Chapter 197: Wedding?

“Celine! Celine, what are you doing just standing there? The wedding rehearsals are about to begin, hurry!” Natalia burst into the room, Celine was sitting by the mirror, her eyes gazing listlessly at her own reflection.

A second after she spoke, Natalia seemed to notice the look in Celine’s eyes, her eyes softened as she came to sit beside her, “Celine, are you alright?” She asked worriedly.

“I’m fine,” she looked up at Natalia and smiled, “I’m absolutely fine.”

Natalia still had a worried look in her eyes as she gazed down at Celine.

However, Celine took a last look at herself in the mirror before getting up while smoothing her dress with her hands,

“You said it’s starting, right? Let’s go.”

Natalia sighed and placed a hand on Celine’s shoulder, “Celine, you know you don’t have to hold it in, nor do you have to force yourself to go through with this wedding, you have a choice to say no to it. In fact I think you’re rushing this whole thing. All of a sudden you come back from the trip and you want to get married immediately, you never even told me what happened on that trip.” Natalia said feeling worried for her friend.

Celine gave her a bewildered look, “Who said I was forcing myself into it? I willingly agreed to marry Julian, in fact…”

She straightened the strap of her dress while turning back to look into the mirror, “… Julian and I were speaking, he suggested we move to Westbrook after the wedding, and as you know, I stayed in Westbrook all those years,” she smiled, “I’ve missed it, so I agreed to it, besides, Leo and Leah are already used to being there, so it won’t be a problem. Whenever I have work tasks here I can always take a flight and…”

Natalia suddenly pulled Celine to face her amidst her talking, “Celine, tell me honestly, are you really willing to marry Julian?”

Celine clicked her tongue, “Now, why are you repeating the same thing over and over again?”

She playfully pushed away Natalia’s hands from her shoulders, “Do I have to say it a hundred times? Yes, I am marrying Julian,” then she turned to look at Natalia, “Are you satisfied now? Please stop acting like a broken record, repeating the same thing over and over again.” Celine said with a playful tone.

Natalia was bewildered as she looked at her. Just a little over a week ago, Celine had suddenly returned back to the country, she didn’t head back home and came straight to her apartment, she looked utterly exhausted and troubled, but most of all, she looked painfully heartbroken.

Natalia had been totally shocked to see her standing outside her apartment that night.

’Celine?’ Natalia called, still shocked to see her there at the time.

Tears clouded her eyes, staining her cheeks as they trailed down her face. Celine suddenly let go of the luggage in her hand, almost losing her footing, nearly falling as she sobbed bitterly.

’Oh my God, Celine! What’s wrong, what happened?!’ Natalia panickedly pulled her inside, taking her to have a seat.

“I’m falling apart, Nat… I’m totally broken,” Celine sobbed. Natalia pulled her into a tight hug, speechless at the raw pain in Celine’s eyes.

Celine had cried herself to sleep, however, by the time she woke up the next morning, she had this blank look in her eyes. She no longer shed a single tear, nor did she show any sadness in her eyes. She had left Natalia’s apartment to return back home, claiming she was alright now.

The next thing Natalia heard was the big news of Celine’s wedding, she had been shocked, she knew that Celine’s tears that night had been related to Tristan, but all of a sudden, Celine getting married…

Natalia had hurried over, only to see Celine following along with the preparations like any normal person. She had no signs of pain nor heartbreak in her eyes, Natalia was immensely surprised.

She had repeatedly asked Celine, but she only got the same reply; that she was fine and more than willing to marry Julian, however, Natalia still couldn’t bring herself to believe it.

“What about Tristan, Celine?” Natalia suddenly asked.

Celine momentarily stiffened, hearing her mention that name, but she was quick to recover a second later, it was as if the fleeting emotion had never passed through her eyes.

“What about him?” Celine asked casually as if he had nothing to do with her.

“Oh, come on, Celine, don’t tell me you’re over him that quickly, and he is Leo and Leah’s biological father, for heaven’s sake, does that not matter at all? Don’t you think he should at least know about them first before you marry someone else?”

Celine swung around, giving Natalia a steady look, “It doesn’t matter if he’s their biological father or not, besides, Leo and Leah like Julian, in time, they will warm up to him as their father, I don’t need to put them through the pain of someone that might possibly reject them.”

“But Celine…”

“Natalia,” Celine suddenly called, “I’m alright, and don’t worry about me, I will be happy, as long as I have my children.”

Natalia let out a hesitant sigh, she looked at Celine’s blue eyes that were glistening like the sky in the morning sun, she didn’t look half as miserable as she did that night she came back from that trip.

All Natalia was worried about was Celine’s happiness as her best friend, so if she was absolutely certain that Celine was going to be happy, she had nothing to worry about.

Celine gave her a reassuring smile once again.

“Now, my beloved bridesmaid, will you keep everyone waiting at the wedding rehearsals, or will you hurry to accompany me out hmm?” Celine asked playfully.

Natalia let out a deep sigh, then gave Celine a once over, “You look stunning, and this isn’t even your wedding dress, I’m sure Julian would be utterly mesmerized on the wedding day itself.” Natalia muttered, looking at Celine’s formal dress she had decided to wear for the wedding rehearsals.

Celine once again gave her a smile, “Thank you, Nat, it’s all thanks to your hard work.”

“Of course, what do you think I’m supposed to do as your best friend?” Natalia joked, pinching Celine’s cheeks playfully before pulling her in a hug, “All I want is for you to be happy, very, very happy with someone who loves you to the ends of the earth.”

Celine’s blue eyes flashed with pain, but it vanished in a second. Since Natalia wasn’t looking, she smiled and pulled away, hiding her emotions.

“Look at you getting emotional for me.” Celine joked seeing the tears in Natalia’s eyes, “I promise you this, I will try my best to live the best life I can, so don’t worry about me.”

Natalia wiped the hint of tears that had gathered in her dark eyes and beamed, “Better be sure of that, because if I see you get hurt even once again, I’ll run over to Westbrook and the next day there will be news that Julian Grant has been brutally murdered!” She said fiercely.

“What? You’re crazy, Nat!” Celine exclaimed, shaking her head at her friend, “Don’t worry, I will be fine, really.”

Natalia sighed, then gave Celine a quick once over, “So, shall we head over to the wedding rehearsals?”

Celine nodded.

“Mommy! Mommy!” A little girl in a cute pink dress quickly ran into the room, hugging Celine immediately she came in.

After some time, a boy of the same height walked in, looking calm with striking hazel eyes, his blonde hair brushed back.

“Mommy, they are all waiting for you.” Leo said composedly.

Celine squatted down and pulled her two children in a hug, then she gave them two big kisses on the cheeks.

“You look beautiful, Mommy.” Leo commented after looking at her thoroughly.

“Thank you, baby.” She once again kissed him and ruffled his hair.

Then Celine looked at her little girl. Leah had a hint of disappointment in her blue eyes that mirrored her mother’s own.

“What’s wrong, baby? Are you sad?” Celine asked softly.

Leah looked up at her mother, Celine could see the hints of sadness in the little girl’s eyes, but she still smiled, “No, Mommy, if Mommy is happy to marry Uncle Julian, then I’m happy too.” She had a firm determination in her adorable eyes.

Celine felt her eyes moisten, this was the first time she didn’t fight back the tears in days, she hugged Leah and once again kissed her, though she couldn’t give her little girl her father just like she’d wanted, she would still do everything to make sure they were all happy for the rest of their lives.

—

The hall was incredibly large, one could tell it was going to be an incredibly grand wedding, the Grants were not a small family after all, and the marriage of one of the most eligible billionaires would be the talk of the whole country.

However, the hall wasn’t decorated yet, neither was it filled with a huge number of guests since it wasn’t yet the main wedding day. It was a wedding rehearsal to make sure everything would go well on the wedding day itself, so in the hall the only people present were Natalia, the event planners and Miranda Grant who was beyond excited for the wedding.

Everyone took their places as the wedding planner stood centre stage, directing traffic with hand signals and instructions for the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and other participants.

It was unorganized, but they all practiced their entries in preparation for the big day.

Leo and Leah made their entrance, looking adorable, Leah in a flower-adorned dress with a tiny basket, and Leo in a mini tuxedo, just as planned.

After everyone’s arrival, it was finally time for the bride.

Celine composedly strode into the hall with single steps.

Everyone stood up as she walked in.

Even in the plain undecorated hall, it still looked magical to see her walking in as the bride.

Celine gave aunt Miranda and Natalia smile, looking at them in their seats at the side, her sight fell on her children, Leo with his indifferent expression was actually smiling at her, and Leah smiled as well, but she could see the sadness and disappointment in the little girl’s eyes.

Celine’s eyes locked onto Julian, standing at the altar with a beaming smile. She mirrored him, forcing a smile onto her face.

Walking down the aisle, her mind drifted back to the mass wedding at the Rowena islands, as its images flashed in her mind.

From the moment Tristan had suddenly arrived, even when she had thought he wouldn’t, to the moment he held her hands and said those vows. Her throat tightened painfully and she blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall.

She had stoned her heart and stopped herself from crying, and she definitely wouldn’t cry anymore.

Celine was came to stand before Julian, who smilingly offered his hand to her.

Her eyes fell on his extended hand, but she stood listlessly gazing at his outstretched hand for some time.

People loved, and people lost, she had loved, and then she had lost, but now, for her children’s sake, for her own sake, she would have to start a new life.

A spark of resolve lit up her eyes as she lifted her hand to place it in Julian’s.

However, her hand was only a moment from being placed into his when a little girl’s exclamation had her turn stiff and halt mid-action.

“Daddy?!” Leah exclaimed loudly, with both surprise and question in her tone.

Everyone’s attention was drawn towards the little girl.

Celine paused, her hand hovering over Julian’s hand, she turned around, seeing her daughter, whose eyes were fixed onto the entrance.

Suspicion flashed in her blue eyes and Celine’s gaze slowly followed Leah’s towards the entrance.

But as her sight reached there, her heart stopped, seeing the tall figure standing right at the entrance of the large wedding hall.

Tristan?!

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