EPISODE 14: The Wedding

Hearing that melody once again, the old woman of the Salazar family started crying. She only knew two people who kept playing that melody whenever they visited them. "My dearest friend…she's home."

Veronica stopped playing the piano as she noticed the old lady's tears. "Grams, are you okay?" she worriedly asked.

"I'm okay, I just…remember a little girl always plays that melody here. She brought music into this family like her grandmother." the old lady wiped her tears and caressed Veronica's cheek to ease her worry.

Veronica felt something in those words but leave it be for now. "Sorry if I have to remind you about that kid." she apologized instead.

"It's okay, Dear." the old woman chuckled and ruffled her hair gently. "Through you, she's back home."

"Things might have forgotten who we that kid but the touch and heart never forget what matters to you, Dear." the old lady said making sense something to Veronica.

She might think a lot of things inside her mind but when she noticed the familiar penmanship on the record plaque, everything went clear. Veronica looked at them and they nodded while smiling.

"The person who entrusted that record to us has the same name as yours and told us to keep it until her heir comes back with the long-forgotten name." The old lady smiled in familiarity as if she were thrown back in those times. "You're a split image of your grandmother when she was your age."

"You knew my grandmother?" Veronica asked.

"Of course, dear." The old lady confirmed.

Veronica calmed herself since the old lady before her was not a threat but something more to her. "Then you know who I am?" She carefully asked. 

"You grew up with her which also indicates that you know the answer to your question." the old lady said and patted her cheek gently. "Remember, Little one, you're not alone anymore. Me and family especially, Sebastian will be right beside you."

Veronica sighed in defeat before smiling comfortably. "I thought I was still going to hold it but after hearing it…" she smiled and hugged the old lady full of longing. "...you are really my grandma Ellie."

The old woman chuckled. "Do you remember the rest of my family?" she wondered.

Sadly, Veronica shook her head. "I don't but they were familiar to me," she admitted. "I only remember you and grandmother and the ghost of my past."

"Don't worry, Dear. Your secret safe with me and grandpa Daniel." the old lady, Ellie assured the young lady and the fiancee of her only grandson. "Let's head back and before I forget once you heard what's recorded here, burn it. Only you and your grandmother should know what's inside." Veronica nodded upon hearing it.

"But where's Sebastian's baby pictures?" she wondered making the old lady chuckle and grab the album before they both went back to where the others were.

In the entertainment room, everyone was very noisy and bantering all over the place making the seniors annoyed and irritated. Ellie shook her head and sat beside her husband before he lost his temper. 

But someone did lose their temper and that's Sebastina's fiancee. "SEBASTIAN SALAZAR!" everyone in the room jolted to the imperious cold voice that Veronica held. "Can you not keep it down?" her eyes were burning holes in him. "Grams and D, needed peace not annoyance."

"But I'm not the only one who did it." Sebastian tried to defend himself from his fiancee. "They started it."

"I don't care who initiated it." Veronica was firm and Sebastian's hands already formed into a ball trying to control his temper. "Instead of doing, that why not beat them on playing games?" she suggested which surprised Sebastian.

"Why I didn't think of that?" Sebastian began to cool down while grinning at his sisters. "I like that suggestion."

"I know you do," Veronica smirked. "That's why on behalf of your sisters, I'll deal with you."

Sebastian was dumbfounded. "Fuck." He cursed.

His siblings laughed at his defeated reaction. "Your so doom, baby brother." Ashley teased.

"Good luck." the rest wished him luck.

The usual routine that they had in life still moving at the same pace but something else was added to their life. Ever since the lively and heartwarming welcome from the Salazar family last month, both of their moods were lifted, especially around Veronica. She moved around the company smoothly as she handled every transaction with flying colors. Even the sudden issues were all dealt with firmly yet meticulously not until she received a message from Yohan.

Text Message:

Yohan: My Lady, it was confirmed that Mrs. Everlyn Pendelton had no connection to the V.I.C. that her husband built. She was more focused on restaurants and cafes that her husband didn't pay attention to much unless he needed money.

"Seriously, these two always moved in different ways yet sticky together like glue. One is a man whore jerk and the other one is a jealous snake yet both hand one thing in common…" Veronica was drinking her wine while looking at the moonlight after reading the message from one of his men. "...traitor." she smirked as she emptied her glass which exactly her phone rang. "Veronica speaking." 

'Hello, my dear enchantress, ready for our wedding?'

Veronica sighed but she smirked and didn't fade. "Of course, how about you?"

'Ecstatic.'

Veronica tried to hold her giggle from hearing it. "Then why did you call? Do you miss me already?"

'Well, I'll be lying if I say I don't. I've been itching to be with you.'

She sighed. "Idiot, we just met last two days." she was trying to hide the fact that she was missing the annoying presence of her fiance.

'It feels like two years.'

'He sounded like a whining child.' Veronica shook her head from her thought. "Sebastian," she warned him with a sigh.

'I'm not lying. I miss annoying you. But through this call, did I accomplish it?'

"You did and I'm hanging up since we both needed to wake up early for our wedding tomorrow." She reminded him about the event they're going to have privately with the family tomorrow at the main mansion.

'Fine, I can't wait to marry you.'

Veronica felt warm but she still played it cool like it was nothing to her. "Right. Goodnight, Sebastian."

As the call ended, Veronica looked deeply into the moon when her phone vibrated once again. "Hm, another notification..." she muttered to herself.

Text Messages:

Asa: Heads-up, my lady for a group of gangsters preparing a war to the Salazar. They were up to something and it might hit off over your wedding.

V: Then be my shadow on that day, Asa, and capture one to torment.

Asa: Understood, my lady.

Veronica put down her phone again on her desk behind her. "This is going to be interesting wedding day of my life." She smirked before she retired for the night.

As another day to remember started to kick in at the household of Salazar, everything was like an enchanting fairytale. Different types of flowers around the garden seemed to glow with lights and lanterns while everyone was waiting for the bride to enter. But on the side of the groom, Sebastian started to feel coldness on his feet.

"Fuck this…" Sebastian cursed as his best friend Glen helped him fix his suit. "...I have never been so nervous in my entire life until this happened." His hands were shaking and sweating at the same time. "I hope she'll come now."

Ronnie and Glen chuckled. "Don't be a chicken today." Ronnie teased him. "It's your big day with your enchantress."

"Then where is she?" Sebastian couldn't hold the agitation that was creeping out of him. "She's making me more nervous from waiting here…" he even clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Dammit."

"Hey, calm yourself." Glen patted his shoulder. "She agreed with the contract marriage since both of you needed something from each other and you know what type of woman she was." He reminded him who was Veronica. "She won't back down on a thing like this." 

On the bride's side, Veronica was taking a few deep breaths while walking back and forth making Ashley and Yuna chuckle. She glared at them since it was not helping her to calm down.

"You two were not helping." Veronica groaned in annoyance.

Ashley chuckled. "Sorry, but you're being cute when you are nervous."

Veronica glared at them again. "I am not." she defended yet the two just chuckled at her obvious reaction. "I said I'm not."

"We're not saying anything, my Lady." Yuna cleared and Veronica glared at them one more time since they were not stopping from giggling too much. 

But Maliyah's words caught her attention. "It's your wedding day that's why you're being nervous." Veronica softened when she looked at her. "I know you think that it was just business or fixed marriage since our grandparents insisted on it but when you start to fancy your soon-to-be husband, you will feel like that."

"I do not fancy him." She still defending yet her heart knew well the answer to that and that's why they were giggling at her.

"You do more than you think," Ashley added to what her sister told Veronica.

Veronica was about to say something again to defend herself when Yuna cut her off. "Sorry to interrupt but it's time, my Lady." Upon hearing that, Veronica took a deep breath one more time and faced the door that led to her garden wedding.

Veronica's wedding dress was pure white with a silver-white lily and vine embroidery designed on it. It was sparkling as she walked down the red-carpeted aisle with flower petals scattered over it. It was a beautiful sight the only trusted, loyal, and close family and friends were able to attend their private wedding at the Salazar main mansion. But what caught Veronica's attention was the song playing in the background. I Choose You by Forest Blakk.

"Why did they pick that song for this day?" Veronica almost felt annoyed when she heard the song as she walked down the aisle.

Yuna chuckled at the annoyed tone of her lady. "Maybe because you love it." She rolled her eyes upon hearing it but when Yuna said the last words, "Look ahead where he waits, my Lady." she didn't hesitate and looked at Sebastian.

On days when it's easy, on days when it's hard

You don't have to be nervous, just fall in my arms

My love is a sure thing that you'll never lose

No matter what this life puts us through

I choose you

As the chorus of the song hits at the same time when their eyes meet, everything in their background seems stopped or faded. There was only them at that moment until Sebastian's hand gently offered to her. Veronica softly smiled and took it without hesitation.

"Finally, you're here." Sebastian kissed her hand with affection and trust. "Shall we get married?"

Veronica smiled. "That's why we're here."