*You can play Nothing Else Matters by Eduard Frexia while reading this chapter. Song is available in the OS playlist in my discord channel as well.*

Maxen pulled all the air in his lungs when his eyes laid upon Olivia's silhouette as the doors opened in slow motion. 

He uttered the only word he could think of, and to him—exquisite. No other words would best describe his wife.

He felt a hand clamping on his shoulder but chose to ignore it. Normally, he would look over his shoulder to acknowledge the person, but not that gloomy afternoon. Especially not after the double doors opened and revealed Olivia's b.a.r.e back.

Maxen almost shoved his fist in his mouth as anger with a mixture of a sense of pride coursed through his veins. 

Mine. Mine. Mine. 

His possessive voice screamed at the top of his lungs inside his head. 

Tucking his green-eyed monster to the pits of his stomach, Maxen's eyes skimmed the length of Olivia's back one more time and growled. 

He could technically trace a finger on the curve of Olivia's spine, and he couldn't wait to do it. A picture of him ripping Olivia's silk gown into smithereens flashed before his eyes. 

The towering double doors fully opened and Maxen's heart rang in his ears, blocking out the soft notes that danced in the air as a violin version of Nothing Else Matters played. 

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed nothing but his nervousness over Olivia's reaction to the surprise—eyes wide open, yet her lips pursed into a thin line as if she was preventing herself from cursing. 

Even with their short time together, he knew his wife wasn't a big fan of surprises just like this one.

A corner of his lips quivered when Olivia slowly walked forward to where he stood. He could see confusion glisten in her teary eyes, and he couldn't help but sigh at how she did her best to hold her bearings, walking calm and collected as she gravitated towards him.

For a stolen second in time, Maxen and Olivia's eyes met and he noticed how her shoulders shook. 

"Max," Olivia mouthed.

"Olivia," he mouthed back.

Even without hearing her voice, Maxen's memory jogged back to that night when he first heard her speak, reminding him of how spellbound he was by the confidence in her voice. 

That night, without second thoughts, he told her to call him Max, the three-letter name that no one dared call him, the three-letter name that only belonged to one person, including his heart and his entire being—Olivia.

Maxen grinned from ear to ear to hide his bundle of nerves which tasered him in his spot. It felt like ants crawling under his skin, consuming his being. He slightly dipped his head to scratch the skin above his brows and to his surprise, a tear dropped to his coffee-colored oxfords.

He laughed, and another tear dropped on the leather shoe. Lifting his face, tears of contentment streamed from his eyes. He was laughing and crying at the same time, a mirror reflection of Olivia who also let the floodgates of tears pour down, sprinkling salty blobs on the bunch of lily of the valley in her hand.

She bit the inside of her teeth to stop herself from crying some more but as her eyes flitted to each person in attendance, more tears streamed down her face.

Auntie Martha. Grandma. Queen Isla. King Alistair. Princess Maya, Dexter, and their little princess.

Olivia let out a shaky breath. The surprise of her life slowly seeping into her veins, telling her she wasn't dreaming.

She heard someone clear his throat and so her eyes snapped to Oliver who was waiting for her midway through the long train of red that led to the arch at the dock. It was dr.a.p.ed with linen, flora, and fairy lights.

Offering his angled arm, Olivia hooked her hand to the crook of Oliver's arm.

"So ugly this crying woman," Oliver grumbled, but instead of getting annoyed at her brother, Olivia let herself cry a little more. She couldn't help but cry anyway. There was no point in holding back.

Olivia peered up to her brother. "What's going on, Ollie?" she asked as they walked slow steps forward.

"Your wedding," he kept his answer short. 

She let out a shaky breath and traced her gaze back to Maxen. Olivia's hand trembled the nearer they got to the altar. It prompted Oliver to give his sister's hand a reassuring squeeze, toasting her hands and her heart as he cupped it with the warmness of his hand.

"Aiyoo this boy! Let go of your sister, Ollie," Grandma exclaimed, and the rest laughed at Oliver who refused to hand over his sister, but Oliver ignored the cacophony.

Oliver's jaw clenched. As if Maxen could read the unspoken threats in Oliver's mind, threats of taking Maxen's life if he dared make her sister cry, Maxen nodded his head and agreed. He extended a hand, and the two brothers exchanged their signature handshake.

Finally, his answered prayer—his Olivia—was in the cocoon of Maxen's arms. He yanked her, pinning her c.h.e.s.t to his. Forehead to forehead, Maxen inhaled and caught a whiff of the crisp apple scent of Olivia's hair. 

Foregoing the vows that should take place first, he dipped Olivia backward, and planted a searing kiss on her cherry-tinted lips, tasting her sweetness through her lips.

Their guests cheered, except for one person, the cardinal of Nisia, who was standing in the center of the altar. "Your Highness, you cannot kiss the bride yet."

Clapping hands and booming laughter filled the air. Maxen pulled a breathless Olivia back in place. She playfully slapped his arm whilst biting her bottom lip, and Maxen couldn't help but scratch the skin above his eyebrows.

The sacrament of marriage went on for an hour without a glitch as if everyone had been practising it for weeks instead of two days. 

Two days after Oliver flew in Auntie Martha, Grandma, and Eli. 

Two days after Oliver sent a sealed letter to the House of Sui, requesting their presence at the wedding of his sister, Olivia Lin, to an ugly military commander named Maxen Sui.

"You did amazing with the event planning, sweetie," Oliver whispered in Ava's ear.

Peering up to Oliver, Ava suppressed her smile. "Thanks for the budget, sweetie."

Oliver scoffed. His eyes glued to where Olivia and Maxen kneeled as the cardinal gave them his blessings. "Did you save the receipts? We'll send those to the House of Sui for reimburs.e.m.e.nt."