THE WEDDING 2

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"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife."The priest announced.

Kira's breath caught. The words rang in her ears. Husband and wife. It was done. She was his.

"You may now kiss the bride."

The hall went silent. The cameras hung,ready to capture the kiss moment which would be on the front page of many magazines to come.

Kira looked up at Edward who wasn't making an attempt to move. Her hands trembled slightly,She didn't know what to expect.Edwards just stood there, his hands by his side,his eyes cold and staring at her as if she were some stranger.

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From the first row, Mr. Wellington stared hard at his grandson, his eyes dark. He didn’t say a word, but in his mind he was cursing—

What are you waiting for, Edward? Kiss her! Kiss her right now! The photographers are watching! and as if on clue,Edwards turned to look at him.Mr wellington glared hard at him as if to say "Dare me".

Edward’s jaw clenched.

He looked down at Kira. Her lips were small and pink.

In his head, he imagined it would be disgusting. Like kissing the skin of a scaly old witch. He was ready to be disgusted.

He leaned down his hand cupping her small face, slow and reluctant.

And then —

Their lips touched and to his surprise it was simply_"Soft".

Not disgusting,rather it was warm.But he pulled back in a split second.It was a peck,just a bit passed a second and brief.

Kira's eyes widened for a half second,she hadn't really expected him to go ahead with the kiss. Even though the kiss was short,her heart -traitorous heart-skipped a bit.

She was stunned and her cheeks turned red.

The cameras flashed wildly.

From the crowd, someone whispered, “Oh my God, so romantic as applause rented the air.

****

 "Sir and ma'am".The chaffeur said as he opened the backdoor of the Black rolls Royce parked outside the hall and gestured with his hand for both kira and Edward to get in.

Kira lifted her heavy white dress, struggling to walk in it.Edward walked past her and got in first without waiting for her. He slid all the way to the other side of the seat, close to the window, and looked outside.

Kira hesitated, then got in too.

The chaffeur closed the door and walked fast to the other side of the car to get into the driver's seat.

There was a heavy silence in the car,Kira looked sideways at Edward's who was stiff and still had the stern look on his face.

The car started moving towards Wellington Mansion.Mr wellington had organized and after-wedding banquet for his grandson and granddaughter in-law at the wellington family mansion.

The after-wedding banquet was going to be attended by a lot of people who could not attend the wedding ceremony as it was a private wedding,along with important dignitaries and business partners of both the Wellington and Dickens family.

So the private wedding was kept short as brief as possible,so the after-wedding banquet could begin.

Kira's hands were on her lap,she could smell Edward's cologne,it was cold and strong.Her mind was wandering on how to perhaps start up a conversation.But she didn't know what to talk about.Just as she was about to ask something,edward suddenly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth. Hard.And then he threw the handkerchief in the car trash box as if it was filled of filth.

Kira saw it from the corner of her eye.

Her heart broke,"He was cleaning his mouth because of the kiss"?

It was just a peck, but to him it was something disgusting he needed to clean off.

She quickly discarded the thought of starting a conversation with him and kept quiet for the rest of the drive.

*****

The car soon pulled over in the Wellington's mansion,the mansion was bright with lights as the banquet has commenced already.The maids and stewards could be seen moving in and out of the main entrance with trays in their hands.It was quite a busy day for them.

The chaffeur got out and opened the back door for Edward and kira,the supposed bride and groom.

Kira got out first struggling with holding her gown which was already dirty at the bottom.Edward followed suit and dashed past her as before.He didn't help her.

He walked towards the doors of the mansion and soon disappeared Into it.Kira got in a bit later,and came across Mr wellington who was already here.

"Oh dear you are a bit late, quickly let the maids help you change out of that massive gown.The banquet had began a bit early.He said as he hurried her towards the maids who quickly took her to a room upstairs to help her change out of her wedding dress to an evening gown.

   Kira stared at herself in the mirror,she had changed few minutes ago and she looked totally different.The red evening gown had hugged her body tightly and flaunted her curves,there was a slit up to her mid lap and it exposed her perfectly proportioned leg,her legs which was glad in silver high heels.Her black hair had been remade in curls and held up in a messy bun.Kira may look timid but she was very beautiful with the slightest effort at it.

She was escorted through the hallway by the butler and led into the terrace where the banquet was holding place. As she walked down the stairs into the banquet,all eyes turned towards her,and she could hear some whispering here and there already.

Mr wellington was already at the end of the stairs and he stretched his hand towards her which she took,he was ready to introduce his beautiful daughter in law to his business partners.

  Celeste watched from where she stood bitter,she had come in earlier with Grandpa Dickens and her mother Eva.She sneered with envy as kira walked alongside Mr wellington with smiles as he introduced her to one guest after the other.

Mr wellington would soon regret why he chose that cursed child as a grand daughter in law.She is known to bring bad luck.Eva lazily said as she took a sip of her champagne and Celeste turned towards her wondering what she meant by that.

After kira was introduced to Mr wellington's business partners,she was yet alone again.Edward who had also changed out of the black tux he wore at the wedding was present too,crowded among a group of young men,who kira believed were also business partners.This banquet just seemed full of them.

She couldn't help staring at Edward.Even now that she was married to him,she couldn't deny that she had a crush on him and never in her wildest imagination did she think they would get married.-At least not in this way-,but she thought she was lucky enough.

She was lost in staring at how elegant he looked and how eloquent he spoke that she didn't notice an incoming figure towards her and she almost bumped into the person.She looked up to apologise and saw it was a familiar presence.She gasp and bowed quickly in respect.It was Edward's mother Eliza who had a glass of wine in her hand.

"Good evening mum".kira greeted enthusiastically with smiles,she though it wise to build a relationship with her mother in law,but to her surprise mrs wellington scoffed.

My name is Mrs Eliza Wellington and I believe your mother is somewhere around this banquet.Eliza corrected.Her voice stern.Obviously she was referring to Eva as kira's mother.

Kira became awkward not knowing how to respond.Certainly,the lady did not like her.

Suddenly a server came towards the both of them and bowed.He turned to kira who hadn't taken anything since she walked into the banquet.

Champagne or juice Mrs wellington?He asked.Kira was about to suggest juice when Eliza cut her off...

And lest I remind you,that the only Mrs wellington in this house _is me....Don't make that slip of the tongue again and the next person to do this mistake,will be used as a scapegoat.Spread the word to the other staffs.Eliza said her voice chilling.

Yes Mrs wellington .The staff trembled and bowed again.

Eliza gave kira one last condenscending look and walked out on her.