POV Mina
I finally come back after finding those chocolates.
Phew.
That girl… one day, she's really going to cause me trouble. Her mother categorically refuses to let her eat them because of her fragile health, but Esther has always done whatever she wanted. Always. She listens to no one, and when she has an idea in mind, it's almost impossible to make her change it.
And honestly, it's her only way to release stress. So it's better to turn a blind eye… just for today.
I'm exhausted.
The car slows down, then stops in front of the chalet. I lift my head immediately.
My heart skips a beat.
There's no one there.
No guards.
Not a single one.
The door is open, the veranda is empty. A strange silence hangs around the chalet.
— That's strange… I murmur.
I turn to the driver.
— I'm going inside. Wait for me here.
I pause.
— I thought they had already left, but I want to check.
He simply nods.
I get out of the car, the bags of chocolate in my hands, and enter the house.
Everything is quiet. Too quiet for my taste.
Each step echoes in the hallway. An unpleasant sensation tightens my chest. I climb the stairs slowly, my heart growing heavier with each step.
Arriving in front of Esther's bedroom door, I knock.
— Esther? I'm here.
No answer.
— Esther, this isn't the time to sulk. Come out right now or we'll be late.
Nothing.
I push the door open and step inside. The room is empty. The bed untouched. I head to the bathroom.
No one.
I look at the clock on the wall: one fifty-nine p.m.
A shiver runs through me. Okay, don't panic, she must already be on her way to city hall.
I take out my phone and call Asael. Voicemail.
I try Alex. His phone is off.
I try calling Leila. Her phone is off too.
My stomach tightens.
I try calling Esther, but her phone is off as well.
I take a slow breath to calm myself. Maybe she really did go to city hall… I had told her that if I was late, she should go without waiting for me.
Yes.
That must be it. I try to convince myself.
I quickly leave the room, go back down the stairs, and return outside. I get into the car.
— City hall, I say to the driver.
The car starts.
I watch the road pass by, my fingers clenched around my bag. A knot of anxiety grows in my chest.
I hope she'll really be there…
Because this bad feeling won't leave me alone.
____________
POV Tony
We've been here for more than thirty minutes.
Thirty long minutes.
Esther really has this incredible gift of making me lose my footing even when she's not here.
I'm standing in front of the mayor, who is clearly starting to lose patience. I can tell by the way he taps his papers and checks his watch every two minutes.
— Sir, he finally says, I have other weddings today.
He looks me straight in the eyes.
— Could you please call your wife?
I swallow.
— Don't worry, she'll be here,
I say in a calm voice.
But inside, I doubt. What if she backed out at the last moment?
What if she panicked?
I slowly scan the room.
To my right, my father. Sitting straight, arms crossed, face closed off.
He hates waiting. You can see it in the tension of his jaw, in his foot lightly tapping the floor.
A little farther away, my in-laws.
Alex Besson keeps a calm façade—too calm. His hands are clasped, but his fingers press tightly against each other.
His wife tries to smile, but her eyes betray her worry. She looks at the door again and again.
At the back of the room, Ethan.
Sitting alone, slightly apart, he gives me an encouraging look, a discreet smile, as if to say, "It's going to be okay."
Then my gaze slides to the left side of the room.
Leila is there.
Sitting in the front row, just behind Esther's parents.
She's wearing an elegant dress, simple but refined. Her hands are clenched around her bag. She doesn't speak. She doesn't smile.
Her gaze is fixed on the door with an intensity, as if she senses that something is wrong.
Next to her, Esther's aunts.
All dressed in sumptuous traditional outfits, rich in colors and embroidery.
They whisper among themselves, murmur prayers, adjust their scarves.
Their eyes constantly move from the clock to the door, then to Esther's parents.
The atmosphere is strange.
This isn't the joyful excitement of a wedding.
It's a heavy wait. Tense.
I swallow.
Why does everyone look… worried?
My heart tightens for no clear reason.
An unpleasant intuition settles in my chest.
Something is wrong. I'm sure of it.
The mayor sighs again.
— Sir, it has now been fifty minutes. I really must go.
My heart tightens.
And suddenly…
The door opens.
All eyes turn toward the entrance.
It's the housekeeper.
I think her name is Mina. I've spoken with her a few times, and we ended up getting along.
She enters hurriedly, out of breath, clearly surprised to see everyone already seated. Then her face freezes. Surprise immediately gives way to worry.
She quickly goes over to Alex and whispers something in his ear.
I see Alex's face change.
His features harden.
His eyes widen slightly, his jaw clenches, his complexion turns pale.
I feel it.
Something is wrong.
A cold sweat runs down my spine. My heart starts pounding violently. I feel like the air in the room is thinning.
I'm about to step down to approach them when…
The door opens again.
This time, it's her.
Esther.
She's standing on the threshold, wearing a white dress my mother chose for her. An immaculate, delicate, perfect dress. White flowers in her hands.
I let out a sigh of relief without even realizing it.
When her father sees her, he immediately stands and goes to her. He takes her hand with infinite gentleness. She whispers something in his ear, then he smiles—and so does she.
And that smile…
She is magnificent.
Just magnificent.
She is incredibly beautiful.
She slips her arm under her father's, and they walk together toward me.
Each step echoes in my heart.
Alex stops in front of me and looks me straight in the eyes.
— I entrust my daughter to you.
His voice trembles slightly.
— My treasure. My universe. My life.
He looks at me intensely.
— Take care of her.
At that moment, I no longer see a powerful or respected man, but a father.
A father who entrusts me with what he holds most precious in the world: his treasure, his universe, his entire life.
In his gaze, there is fear, love, and absolute trust.
And I understand, with the weight of that second, that I am not only receiving a wife…
I am receiving a sacred responsibility.
— I promise to protect her, I say in a firm voice,
— even at the cost of my own life.
He nods, moved, then steps away to return to his seat.
I turn to Esther.
I look at her. She lowers her eyes—I must say, it's a first. Esther Besson lowering her eyes.
Then I immediately notice that she's slightly sweating at the nape of her neck. Her breathing is irregular. And… a small leaf is caught in her hair.
That's strange.
Very strange.
The mayor clears his throat, visibly relieved but still slightly annoyed.
— Well then… he says, looking at his watch, finally, you're here.
A light murmur passes through the room.
Esther keeps her eyes lowered now that she's facing me.
— We can therefore begin, he continues, adjusting his glasses. Marriage is a serious commitment, an act founded on respect, trust, and love. Today, you are gathered here to unite your lives before your families, before the law, and before your consciences.
His voice is calm, solemn. Yet all I want is to see her eyes. Those beautiful eyes.
— Marriage is not only a moment of joy, he continues, it is a promise. A promise to stay, even when it is difficult. To love, even when doubt sets in. To protect the other, even at the cost of oneself.
Her shoulders relax slightly.
— Tony, says the mayor, turning to me, do you accept to take Esther Alex Besson as your wife, to love her faithfully, to support her through trials as well as happiness, as long as you both shall live?
My throat tightens.
I look at Esther. She has just lifted her eyes toward me for a moment. They shine. A mix of emotion, fear… and something else I can't name. Then she lowers them again.
— Yes, I accept, I say in a firm voice, despite the tremor that crosses my chest.
The mayor nods, then turns to her.
— Esther Alex Besson, do you accept to take Tony Arrison as your husband, to love him faithfully, to respect him, to walk by his side in joy as well as adversity, as long as you both shall live?
A silence settles.
I feel her breath catch for a second.
Her fingers tighten around the bouquet of flowers.
Then she speaks.
— Yes…
Her voice is soft, slightly trembling.
— Yes, I accept.
An immense weight lifts from my chest without knowing why. My shoulders relax without me realizing it. I almost feel like laughing…
— Since you have exchanged your vows, the mayor resumes with a smile,
— I declare you united by the bonds of marriage.
He pauses.
The mayor makes a discreet gesture.
— The rings, please.
A slight movement in the room.
Mina and my mother Asael step forward.
Mina holds Esther's ring, and my mother holds mine. They stand beside us.
All eyes turn.
The small boxes open, revealing two simple golden rings, shining under the light.
I extend my hand.
My fingers barely tremble, but I feel it.
Esther does the same. Her hand is delicate, adorned with magnificent henna patterns.
I take her ring.
It slides between my fingers.
— Tony, the mayor says softly, place the ring on Esther's finger, as a sign of your commitment and fidelity.
I step closer.
I feel her breath hitch when I touch her hand.
Her palm is warm and soft.
The ring slides slowly along her finger.
I feel a shiver pass through her.
Her lips part slightly, as if this simple gesture weighs heavier than all the words spoken until now.
Then it's her turn.
— Esther, says the mayor while looking at her, it's your turn. Place the ring on Tony's finger.
She raises her eyes, and I plunge directly into those beautiful deep black eyes.
Esther takes my ring.
Her fingers tremble clearly this time. She hesitates for a fraction of a second, then slides it onto my ring finger.
When the metal touches my skin, a strange warmth fills my chest.
As if everything becomes real. Definitive.
Our hands remain linked a moment too long.
Neither she nor I withdraw our fingers.
The mayor smiles.
— These rings are the symbol of your union. An endless circle, like the commitment you have just made to each other.
Esther lowers her eyes.
I look at her, my heart tight, unable to tear my gaze away from her.
And only after that…
the mayor continues.
— Tony, you may kiss your wife.
I move toward Esther slowly.
I feel her breathing against mine. Her scent envelops me. She closes her eyes.
I place a gentle kiss on her forehead.
A tender kiss. Protective. Like a silent promise.
Her body relaxes slightly. Her shoulders drop.
I feel a shiver run through her.
And at that moment, I smile inwardly.
She opens her eyes and looks at me.
And at that exact moment, she is mine.
And I am hers.
At least… that's what I believe.