his lips brushed mine once and a jolt of current rippled through my neck muscles as my eyelids dropped in bliss. Then, he pressed them firmly to mine and my sane thoughts ceased apart. I stood still, just like a paper and he pulled away after three seconds. 

Those were the largest three seconds of my life!

His hand left my chin and that area was damp. My eyes flutter open and everyone applauded cheerfully. 

I was blank, I could barely hear a single sound.

***

Thoughts?