68 Chapter 67: Officially Married

At exactly eight o'clock in the morning, a black Bentley pulled over at the civil affairs bureau.

Olivia and Trixie accompanied her while Hope decided to go to the wedding venue to help with the preparation.

The trio walked inside and waited for Xavier to arrive.

Three minutes after they arrived, Zarah saw a white Rolls Royce Phantom pulling over outside the building.

She could feel the lump in her throat as she anticipated the car door to open and reveal the person she anticipated seeing the most.

The driver's side opened, revealing Chris who was wearing his black suit.

He looked so handsome with his hair combed from front to back.

He then ran toward the right side of the backseat of the car and opened the door.

Zarah's breath hitched as soon as she saw the most handsome man that she had ever laid her eyes on in the world.

Olivia and Trixie nudged their best friend in a teasing tone.

"Tsk. No wonder you would agree to his proposal, Arah. I mean look at him. I would not also let anyone steal my man." Trixie said which caused Olivia to snort.

However, she did not comment and Zarah heaved a huge sigh of relief.

Xavier walked toward her and with every step he made her breath hitched.

"Hey!" Xavier greeted dotingly after he saw Zarah's gaze fixed on him.

He chuckled when he saw her daze expression with her mouth slightly opened. He pinched her chin and then closed her mouth with a comment, "I know you think that I'm so handsome to be your husband-to-be. Now, why don't we head inside so we could get our marriage certificate first?"

Zarah finally recovered and she looked down to hide her embarrassed face from him.

Zarah was wearing a simple knee-length white dress that accentuated her curves and showed off her long legs.

She had a messy bun which was decorated with white rose flowers.

Meanwhile, Xavier wore his spotless pair of white tuxedo and pants which matched Zarah's outfit.

Hand in hand, they entered the registration office wherein they were given a form to fill out.

Zarah wrote her personal information and so was Xavier. After they were done, they submitted their form and asked to wait for five minutes. They then got their marriage license first and then their marriage certificates followed right after.

"Say cheese!" The photographer told the couple for their official photograph as a married couple.

The newlyweds left as soon as they were done inside.

Trixie and Olivia's car followed the couple to the venue of their garden wedding.

Looking at the piece of paper in their hands, Xavier and Zarah could not believe that it finally happened. They're finally married!

After ten minutes of cruising through the highway, they finally arrived at their wedding venue. It was a garden wedding at the villa.

This place was very important for Xavier and his parents. This was their matrimonial house and so, he wanted to get married here and exchange their wedding vows.

Zarah felt sentimental all of a sudden.

"Are you ready?"

***

At the back garden of the villa, a makeshift pavilion was created for the occasion.

The ceiling was adorned with hanging flowers like orchids and the like together with hanging LED lights. The posts were also decorated with vines and flowers with lights on them.

Poles decorated with flowers surrounded the pavilion and they left a meter and a half opening for the entrance.

A red carpet was laid in the aisle which stretched from the entrance to the make-shift stage with rose petals scattered on it.

A few tables and chairs covered with gold and white fabrics were placed on each side of the aisle for their few guests.

Flowers were placed at the back of the chairs and the center of the table.

The center table for the couple had the words Mr. & Mrs. Lockhart at the center replacing the flowers.

The few witnesses were already waiting for the couple to arrive.

Elliott, Lena, Dylan, Cole, Jackson, Hope, and Rupert, were seated at their respective assigned tables.

"It's good that you made it, brother Dylan. However, I advise that you stay seated for the meantime so you could recover," Cole commented to his brother who flew in a hurry after he heard the news of Xavier and Zarah's wedding.

He felt sorry for his brother as it was obvious from his face that he had gone through a lot of trouble just to attend this wedding.

His face was so pale and he had been visiting the restroom since he arrived.

"Of course, I'm fine. Just mind your own business, okay?", he answered although he felt like he was still floating in the air. He was so dizzy and sick.

His schedule at the company was packed after coming back. But after hearing from Cole that Xavier was getting married, he left Sterlington City boarding Country A's fighter plane so he could arrive on time.

There was no faster way to do it other than that method.

He had to ask the general of the air force, who happened to be his godfather, to let one of their captains drop him off at the international waters and Xavier's men were waiting for him there. As soon as he safely landed on the boat, he was brought to the shore and en to the airport where Xavier's private plane was waiting for him.

Seeing his brother's stubbornness, Cole could only sigh, "Suit yourself then. Have you taken the medicine already?"

Dylan hummed in response and then he closed his eyes.

Meanwhile, Lena was sitting at the table with Elliott. She was still speechless upon learning that the wedding venue where she and her parents had pulled up an all-nighter was actually for Zarah and Xavier.

Elliott asked her and her parents to sign a confidentiality agreement together with the contract.

Even the servants working at the villa and their people who helped in the preparation were asked to sign the NDA, too.

As soon as Chris and the twins entered, they knew the couple had arrived.

Julie and Mr. Henderson who waited at the entrance of the villa greeted the couple.

"Happy wedding, Madam Zarah! Master Xavier!"

Since Zarah was now officially Mrs. Lockhart, she was now their Mistress.

Zarah felt weird hearing the word Madam from her name.

"You'll get used to it," Xavier whispered to her.

"Thank you, Julie, and Mr. Henderson," the couple expressed their gratitude.

"This way, please."

With their lead, they were ushered to the back garden.

Xavier entered the pavilion first.

Meanwhile, Julie helped Zarah to wear her white veil.

Trixie and Olivia met her outside the entrance of the pavilion and helped her wear the other half of her dress which completed the princess wedding gown ensemble.

They also helped Zarah to fix her makeup.

As soon as she was ready, the piano played the Wedding March in the background.

The twins and Julie entered first and walked down the aisle. They waited in the middle of the aisle to wait for Zarah.

As soon as Hope saw this, her eyes turned sad. Cole who was her partner at the table saw this and he could not help but feel bad for Hope.

He leaned forward and whispered, "That should be you, right?"

Hope's eyes widened in shock after hearing what Cole said.

"How did you..."

Cole smiled meaningfully and he hushed her.

Zarah finally showed up with her beautiful gown. She was the most beautiful bride that they had ever seen.

As Hope watched Zarah walk down the aisle, a lone tear escaped from her eyes.

Hope was happy with her current relationship with Zarah. Though she was hoping for Zarah to recognize her as her sister, she knew that it was not the right time for it, yet.

She was hoping that when the time she confessed and reintroduced herself to Zarah came, she was hoping that the latter would accept her and not push her away.

However, if telling Zarah the truth would ruin everything that she established with Zarah, she would rather stay as her friend and perhaps hide the truth forever.

The twins became Zarah's companions in walking down the aisle since she had no parents who would do it for her.

Xavier could feel his breath hitched as soon as Zarah appeared at the entrance.

Dylan who stood beside Xavier leaned into him and whispered, "Please make it fast. I do not think I could hold on any longer."

Dylan's face looked pale and it was obvious that he felt sick.

Xavier looked at him and with a concerned voice, he said, "Ask Cole to replace you. Go and take a sit. I don't want you to steal the show."

However, Dylan was stubborn.

He thought that this would be the last time someone would take him as their best man.

"Don't worry, I can still hold on. Just don't make it so long."

Xavier then turned his attention to Zarah and smiled brightly.

As Zarah reached him, Olivia gave Xavier a warning, "Don't hurt Zarah. Or else, you'll know who you're up against."

"Liv."

"I'm sorry Zaza. I just could not help it. I'm just worried, okay? Now, go and continue. Should he hurt you, I'll do everything that I can to ruin him."

Dylan who was standing beside Xavier suddenly became a little better after hearing Olivia's fierceness.

"Should you realize that you no longer want Zarah anymore, give her back to us and we will accept her with all our hearts," Olivia then finished talking and placed Zarah's hand on Xavier's hand.

Her job was done and so she stepped aside and walked to their table with Trixie following her.

Then the judge appeared and started his task.

Xavier and Zarah exchanged their vows.

Xavier volunteered to go first.

"Not everyone knows that we've met four years ago. You saw a twenty-year-old sickly man who was bound in a wheelchair full of hatred and resentment against the world."

"You were this carefree sixteen-year-old, who liked to dress in an oversized shirt and baggy pants with multiple piercings on your ears, nose, and lips. This was the reason I saw you as a rebellious teenager. However, instead of being repulsed, I admired this side of you."

"You may ask when did I realize that I fall for you? Should you have asked me this question four years ago, I could not give you an answer. I just woke up one day and I felt something different every time I looked at you."

"That feeling became so strong that I dared not to admit it and decided to confess. However, you rejected me right away."

"No, I did not!" Zarah interrupted him and Xavier chuckled. "Yes, you did not but you ran away and didn't say anything. Hence, I assumed that I was rejected. You explained that you were speechless as you could not believe that your crush had confessed his feelings to you, am I right?"

Zarah's face turned red after hearing this.

That was what exactly happened back then.

"At the very start of our journey, something happened that made us be separated for four painful years. Those four years being separated from you were like hell! Should anyone ask me if I'll survive another four years without you, I'd immediately give a big fat 'NO' as an answer."

With shaking hands, Xavier grabbed Zarah's and continued, "This is what I missed for the past four years. And I'm glad that you decided to join me on this new journey together. I'm forever thankful that you're officially mine from now on until the last breath that I have. I love you so much, Mrs. Lockhart."

When it was Zarah's turn, she looked into Xavier's eyes before she started. Xavier mouthed the three words to her while holding back the tears in his eyes.

Xavier was never an emotional man but since it was his wedding day, he allowed himself to let loose.

"Hi, Tim. I'm sorry if I made you wait for four years. I could not imagine how much pain you've felt being away from me."

Zarah's voice cracked and she cleared her throat to compose herself.

"Ahem! Sorry guys, my throat suddenly felt dry. Can I have water please?"

Her friends chuckled as it was obvious that she was nervous and having a panic attack.

Trixie and Olivia knew that Zarah was overwhelmed and deeply touched by Xavier's vow.

Hope grabbed a bottle of water and put a straw on it before giving it to Zarah. Zarah took a few sips and thanked Hope for it.

"Thank you, Hope. Now, where are we? I somehow forgot that I needed to prepare a vow for today's event. I never expected that I would be getting married today. So don't blame me if I failed to give a long vow that could match yours. Anyways. I love your vow, though."

"Anyways."

"Relax. You can have all the time in the world. We will wait for you." Xavier comforted his wife.

"Thank you. It's your fault," Zarah blamed him.

"I know," he accepted the blame like how a good husband should do for his upset wife.

Zarah somehow recovered her composure and confidence after a couple of breathing exercises.

"Take your time!"

Their friends encouraged and she beamed a beautiful smile in appreciation.

"I appreciate it everyone but I don't think someone would agree with what you said, Am I right Dylan?"

Being in the spotlight, Dylan could only pretend that he was fine when he wasn't.

"No! I'm fine. I can still hold on."

"Okay. Don't worry, I'll be quick."

Then Zarah turned her attention to her husband who was waiting for her to continue.

"You're right. Four years ago, we met. You introduced yourself as Tim. And I believed you. Four years later, you showed up with a different identity and a different name. However, I have to be honest, my heart recognized you without me even knowing it."

She thought that the reason why her break up with Josh was not as painful as she thought was because her heart had recognized its first love. It was not Josh but Xavier.

"Though you were fierce and cold, it didn't stop me from liking you as my heart saw how kind and good you are as a person. You were not hard to love even before until now."

"We have missed a lot of things within that four years of separation. I felt guilty as while you were suffering, I was oblivious to your pain and was happily dating another guy. Don't be mad. I'm over him. The name that my heart calls on now is your name, Xavier. My mind and my heart agree that you will be the only man that they'll think and call from now on until forever."

Xavier felt giddy as he heard Zarah's confession.

Then did that mean that she loved him, too?

"Xavier Lockhart, please forget the four years that you have without me, and let's create new memories starting today until the last beat of my heart. And I love you, too."

Zarah was not satisfied with her vow. She thought that it was not enough compared to Xavier's touching vow.

She vowed to do better next time.

When everything settled down, she was going to marry this man again.

After they exchanged their vows, they took turns in wearing their gold wedding bands.

After they wore the rings, the judge then announced, "I officially pronounce you, Husband and Wife."

***