The corner of William's mouth lifted slightly, as he openned his mouth as though he wanted to say something, but thought better of it. He slowly turned toward the priest, still holding her hand firmly.
The ceremony officially began, but Bri barely heard the words. Everything blurred, but she answered when she had to. "I do." Though she sounded unsure.
William said it too, in one breath "I do."
For the rest of the ceremony, she was barely present.
At twenty one, she was supposed to be chasing her dream of becoming an actress, not marrying a man whose life was written in headlines. The world knew him as the young CEO of Empire Elite Productions and as Kate Harrington's longtime companion. So, why did he agree to this marriage?
She had seen the gossip about him and Kate on magazines, and that memory stung now more than ever. And so, when The priest finally said, "You may kiss the bride," her chest tightened.
Bri glanced quickly from Jake and Anna, seeking comfort from her best friends. Just then, William's hand brushed lightly against her arm, reminding her that the guests were waiting. He then leaned in and kissed her, quickly but politely. It was over before she could process it.
The reception too passed in a blur. Bri only smiled when people spoke to her, nodded when she was supposed to, but her mind felt far away. The food, the music, the chatter, it all faded into the background.
Then came the call for their sendoff.
A black Rolls Royce waited by the garden gates, white ribbons tied neatly on its mirrors. Someone called for them to wave.
William reached for her hand, his grip firm.
The two walked together through the garden path, the crowd cheering softly as flower petals floated in the air.
Once inside the car, she caught sight of Jake, standing still, hands in his pockets, his expression complicated. Anna stood beside him, waving, tears in her eyes.
Bri managed a small wave in return as the car pulled away and the Whitmore estate grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared behind the tall gates.