As the wedding ceremony began, Eun Ho took her seat beside her mother, a spot near the aisle reserved for Jonathan. On the other side, sat James, a reminder of the emotional grief. She wished she could reach into his mind's eye and pluck the fragments of memories of her daughter's youth and steal them for herself. But she could not see the past, let alone the future anymore.
She stared down to the doorway, craning her head and looking at Rose. pretty in her frilly flower girl outfit. In 7 years, she might be able to get her own gift back and ease Selena, Noe Jin-ae and Amelia's burdens.
Her eyes fixed on Selena, her heart heavy with emotion. She knew this was a new beginning for her daughter, but for her, it was a bittersweet reminder of the time they had lost, and the memories they would never make.
Eun Ho's heels clicked as she rushed to the front row and sat down beside her mother Noe Jin-ae and sighed, "She's ready. How was your mother when she married Father into the family, was she a bit skeptical of the goddesses' plans?"
Noe Jin-ae looked at her daughter, remembering when her own domineering daughter married Jonathan as per the arrangements. "It was different because there was only one born on the day. The same with Jonathan and Edward there was a clear divide. It was like he was born for you. The caesarean was done so quickly because of the emergency. It was hard to say which one it would be." Noe Jin-ae said as he took her daughter's hand.
Eun Ho sighed as the men filed in and the bridal party filed in. "The poor girl never gets it easy, best to leave it to fate, although he's good to her." Eun Ho watched as Claire directed and ordered people around with steadfast precision, a small Bluetooth headset in her ear. Her daughter-in-law was very satisfactory. Park Gulduk and Park Jun Pyo filled their seats. Eun Ho sighed. He followed her Dad around like a puppy. The lights dimmed.
As the string music filled the air, Greyson White and Rose emerged. The 10 year old boy gently directed the girl as she scattered flowers. He was a little old for the job but his elder sister begged him and bribed him.
She was beautiful, and held a lot of memories of his mother, her adopted mother. She would tell him about how she could have been a singer and could transform the ugliest clothes into beautiful clothes.
Selena, his sister was also generous, he knew he would not be living the comfortable affluent life he was living. James, his father, made sure that he knew his privilege and Selena, even though she was wildly rich, didn't forget hers.
Greyson acted on his best behavior guiding the kindergarten age kid as best as he could. James watched with pride on the verge of tears. Liam had sought his blessing before the wedding was pushed up and for that he was deeply touched.
Selena was a regular fixture in their lives, and when McKenna shot her, Liam was the one who brought him into the ICU to see his sick daughter. When Selena was recovering the boy was by her side and later he came to him with a new prosthetic he developed just for him, it cinched it for him. He had his blessing before he asked.
James looked at the emotional Liam at the altar and gave him a nod. He stood and turned, although he didn't walk her down the aisle he was here and the vision of his daughter in the white wedding dress would have made her mother a blubbering mess. She would have been so proud of her daughter's work.
The Holly O'Brien foundation, named for "Molly", sought to rescue trafficked women out of the sex and drug trafficking ring and had addictions programs. Selena donated heavily to the charities around Veterans, Disabled and Women. He was so proud, the handkerchief Mary made for him was quickly becoming soaked.
As the music began to play, Jonathan stood up, his eyes shining with pride and love as he gazed at his daughter, Selena. He took a deep breath, his chest swelling with emotion, and offered Selena his arm.
"My little girl." Jonathan choked. Selena smiled up at her father, her eyes sparkling with happiness, and took his arm. Together, they began their walk down the aisle, the guests rising to their feet as they passed.
As they made their way down the aisle, the guests couldn't help but stare at the beautiful bride and her proud father. Selena's lace wedding gown shimmered in the light, and her hair shone like gold. Jonathan's face was etched with pride and love, and his eyes shone with unshed tears.
As they reached the altar, Jonathan turned to Selena and smiled, his eyes locking onto hers. "I'm so proud of you, Selena," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.
Selena smiled back at him, her eyes shining with love and gratitude. "I love you, Daddy," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Jonathan's face contorted with emotion, and he leaned forward to kiss Selena's cheek. "I love you too, baby girl," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.
As they shared this tender moment, the guests erupted into a collective "awww," and Liam's eyes shone with tears as he gazed at his bride and her father.
The ceremony continued, but for Selena and Jonathan, this moment was one they would cherish forever – a moment of pure love and connection between a father and his daughter on her wedding day.
She was a vision of loveliness, her black hair slightly curled and adorned with a delicate crown of flowers. The vintage Christian Dior wedding dress hugged her curves perfectly, its intricate lace and delicate embroidery shimmering in the soft light. Liam steeled himself, his eyes betrayed him and welled with happy tears.
As she walked down the aisle, Rose, her little flower girl, tossed petals ahead of her, dumping a bunch in the aisle in her excitement. Selena's nose crinkled as she let out a lilting laugh, her eyes shining with happiness. The click of the camera could be heard as the videographer and photographer took shots of the bride.
Liam's heart swelled with love and adoration as he gazed at Selena. She was breathtakingly beautiful, and he felt like the luckiest man alive to be marrying her. He couldn't take his eyes off her as she approached him, her father's arm tucked gently in hers.
As they reached the altar, Jonathan placed a gentle kiss on Selena's cheek before handing her over to Liam. Selena's eyes met Liam's, and they shared a soft, tender smile. The ceremony was about to begin, and they were ready to start their new life together. The videographer and photographer took shots.
Selena and Liam stood at the altar, surrounded by their loved ones, who were all beaming with joy. The bride looked stunning in her lace wedding gown, her hair styled perfectly and her makeup flawless. Liam, dashing in his tailored tuxedo, couldn't take his eyes off his beautiful bride.
The venue was decorated with exquisite flowers, including roses, peonies, and hydrangeas, all arranged in elegant centerpieces and bouquets. The altar was adorned with a stunning floral arrangement, and the aisle was lined with delicate petals.
The family was seated in the front rows, all dressed in their finest attire. Eun Ho and Jonathan, Selena's parents, were beaming with pride.
Amelia and Arthur, Selena's grandparents, were seated in the front row, looking elegant and refined. Park Jun Pyo and Park Gulduk, Selena's Korean grandparents, were seated nearby, their faces stern and disapproving. Noe Jin-ae, Selena's grandmother, was seated beside them, her face a picture of serenity.
Jake Reinhold and Catherine Reinhold, Liam's parents, were seated in the front row, looking proud and happy. They were gaining a lot from this marriage and at least one of the boys was happy.
Claire, the maid of honor, was standing at the altar, looking stunning in her elegant bridesmaid dress. Jennifer, Heather, Siobahn, and Kim Nari, the bridesmaids, were all standing nearby, looking beautiful in their matching dresses.
Gunn, Jakob, and Michael, the groomsmen, were all standing at the altar, looking dashing in their tailored tuxedos. Jonah looked dapper in his kilt. Jakob smiled even though he didn't feel like it.
Jakob's eyes burned with a mix of emotions as he watched the scene unfold before him. He felt bitter and jealous, his heart aching with the knowledge that his brother, Liam, was marrying the love of his life - Selena. Jakob had secretly harbored feelings for Selena, and seeing her with his brother was like a knife to the heart.
But before he could process his emotions, Jakob's attention was snapped back to the present by the sight of a red laser dot appearing on Selena's chest. His instincts kicked in, and he shouted a warning and moved.
"Sniper! Get down!" Jakob yelled, his voice loud and urgent. The Gregorys' awareness heightened, and they scrambled to respond to the threat.
But before they could react, the shot rang out, loud and clear. Time seemed to slow down as Jakob watched in horror. The shot soared through the air and through the stained glass and hit the tank of propane for the kitchen, causing a massive explosion.
The blast wave threw Liam and Selena to the ground, sending them tumbling through the air. Glass flew through the air, injuring the family and guests. The sound of screams and shattering glass filled the air, and the beautiful wedding venue was suddenly transformed into a scene of chaos and destruction.
Jakob's eyes widened in horror as he watched the explosion unfold. He felt like he was in slow motion, unable to move or react. He could only watch in horror as the people he loved were thrown to the ground, injured and screaming. "Why had he pushed him and Selena away? Why Liam?" Jakob thought. He was safe.
Debris littered the venue and fire, dust kicked up in the air, ears rang from the explosion and those in security who could react tried to. The doors had flung open as the culprit fled and a vehicle took off.
"Oh." Eun Ho suffered a deep gash on her forehead from the shattered glass. A high pitch ringing filled her ears from the loud explosion. She was blinded temporarily as blood ran down her face.
Jonathan had a severe burn on his arm from the explosion. His eyes went wild. "Call 911 for the love of fucking god!" He screamed. His little girl's wedding had become a tragedy. His wife was injured. His whole family was.
Elham was helped up by Edward, who had a large piece of glass embedded in his leg and had a broken wrist from falling to the ground. Their son Monty had a severe concussion. Noe Jin-ae was fine, other than having suffered from a severe burn on her hand. Her bodyguard was not.
"Why didn't I foresee this?" Amelia said as tears were running from her eyes, she had a severe cut on her cheek. She looked at Arthur, she touched him and knew from the brief glimpse into his future that he had a broken rib from the blast.
Jake Reinhold had a deep gash on his cheek, and Catherine Reinhold had a broken ankle from falling to the ground.
Rose Lowrie, the flower girl, was shaken and bawling but unharmed and looking for her parents' comfort. Jonah scooped her up protectively as his head pounded. Claire was torn between Jonah, her own daughter and her duty. Jonah nodded at her. She immediately drew her gun from her skirt and scanned the venue. Jonah clamped his hands over Rose's ears. Claire's gun rattled off as the assassin fled the building. They exchanged fire.
James, Selena's other Father, was sitting in the front row, his son Greyson, the ring bearer, standing beside him. James had a severe concussion, and Greyson had a broken arm. James was fretting over his son and then pulled him down his training taking over.
The Bridal party had been rocked by the blast. Claire had a severe cut on her shoulder, not that it would stop her from her work. Jennifer had a broken wrist, Heather had a severe burn on her arm, Siobahn had glass in her cheek, and Kim Nari had a severe concussion.
The Groomsmen had dived, but were in close proximity to the blast. Gunn had a cut on his forehead, Jakob had a broken rib, and Michael had a severe burn on his hand. They looked horrified at Liam who had suffered the worst of it as he pushed Selena into the care of her 3 guards and away from the blast center.
With a Herculean effort, Liam struggled to sit up, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of Selena. He saw her lying a few feet away, her body limp and still. Liam's heart skipped a beat as he crawled towards her, his mangled leg leaving a trail of blood behind him.
"Selena, no, no, no..." Liam muttered, his voice shaking with fear and desperation. He reached out and gently shook her shoulder, calling out her name again and again, but she didn't respond. She was pregnant. He tried to use his short sight. But his injury caught up to him first.
"Liam! Don't move." a concussed Jakob said out of concern. His leg, the blood was just leaking out. Jakob scrambled to his brother and pulled off his belt to fasten a tourniquet.
Time suddenly sped up for Jakob, he went to work, his first aid training becoming helpful. His ribs ached as he bent over, his father Jake came to help him. He pulled the belt tight with a grunt.
Liam groaned and reached towards her limp form. "Liam, please don't move. I'll check her next. Dad! Stay with him." Jakob begged, and then he saw why. Selena, her body limp and still.
"Liam, you need to stop moving," Jakob begged. The jealousy and bitterness were forgotten in an instant, replaced by a wave of fear and concern. He rushed towards Selena and Liam, his heart pounding in his chest. "Selena! Oh God, please be okay!" he shouted, his voice hoarse with worry.
Liam looked at Jakob bitterly, his voice was laced with pain and shock as he groaned, "My leg?...no, not again." He looked down and saw that it had been blown off at the knee, the sight making his stomach churn. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him, but he fought to stay conscious, his main concern being Selena's safety. "Let me go."
Liam's world went dark as he felt himself being pulled backwards, his vision blurring. He knew he was going into shock, but he fought to stay awake, his mind screaming with thoughts of Selena and the danger they were still in.