Chapter 75 - Till Death Do Us Part

Zhenyi looped her left arm with her father's and another one with her grandfather, just as she promised him once, the spark of pride on his face was worth every-freaking-sacrifice for Zhenyi.Including this wedding.

The doors to the venue opened, and everyone stood.  When they took a step forward, a gasp filled the air. The attention veered towards the gorgeous-est bride they had ever seen, clad in an ivory-colored vintage lace wedding dress, a traditional long veil to hid her face but not enough to conceal her beauty.

Zhenyi's gaze fell on the chapel, decorated in wildflowers which clearly resemble her bouquet that Long Jie had sent. The wedding was held at a Castle as so Long Jie had requested the other day. The scene before her eyes was breathtaking just like the groom waiting at the altar.

Waiting for her.

Everyone looked in awe at the bride but one among them was fuming. Only the intimate family was called for the wedding ceremony as the wedding reception was scheduled for later. Or whenever Zhenyi wanted.

Beknown to Zhenyi each step that she took closer and closer to him with the shaky breaths, quivering clutch on her bouquet, trembling legs ready to give in any second if not for her father's support, was going to be branded and this time on her soul.

One step.

Then another.

And so on until she reached him.

She lifted her eyes to meet his and he winked in return with a huge smile as the size of Asia on his face. She hitched in her breath as she saw him in a black and white tuxedo, a perfect contrast to the decorations. If he was Adonis incarnated earlier, today she had no words to describe him. Even gorgeous was not enough to capture his beauty. 

With the priest on one side,  Long Yuan and Long Wei on the other, he waited for his bride at the front of the chapel. When his bride entered the chapel, for a second he forgot to breathe. 

Heavenly. 

That was the word to describe her beauty in a single word. If she knocked him out with her conventional suit on the first day he saw her, but today what she did to him was difficult to describe in the modest words. 

She left him speechless like she always did but today in a very different manner.

When her sparkling eyes met his grays, he winked again at her as she blinked in riposte. Long Yuan cleared his throat to remind his brother to step out of his hex.

With each step she took towards him, the flashbacks began replaying like a romantic film before his eyes, the first time he saw her when she collided with him and shook his world off its axis, the first argument at her home, the first kiss at his penthouse and the precious moment on the mountain when she finally became his.

His heart was throbbing against his chest begging to be released and make the woman coming towards him-- his as soon as possible.

Another step.

And then the last step.

She reached him. 

And he stepped forward and her father gave her hand in his. He said something like taking care of her but she was so busy staring at him that she didn't pay attention to anyone. Everyone else was just the background and he was the only focus point.

Just like always , they were in their own world and every other thing just faded as it never mattered in the first place.

To the audience, this marriage was a contract – the perfect alliance between a Xin and a Long The only way for the two families to end the infamous rivalry.

And to them? Well, the lines were blurring.

Now it was anything but A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE.

She broke out of da aze as the priest started the ceremony and Long Jie was facing her. She turned her head towards the audience, her eyes fell on Ryuu who mouthed- I-have -got - it much to her relief and turned her attention back to Long Jie.

He took both of her hands in his as he spoke his vows, staring deep into her eyes, sucking her soul into the deep abyss and there was no going back.

"I, Long Jie, take thee, Xin Zhenyi, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,  according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith."

"Till death do us part."

She did the same. 

I, Xin Zhenyi, take thee, Long Jie, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,  according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith."

"Till death do us part."

Before the priest could pronounce them husband and wife, Long Jie brought his mouth closer to her ear and whispered " I vow to abide by the agreement we signed. I'll treat you as my equal nothing less nothing more."

"I vow to protect our marriage at any cost." She pledged back. Little did they realize, her vow was the base of their everlasting marriage. Their holy union.

He slipped the wedding ring on her finger, a platinum ring this time, and then she slipped his wedding ring on his finger.

The priest announced them as husband and wife, Long Jie leaned in and kissed her lips before the priest could say. 

Perfect.

Everything was perfect.

His mouth against her.

Ripples in their hearts.

Untill Zhenyi's eyes darted towards the front where the gun shot rang, aimed at her head. Ryuu's eyes followed Zhenyi's and he ran without wasting any nanosecond whereas she was frozen on the spot.

Bang.

"Till death do us part. " were her last words.