Cooper's POV
The wedding day...
It's only a matter of time before she becomes mine again. I still can't believe this is happening right now all over again. Just a year ago, she told me that she would never fall in love with him, and guess what? We are here again in a wedding setting, waiting for the next chapter of our lives. It feels so surreal and majestic now rather than before, as all of that was just a product of nonsensical things we did. But right now, it feels different, and we're already in the right moment for it. They say only time will tell some certain things to make it happen and here I am now, with her and happily building the dreams we wanted since then.
We have arranged this event for months, and Adi's whole family, together with my family, worked together to give us the grandest wedding of the year, just like they say almost every time. Even the details about the differences in our culture from theirs are visible from the candles down to the whole venue. Jamaica, her cousin, also employed the most famous photographer in the city just to capture this moment.
As I prepared myself for the upcoming event that's about to happen, I started to recall what happened and how we ended up like this. It was never my intention to lure her, but that's the only thing I could think of when I had the opportunity. I admit that I took advantage of her, and even the things I did at first were made out of the plan to let her fall in love with me, but in the end, it was me who fell so hard for her. When I already knew in myself that this would be a potential disadvantage to all of my plans to get my revenge, I distanced myself for a while and focused myself back on my goal, but then every time I saw her in the penthouse, I just lost it every time.
I don't want to sound possessive or obsessive, but somehow I don't want her to see another man unless it is me. I'm afraid that if someone comes into her life, I'll be tossed away like garbage because I knew at first that she hated me to death. She couldn't even get herself to move closer to me.
Will I be okay with it?
As time went by and I got to watch her closely and see how she wanted things in her life to work out, I suddenly felt scared and terrible. Scared that I might just drag her down and terrible that I'm here playing with her feelings while I'm investigating her whole family.
I felt awful.
When her memories were erased from her, I never felt so sad, angry, and afraid at the same time. I never imagined those emotions could possibly flow into you at the same time, mixing all together to make me feel anxious. I tried to help her even though I didn't want her to remember. I realized that would be unfair on her side, so I still helped her.
I waited for her until she was ready, and now that we're here, I'll hold onto her until my last breath.
We have faced many trials in life, and I'm always proud of what we've become individually. She became the woman she wanted to be, and I became the man just right for her. This is where the chapter ends, and another chapter will unfold. I know this time, everything will finally into places just like what we wanted. I just know that our love will never fail us this time.
My father tapped my shoulders, and when I looked at him, I saw a proud man because of his son.
"I can't believe you're getting married again, you brute," he said, his voice completely trembling.
"Don't be such a crybaby now, Dad," I teased him.
"Take care of her this time and forever, okay?" He said, like he was threatening me.
"Also, tell her I'm sorry for everything that happened to her in her childhood."
I smiled at my dad and hugged him briefly. I will never bring up the topic of her childhood again, but I still felt very glad that my father had already realized all the wrongdoings and given the right judgment to everyone around him. Most of all, he also forgives himself, and that's what matters to me the most.
Right after they finished putting a light makeup on my face, the makeup team gave me a little photoshoot with my family and my close friends. They already finished the finishing touches with my wife, and they immediately went to my room for the photoshoot. It felt different somehow since I never experienced this at my first wedding, as all of that was made in a rush.
When Jamaica already called for my name, I immediately got anxious. I looked in the mirror one last time before I went out of the room. I can't believe the level of anxiety I'm having right now. Dad waited for me, and when I walked past him, he grabbed both of my shoulders and massaged them to make me calm. I guess he noticed how anxious I was right now.
"Everything will be fine; you don't have to worry about it. Luke came out of nowhere just to assure me while Dad was just laughing at me from the back.
As the music started, I started to walk down the aisle, and just when I saw the representatives—one from our pact and one from their elders—I almost fainted. Today is the day that we'll finally forget about our past. Nothing's running through my mind the moment I step on the altar while I wait for her to come. There were only a few people that we allowed to go to our wedding this time, unlike before, and the setting was very intimate, as it symbolizes the maturity and pure love that we have for one another. The curtains closed again, and when another song started to play, the curtain opened again and welcomed her. Her appearance screams elegance and delicacy. To see her walking slowly towards me was the best thing that happened to me. Her father was smiling a bit when he looked at her daughter, and it eventually faded away when he looked at everyone.
She's majestic.
When our eyes met, I couldn't help but chuckle as I saw her already crying when she was still in the middle of her walk down the aisle. As she moved closer to me, I couldn't help but thank every saint that people believed in for allowing this girl to be my wife. She's now in front of me, and her Dad offered me her hand. I held onto it and kissed it.
"You're so excited for the kissing part," she said in her sarcastic tone, but I just slipped it away as I'm caught by her charms right now.
I laughed at it, but both of our representatives caught our attention to begin the ceremony. The entire time she was listening to what they were talking about, I, on the other hand, couldn't help but steal glances at her until we were down to say our wedding vows.
She spoke first.
"I don't know how I even fell in love with a man I loathed ever since I started to study in the university before. I'm completely insane for living with him and even giving him the chance to kiss every single time just because he wanted to. All of those things you did, I will not mention all of them, but everything felt so worth it and I know in my heart that we deserve to be here. We deserve this, Ysmael. Let those words be imprinted on your mind as I will always love you and accept you for who you are. You are all that I need, even though I didn't expect it. You're the only exception from every limitation that I have. You're all I need, my love you.
She looked at me after her speech, and when tears were in her eyes, I wiped them and got the microphone from her right after she finished speaking. I chuckled at her tiny sobs. I never thought that she could be this emotional right now.
"Adi, you're always the one who helps when no one's around to tend my wounds. You're the only healing I never knew was coming. I thought I'd lost you forever when you already forgotten me. I almost lost hope, but the moment you grabbed my hand and went back with me to the Maldives, I knew for sure that I would make everything just to help you this time around. For some time, I thought I was holding you back for not telling you the truth about what happened, but it taught me a lesson about honesty and loyalty to you. I promise that I will never leave you again. I'll stay and I'll forever love you unconditionally. This is it, you're now my wife."
My wife. I can't believe I can finally say it.
"With the power vested in me, I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
The moment the representatives said those words, I kissed her, and instantly the crowd cheered for us.
This is the moment.
…
The night came, and we were left with nothing to do but have fun. Both of our families are present at the event, and it seems like they are already on good terms. I was just watching them from afar when Shaina appeared and offered a glass of wine. We watched the whole event from the corner.
"You know I've always dreamed about this thing happening between us, right?" She suddenly said, and I could totally feel the sadness in her voice. I remained silent, as I didn't even know how to respond to it.
"Please take care of her this time, Ysmael. Don't let her fall like last time," she said again before she walked away from me.
I was watching her walk from afar when my wifi suddenly came in. I noticed that ever since the party started, she had never had a sip of any alcohol, so I poured some into an empty glass and offered it to her. She frantically refused my offer.
"Did you seriously decline the intake of alcohol in your body?" I said as I scanned her whole body from head to toe.
"I just can't because... she said before she caressed her tummy, and when I realized what it meant, I covered my mouth.
"Really?" I asked, and she nodded.
After her confirmation, I hugged her and even kissed her shoulders multiple times. I felt so content with what I discovered, and the glow in my wife's face was never better than before.
We hugged each other while looking at everyone.
"Don't tell them yet," she said like a warning while she was resting on my chest.
"I'm just excited that we're going to have our little one a little too soon," I said before I kissed the top of her head.
"I just wish this would be a girl, and she'll be as feisty like me," she said, but then I chuckled.
"Whatever it is, I'll just be happy that there's an addition to our family," I said.
Looking back, I was a man with nothing to lose. A desperate man seeking revenge, but then I got close to her. Life was never good to me, and I wouldn't be surprised if it fucked me up every single damn time of my day. I guess tables have turned now and it is finally my turn to have best days of my life. Just like other people, this is what I dreamed since then and since then this have become the thing I wanted ever since she came.
But right now, things are different. I now have a wife who's carrying our child. I now have a lifetime responsibility that will forever be at the top of my priorities.
They are my life now.
They are now my keys to a happy soul.
They content me.
With them, I could never ask for more.