Chapter 2 A WEDDING PROCESSING

AUDREY'S POV

I watched myself in the huge mirror. I looked very beautiful, with the way the sparkling white gown kissed the tiles graciously like that of a fairy princess. The ones that existed only in fantasy novels. It was like the ones I had seen on the television about celebrity weddings. I looked just as stunning but somehow, I didn't feel that way.

And unlike those, this wasn't a novel or an on screen production, it was real.

"I can't believe that you'll be the one walking down the aisle today, at least before me ." My best pal, Albert said.

I had told him of my concerns and though he too was against it, he concluded that I just had to do it to make my father happy and that it can't be all that bad

We all knew Liam while we were growing up except that now , he was not that child anymore, he had grown up to be a very handsome man and wealthy too.

He had his own share of wealth which was not counted together with his father's wealth. He was however the only son and by that, the sole heir to his father's wealth.

"Truthfully, I never thought so either." I said and sighed.

He held my shoulders, "don't forget that I will be with you through all this so there is no need to feel so gloomy. You have to be strong, okay? You're about to have your own family, you can't afford to be weak." He advised.

Then he turned to face me, "smile for me Audrey."

I had to or he would not have let me go. He was always like that. He would do all he could to cheer me up and he won't back down. I didn't want to stress him out so much and so I smiled.

Finally, I could hear the sound of the wedding match playing. This was my cue. My father was not there to lead me down the aisle. He had finally realized that he was giving his daughter away at such an early age. I still had a lot to live for but now , I had to put an end to all that because I was involuntarily thrown into the family system.

I just stayed there , unmoving. Looking at all the people seated there on their white seats decorated with flowers. It was a small wedding. It was under the open sky with rows of chairs defining the walk way and Liam, waiting for me at the altar.

He had not spoken to me since. I didn't know why.

Is he also feeling pressured? Does he like what is going on?

My head kept coming up with a lot of questions that I had no answer to.

We used to be very close when I was little but now, he seemed like a stranger to me or was it the other way around.

My heart stopped and my breath caught in my throat. There were loud whispers as I just stood there. This was going to be on the news and Liam's father would totally freak out about it.

Was this what it meant to have cold feet?

I felt all eyes boring into my skin but I still could not move down the aisle to meet Liam, my soon to be husband.

It all felt so surreal.

The wedding procession had stopped and it was all very quiet. I could hear my heart beating loudly in my chest and it only grew when I could not see my father amongst the crowd. He wasn't there to give me away and I felt hurt.

He was the reason why this was happening in the first place. He agreed to it so why has he backed out now.

I felt my eyes begin to sting. I did not want to cry in front of the camera and in front of everyone.

Just then, I felt a hand pick mine and place it in his hoop. I was momentarily taken aback. As usual, Albert came to the rescue. I looked to my side to see him smiling.

"Smile chipmunk, you don't want to ruin your makeup ." He said through the corner of his mouth while he left me down the aisle.

The sound for the wedding march began playing again.

He led me to the aisle and I stood there beside Liam.

"Thank you," I muttered to Albert before he left me to return to his seat.

"Do you, Liam Smith, take Miss Audrey Evans, to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad times, till death do you apart?" The priest asked.

"I do." He replied.

I watched how his very structured and thin lined lips moved to utter those words and I felt like maybe Albert was right , it can't be all that bad.

I watched his soft and sweet contour of his face. He was towering above me but I could still make out the color of his eyes, blue. I was drowning in them and did not hear that it was my turn to state my vows.

"Miss Audrey." The priest's voice brought me out of my imagination.

"Do you or do you not agree to take Mr Liam Smith as your lawfully wedded husband?"

I was waiting for him to finish it up but it seemed like his patience had run thin.

"I do." I replied.

"Good, now is there anyone against this union? Signify now or hold your peace forever." He announced.

I exhaled but then someone stood up,

I looked to see who it was, of course it had to be her, Clarissa Smith, Liam's twin sister.

She smiled sheepishly, "oh I'm sorry I'm not against it. I just stood up to step away for a bit. Do go on." She said and smiled once again before sitting back down.

She was very dramatic. Didn't she just say that she wanted to step out for a bit. She must have done it on purpose seeing that she loves attention a lot. Liam did not even react to what she did. If he wasn't bothered, then why should I be?

That helped me to cancel all my negative feelings and just live in the moment.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Liam bent his head and placed a kiss on my lips. It was short and soft but I would do anything to have him do it again but this time longer.

I guess I had not totally gotten over my childhood crush after all. How ironic!