Page 126 of One Nightstand With My Ex's Uncle

EMILY’S POV.

I sat in the makeup room—a beautiful bride. As beautiful as I always wanted to be on my wedding day. My wish was coming true, but the longing for it had long faded away.

I looked out the window. It was evening, already, meaning in less than an hour, I would be married to John.

“Oh please, don’t cry. Not yet. This has to dry up first.” The makeup artist said, and I raised my head to stop my tears from falling.

“It’s a beautiful day, you shouldn’t cry no matter how happy you are.” Another said to me, smoothening my dress.

She continued, “With your wedding comes spring. The snow is thawing, and the wind is warm. Very soon, we’ll see the definitely-missed flowers.”

I nodded, and she smiled.

Once more, I looked out the window. Was no one really coming to save me? Did I really have to get married to John?

Shortly after my makeup was perfected, Kaye came in.

“The wedding has started. The bride will be needed soon.” She said, and the women helped me get to my feet.

We walked to Alpha Raymond’s large hall, and Alpha Will was there to stand as a relative to me, since I had none.

I had spoken to Dahlia, the previous day, and I realized she couldn’t make it because she had a fracture a week before, and her daughter had taken her to her house to take better care of her.

“Ready to go in?” Alpha Will asked, extending his arm, and I nodded, holding it gently.

We walked into the wedding hall, with beautiful blue lights in the audience seats, and a shower of white light over the aisle, and all the way to the altar. On the huge TV screen on the wall of the altar were photos of me of John.

The ones we’d taken at a younger age, and the ones taken for our marriage.

I looked around slightly, but couldn’t spot Lucas. Was he in the front seats? Back? Middle? Had he changed his mind not to watch me being wed?

Camera flashes came my way, as I walked down the aisle with a heart weighing more than all the people present.

John was there at the altar with his brightest smile. He wasn’t faking it. He was truly happy.

“Smile.” Alpha Will said, moving his lips ever so slightly that no one else would notice.

What if Lucas was watching? What if he thought I was truly happy? Getting married to John made me completely sure of my feelings. It wasn’t just some kind of mere attraction, it was love.

I had fallen in love with John’s charming, caring and considerate Uncle. Had I accepted it sooner, maybe I’d have enjoyed it more. As we approached the front seats, I saw him.

He was with his family, and he had a little smile on his face, while the rest had huge smiles.

Alpha Will took me up the stairs of the altar, and opened my veil. Everyone burst into applause, and he gave my hand to John, who held it as gently as ever.

Then he returned to his seat.

My hand burned in John’s. I could feel that rage brewing again, and I just wanted to hit him, pull off my veil, and start screaming at all the people present there.

Then I saw Lucas, and the rage seemed to fall like a turned off water fountain.

“I welcome you all to this beautiful wedding of John Granger, and Emily Waston.” The officiant began. “Today, as we welcome Spring, we also welcome the couple into a new life, and a new joy that they will share together.

“Emily Waston, a young, sweet woman, who has always been by John Granger’s side, helping, assisting, loving, and caring for him will today finally be his, married to John Granger, an upright, (upright, my foot!) caring, strong, courageous, and loving man, who only sees her at every turn.”

John was staring at me with all the love in his eyes, and it sickened me.

“Smile, would you?” He whispered to me.

“Marriage represents a lot of things…”

“Unfortunately, the corners of my lips are stiff.” I replied.

“…Love, happiness, togetherness, beauty…”

“This will be remembered for ages. You should have a smile on.” John insisted.

“…above all, it is a holy union.”

“Emily.” John whispered harshly.

“You’re spoiling your facial expression. This would be remembered for ages. ‘You’ should have a smile on.” I said to him, and he put on a bright smile.

How annoying.

“Now, we will have a beautiful song to listen to from Derella Granger, and a poem from Sadie Granger. Derella Granger will come up to deliver her song to the couple.

“The whole family’s happy about this. Can’t you pretend?” John whispered, coming closer to me.

“Keep your distance. People are watching.” I said, with gritted teeth.

Derella came up, dressed in a simple silver dress, and took the mic. She gave me a sad smile, and I returned it.

She began to sing, looking at me, and I smiled. It was a song about a woman wanting to get married to a man she loved quickly.

Just like me and Lucas.

“…And I wanna take your name. And I know you want the same.” I looked at Lucas. He was looking at Derella.

Was she using the song to let me know I wasn’t in a one-sided love? Maybe Lucas had more than just an attraction for me?

“Isn’t the song beautiful?” John asked.

“…When you hold me, I see the end of a movie. Everyone thinks that we’re crazy, but maybe we are…” She continued to sing, and it hit me how accurate the song was.

“…let’s skip to the part where you kiss me, surrounded by friends, and our family…”

She continued to sing powerfully to the instruments crashing, and I didn’t know when tears sprang to my eyes. I looked away.

The song lasted for only two minutes, but it saddened me deeply. It was exactly what I wanted with Lucas. Dahlia and the kids being there, and everyone else who cheered us on.

My tears fell down my cheeks, and John seemed like he would panic. Everyone applauded Derella, but it quieted immediately when they noticed I was crying.

“Our bride is overwhelmed. She’s finally getting her wish!” The officiant said, and everyone burst into applause again. They managed to turn my sad tears into happy ones.

John smiled, and wiped my tears.

“Now, we’ll have Sadie Granger’s poem.”

Sadie came up dressed in black from head to toe, and despite my sadness, I couldn’t help but smile. John shook his head seeing her, and it made me all the more happy.

“I read Justin Cauley’s Love poem.” She began, and I smiled at her.

“A million stars up in the sky.

One shines brighter – I can’t deny.

A love so precious, a love so true,

A love that comes from me to you.

The angels sing when you are near.

Within your arms I have nothing to fear.

You always know just what to say.

Just talking to you makes my day.

I love you, honey, with all of my heart.

Together forever and never to part.” She read, and I smiled.

Everyone clapped at her beautiful reading, and even though they were shocked at her clothes, they concluded it was just the craziness of an eight-year-old.

After that was the exchange of vows, the part that I feared most.

“Do you John Granger pledge to love, protect, hold, cherish, and worship Emily Waston from now until death do you part?” He asked, and John smiled.

“I do.” He said, loudly and clearly.

“Do you Emily Waston pledge to love, protect, hold, cherish, and worship John Granger from now until death do you part?” He asked me.

I opened my mouth, slowly, and. Said. “Do.”

John gave a little frown.

“Your ‘I’ is a little silent.” The officiant said, but the confused people had begun to clap. John looked at me with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, but there was no way I was pledging to protect, love and worship someone I didn’t have any feelings for.

Then the rings were brought out. Beautiful diamond rings that I would have cried to see years ago. Yes, they were beautiful, but I hated them.

John slipped it on my ring finger, “With this ring, you have become mine, Emily Waston.”

“With this ring, you have become mine, John Granger.” I said, doing the same to him.

“Finally! I declare John Granger, and Emily Granger man and wife!” The officiant shouted in a burst of energy, and everyone applauded, while John leaned in to give me a kiss.

The devil in me wanted to bite his lips hard, but my eyes were on Lucas, and I didn’t have enough time to dwell on the thought.

After the kiss, Cameras flashed wildly. I held up my bouquet to throw, and saw Sadie mouthing fiercely, and jabbing her chest with her finger.

Did she want me to throw the flowers to her? Why? She wasn’t getting married anytime soon.

She jabbed it with more desperation, and I threw the flowers in her direction, while pretending to look elsewhere.

She dashed forward like a beast, and even fell to the floor, trying to catch the flowers.

“It’s mine!” She shouted, and there was laughter, and applause everywhere.

John and I walked arm in arm as the maids threw flower petals, and confetti over us, and the family followed behind us, followed by the guests.

There was jubilation everywhere. Laughing, music, shouts of joy, and dancing.

But I guessed I was the only one whose heart was doing the opposite of it all.

John had his wedding. The one he wanted. The one where all the important names far and wide came to attend.

~

We entered the makeup room, which was already filled with wedding gifts.

“You’re to write letters of appreciation to all the people who gave you gifts. If you can’t, ask the maids.” John said, but I sat in front of the mirror, wondering where to begin.

How do I start taking everything off? The makeup, pins, jewelry, dress…?

John sat on the sofa, closed his eyes, and smiled widely. Just then, Sadie came in through the door, and ran to me, handing me a note with huge letters scrawled on it.