Chapter 50 – Nevaeh de Montignac
One week before the wedding, Nevaeh's two best friends – Adeline and Manon – had arrived from France, setting foot in Illéa for the first time in their lives. Sure, they had Maid-Of-Honor and Bridesmaids duties to attend to for Nevaeh, but they also wanted to visit Los Angeles at least once before the wedding. They were like two overly excited girls on a shopping spree with Yuna as their designated guide, and Nevaeh was glad she hadn't gone with them: She was perfectly fine inside getting mentally ready to marry Jesse Flynn. Like, what were the odds of that?
Nevaeh had called her brother to come back at least for the weekend, and Henri had accepted even before she had finished her question – though Nevaeh knew he would come back more for Pallas than for her, but she could live with that. On the other hand, though, Nathan refused to come back this early, even for a few days. He wanted nothing to do with weddings and love and Saint Valentine's Day. Nevaeh was not one to beg, so she dropped the matter, though it did break her heart not to have one of her cousins with her, especially since she had supported him throughout his Selection.
On that Saturday morning – February 14th – Neveah woke up way before her alarm clock, nervous and unable to sleep. Dawn hadn't even come out and the sky was still dark, though sprayed with tiny stars and no clouds. She tried to go back to sleep, but it was impossible. After tossing and turning for what felt like an eternity – but was in fact only fifteen minutes – Nevaeh got up.
She headed directly to the bathroom to take a long, hot shower, letting the water stream down her face and shoulders and body, down the drain. She and Jesse had been sleeping in different rooms for the last night, because seeing the bride before the wedding was bad luck, and she was glad to be on her own, right now.
An hour later, when she got out of the bathroom all clean and smelling divine, she noticed the sky had lightened a bit and she wrapped herself in a fluffy white bathrobe, not wanting to put on her wedding dress just yet. The Ceremony was not until later that afternoon, so she still had time.
"Bonjour!" Adeline and Manon said, coming in without knocking, pushing a breakfast-cart between them – Yuna was following behind with a bouquet of white roses – with three tiers and fours trays, one for each girl. "How did you sleep?" Adeline asked – in French, of course.
Neveah shrugged. "I've been up for some time."
"Aw, are you nervous?" Manon said, putting the trays on the round dining table.
"Yeah, a little–"
"No wonder," Adeline said, snorting. "You're marrying Jesse Flynn." She chuckled. "Seriously, Nev. Out of all people. Why him?"
"Are we going to go through this again?" Nevaeh said, frowning. Adeline had been going on and on about it since Nevaeh had asked them to be her MOH and Bridesmaids.
"But he humiliated you!" Adeline said.
"Yes, and now she's pregnant from him, so he better act up and take on his responsibilities," Manon said. "Head-on."
"Yeah but–"
"Adeline," Nevaeh said. "Stop it. if you're going to judge my decision like this all the time, I'm putting Manon or Yuna on MOH duty."
Adeline clapped her mouth shut. "Sorry." She finished putting out the trays of breakfast and then they started eating.
"The roses are from Jesse," Yuna said, switching easily to French.
"Aw, how sweet," Nevaeh said, sitting on a chair. "Thanks."
"But seriously, Nev," Manon said. "We're really happy for you, and you seem happy with him… Right?"
"Yeah, I am," Nevaeh replied, sighing. But even she wasn't sure if she was already exhausted at the prospect, or if she was relieved to admit that, yes, she was happy with Jesse. Why wouldn't she? They had gone through so much in the past months, ups and downs, and now it was time to settle down and face their responsibilities. Both of them.
The four girls chatted among themselves, eager to catch up on many months apart. They spent the rest of the day doing face masks, getting Nevaeh to stop pacing the room, coming up with the longest names possible for the baby, and eating chocolate-covered strawberries. Lunch went by, too, and by three o'clock, it was time for the bride to start getting ready for the five o'clock ceremony.
Hanna was there, ready to help the four ladies with hair, makeup, and everything else. It was just the five of them, and the guys could do whatever they wanted in the meantime, because no one was to disturb her until she was just outside the church and ready to walk down the aisle with her dad – who, yes, had come just for the occasion, without his girlfriend per Nevaeh's wish.
"It's time," Hanna said, walking out of the walk-in closet with a white dress bag. She hung the hanger on a hook and unzipped the bag while Manon and Adeline were jumping up and down, excited like kids at Christmas. Yuna was calmer, though she was still excited.
"I can't believe you didn't let us see the dress until now," Manon said. "But I'm glad to have a grand reveal now!" she squealed.
"Me too, me too!" Adeline said.
Nevaeh took off her bathrobe, revealing a very sexy light blue pregnancy lingerie ensemble with tiny flowers all over it.
"Oooh, ma chérie!" Adeline said, wiggling her eyebrows at Nevaeh. "You look delicious!"
"Shut up," Nevaeh said, but she blushed nonetheless. If Adeline found her cute in a pregnancy lingerie ensemble, then Jesse definitely would. Right?
"You look amazing," Manon said softly, giving Nevaeh's hand a slight squeeze.
They helped Hanna put on the wedding dress Ximena had designed for Nevaeh, buttoning the twenty-five tiny buttons in the back – almost breaking a nail in the process – and then spreading the gauzy white fabric around her belly and legs. They took a couple of steps back to let Nevaeh see herself in the mirror. A breath caught in her throat. She had seen herself in that dress more than once over the past few weeks for the fitting sessions, but seeing herself on the day and surrounded by her best friends, it was a whole other matter.
The dress had a round collar that went below her collarbones, with puffy-sleeves that stopped just below her elbows. The bust was made of delicate lace, with a thick belt-like piece just beneath her breasts, and then the skirt went from the top of her belly all the way to the floor. It was elegant, simple, yet refined. Probably not what Nevaeh had had in mind when imagining her cathedral wedding, but absolutely perfect in every way for a small church wedding to the man she loved, and the father of her baby: she wouldn't want it any other way.
Hanna helped her slip on a pair of suede light blue heels, and then did her hair and makeup while the three other girls put on their own dresses – light blue skirts with white-lace tops: elegance, simplicity, refinement.
Half an hour before the appointed Ceremony hour, Nevaeh was ready. She waited in her room with the four other girls while everyone else went to the location: a small church in the hills outside of Los Angeles. When everyone was gone, she went to the last limousine, a white, shiny one, with her girls and they were on their way.
Nevaeh tightened her hands around the stems of her white and blue winter wedding bouquet, not saying a word, and just watching as the snowy landscape went by. Manon and Adeline chatted excitedly in French, but Nevaeh wasn't listening to them.
"Are you alright?" Yuna asked softly, leaning towards Nevaeh.
"What?"
"Are you alright?"
Nevaeh took a deep breath and let it out slowly, she held out her hand, and it shook slightly. "I could be better," she replied. "There's no coming back, after this, is there?"
"Divorce is always an option," Hanna said from Yuna's other side. She wasn't trying to be funny, but Nevaeh let out a snort.
"Right. Thanks for letting me know I can divorce him before I'm even married to Jesse," she deadpanned.
Hanna smirked and then she laughed. "I'm sorry. I think I'm as nervous as you."
Nevaeh smiled and then continued to look outside. The more the time passed, the closer she was to marry Jesse. She could still order the car around and head directly to the airport and to France and never come back to Illéa – pretty much like Nathan.
She put a hand on her growing belly. But no, she couldn't. Her baby would need his or her daddy, and she was not going to take that away from him. Or her. Whatever.
Before long, the car started up the hill and after several turns, it slowed down and stopped just in front of a small white church perched atop the hill with almost a 360-degree view over Los Angeles and its surrounding area. Her heart was beating fast and she held on to Manon's hand who was helping her out of the car.
There were only a few people outside the church: her father who would walk down the aisle with her, Jonathan Finley – Jesse's brother and Best man –, and his only Groomsman, Otis. Jesse was hidden just inside the church with his mother, in the small antechamber so he wouldn't see her.
"Bonjour, Nevaeh," her father said, smiling. His pepper and salt hair and beard were nicely trimmed but he didn't look any younger. He took her free hand in his and kissed her brow. "I'm proud of you, kid," he said.
"Thanks," Nevaeh replied softly. She had never been really close to him, but she still didn't want anyone else to take her to Jesse.
In front of her, the wedding party lined up: Jonathan Finley with Adeline Dufour, the Best Man and Maid of Honor, followed by Otis Channing with Manon Richelieu and Yuna Anders-Caswell, the groomsman and bridesmaids. Then it was her and her dad. Nothing fancy or long or as impressive as The Big Wedding a month ago, but just fine to her.
Someone inside started playing music – was that an Organ? – and the short procession moved forward. When she finally stepped inside the church, she briefly looked around – rustic brown benches, white walls, white candles everywhere, white roses and anemones with blue thistles for decoration – before locking her eyes on Jesse, waiting for her. The walk down the aisle wasn't long, and by then, her heart had slowed down a tiny bit.
She didn't even notice the people standing on either side of the aisle, watching her go. Mostly families and some Illéan friends on both hers and Jesse's sides. She kept her eyes on Jesse and before she realized it, she was already by his side. Her father had given her hand to Jesse and was joining her mother – having buried the hatchet for the event.
Neither Nevaeh nor Jesse really listened to the ceremonial words, drawing strength and love from each other.
When the pastor finally came to the vows, they listened for the long-awaited questions: "Jasper Benjamin Finley, do you take Nevaeh Caroline de Montignac, as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," Jesse said, smiling, and keeping his eyes on hers and her hands in his. He gently rubbed his thumbs over the back of her hands.
"Nevaeh Caroline de Montignac, do you take Jasper Benjamin Finley, as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," she said, too, smiling.
"Through the power invested in me, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife!" the assembly cheered and clapped. "You may kiss the bride," he said to Jesse, who didn't have to be asked twice.
He wrapped one arm around her thickening waist and one hand on her cheek, pulling her to him. He pressed his lips on hers and kissed her as if this was going to be the last kiss ever. Nevaeh lost herself in the kiss as well, looping her arms around Jesse's shoulders. He tipped her backward and kissed her some more before pulling her upright and breaking off the kiss. The grin on his face told her all she needed to know: this man loved her more than life itself, and she had nothing to worry about.
They walked out of the church together, hand in hand, and a group of people were waiting for them outside with white and blue rose petals they threw in the air, cheering. Sydney was flashing away, taking pictures of everything. She had been appointed official photographer and decorator with Essie's floral knowledge, and she was doing a great job. They took some group and family pictures in the snow around the church before climbing back in the heated cars and back to the Palace. Nevaeh and Jesse didn't want to bother everyone with a wedding dinner there, but Auntie Lena and Uncle Toby had insisted upon it, saying that it was the least they could do after all that Jesse and Neveah had done for the Selection. They couldn't refuse.
They had invited a mere 40 people for the wedding ceremony and dinner, so it wasn't too crowded. Sydney and Odessa had decorated the whole dining/Ballroom with white roses, blue thistles, and eucalyptus, along with white candles, creating a romantic but winter-y atmosphere. Nevaeh absolutely adored everything, and she couldn't quite erase the smile on her face all evening.
-o-0-o-
It was already late in the evening, but the cake would only come around midnight. Silas was tired, and staring at nothing in particular, his mind wandering without any conscious thought. Doug was sitting by his side, and he was absentmindedly patting the soft head that was resting on his thigh, content. He had only sipped on two glasses of wine, for now, and all he wanted to do was to go to bed.
"Hey," his wife said softly, slipping her hand in his free one. "Earth to the moon, is anyone there?"
Silas looked up at the woman beside him and smiled. "Yeah, sorry," he said. "I just have lots of things on my mind." He yawned.
"I know," she said. "But this is a wedding party. Are you enjoying yourself, at least?"
Silas's lips curled in a smile. "I'd enjoy myself more if I was dancing with you."
"That can be arranged, Your Highness," she said flipping her long brown hair behind her shoulder. She looked at the dancefloor where some couples were already dancing, waiting for the dessert to come. Among them were Valerian and Odessa, the softest couple in the universe, ever. "Shall we?" she said, holding out her hand.
"We shall." Silas took her hand and followed her to the dancing area, not noticing Doug's whine as he left. But to be honest, he was needing his comfort animal less and less, these days. At least not the same way he had needed him in the past. Maybe because he didn't have the same worries in his mind as he did before. His time to become King was approaching, though he didn't know when that would be. The Queen didn't seem in a hurry to step down, and she was always brushing the question away. If only he'd–
"Silas," Ximena said. "You're wearing that frown again."
"Sorry." He took a deep breath and smiled, focusing on the woman in his arms, the music, and his steps. Ballroom dance was second nature to him, and he could do it without thinking. Which helped in cases of a wandering mind when his partner wasn't very interesting. But the 'problem' was that he was dancing with his wife and that she was way more than an interesting dance partner. "Please forgive me, my love. I really need to stop thinking about… things." He let out a little snort.
Ximena smirked. "Look, I know there are things worrying you out there, but try to enjoy yourself. It's like a little vacation!"
"You're absolutely right." He paused and then smiled softly. "Do you remember, a month ago?"
"Of course, I remember," she replied. "I married the man I loved and you should know that I still love him."
"Good to know," Silas said. "Because I'm also still madly in love with the woman I married last month, so I guess that makes us even, right?"
Ximena giggled and Silas leaned down to kiss her. They were in the middle of a passionate embrace in the middle of the dancefloor when the cake arrived! The dancing couples all headed back to their assigned seats and Jesse and Nevaeh were invited to cut the cake together. Which they did, but then Jesse grabbed a piece of cake with a hand and shoved it into Nevaeh's mouth, but putting most of it in her face.
Everyone gasped and froze, staring at the newlyweds. Silas and Ximena shared a glance. What was Nevaeh going to do? From Jesse's face, he hadn't expected her to freeze like that. What was going on?
Then after what felt like an eternity, Neveah started laughing and she also grabbed a piece of cake and did the same to Jesse. Everyone laughed after that, and Silas hoped Sydney had gotten that on camera, and that Otis had been filming with the drone. Because that was one thing to keep in the archives forever.
Nevaeh and Jesse went back to their seats with a piece of cake on two plates and then the rest of the guests were served as well. Silas and Ximena made a detour by the bride and groom's table before going back to eat their cake.
"You still have some cake on your face," Silas pointed out. "What was all that about?"
Nevaeh and Jesse shared a look and laughed.
"I'm so sorry," Jesse said, still laughing. "I didn't even think– It's a tradition back in Allens, and I always wanted to do that at my wedding." He chuckled some more. "I should have told Nevaeh about it beforehand, but the look on her face was hilarious."
"You're lucky we're married because I still had the knife in my hand." She chuckled. "I was not expecting a cake attack if I have to be honest, but it was funny. Yes, I admit it."
Ximena laughed softly and looped her arm in her husband's. "Well, we wish you two all the best," she said. "Hey, I didn't even ask you before, but where are you going to live? Are you going to stay in the Palace?"
"No," Nevaeh said. "I mean, the Selection is over, anyway." She and Jesse shared a look. "We could have gone to Jesse's apartment, in LA, but it's a bit small, especially with a peanut on the way, you know? So we found a bigger place."
"Ooh! Where?" the princess asked.
"Still in Los Angeles, but a little bit out of town, near the ocean," Nevaeh said. "You two will have to come to visit, when we come back from our honeymoon."
"Where are you going again?" Silas asked. He might have known at some point, but he was too tired to search in his memory, right now.
"Europe," Jesse said. "Paris, maybe."
"Well, enjoy yourselves," Silas said. "And say hi to Nathan for me if you see him."
Nevaeh snorted – she might have had several drinks by now, otherwise, she would have never forgiven Jesse for the cake attack – and rolled her eyes. "I'm not planning on seeing him during my honeymoon. But sure."
With that, Silas and Ximena went back to their seats to eat their cake and spend the rest of the evening and night dancing and just being together. For one who had never had a girlfriend before his Selection, Silas seemed to be enjoying himself with his wife…
-o-0-o-
Nathan had always loved being in Europe, going from one billionaire party to the next. As a prince of Illéa, he had a free VIP pass to anything and anywhere. And Henri knew lots of people. So for a month, Nathan had gone from one party to the next, usually staying a few days to a week everywhere.
There was alcohol, girls, sex, and lots of hangovers. He was enjoying himself.
Or at least, he pretended he was enjoying himself. Because deep down – and there was no way he was admitting it out loud and especially not to Henri – he missed his girls. One or two more than the others, but the emptiness in his heart was there.
True, his heart had only ever belonged to him and was full of self-love and Star Wars, but for some reason, he felt that a piece of his heart had stayed behind in Illéa. He had never felt that way before, and it took him several weeks to actually put words on that.
No matter how much alcohol he drank, or how many French women he took to his bed, his thoughts always came back to Illéa. To that woman who had turned his life upside down with her wits, her smile, and the amazingly good sex – let's not lie to ourselves. Her.
Could that be– no. It couldn't. Nathan Alexander Schreave did not fall in love. Others fell in love with him. Not the other way around.
Right?
Nathan turned his head to the left and saw a very blonde and very hot woman sleeping naked next to him, her back gently going up and down as she breathed softly. He rubbed his face, pushing away the headache and the feeling of guilt building up in his stomach. He didn't even know what her name was.
As silently as possible, he got out of bed, froze when she stirred but got out when she went on snoring lightly. He pulled on his clothes and tiptoed back to his own room. The Mansion he was in belonged to a French noble who had just celebrated his 25th birthday and had been happy to have an Illéan prince at his party.
His room was at the end of the hall, and he locked himself in it before hiding under his covers and taking out his phone. He went to see The Selection's official Instagram account and felt horribly nostalgic at all the pictures of the girls and him and his brothers.
He went to his message app and started typing something.
Jedi Nate: hey. i miss u. what r u wearing rn? [03:47]
But then he deleted the message and put his phone away. It was time to sleep, anyway. tomorrow would be a new day and maybe he wouldn't be as nostalgic and stupid about the whole thing. Maybe he should go to Switzerland and live in a chalet away from everything for a few weeks.
He snorted. As if he would survive. No. He would stay in France, party even harder, and forget about her. About all of them. About Illéa.
JESSAEH ARE MARRIED: I repeat, Jessaeh are married! asdfghjkl they're so cute.
anyway sorry, I'm fangirling over my own characters lmao. GUYS. ONLY 4 CHAPTERS LEFT AFTER THIS I'm seriously losing my mind over that. it's one thing to finish writing a story, it's another to post the last few chapters on here! (and the Sequel is already 35k words long lmao... don't mind me)
Don't forget to go check out the Instagram page for Jessaeh wedding aesthetics, and I'll also be posting them (and more!) on the Canon Ship Brothers Pinterest board. So go check that out as well ;)
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! don't forget to review ;) see you on Wednesday byeeee!~
