Filed to story: Dumped by Scumbag Adored by Billionaire
“Allen and Ailee are a handful but they’re special kids that I would not trade for anything in the world. Anyone who’s seen the kids with their parents would know they are one happy family,” he lifted his champagne.
“Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, could you please raise your glass to the bride and groom: Reina and Niles,”
Reina, who had returned by then, walked over to her father and hugged him tightly, batting away the tears from ruining her makeup.
And the next to speak was Camille’s father rendering a very emotional speech that had his daughter in tears.
When it was Niles’ turn to speak, the whole room went dead silent and all eyes rested on him as he grasped the mic. But to everyone’s surprise, he didn’t speak immediately, instead reached out as Judy handed a Tablet to him.
He started, “I know you all are curious but I… eh… wrote a little something for my wife. I’m kind of nervous right now, So I have to make sure I don’t forget any. And you might be wondering why I am reading this in front of a room full of people then. Why not read this in a room with just the two of us? But since today is a celebration of our love, I thought what other way to celebrate this love than to talk about it in a room full of the people that we both love.
“Growing up, I didn’t have the best parents a guy could ask for. The woman who would have been a lovely mother died when I was young and I don’t think I can remember her face without looking at a picture. I could say her death devastated my father who took out the anger and devastation on me- Love is the best gift that you can ever give anyone. I guess my father saw himself as a failure and chose to make me the perfect version of himself. But in all, I was grateful to have someone to call a father.
“Growing up with such experience, you should be able to guess what I’d turn out to be. Everyone in here knows about my famous younger days, “
There were whispers and comical responses from the crowd.
“In my experience, there are two kinds of people. The people who are romantic at heart and the people who don’t really believe in true love until they meet the one. I fit into the latter category. I was a skeptic, I was cynical and never thought love would come calling. Until one day, it did. I had only ever read stories and heard tales of what true love was. It was not until her that I finally knew and understood what it all meant,”
Niles turned to Reina with a smile,
“Doesn’t my wife look stunning today?”
The crowd burst into laughter while some concurred with his statement. Reina blushed beet red.
“With or without your opinion, my wife, Reina, looks absolutely stunning today and every day. Whether she has on a dazzling dress and perfectly manicured nails and every strand of hair in place or she just have a messy ponytail and some t-shirt and sweatpants on, she’d look beautiful no matter what she wears – though I personally think she’s prettier in her birthday suit,” He chuckled.
The crowd gasped and whistled suggestively at his innuendo while Reina mentally face-palmed, she should have known this would happen.
“But then, beauty is only skin deep anyway. What counts is what I find on the inside. And the more I got to know my wife Reina, the more I fell in love with her. When we first met up in this very hotel, I could never have predicted where we would end up today, but I am sure glad that this is where we are now. Now that I know you, I could not see myself with anyone else but you.
“Naturally, I tried my best to not fall in love with her, I really did because I knew she was dangerous and I didn’t want my playboy days to end,”
The guest burst into another round of laughter.
“But fate has its funny ways of bringing two people together and I don’t think I’ve seen anyone who’s more selfless than her, always thinking of others.
Marriage, of course, is a big deal. It is a huge commitment. I just want to tell you that I’m not the same person I was before I met you.
“We went through many persecution and war when we started this special embarkment, but we conquered in the end. Thank you, Reina, for signing up to be my wife. I know you know that you’re not the first woman I ever loved but I promise you’d be the last I’ll continue to love, even in death. I love you. “
The third point of view :
At the same reception
“Neon!” Ailee called the little boy who tactically hid at the corner of the kitchen with his back turned to her. Neon turned to look at her, a flicker of alarm crossing his face.
“What are you doing here? Do you know how long Allen and I have been searching for you,” Ailee chided, walking over to him.
Allen who followed his sister chuckled mockingly, “Here we thought someone couldn’t find his way back to the reception,”
The kids were in the kitchen where chefs were busy preparing and serving food. None of them said a word to the kids since they recognized them as Niles’ kids nor do they have the time to chase them off anyway. They were already way behind schedule.
“What are you doing?” Ailee was vexed when the boy didn’t answer her, instead, he seemed to be hiding something, “What is it you’re hiding?”
Neon quickly said innocently, “Nothing,”
Allen and Ailee shared a look, a smirk on their faces. Neon was the worst liar they had ever seen and they knew that. Immediately, both went after the boy and snatched whatever he was hiding.
“Mr fluff,” Both said in unison, shock on their faces.
Mr. Fluff was no other than a white mouse Neon had taken a liking to recently. Last week when they had been shopping for their wedding outfits, the kids happened to pass a pet shop, and then, their mother – who had been treating Neon partially-?asked if they needed any pets.
As usual, Allen waved it away, claiming he wasn’t a kid and didn’t need such unnecessary obligation. Ailee chose a cute white Persian cat while Neon had settled on the albino white mouse to everyone’s surprise.
They had been expecting him to get a dog or something and not that little fluffy rodent that could get into their clothes or bed while asleep if left uncontrolled. Allen, in particular, was against it but Reina as usual, stood for her current favorite person and the case was closed.
“Why did you bring a mouse here?” Ailee hissed out, ” And a kitchen of all places? Why don’t you understand that rodents are the chefs worst enemy,”
Allen was amused, ” I guess he hadn’t watched Ratatouille,” he chortled, “I wonder how mouse meat would taste,”
“I’m sorry but I couldn’t bear to leave Mr. fluff at home because he looked so lonely,” Neon had a pitiful look on his face that Ailee’s anger melted instantly.
“And Allen, stop bullying Mr. Fluff,” Neon warned the boy who had the mouse dangling in the air by the tail.
The mouse squeaked in protest and he tried to snatch it away from that devil’s grasp but Allen swiftly slipped past him.
There was a trace of panic in Neon’s eyes, he couldn’t make a scene here else the chef finds out what’s going on.
“Allen, give him back,” He said through gritted teeth and was about to rush at him once more when a voice hollered behind them.
“So this is where you kids were hiding?”
Panic crossed the kids’ features
“Hide it quickly!” Ailee and Neon pressured Allen.
“Where?” The boy was confused. There was no way on earth he was putting that in his pocket, the mouse was so damn squeamish and would make him uncomfortable. Mr. Fluff was mobile hence the reason Neon couldn’t hide him any longer.
Then Allen did the next thing that came to mind. He turned with lightning speed, opened the food on the serving trolley beside him, put the mouse in there, and closed it shut with its cover immediately.