Xeria’s P.O.V

"I want to drink more," Ivan gets up and shouts, but we just cheer for him.

"Gabriell must be waiting for me," Quentin picks up his phone, but Ivan snatches it away from his hands.

"Look at you, be present here. Don't worry; I'll be married tomorrow, and then I will call Tarquin too," he slurs, swaying Quentin's phone in his hand before he takes off.

"Hey Ivan, stop! Where are you going?" We both get up and rush behind him, that idiot.

"What if Gabriell calls me?" Quentin worries as we move through the crowd.

"Seriously?" I ask, concerned for our friend, who has slithered away.

"Ivan," I call out, but I hear him shouting ahead.

"I think he's really nervous, and it's coming out like this," Quentin says, and I look at Ivan, fully aware that it is the nervousness.

"I'll call Khaos; we should get going before it gets crazier in here." I take out my phone and walk to the corner.

I call Khaos and ask him to come and get us, but when I walk back, there's no sign of either Ivan or Quentin, and panic begins to surge in me.

"Quentin, Ivan!" I call for them but don't see them anywhere. This can't be happening. I fret and look for them everywhere and finally see Ivan passed out in Quentin's arms.

"Last rush of energy," Quentin lifts him up to his feet.

The next day, we all prepare for the wedding; the entire venue is bustling with people, but I'm sitting in the groom's room, where he's pacing around again, worried.

"Don't wear yourself out; you've got a long day and night ahead of you," I tease, and he stops.

"Hi, baby." Aunt Miranda walks in with Uncle Hugo and looks at Ivan, and I recall Mom having the same expression when she saw me.

"You look so," Aunt exhales, tears welling up in her eyes, while Uncle comforts her.

"You look perfect," Uncle says, hugging Ivan and smiling. Finally, his worries will subside.

"Xeria dear, come here," Aunt calls out, and I look at them, not wanting to disrupt their moment, but she pulls me into a warm embrace.

"You've come a long way, and I'm proud of you both," she says. Aunt has always encouraged the two of us on our special days, and today is no exception.

"Let's get going," Uncle says, and we follow him.

Ivan says his vows, which were beautiful. I have watched the two of them go from being strangers to lovers, and listening to their vows makes me so proud and yet so emotional at the same time.

I shift my gaze to look at Khaos, but he's already looking at me with a big smile on his face. Maybe this time if we get the opportunity to marry each other again, we can also share our vows.

The ceremony ends, but Ivan wants to throw the bouquet, and this time again I'm in the line to catch it, I think, which is weird, so I walk to the corner with my friends.

"No plans?" Willie asks me.

"We will take things slow this time," I smile but see a bouquet being launched at my side.

Ivan, I yell his name in my mind, but then I catch the bouquet when it lands in my hand, and Ivan turns back, looking proud.

I show Khaos the bouquet and sigh.

"How was it?" Ivan asks joining us.

"You did it on purpose," I pout, looking at the flowers in my hand.

"Come with me for a second, ok?" Ivan pulls me out of the crowd.

"What is it?" I ask him.

"It's over, Xeria," he smiles, his face flushed with happiness.

"Yes, it feels good," I take his hand and squeeze it.

"Now you can also have the wedding of your dreams, and we can finally complete our bucket list," he reminds me, and I nod.

We continue to talk and laugh until I see Ivan's shoulder going red, and I stare at him, but he stares back at me in disbelief, his face going pale, and then it registers to me that he has been shot.

"Ivan!" I shout as he fells down, and I bend down to apply pressure on his wound.

"Ivan! Ivan!" I shout repeatedly until I hear Tarquin call out for him. No, this can't be happening. No, please be a bad dream, no!