~~

THIRD PERSON

Perfect. That's what this wedding should be.

The most beautiful extravagant, and one-of-a-kind wedding. No expense was spared, as per the groom's orders.

Beautiful rare flowers rarely seen were loitered in the decorated cathedral. The venue gave the guests some sort of irony, especially the guests who knew of the sinful activities that is being made in the dark, a d sometimes broad daylight.

A church wedding for the two most vicious devils. Yes, ironic indeed.

News reporters were outside the cathedral, trying their hardest and best to enter, but whatever their efforts, no one that wasn't invited had the opportunity to enter.

The public was astounded the moment sudden news was leaked from somewhere that the young, prospering CEO of Flare Enterprises, Cavillor Flare, was getting married. Not only that, but another news company announced that they had received a tip that the one he was getting wed to was none other than Regina Luciano!

This caused a lot of chaos in the news industry, especially since years ago, the sudden disappearance of the CEO of RL Corporation and his heiress had mysteriously disappeared. At that time, everyone that had wanted to gain some fame and money tried to uncover the story behind their unexpected vanishing act.

Their company had also been suspiciously conjoined into Flare Enterprises, which confused many even more. When some people of high status tried to question this setting, they were immediately silenced by means that only a few knew -blackmail- and had no more things to say about why the two rivals were now co-companies

Of course, with the British Mafia guarding the real information, no one had a clue of where the previous two most powerful people were. People only had theories and guesses, but they were mostly far from the truth.

Now that this piece of news was suddenly cast no one believed it at first until somehow, someone told somebody that they had seen the couple, and soon, everyone who was someone knew about the wedding.

What's more, the company hadn't denied it, which made the news a fact.

This caused another sensation amongst the public, which now had their minds reeling. A marriage? Between two people that used to be rivals? Well, none had to be explained more!

Obviously, Regina had ran away to the arms of her lover and had hidden there, and when Cavillor's father had suddenly died, they had taken this as an opportunity to marry and be official!

Some thought that this setting was especially sweet and romantic, while others thought that it was irresponsible.

But through all this, the question of where Ricardo Luciano was still had not been answered. Will it ever?

~~

In the groom's room, Cavillor was fixing up his suit, which was a stark white color, with a golden tie, as per the theme of the wedding. Though she had wrinkled her nose when he suggested this theme, Regina had accepted it nonetheless.

He was just finishing up when suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Pausing for a slight second, he murmured a half-hearted passage to the person and continued doing what he was doing.

The door opened and closed softly. Without looking at whoever it was, he could sense that this person was alone, and did not pose a threat. More like, could not pose a threat.

"What is it? Why are you here?" He asked in a non-committed way, seemingly uncaring of what this person was about to say either way.

"Are you sure about what you're doing?"

He sneered, "Why do you care? My life is none of your business. Did you not just latch onto my father for his money and power?"

The person, who was his stepmother, also known as Victoria Flare, flinched. What he had said was... Not a lie. That was exactly why she had married that bastard Xavier Flare, but her reasons for wanting those were only for her and her alone to know. As for his reason for marrying her, she didn't know, and neither did she care.

No need to slander the dead.

"This, you, will definitely not end well. There's still time, you can go now, stop this wedding, and--"

"And what? Huh? May I remind you again, my choices are my own. It has nothing to do with you. If I'm doing something, it's because I want to do it, so you don't have any fucking thing to say about it." Cavillor cut her off with a low voice.

Stop the wedding? The exact wedding that he had been waiting too long for? Of course not! Not even death can stop him from marrying the woman that he loves!

Victoria was silenced by his fierce glare and stood there staring at him, while he was glaring at her. Finally, she nodded to herself, looking at him with a somewhat unexplainable expression, and headed back to the door.

Before she opened it, she said with her hand on the knob, her back towards him, "You will just get hurt." She tried as a final attempt in changing his mind.

But unsurprisingly, Cavillor didn't pay heed to her words and ignored her. Seeing that her last trial in advice wasn't doing anything, she opened the door and exited, closing it after her.

When she left, Cavillor was alone in the room, standing in the same position, and looking dazed. Suddenly, a strong fit of coughs assaulted him, making him hurriedly take out his handkerchief and cover his mouth.

After the unexpected attack subsided, he calmed himself down by breathing steadily in and out, controlling the Inhale and Exhale of his lungs. When he was composed, he closed his eyes and headed to the trash bin at the corner of the room.

Not bothering to look, he threw the piece of cloth with an unperturbed face, being careful not to let it bump into his clothes.

'Only a little bit more, Cavillor. Only until after the wedding.' He thought to himself as he took one last glance at the mirror and exited.

Without another look behind him, he left the room, not seeming to care about the handkerchief with a wide patch of fresh blood stained on it.

~~

It was time for the bride to enter.

The guests had been eagerly waiting, some feeling excited to see the Regina Luciano after many years. Whilst others, the British Mafia members that had already seen her, weren't that expecting but were still somewhat expectant.

The most that had been impatient was none other than the groom himself.

Finally, the doors of the church -which had been closed for the entrance to the bride- opened. It seemed as if everything was going in slow motion, at least for Cavillor it was.

When the door had fully opened, gasps were heard throughout the cathedral, even the musicians unconsciously stopped playing. Everything was in pin-drop silence, and everyone's eyes were dead set on the bride that had just entered.

Her gown was beautifully perfect for her. It had an illusion neckline and full sleeves, from the top to her knees was lace, and from her knees down were ruffles made from feathers. His dress was also flared, so it looked like she was a perfect flower, ready to be plucked, but didn't give others the heart to.

But the design wasn't the reason that the crowd had gasped. Neither was it her usually straight hair that was now curled stylishly, and neither was it the beauty of her face that had been enhanced by the makeup. No, it was none of these.

It was the color of her wedding gown.

Black.

The color for a funeral.

~~

Regina didn't pay any mind to the stunned and frozen state of the guests, staff, and even the priest. Her eyes were set on that man. That man that stood in front of the altar. She watched as his eyes drifted from shock to astonishment, and finally, to awe. She tried to read more, but however she tried, she couldn't find any anger, hate, disappointment, or anything negative in him.

This made her clutch the bouquet in her hands tighter. Why? Why hasn't he had even a single bit of negativity toward her? This was their wedding day, and not only did she go against the theme of white and gold that they had set, but she also wore a color that had a bad omen to weddings.

Aconite, red dahlias, black dahlias, orange lilies, petunias. This was the contents of her bouquet that she had specifically chosen herself. The various colors contrasted against her stark black dress, which, in truth, complimented her wonderfully.

As Cavillor was gazing at his soon-to-be wife, Nicholas, his second-hand man, which was also his best man, nudged him and whispered in his ear, "What is your fiancé doing, Cav? Doesn't she know that black is taboo in a wedding in case of bad luck?"

Upon hearing this, Cavillor instantly glared at his best friend, "Who cares about what color she's wearing? She could come wearing white, red, green, hell, even a rainbow-colored dress! It doesn't matter, what's important is that she's here now, walking in the aisle, about to marry me."

Knowing that he couldn't talk sense to his lovesick friend, Nicholas could only shake his head.

When the people had regained their consciousness, Regina was already in front of Cavillor. Standing there, her heart suddenly pinched, being reminded that her father isn't here to give her away. Her brows twitched for half a second, but it was enough for Cavillor to notice.

He stretched his hand towards her, which made her look up at him.

This man was her rival, then mortal enemy, then fiancé, and now, about to be her husband. He had killed all she loved but had told her himself that he loved her.

With a shaky breath, Regina pleaded to herself, 'Just a few hours. Let me be selfish for a few hours.'

Not wasting another second more, Regina took his hand, smooth and cold, yet calloused and warm at the same time. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her hand passionately. This action made some of the people smile, looking at the sweet and young couple.

Then, the priest spoke, "We welcome and thank you for being part of this important occasion. We are gathered together on this day to witness and celebrate the marriage of Regina Luciano and Cavillor Flare. Every one of us has a deep desire to love and to be loved..."

As the priest spoke, Cavillor's mind drifted to the woman beside him. A few more minutes. A few more minutes, and she and he will be a married couple. A few more minutes, and she will finally be his queen.

Meanwhile, Regina also was absent-minded, deep in her thoughts. A few more minutes. A few more minutes, and he and she will be a married couple. A few more minutes, and she will be the queen.

They zoned back in, just in time to hear the priest say, "If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

A wave of silence passed, and no one dared to speak a word. Subconsciously, Cavillor's eyes drifted to a part of the crowds and coincidentally met with Victoria's eyes. They had a staredown, until the priest continued his words, seeing as there weren't any objections.

Who dared? Cavillor would eradicate them from this earth in an instant. With snipers placed in in​con​spic​u​ous places, they had the order to shoot down anyone that dared to try to stop this tying of vows.

They continued the ceremony and did all that had to be done, listened silently to the priest's sermon, and finally, it was time to exchange vows.

Cavillor spoke first, having memorized his vows more than a hundred times already in his heart. Gazing at her with warmth and love, he recited his vows.

"On this day, I promise to you, my heart is forever yours.

"There will be no other, that would make me feel how I feel for you, and no other that I would allow them to feel how I feel for you.

"On my own, I am strong. Many storms I had already been through, but as good as I lived, I know that's always better with you beside me.

"I know you're afraid of this new chapter, I am too, but I know, that with you, I can get through anything. So, this I promise, to help guide you and to be the one whom you'll expect to do things for you because I swear that I will do it for you.

"From when the sun rises, til it sets; from when the moon shines til it cannot, my feelings will not falter. My love for you, unmeasurable by time and space.

"I vow to never hesitate to take your pain, and put it on me. I will hold you with me, here in my heart, and even until my death, my feelings last.

"With you, I'll live my lifetime, if you'll have me. Even if for loving you they'll call me crazy, I will still love you, infinitely."

When he finished, some of the women had to dab their eyes, touched by his heartfelt vow. Looking at Regina, he couldn't tell her expression since she was looking downwards at her feet. A flash of something shone in Cavillor's eyes before he quickly suppressed it.

Then, Regina lifted her head and stared straight at Cavillor. He tried to read her eyes, but as if it were years ago, her eyes were again unreadable.

She pinched her lips together before opening them and reciting her vows. If she was going to be selfish for just a few minutes, then she'll use the moment given and go all out.

"On this day, I promise to be your one and only.

"I promise to work harder and improve myself, to be good for you. To be perfect to stand by your side.

"I vow to love you, more than I have ever before. I vow to open up my heart more to you. I vow to be brave, not just for me, but for you. For us.

"In the sounds of silence, in the darkness; in the sounds of music, in the light, I will prove to you just how much you mean to me.

"I will love you unconditionally, as I know you will love me as well. I will let go of my fears and my ghosts and put trust in you, for I know you have put yours in mine.

"All your darkness, I won't try to change. Instead, I'll walk alongside you, every step of the way, being your light. I promise to guide you when you're unclear, and when you don't know what to do. I am here.

"In mysterious, extraordinary ways, I will find you through it all. This do I swear, I will be there."

He couldn't help but admit that his heart jumped when she said those words. It was like... She meant them.

Well, at this moment, Cavillor decided to be selfish as well, and lie to himself.

Soon, it was time for the exchange of rings. The priest told them to repeat what he said, Cavillor copied the words, "I, Cavillor Flare, take you, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will for my love you and honor you all the days of my life."

"I take you, lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part."

With a smile from the bottom of his heart, he finished as he inserted the ring on her finger, "Regina, my queen, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Regina also followed his example and recited what the priest had told them to.

"I, Regina Luciano, take you, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will for my love you and honor you all the days of my life.

I, take you, lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part."

She also took out his ring, and as she inserted it into his ring finger, she continued, saying, "Cavillor, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Cavillor couldn't help but beam in happiness, seeing the ring on his finger. He didn't see it, nobody saw it, but Regina secretly took a peak at her ring finger, and had a small smile.

"Do you, Regina Luciano, take Cavillor Flare as your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

"And, do you, Cavillor Flare, take Regina Luciano as your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

Seeing their faces, the priest officiating couldn't help but smile, and said, "And now by the power vested in me, it is my honor and delight to declare you married. Go forth and live each day to the fullest. You may seal this declaration with a kiss."

Looking at each other, many emotions passed through their eyes, too quickly for anyone to comprehend. Yet, they didn't want to take the effort to understand either.

As they told themselves, they would be selfish for now.

Pulling her close, flushed towards him, Cavillor didn't waste any more time and claimed her lips, softly like a whisper, which Regina reciprocated. It was as if they showed their every emotion in that one, small kiss.

As if it was the one last time.

"I am pleased to present the newlyweds, Cavillor and Regina Flare!"

As they separated, they could hear the applause of the people but didn't move from their positions, their gazes locked on each other. In their eyes, they could read each other's waves of emotions, ones that were already there, and some that had just arrived.

Then, the applause turned into screams.

~~

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