Chapter 6

‘Our wedding was held on the 10th of October, none of us were happy with one another that’s the very least. ’

Ella sat in front of the mirror as her hired stylist was already doing her job, placing highlighters on her eyes. The makeup session was nearing an end and after a while the makeup artist was done.

“There we go. You look meraviglioso (wonderful)” She said in her Italian accent. Ella just nodded and stood up from her chair and exited the room.

She didn’t feel happy nor sad she just felt numb. She knew it was inevitable and later that day they had to consummate regardless of Ella consenting or not, those were customs set by the matriarch of the Reeves family.

She got into the dressing room and stripped down her casual clothing, she unwrapped a package from Irly Reeves, Keenan’s mother and had to resist the urge to yell. There in the box folded neatly with the price tags a pair of red and black lingerie.

Ella just wore them without question and wore the white wedding dress placed on the hanger that was near the gift box.

As she was finishing the final touches a knock banged on the door. “Ella, it’s Eva. The wedding is about to start” Eva said from the other side of the door patiently waiting for Ella to open it since she was part of the bridesmaids.

Ella opened the door and smiled at Eva, even if they weren’t all that related. Eva treated her far nicer than Brittney and her mother. “Sure let’s go” she said, checking herself one last time as she and Eva headed down the hallway.

Piano music began playing as the people in attendance were rising in honour of the bride that would be coming through the entrance leading to the outside. News reporters and journalists were all there as the marriage was one of the biggest ever held in London.

Keenan glanced at Leviathy who was amongst the crowd. The melody started to slow down as the flower girls came first sprinkling flowers as they went. Ella and Eva appeared after them, a bouquet of flowers clutched in her hands as the veil hid her face. She looked so royal and majestic as she walked down the aisle.

Her eyes glanced around and caught sight of Jana smiling, the smile reassured her that everything will be alright. Taking a deep breathe, she turned around once reaching the alter and looked at Keenan, who unveiled her face and the music instantly died down. 

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered today to witness the union between Keenan and Brittney, but before we can begin. Let’s all clap to Queen Elizabeth the sixth” The priest said, bowing down to the ruler of England. Everyone mimicked the priest and all returned to their attention to the wedding.

“Mr. Keenan you may say your vows to miss Brittney” The priest said audible enough for the people attending the ceremony to hear him.

Keenan breathed in and recited the vows he was handed a week prior. On the inside, he was seething, and his eyes were sharper than a knife holding back unmeasurable aggression.

“Brittney Hughes, from the first time I saw you, I was instantly turned head over heels. I couldn’t believe such beauty could exist and I thought I was out of my league, but you showed interest in me as well. I couldn’t tell you how happy I was when you finally agreed to be with me...” Keenan said, forcing a smile to marry his face as the crowd awwed at the lovely words.

He cleared his throat and looked at Ella in the eyes while taking their official rings from the cushion and slipped it on Ella’s ring finger. “And I want to spend the rest of my days with you” The crowd saluted and applauded Keenan concluded his vows. Their attention now on Ella. 

Ella fidgeted a bit trying to recall the vows she had received earlier. Even though her mind was screaming at her not to go through with what she was thinking off, her heart seemed to be fixated and she followed her heart. 

She gulped, gulping down her freedom and a chance at a decent life away from all the abuse she had endured till now. Ella’s eyes danced around the crowd looking for Jana. Upon finding her, she saw her smile and nod, the nod made Ella smile as she knew she had one friend she could count on. 

“Keenan Reeves, I see these vows not as promises but as privileges: I get to laugh with you and cry with you; care for you and share with you… ” Ella took a short pause to blink away her tears of sorrow and heartbreak as she knew there was no chance in hell Keenan was ever going to love her. 

She resumed with her vows “I get to run with you and walk with you; build with you and live with you. I get to have you be the person I spend the rest of my life with. I get to be there for you and support you.” The crowd once more applauded even the queen, stood up to applaud at the wonderful words chosen by Ella. 

“ Now then repeat after me.” The priest said looking at Keenan firstly. “ Do you Keenan Reeves, take Brittney Hughes to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part.” The priest asked.

Keenan thought about his choice for a few second. Even if he didn’t want to marry Ella he had no choice in the matter. “I do” He said, glaring daggers at the priest who turned his attention to Ella.

“ Do you Brittney Hughes, take Keenan Reeves as  your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part.” The priest once more asked, as the last words from the bride would seal the ceremony.

“I do” Ella answered without batting an eyelash, her will shattered and she resigned to her fate. It wasn’t worth fighting for anymore, that’s what she told herself.

The priest looked at the two and cleared his throat to speak. “By the power invested in me, I now declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride”, The crowd clapped while some females awwed the moment.

Keenan wrapped his arm around Ella who flinched a bit but stopped once she saw the look on his face. His lips met hers briefly and a loud chorus of applauds came from the crowd which was in full excitement mood.

After the ceremony. The banquet was held and the people who attended were served their meals, Ella sat at the bar alone as she gently sipped on her coconut mixed cocktail, her eyes staring into space as if lost on what to do.

“If it isn’t the lady of the day” Jana said, smirking at Ella as she took the empty chair besides her friend and ordered one cocktail beverage from the waiter.

“I still don’t understand why you chose to get married in Brittney’s place” She said as she glanced at Ella from the corner of her eye.

Ella sighed and just continued to stare in space. “I don’t really know why I didn’t refuse when my stepmother forced me to marry in place of her daughter much less carry her persona” She said, crestfallen. She needed a shoulder to cry on but that would come at a later date.

As the two were talking, a woman in her fifties wearing a black dress walked up to the two. “Hello, Brittney, I’m Keenan’s mother Irly, and it’s a pleasure to meet you” Irly said extending her hand to for Ella to shake.

Ella reached out her hand and shook Irly’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you Mrs Reeves” She said, timidly afraid of saying something that would offend the Reeves matriarch.

Jana seeing that the mother in law and her daughter wanted private space, stood up and fixed the creases on her dress. “I’ll call you OK Ella?” She said and walked away heading toward the crowd that gathered near the center of the cathedral.

Irly took the spot Jana was sitting on and turned the chair on its shaft to face Ella directly. “I’m sure Keenan hasn’t been the type of husband you envisioned him to be right?.” She asked Ella who looked down to the floor.

Her gesture gave Irly all she needed to know. “I understand, He’s been having a tough time well he had a tough time when he was younger. I don’t know why he hates this arrangement so hard but I sincerely hope that you try to coexist with him.” She said as she took Ella’s hand into hers.

“I’ll try my best but I cannot make promises.” Ella replied, for the first time that day, she was smiling a sincere smile.

“If you ever need anything just come to me. After all I am your mother from now on” Irly said smiling at Ella who nodded in approval.

The ladies of the Reeves family chatted for a while with Irly telling Ella more about her travels across multiple countries and how she wanted to take Ella with her to one of the countries.

Time flew by and by the time they knew it, it was nearly eight o’clock and the couples were dancing to the soft melody that was playing.

“Want to dance with me?.” Irly asked, as she stood up and offered Ella her hand.

Ella nodded and took Irly’s hand, and both of them walked to the center of the ballroom. The two ladies started to sway to the tune calmly and by pure luck Irly located Keenan coming from the direction where the restrooms were.

She waved at her son, who waved back and came up to them.

 “Mother, I haven’t seen you in a while” Keenan said stopping Irly and Ella who were dancing with her words.

“Yes yes, now dance with your wife” Irly said, handing Ella’s hand to Keenan who clasped it firmly and tugged Ella to him.

Irly seeing that her mission was complete, made up an excuse leaving the duo to dance alone. However, none of them saw Leviathy following a second later from the direction Keenan came from, her hair slightly disheveled.

A ding of a glass drew the attention of many towards the source being man dressed in a fancy black suit. “ I like to make a toast in honor of my son Keenan. You are no longer a bachelor, you have a wife now and you must take care of her. Cheers!!” Benjamin Reeves said and was instantly mimicked by the rest as they too yelled cheers.

Soon after Benjamin’s little speech, the close family friends and members came to Keenan and Ella to wish them a happy marriage and all gave them their wedding gifts.

Irly gave them a reservation at a fancy hotel in the city of Manchester and their plane tickets, while Benjamin gave them a pendant with the yin yang symbol and transferred a sum of sixteen hundred million to Ella’s alternative account as a token from her father in law. 

By eight thirty the couple were already having their belongings at the airport and they were in the process of being scanned. They removed their jewelry and stepped into the screener which detected no metallic object on them and were allowed to pass. They boarded the flight to Manchester where their honeymoon was to occur.