NovelEnglishThe church had been cleared out three days ago. No one was allowed to enter, not even the outdoor venue and courtyard.
Carl was a groom-to-be. Yet, he felt like his heart was being roasted on a fire pit as he struggled with an indescribable feeling of suffering and agony.
He didn't want to have a wedding ceremony. He only wanted to leave Kontina and head to a faraway land with Amber as quickly as possible.
Today, the sun shone brightly in the sky.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtEven so, there seemed to be an invisible fog that surrounded the church.
Jameson's subordinates filled the church seats. They were expressionless, like puppets lined up in a production factory. They were simply here on their superior's orders to put up a front for the betrothed couple.
Amber and Carl were both orphans. They didn't have any relatives or friends. Somehow, it felt like an omen that this couple was destined not to be blessed.
Amber wore a pure white floor-length wedding dress. The elegant makeup on her face was beautiful, but it could not conceal the pale and drawn look on her face and the apathy in her heart.
Carl stood next to her in a smart suit. He fixed his eyes on the woman he loved with a relieved gaze. Finally, a blissful smile cacross his face.
It didn't matter if everything was fake, devoid of emotions, or marred by violence. This was a woman he had loved for many years. The fact that she was finally bing his bride was a profound reality.
"To the groom, do you take this lovely woman by your side to be your wife, to spend the rest of your life with her, in sickness and in health, in riches or poverty, for as long as you both shall live?" the priest directed his question at Carl.
Carl's excitement made his voice tremble. He tightly grasped Amber's chilly hands and answered with unwavering confidence, "I do!" This short phrase carried his sincere and intense love for Amber.
Amber, however, looked emotionless. Her eyes were as still as a dried-up well. She wasn't even in the mood to play along with Carl just to appease him during this final act.
The priest then looked toward the doleful bride.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"To the bride, do you take this handschap by your side to be your husband, to spend the rest of your life with him, in sickness and health, in riches or poverty, for as long as you both shall live?" Carl gazed at her. His eyes were filled with anticipation.
Seconds and minutes passed.
Still, Amber had that sblank look in her eyes. She stood there stiffly and remained silent.
The audience exchanged glances with one another.
Carl furrowed his brows. He squeezed her fingers and prompted her in a low voice, "Say something, Amber." Amber's eyes quivered. With her lips trembling, she spoke hesitantly, "I..." Suddenly, a loudmotion cfrom the other side of the heavy door.
The next second, the doors fell heavily to the ground with a deafening boom.
Amber's heart jolted as if struck by an electric current. She spun around, her breath catching in her throat.
There, bathed in the spotlight and et subject to countless eyes, Axel stood. His face, usually a mask of charming arrogance, now wore an odd blend of irritation and a flush of color that heightened the intensity of his gaze. The wind whipped at his black coat as he stood there, a menacing figure. His posture was that of a lion on the hunt, and his overall demeanor was that of an untamed tiger. Yet, the moment he spotted the woman he loved, all that fierceness transformed into a heartfelt tenderness.
Axel looked into Amber's moistened eyes and smiled slightly. He answered on her behalf, "She's not willing to!"
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