CHAPTER 3
The priest was already halfway through the ceremony. He was getting to the most interesting part.
"If anyone knows of any reason why this marriage should not be celebrated, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
Everyone remained quiet, and the couple looked at the crowd. Kira glanced at her fake family. Brylle's face was solemn. Anthony smiled, and Nana Amy was expressionless. Her gaze finally landed on the one security she was overly familiar with, who was standing at the closed door.
No one objected. Not even her, of course.
The priest proceeded with the vows.
"Do you, Dominick Julian McIntyre, take Brianna Finnegan Jenkin as your lawfully wedded wife in sickness and in health, in richer and for poorer, until death do you part?"
"I'd rather we say it ourselves, Father."
Everyone was surprised at that, but they giggled behind the couple. Even Kira blinked at it. But she gave him a smile when they faced each other. She looked at him through her veil, and she could see the richness of his dark brown eyes. It was like a melted chocolate. Dark chocolate. Just as her favorite flavor. She wondered if it would turn darker if he was lost in lust.
She blinked. Yeah. He wasn't her real husband after all. But then, she doesn't care as long as she was paid, and he wouldn't know it, by the way.
He held the mic and started with the vow. "I, Dominick Julian McIntyre, take you…" He stared at her as if contemplating saying her name. Brianna's name or her actual name? Nonsense. She just concluded that he wouldn't know. And if he does, why would he proceed with the wedding this far? He should have called out her bluff already. He gave her a small smile like he finally decided. "Brianna Finnegan Jenkin, to be my lawful wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward. For better or for worse. For richer, for poorer. In sickness and in health. Even death couldn't keep us apart."
Squeals of delight erupted around, and they even gave him an applause. She had to give him a shy smile, and she did. God. She wanted to raise her brows at him if she had to act her usual self. Nana Amy didn't say that this guy could be a romantic at times.
Her heart didn't flutter for any kind of romantic attraction before. She wanted to laugh at it. This was ridiculous for her. And she was thankful that it was just an acting. She could stomach it a little longer.
The only thing she was excited about was the upcoming honeymoon. Oh, she was so ready to devour him.
She reached the mic from him and tried to stare into his eyes without thinking of any sensual thoughts.
Get a grip, Kira! You're in front of the altar. And you were directly thinking of sinful thoughts. God, Kira!
"I, Ki—Brianna Finnegan Jenkin..." Whew. That was close. She was chiding herself, and she almost said her name out loud. "Take you, Dominick Julian McIntyre, to be my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. Even in hell I'd follow you." And she smiled sweetly at him. His mouth opened, but in just a second, his lips quirked and his eyes twinkled in amusement.
Everyone gasped. Even the priest. She knew they would've never expected it from the real Brianna. No. Because it was what Kira would say. She could only follow him in hell because she knew that she wouldn't be allowed in heaven. That was all she meant. Nothing else.
She could feel the burning stares of her family and Shirk. People had to embrace that Brianna might have had her head affected from the accident. That was why she now had some shocking change of persona. The best way to showcase that was in front of everybody. So, they would expect the change in her. She was also doing it to give herself some slack in portraying her.
She could tone down being herself. That was fine for her. But never entirely as the old Brianna. She would try. Harder. If she felt like it. If the situation calls for it.
They exchanged rings after, and finally, it was about to come to an end.
"…I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may now kiss!"
At last, this was the only part she was excited about in the whole wedding ceremony.
She bit her lower lip to make sure that it wasn't dry and to make it appear plumper. She smiled giddily at her husband. Brianna's, rather. She knew that this was outright cheating. But then, she wouldn't be Brianna's husband now if it wasn't for her. And she had secured her claim as Mrs. McIntyre.
Kira was thinking that the woman should be thankful for her that she had steered him away from any Mrs. McIntyre wannabes while she was still on her beauty sleep. She was doing Brianna's role, and she would do her best, especially in the physical department.
Dominick raised her veil, and his breath hitched. This was the first time he had seen Brianna again personally after her accident months ago. He noticed a lot of changes. Her voice, her actions, even the way she reacts. And even in her appearance. The longer he stared, he could actually see dark clouds in her eyes, instead of her sky blue before. It was a mix of a storm and a calm sky. It was as if rain was coming.
And it stirred something in him. He like them before, but he like them more now. It made him curious of how hard the downpour could be. And he anticipated how darker it would turn from different emotions.
He thought that he was just imagining it the first time he saw her on a videocall again when she recovered from her accident. But now that she was in front of him in close-proximity. The changes were uncanny. Her jaw was more defined, her hair turned darker, her nose was a tad bit narrower. He wasn't sure about her height though. But he liked what he saw. Every bit of the changes. He loved them. Even her body that slightly gained weight from all the defined curves now that was obvious from the gown.
Brianna just looked all firmer now. Wasn't easy to break unlike before. She seemed like a totally new person. Even her aura changed. He couldn't really put what it was but it was just different. She was more of a woman now, than a girl.
He stepped in closer and cupped her cheeks. Her eyes were eager as she stared directly at him. This new Brianna was bolder too.