The vows
718 Words
A heavy silence settled over the ballroom.
Hundreds of guests watched without daring to breathe.
The woman in the white gown stood frozen in the middle of the aisle, tears streaming down her face.
“Alexander…” she whispered. “Please don’t do this.”
Alexander didn’t even look at her.
His hand remained wrapped around Charlotte’s.
It wasn’t affectionate.
It wasn’t comforting.
It was simply… firm.
A decision had been made.
The officiant cleared his throat nervously.
“Mr. Ashford… Miss Bennett… should we continue?”
Alexander gave a single nod.
“Yes.”
The guests erupted into whispers.
“Who is she?”
“Has Alexander lost his mind?”
“Isn’t that the seamstress?”
“Cameras are everywhere! This will be all over tomorrow’s news!”
Charlotte’s heart raced.
She wanted to run.
She wanted to disappear.
This wasn’t her world.
These people weren’t her family.
She was just a woman trying to save her brother.
The real bride suddenly stepped forward.
“You can’t marry her!”
Her voice echoed through the ballroom.
“I am your fiancée!”
Lady Margaret rose from the front row with the grace of a queen.
“You were,” she corrected calmly.
The woman stared at her in disbelief.
“I was frightened.”
“And yet,” Lady Margaret replied, “you found your courage only after the ceremony had begun.”
The woman opened her mouth but couldn’t answer.
Lady Margaret’s voice remained steady.
“An Ashford keeps their word.”
“You broke yours.”
Security quietly approached the crying woman.
She looked desperately at Alexander.
“Tell them to stop!”
For the first time since she entered, Alexander finally met her eyes.
“There was a time,” he said quietly, “when I would have forgiven you.”
Hope flickered across her face.
“But not today.”
His words shattered it.
She covered her mouth as tears spilled down her cheeks.
Without another word, she turned and ran from the ballroom.
The doors closed behind her.
Silence returned.
The officiant took a deep breath.
“Shall we proceed?”
Alexander answered simply.
“We shall.”
Charlotte’s pulse pounded in her ears.
She barely heard the ceremony.
“Do you, Alexander James Ashford, take Charlotte Bennett to be your lawful wife?”
“I do.”
His voice was calm.
Confident.
Without hesitation.
The officiant smiled gently before turning to Charlotte.
“And do you, Charlotte Bennett, take Alexander James Ashford to be your lawful husband?”
Every eye in the room settled on her.
She thought of Oliver.
His laughter.
His hospital bed.
The promise she’d made that she would save him.
A single tear escaped beneath her veil.
“I do.”
The officiant beamed.
“By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Applause filled the ballroom.
Charlotte felt as though she were standing in someone else’s dream.
The officiant smiled.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened.
She looked at Alexander in panic.
They hadn’t discussed this.
Alexander leaned closer.
“So everyone’s convinced,” he murmured, barely above a whisper.
Before she could respond, his hand gently lifted her veil.
Their eyes met for the first time without anything between them.
For a brief moment, the noise around them disappeared.
Charlotte noticed tiny flecks of silver in his grey eyes.
Alexander noticed the fear she was trying so hard to hide.
He hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Some guests smiled.
Others looked confused.
Lady Margaret, however, smiled knowingly.
Alexander lowered his voice.
“I don’t kiss strangers.”
Charlotte managed a faint smile.
“I suppose we’re married now.”
“That doesn’t make us anything more than partners in an agreement.”
His words stung more than she expected.
The reception music began to play.
A wedding coordinator hurried toward them.
“Mr. and Mrs. Ashford,” she said brightly, “your first dance is waiting.”
Charlotte’s smile disappeared.
She looked at Alexander.
He looked just as surprised.
Neither of them had expected one simple contract…
…to become the beginning of a marriage the whole world was now watching.
- Writer
