Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"D-Dad... " 

Lily's hands were cold and shivering as she kneeled on the road in front of her father who's lying lifelessly. She could not identify him anymore with the blood covering his entire body. Tears keep falling down from her lovely eyes and down to her cheeks. 

"D-Daddy…" 

She started crying a river as soon as she tried to touch him...but then, she couldn't do it. She can't bear to touch those wounds from the shots on his body. 

"Who did this to you?" Lily asked in anger. People are around them, watching her cry aloud all the pain and anger while embracing the dead body of her father. There are bullets on the road—tons of bullets as if there was an attack here. 

"Daddy, don't leave me!" she cried all over again, ignoring all the people's eyes on me. Lily doesn't know what to do or how to fvcking react. She couldn't let go of him in her arms and she didn't even know if she could. 

"Lily," her mother caressed her back while the tears from her beautiful eyes were already dried below her eyes. 

"M-Mom," her voice cracked. 

"Let go of your father," she said, pulling her hands away from him. Her lips parted as she immediately shook her head. 

"No…dad," her hands curled as she embraced him so tight. 

"Come on, Lily. He's dead," her mother's voice cracked as she was also into a million pieces seeing her husband dead in her daughter's arms. 

How would she ever accept his death? 

"Someone did this, Mom…" 

She shook her head, disagreeing with her statement. "It was an accident, Lily." 

Her eyebrows crossed and made her froze. 

"What? Mom, you're seeing everything now!"

"Let go, Lily." 

"We can't delay the wedding, Aemon. You know how tough it would be for us if we delay this wedding!" 

When exactly her eyes opened while catching her breathing, she heard Aemon's grandmother inside the room she was in. It took her a moment before she realized that she was in hospital, wearing a hospital gown. It was a bad dream, the one she just had. Again, that nightmare visited her. The day where she can't forget everything. 

"My fiancé is shot, grandma!" Aemon yelled aloud before massaging his forehead out of stress. Lily is in good condition. The shot wasn't bad and she's now safe. But then, Aemon was bothered and anxious about what just happened at their engagement. They are not yet marrying each other and yet Lily was put in peril all because of him. She was innocent from all of this mess he has. 

"I know! That is why we have to do some—"

"The wedding won't be delayed," Lily said aloud after seeing Aemon in distress. Those eyes of him shifted at her in a fast speed. There were storms earlier, but right now, his eyes were finally relieved and calm just like the calm waves of the ocean. 

"Goodness," he uttered and immediately went beside her. Lily was surprised when Aemon jailed her in his bare arms as if he was too worried about her. They don't even know each other that well and yet Aemon was acting like they have been together for fvcking decades of their lives. 

She doesn't even have any idea that she has been sleeping for two days after the incident. 

"You're awake," he uttered and even took a heavy breath. 

"How long have I been staying here?" Lily asked in confusion, disregarding Aemon's actions. 

"Two days," his grandmother answered instead of Aemon. She smiled softly at her before walking towards them, "I'm glad you're finally awake." 

Lily drew a thin smile on her lips. She remembers what happened that evening. 

"What?" Aemon asked when he saw Lily eyeing her. 

"Are you really a Mafia boss?" she asked with a depth of doubt from her voice. 

"You saw everything," he said and smirked. She doesn't know if she would buy that. Mafia bosses only existed in novels that she once read for her. But, how could she not buy it when she witnessed everything that happened that evening? Aemon looks totally different from the fearful monster she saw. 

"That is the life you are about to embrace, Lily. We are losing time, the married shall happen as soon as possib—"

"I'll marry him tomorrow," Lily suddenly said and cutted her out. Even Aemon was too stunned to speak or react. What has gotten to her? She was against all of this the last they checked. 

"What's happening to you?" Aemon asked with concern. 

"Don't you want to marry me?" Lily asked back and almost glared at him. 

"No, it's not that I don't want to. But you just woke up, you need a lot of rest before the wedding." Aemon explained, thinking about her. 

"It's not like I can run away from this. My d*mn Uncle would do everything to tie me to a Mafia boss," she blew a heavy breath after stating the fact she began to accept. 

She's already bound to marry this unknown man. 

"The wedding will be tomorrow, then? I must call everyone for the wedding, excuse me." She marched out of the room and left them both hanging there as Aemon's grandmother was the happiest. Not because of the wedding that will solve their problem, but because of the affection Lily impacted to Aemon, her grandson. 

"Are you sure you can?" Aemon asked again. 

"Just make sure no attacks again. I don't want another shot," Lily said and chuckled beyond the pain from the shot. 

"Why did you do that, Lily?" Aemon asked with his vivid eyes looking directly at Lily. 

"Did what?" 

While looking at her, Aemon can see even more how innocent this girl is for the world that is waiting for her. For two days she was asleep, Aemon almost went crazy watching Lily sleep. He doesn't understand why she saved him that evening. 

"Why did you cover me?" he asked in his husky voice. It was too deep and in his eyes to Lily were too sincere. 

Why did she even save him? That is the question that began wandering around Lily's mind.

"I panicked," she replied, "I regret it now." 

She bit her lower lips feeling the pain from her back now. Maybe she suddenly lost her mind that night. It was a reckless decision that she made out of the blue. She suddenly became a heroic character. 

"Look," she was about to close her eyes not until she felt his hand held hers gently. Aemon started to play with her fingers while looking down on it. Her heart began to drum for a moment while watching him show the other side of him. 

Lily remained silent. "I don't want you to do that again if it ever happens again."

He finally looked at her but his hands stayed at her hand. 

"Of course," she answered and pulled her hand awkwardly. 

"I must be the one to protect you, not you." Aemon added. He meant it from the bottom of his heart. 

"If you say so," Lily replied and looked away from those eyes. 

Aemon sighed. "I will inform your family that you're awake." 

Lily watched him leave the room before sighing so deep as a well. Her hand went on his chest all of a sudden. 

What the hell is happening to her? 

The wedding happened just like what they had planned all along. There are a lot of people in the church, wearing expensive tuxedos and dresses for their wedding. Everything's ready for them. Lily didn't expect that weddings can actually make her feel edgy while wearing the long white gown. Her hands were shaking with the bouquet of flowers. She was facing the door and breathing carefully. 

"I was also like that before," her mother whispered beside her. 

"Not until Dad died," Lily replied sarcastically.

"Don't start, Lily." Her Uncle warned.

"She's the one who started," she defended and threw the blame to her mother. 

"Lily," her mother said in her study voice before the huge wooden door finally opened for her. 

The spotlight was on her again. But then, beyond all these people watching her walk on the aisle, there is only one person who caught her lovely eyes. It was her groom, Aemon Cooper, standing at the end of the aisle, looking at her. It looks like he can't be distracted at this point. His eyes were invaded by Lily's beauty. Aemon knew something's not good about this affection she could easily bring to him. But how can he refrain himself when Lily is just too beautiful right now? 

Dash waved his hand while watching him with his teary eyes. He just can't believe that Lily is getting married after all the years they have been friends. It was too sudden that he couldn't process everything. But then, it's happening right in front of his eyes. Lily was not anticipating any of this as well. Getting married out of the blue when her life was already a big mess. In movies, a woman who's walking to her wedding always cries while her eyes are stuck on her man in front filled with so much love. What about them? What about the two of them who are not deeply in love with each other? While staring at Aemon, there are a lot of questions playing in Lily's head. 

Would they become a good wife and husband to each other? Could they have a family? Would they be able to have children and fall in love as time goes by? Can this marriage save her from her sinking boat? 

She doesn't know yet. Not even a thinnest idea if she would be happy with this man. 

It's like her world suddenly began to move slowly and she just found herself in front of Aemon while the priest was in front of them. 

"I do," she answered, disregarding all the questions running in her head. 

Aemon put the ring on her finger and that's what she did as well. The vows they exchanged were scripted. Not any of it was true as they both clearly know that they are not in love with each other. This marriage might end up wrecked, but here she is, taking all the risk. 

"Marriage is a weakness," Aemon said to his grandmother before the wedding. It got him thinking of marrying Lily. He knows that her life would be on the edge once he married her. 

"It might be…" his grandmother said and stood beside him. "But love strengthens everything, Aemon. Not just your marriage but also you as a person." 

While looking at Lily David in front of the priest and all the people watching them, that is what running in his head. Could this woman strengthen him and this marriage? Would he be able to protect her and prevent putting her life in danger? 

He don't know. 

"You may now kiss the bride," the priest said. The entire crown was waiting for Aemon to kiss Lily. 

"Are you anxious?" Lily asked, not breaking those gaze from Aemon. She can see tons of questions in his eyes just like her. He's probably worried about the future ahead of them. 

"You will be tied to me, Lily. I'm a dangerous person," Aemon uttered. 

"People are waiting," Lily said instead. 

"Aemon," 

It was the first time in the days they have met each other that Lily called him by his name. Aemon looked at the crowd and his grandmother was confused about what was happening. They are both taking so long to end the wedding. 

"Look at me, Aemon." Lily said in her sturdy voice. She even smiles at everyone before getting back the eyes of Aemon at her. 

"I know you're worried but...if we don't try, how will we know how far we can go?" Lily drew a thin and small smile on her lips. She held his bare hands and took a deep breath. 

"Trust me…we have to trust each other to make this work." 

Maybe Lily is a magician or maybe some enchantress. There is something from her eyes that calms all the storms from Aemon. 

"You may now kiss the bride," the priest whispered to him. 

"Don't tell me you will ask for my permission to kiss—"

No, he won't. Before she could even finish her words, Aemon almost drowned her with a gentle kiss. She just felt his soft lips go on to her. Her eyes closed like a sleepy person. Her knees felt weak as she felt his kiss. Aemon's hand went behind her waist and even pulled her closer to him. Maybe there is no intimacy yet to the both of them. 

But there is a real warmth everytime they look and touch each other. 

The whole crowd was clapping as they wore their huge and small smiles on their lips. As soon as their lips parted from each other, their eyes met. 

"I guess I am not tied to a Mafia boss," Lily said and smirked. 

There's no turning back. Lily David is now married to a Mafia boss, Aemon Cooper. 

clarixass