Chapter 33
Nicole was now alone in the room. Her friends had left after chatting with her for a while, needing to be at the church to await her arrival.
The quiet that followed felt almost heavy, filled with anticipation and nervous energy.
She felt a flutter of nervousness in her chest, the kind that made her hands tremble slightly.
To steady herself, she took a small sip of wine, letting the warmth calm her racing thoughts.
Now that she was fully dressed, reality struck her fully, causing her heart to pound-she was about to marry Gabriel, and there was no way either of them could avoid it.
There were no detours, no delays. It had to happen, and the magnitude of that truth both thrilled and terrified her.
She perched on the edge of the bed, hands shaking slightly, heart racing like a drumbeat in her chest. She tried to steady herself, but the realization weighed heavily, as her mind drifted in a whirlwind of "what ifs" and "maybes," when she suddenly heard a gentle knock at the door.
Startled, she jumped up and called softly for whoever it was to come in.
Her pulse quickened as she straightened.
The door opened, and Gabriel's father, Jacob, stepped inside.
At first, there was a look of surprise on his face, but he quickly composed himself and smiled warmly at her.
Nicole returned the smile, trying to mask the rapid beating of her heart and the tight coil of nerves twisting in her stomach.
"You look amazing," Jacob said with gentle admiration, walking toward her with a proud glint in his eyes.
"Gabriel is lucky to have found you... And I'm proud to call you my daughter-in-law," he continued, placing a soft, reassuring kiss on her forehead.
Nicole felt a warmth rise in her chest. Her eyes glistened with tears at his heartfelt words.
"Don't cry. You don't want to... How do they say it?
... Yeah, I remember now-you wouldn't want to ruin your makeup now, would you?
" he joked lightly, a playful glint in his eye.
Nicole couldn't the but laugh, the sound light and unburdened, letting the tension loosen in her shoulders and lighten her mood.
Just like that, she felt herself relax, the nervous tightness in her chest easing under his comforting presence.
"Are you ready?" Jacob asked gently, his eyes twinkling with encouragement.
"Yes. And Jacob... thank you," Nicole said, pressing a quick, affectionate peck to his cheek.
"I did nothing, my dear," he replied softly, taking her hand as they made their way out of the bedroom together, leaving the safe cocoon of preparation behind for the moment that awaited her.
Gabriel stood by the altar, every muscle taut with nerves.
His hands were clammy, his heart thrumming in his chest like a wild drum.
He had no idea getting married could be this nerve-wracking.
The magnitude of this day hit him in waves-he had never imagined he would be standing here, on the verge of marrying after Ashley had ended things so abruptly.
But, here he was, moments from the biggest step of his life.
He felt the weight of expectation and the flutter of excitement, the mix of relief and anxiety coiling tightly in his chest. He glanced at the doors repeatedly, willing Nicole to appear.
He couldn't help but wonder what was taking her so long to arrive.
What if she didn't want to go through with it?
What if she suddenly changed her mind, unnerved by the age difference or the unusual circumstances that had brought them together?
His thoughts twisted anxiously with doubts, each one more distracting than the last, gnawing at him from the inside out, until the soft strains of music drifted through the room.
The signal of her arrival made his heart skip violently.
The doors opened, and he caught sight of his father, Jacob, gracefully walking Nicole down the aisle.
She was breathtaking. She looked every inch the princess of a storybook, radiant and ethereal.
Her dress-a stunning white ball gown that struck the perfect balance of classic elegance and modern sophistication-hugged her in all the right places, flowing gracefully to the floor with the perfect poise.
The veil flowed delicately over her face, softening her features, but could not mask the beauty radiating from her face.
Every detail-the glimmer in her eyes, the subtle curve of her lips, the delicate flow of fabric around her-struck him profoundly. She was real. All of this was real.
Her beauty reminded him of the first night he set his eyes on her. Though this marriage wasn't built on love, he felt an overwhelming pride at being the one standing beside her, to take her hand as his on this unforgettable day.
When they finally reached him, his father handed Nicole over, placing her hand gently in Gabriel's. Gabriel accepted her hand tenderly, gratitude and awe coiling in his chest.
"You're really beautiful," he whispered softly, a mix of admiration and genuine awe lacing his voice.
"Thank you," Nicole replied, a shy smile breaking through.
Nicole was grateful that her face was behind a veil, preventing Gabriel from seeing her flushed cheeks.
The priest's calm yet commanding voice then filled the room: "Let us begin."
TIME SKIP
The reception was in full swing, the room buzzing with over two hundred guests celebrating the union of Gabriel and Nicole.
Nicole's eyes roamed the breathtaking venue, taking in the glimmer of crystal, the warm golden lighting, the intricate floral arrangements, and the delicate details that made the space feel magical.
This was her wedding-her real wedding-and it felt surreal, like a dream made tangible.
She could hardly believe such a day had arrived, as she never imagined such a reality for herself.
She felt privileged to witness her own wedding.
Every piece of the décor, every careful touch of the wedding planner, spoke to a perfection.
She had clearly poured her out into this day. And Nicole's gratitude was boundless.
Gabriel and Nicole had already shared the ceremonial cutting of the cake and their first dance as a married couple, a memory already etched in their minds.
Nicole now sat at their table, feet aching from the whirlwind of dancing-first with Gabriel, then his dad, Charles, and finally Rick-before countless greetings with friends, family, and business associates left her exhausted.
She welcomed the rest, finally giving herself a moment to breathe.
Across the room, she watched Gabriel dancing with his mother, Helen.
Helen's eyes shone with an uncontainable joy, her pride and love for her son radiating in every gesture.
Nicole couldn't help but smile softly at the sight, appreciating the tender connection between them.
Yet, the vivid memory of their vows at the altar pressed heavily on her mind.
They had both taken oaths before God and hundreds of witnesses, committing themselves to a future that, in truth, was built on a contract.
A lie. She instantly felt horrible for doing such a thing.
They had both lied before God and men, fully aware of their actions.
The thought made her heart tighten painfully.
What would everyone think if they ever discovered the truth?
How could they understand that the love on display, the smiles, and even the kiss shared after being pronounced husband and wife, were merely acts performed for appearances?
She could already imagine how hurt and disappointed they would all be, especially Gabriel's parents.
They would be highly disappointed in her.
Nicole silently prayed that such a day would never come.
She sighed, her thoughts drifting to what could have been.
If circumstances were different, if love had genuinely blossomed between them, this day would have felt infinitely sweeter.
Her thoughts then wandered to the kiss Gabriel had pressed to her lips earlier, after they were pronounced husband and wife-it was passionate, deliberate, a kiss that spoke volumes.
Gabriel had kissed her like she meant the world to him, like he was never going to let go of her no matter what.
The kiss should have ignited joy, instead, it left her heart aching, knowing it was a performance for the crowd, a bittersweet reminder of what could never be.
If only that kiss meant something more. Suddenly, she longed for the circumstances to be different, for a true love that could make these gestures real and meaningful. These thoughts made her even more sad.
As her mind wandered, she noticed one of Gabriel's bodyguards approach him quietly and whisper something in his ear. Gabriel nodded, dismissing the guard with a subtle gesture, and then spoke with his mother. Soon, they both strode across the room toward Nicole.
"We'll be leaving soon," he said as he reached her side.
"I better go change, then," Nicole replied, rising from her seat.
"I'll come with you," Helen added warmly, leaving the reception with Nicole.
Soon, Helen returned with Nicole, now with her hair cascading in soft wavy curls.
She was dressed in a stunning nude and black v-neck, spaghetti-strap, floor-length gown.
Gabriel's gaze lingered, captivated as always by her beauty.
Every detail-the flowing waves of her hair, the elegance of her dress, and even the glow of excitement in her expression-was mesmerizing.
He took her hand as his father announced their departure.
Together, they said heartfelt goodbyes to the guests, thanked Gabriel's parents for their support, and climbed into the sleek black limousine that awaited them, leaving for their honeymoon-the first private moments as a married couple, away from eyes that had witnessed the beginning of their life together.