Although he showed that he wasn't confident in Jake, Lucian just skimmed through the documents and verified only a few important personal details. Soon after, he nodded in satisfaction and looked back at Jake with his hand held out.
Jake raised his head high and glanced at his junior brother as he took out a pen from his pocket and handed it to him. "What? Did you find any mistakes?"
Lucian took the pen and bent down to borrow the bed's firm surface to sign the documents as he replied flatly. "Surprisingly, no."
Jake scoffed in annoyance and turned away as Lucian skillfully put his signature on the papers. He then quietly slid the documents across the bed and waited for Violette to pick them up.
Violette, who stayed still all this time slowly stood up and took the documents and the pen from him without actually looking at the person standing beside her. She stared at the document for a while before she bent down and decisively signed the papers as well.
Lucian kept his eyes on her all the while but couldn't see through her hair that was beginning to feel like a wall she built around herself.
After watching them both sign and make it official, Jake took the documents back and verified the signatures before nodding in approval.
Then Charlie's voice reminded him. "Rings, Jake."
"Ah, yes yes." Jake quickly put the documents aside and brought out a small box and opened it. "Here."
Inside were two beautiful silver rings with small diamonds encrusted in the middle of the band. Charlie carefully took out the male ring into his hands while Jake turned the box with the remaining female ring over to Lucian.
But unexpectedly, Lucian turned around and went back to his jacket and pulled out a small black box from its pocket. He walked up to stand beside Violette and opened it.
"I brought my own ring." He declared as he took out an exquisitely carved ring from the box.
It was a platinum ring, shaped like tree roots with a flower carved out in the middle with a dazzling blue diamond securely embedded within.
"Hey, isn't that-" Jake was surprised at the sight of that ring but he quickly recovered and gave a thumbs up to his junior brother who didn't even spare him a glance.
Charlie's vision turned a bit clear and he felt quite emotional all of a sudden. But he held them inside and revealed a relaxed smile. He also felt much more relieved and assured of his decision as he glanced at the familiar ring.
Lucian, with the ring in his hand, turned to the woman standing beside him as he waited for her to finally give him a peek behind that 'wall'.
Violette took a deep breath and slowly turned around to face the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. She stood just 3 feet away, her posture strict and proud, with a palpable aura around her that could easily repel anyone who wanted to approach her.
She kept her head low, her honey-blonde hair still shielding half of her face as if she was intentionally hiding behind it. But the longer he looked at her, the more he felt there's more to her than the stubborn determination and pride she displayed on the surface.
Violette felt his intense gaze on her and raised her head as she unintentionally locked eyes with him. In that moment, Lucian was immediately drawn to her icy blue eyes with an indifferent and blank gaze that stopped anyone from probing deeper.
Unknowingly, Violette was also attracted by his stormy grey eyes. They silently stared each other for a while before Violette averted her eyes and turned her face away to hide behind the curtains of her hair.
Lucian woke up from the stupor with a smile and slowly stretched out his palm, asking for her hand.
Violette hesitated for a couple seconds before she raised her left hand and placed it in his open palm. She felt his warmth seep into her as he held her fair and firm hand in his strong one.
Lucian gently slid the platinum band onto her ring finger and held her hand as he quietly admired the scene with a soft smile on his face. Violette felt his gaze on her hand but didnt know what to think about it.
After a few seconds of them just standing there in silence, Jake painfully cleared his throat in the background so as to remind Lucian to continue with the ceremony.
Lucian didn't bother with Jake but slowly let go of Violette's hand and stretched his hand out, anxiety and excitement swirling in his storm grey eyes.
Violette turned to the side and took the ring from Charlie and looked back at the eager Lucian again. When she saw his affectionate gaze and the small smile hanging on his lips, she felt conflicted for some reason.
She then pushed all the other thoughts to the back of her head and took a quick short breath and reached out for his hand. She held his strong warm hand in hers and slowly slid the ring across his ring finger.
"And now, I pronounce you Husband and Wife." Jake announced excitedly as he watched the new couple with glee. Then his green eyes sparked with mischief and he looked at Lucian with a cheeky grin. "You may kiss the bride now."
And as the words were still lingering in the air, Lucian took a quick step forward and leaned closer.
"You are beautiful just as you are, with all of your badges. And I will be looking forward to a lifetime together with you." He vowed softly by her ear and gave her a light peck on the corner of her lips before he stood back again.
Violette was stunned by his sudden confession and the quick kiss as her heart skipped its beat for a moment. But she managed to keep her composure and raised her head to look at him, her head still a bit dazed.
Jake, who was hoping to see the couple turn red in embarrassment was surprised by Lucian's swift and smooth move. He gave him two thumbs and walked around to pull the unwilling Lucian into an awkward hug.
Violette took the chance to hide her expression and turned around to present her ring to Charlie who was full of smiles as he filled his eyes and heart with that moment.
Lucian quickly got away from Jake and stood beside Violette as he also looked at the old man on the bed.
Then Charlie reached for Lucian's hand and placed Violette's hand in it as he held their hands in both of his as if he was binding them together. "Boy, now she is your responsibility… You take care… of her and-"
"Worry about yourself, old man." Lucian jumped in and cut him off with a smirk. "I know how to take care of my wife."
"Your wife, eh? Pft…Ahahahaha…" Charlie suddenly broke into unexpected laughter and the other three in the room were stunned to hear the unbridled happiness in his voice.
But that didn't last long, and when the room abruptly quieted down, that happiness was quickly replaced with gloom. And the only sound that could be heard was the incessant beeping of the machine set up by the bedside.
In the next few seconds, doctors and nurses rushed in while the three people inside were pushed to the back of the room waiting to hear the news they already knew.
Jake, who was high-spirited and mischievous till then was the first one to rush out of the room with red eyes while Violette and Lucian stood outside the circle of doctors and nurses as they watched them try to resuscitate the old man.
Lucian closed his eyes, took a short breath and looked away. When he opened his eyes again, he saw Violette standing right beside him, her icy blue gaze cracking and melting silently.
He felt a faint ache in his chest and he slowly reached out to take her hand into his. But the moment he touched her hand, he felt her body tremble slightly as if she could crumble any second.
And despite her strong reaction, Lucian didn't let go of her hand, but he didn't grasp it either. Since she didn't pull her hand away, he just let their palms hang side by side, their fingertips constantly in contact with each other.