MR. AND MRS. ASLANOV

In a cozy room lying on the Queen-side bed, Sumire was in a strange dream. A man at the Shrine of Death appeared in her sweet slumber and they shared a kiss again. Only this time, the stranger was awake with his face still blurry in her vision.

The man kisses her with a gentle rhythm and went intensely deeper. She kissed him back with the same intensity. She is no longer that 13 years old and the stranger man she kissed now was grown older than his age. In just a second, Sumire was surprised when she found themselves already on the bed in the massive master bedroom. She tried to see the man's visage but failed because of the blinding light around him.

"Who are you?" Sumire asked when the man spared her lips. The stranger did not answer her question.

Shivering, her hair stood on end when she reach and touched the man's face. It was hairy. Sumire withdraw her hands and slowly, the blinding light on the man's face faded and revealed the head of the hungry shark with its saliva dripping on the ground.

"AAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

Eyes snap open, Sumire is covered in a cold sweat, shaking, heart pounding, looking around the room suspicious and paranoid that the horror may have followed them here, gets up cautiously, shivering, rubs head and eyes, and tries to fully awaken. Her squeal broke the silence of the room and quickly rose from the bed.

Her scream woke Clair, Blanche, and Eiryss who was watching over her sleep. They were surprised to find Sumire catching her breath from fear and nervousness. She was sweating profusely and her hands were both cold. She was scared out of wits, hot, bothered, and looking around for something she does not recognize. Then, the realization hits her, that it was a nightmare.

With a worried look, Claire immediately run to the kitchen to take a glass of water and Blanche wiped Sumire's orb of sweat keeps forming on her forehead.

"Nightmare, huh?" Eiryss said, stroking Sumire's back gently. The maiden had come to her senses and calmed down a bit when she saw the three of them inside the room.

"Yes, and it's super weird," Sumire responded and she quickly accepted the water that Claire gave her. He immediately drank it all in one gulp and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Damn it." The maiden audibly cursed and stood out of bed. Claire was impressed looking at her cousin.

Sumire had just been in a bad dream but quickly recovered and immediately returned to her normal self. She was sweating and catching her breath earlier and now she's lively. The nightmare does not affect her. Clair, Blanche, and Eiryss just shake their heads and are impressed at the same time.

"I have to prepare," Sumire said and the three of them help her prepare the apparel she was going to wear and do her makeup.

They were in the middle of dressing her when Blanche's phone suddenly rang and caught their attention. A smile flashed on his face when he saw the caller. Blanche immediately pressed the button and answered the call.

"Have you finished dressing her up?" Narco asked. Frowning, Blanche could hear the background noises. It was too loud and there he knew the twins seemed to be brawling over something.

"Yes. Where are you?" Blanche asked and hand over to Clair the pearl.

"Somewhere between psychotic and iconic." Narco replied. "We're just down here. In the living room." He added and sighed audibly. Eyes were point blank looking at the twins. He was tired of listening to their endless bickerings since earlier over who is the most handsome between them where in fact they share the same face.

"Okay, wait for us," Blanche said and ended the call. Leroy and Lyric were suddenly stopped in their place when Narco flashed a dangerous smile.

A few minutes later, they had finished dressing Sumire. Completely awestruck, Blanche, Clair, and Eiryss were enthralled and their breath was taken away at the living masterpiece standing in front of them. All were marveled at Sumire's otherworldly beauty. They were proud and impressed at the result of their effort. Sumire obviously does not look pregnant and was carrying twins in one glance.

"Perfection!" A bright smile shone on his lips, Blanche commented and applauded.

"Damn, what else do you expect from a Massoullève?" Clair proudly seconded. A satisfying smirk formed on her face. She had different makeup brushes on both of her hands.

Eiryss, on the other hand, was stunned and speechless at the beauty of the maiden. No wonder why Sumire has entitled the most beautiful woman in the world. Her beauty is ethereal and one of a million. Nothing compares to her.

An orb of tears cascaded on Eiryss's cheek. She was so truly grateful to meet someone like Sumire. They are even close friends. The maiden treats her like family and she is one of the witnesses of Sumire's surprise wedding. Eiryss approached Sumire and hugged her very tightly.

"Congratulations," Eiryss whispered meaningfully to her ears. Sumire could feel her cheeks burn to red. She was blushing hard as she felt that she was getting married for real even though she was doing it just for the advertisement.

"Thank you." Sumire sincerely said and caresses Eiryss's back. Together, the three of them left the room.

Blanche, Clair, and Eiryss walking in front of her when they descended the stairs. They were greeted by Klauss, Narco, and the twins in their formal suits. In the last step, the three of them make way for the maiden. There appeared Sumire sashaying down and all the men's eyes in the place darted on her.

Gaping, Leroy, and Lyric were mesmerized at hypnotize at the sight. Narco was smirking from ear to ear and Klauss looked emotionlessly at the maiden who was now wearing a wedding dress.

"You look pretty." Unsmiling, Klauss commented insincerely and bitterly when Sumire strode forward to get close to him. The maiden rolled her eyes at him.

"I am just not your type so you can't see how beautiful I am now," Sumire said smugly which Klauss flashed a smirk.

"Congratulations," Klauss said sarcastically and assisted her towards the luxurious silver limousine car he brought. He helps her get inside.

"Why do you all have to accompany me? Where are the staff for the shoot later? Why are you'll coming with me?" Puzzled, Sumire asked. She was wondering why the ads staff they were going to do the shoot with today was not here.

"They're at the venue, waiting." Klauss answered who was now in the driving seat and starting the car's engine. Sumire arched her eyebrows.

"Please enlighten me why do you all need to be with me?" Sumire asked in a monotonous tone. Eyeing Klauss through the front seat mirror, Narco and the twins Lyric and Leroy were seating next to her. Their smile was sly and mischievous, hinting at a secret or a joke. Claire, Blanche, and Eiryss were in another car tailing them from behind.

"Because you are our Boss's weakness. We don't know when Death will come to fetch you. We are tasked to watch over you." Klauss replied which left the maiden no choice but to be with them. He had a point though.

Boarded in the car and driving in the middle of the night, they were on the way to the venue. Narco and the twins were too loud which stresses the maiden. Klauss, on the other hand, scolded them but the three rascals ignored him. They sing to their hearts' content with a wireless microphone connected to Narco's phone through Bluetooth.

Massaging her temple, the maiden felt her head throb in pain from the noises while the twins felt the song, singing heartily and out of tune. Her nervousness about doing the shoot later was now replaced by intense irritation.

After thirty minutes had passed, Klauss suddenly stopped the car which surprised Sumire. The maiden peeked at his place.

"What's happening?" Sumire asked as Klauss pulled out a white cloth. Head tilted to the side, she eyed Klauss questioningly.

"Director's order. Trust me." Klauss said in a serious tone and put a blindfold on Sumire who did not react.

Klauss ran the car for another ten minutes. He stopped the car's engine and they all got off at a fancy venue. Narco, Klauss, and the twins assisted her out and left her with a bouquet of red roses with the blindfold on.

Frowning, Sumire wondered the surroundings became unusually quiet. Nervousness started to grow inside her. Gulping hard and not knowing what to do when she heard no noises around. She can't feel Klauss, Narco, and the twins' presence.

"Klauss, you're not pranking me, right? I'm starting to get nervous." Said the maiden but she got no response. Sumire spent two more minutes before deciding to remove the blindfold from her eyes.

When she successfully removed the blindfold, Sumire finds herself standing on the red carpet between the two trees shining with lights dipped together, bowing their heads to her. In front of her were curtains of flowers.

Amazed at the magical sight, Sumire looked around and the horde of fireflies started to emerge from the darkness. She opened the curtain and the light turned on. Adjusting her vision from the blinding light, Sumire slowly opened her eyes and there appeared an enchanted place she unexpectedly exist.

Completely in awe, the maiden felt she was inside a fantasy world. Eyes cruised the place and there Sumire saw the nearest waterfall was Atlantis-blue. It was gushing over the rocks. It had a beautiful serenity-pool at the bottom. It was veneer clear due to the waterproof modern bulb spreading the underwater sand floor. Human-made wild flowers disperse and glow in the dark. The gigantic trees majestically stood around curtained with flowers and the ground lit up.

Her heart skip a beat when she felt a gaze on her. Standing in the open space, frozen on her feet, all the families came to her sight.

The Massoullèves were there, including her grandmother, Zèlle smiling at her standing next to Don Severus. The Aslanovs were on the opposite side. Mischa was giggling and blushing. Her eyes were glowing with excitement and delight. Lady Katyusha, Don Demetrius, and Don Zagreus gave her a nod.

Hand brought to her lips in surprise, Sumire smiled beautifully at them in delight. By then, her gaze shifted to the man standing at the end of the aisle. Frozen, the maiden was stunned in her place and the tears started to mist her eyes. Sumire then processed all the happenings these past few days and finally come to a realization. She looked at him awestruck.

"Oh, damn," Sumire mumbled in a low tone that suddenly came out of her mouth. She was completely out of words.

Sumire had mixed feelings as she stares at the man she loves waiting for her at the end. She chewed her lower lip to suppress the tears clouding her vision which threatened to fall.

"I love you." She mouthed a little voice at the end. Sumire flashed a beguiling smile at the hunk.

"I love you the most." Mort mouthed back which made the maiden audibly gasp. Their gaze locked under the starry night.

Everything is so overwhelming to Sumire. Her heart is full of joy and love. She could barely contain her happiness which move her into tears. The Massoullèves were also now in tears except for Chadwick. And among the Aslanovs was Mort's father, Don Demetrius was the one who shed tears and Lady Katyusha hand her husband a tissue. Don Zagreus and the clan's Consigliere and his son. They are witnesses to their love story and they understand what Sumire is feeling right now.

"Mort is waiting for you," Chaise said with Lunaire who is sobbing nonstop on his chest, suddenly appeared on her side. Smiling, Sumire kissed her mother and father's cheek.

"You are now someone's baby, sweety. But you'll always be our little Sumire." Lunaire emotionally said and embrace her daughter.

"Thank you, Mom and Dad. I love you always." Sumire said and sweetly smiled. Chaise joined them and hug his wife and daughter.

When Sumire step forward and walked down the aisle toward the hunk, the music started to play. The melodic piano version of 'Careless Whisper' serenade the place. She was accompanied by the horde of fireflies and each of her strides on the red carpet glowed.

All eyes were darted on the bride falling under her spell. She is drop-dead-gorgeous and looks like straight out of a fairy tale. Sumire slowly sauntered onto the red carpet while eyes lock on Mort in his black suit oozing dark auras around opposite to his bride who was as glowing beautifully as the moon behind him. His smile was wicked and dangerous, like a predator stalking its prey.

Teary-eyed, Chaise remembered everything since Sumire was born. From her first smile, first cry, first word, first crawl, and first walk with him. His daughter's smile flashed in the back of his mind, it was pure yet dangerous. All the dark words coming out of her little mouth do not match her innocent face.

Chaise remembered the times when his daughter made him buy a gun she could use to shoot her classmate who tried to bully her. To avoid more trouble in school, he and his wife Lunaire decided for their troublesome daughter to study at home for a few years.

He chuckled at the memory. He remembered how rebellious Sumire is. She is fierce and bold enough to go against them when they hate the idea of her entering the world of the entertainment industry. And she manages to go to the top without their help. The maiden showed them school cards and impressed them with her achievements.

Chaise remembered everything. It seems like it all happened yesterday, the day he carried her in his arm when she was born. And now watching her grown daughter walking down the aisle, he knew right there she will be fine. He knows Mort loves his daughter unconditionally and will never hurt her. He put all his trust in Mort for his daughter. Only he can make her that happy.

Though he wants to apologize for making their relationship difficult for them, Chaise knows Sumire and Mort know how sorry he is for his past actions. He made a promise to himself he would support them and protect the family that Sumire and Mort built as long as he lives. He will make sure they can achieve the life they want. He would triple everything Mort gave his daughter. He thanks God for giving Sumire a man who he knows will never abandon his daughter.

Lunaire, who carried Sumire in her womb for nine months, cried nonstop seeing her daughter getting married. She almost used up the tissue she had brought with her. She made the right decision not to put on makeup coz she knew it would be ruined when the wedding ceremony started.

Clair along with her boyfriend, Creux was getting emotional. Who would have thought Sumire is the first one to get married to the three of them? Cornelius and Aireinna were also in tears and Blanche silently sobbing on the side standing next to his Dad Chadwick.

In the opposite row, Klauss forced a smile for the couple. He promised to do his best by allowing no one to destroy the life that Mort dreams for Sumire. He will be there if they need him.

Narco, who earlier was very restless and excited about the wedding with his father, suddenly disappeared from the venue.

Walking in the middle of the aisle, Mort was enamored by her beauty and could not take his eyes off his lovely bride. The maiden gorgeously modeled the intricate dress with embellishments and pearls. The breathtaking white tulle gown with a strapless corset bodice completely covered in crystals & beading, with a sheer long white cape attached to her neck with a crystal choker that perfectly matches her head embellished with beads of pearls accompanied by fantasy-inducing floral hair.

Sumire brought a garden nymph vibe with her soft white wedding gown. The cold night wind brushes her skin. A sweet and affectionate smile painted on her face as she stared at Mort intently while mentally torturing the twins who lied to her back in the Francois.

Mort does not look sick at all. Standing tall, he was dangerously handsome and in his expensive watch and black suit defining his muscles. He has short dark hair that is normally slicked back, but its strand sexily dropped on his vision. His pair of emerald orbs glow and she can sense his aura changes.

Sumire was thankful to the twins for lying to her. Showing her dimple under her glowing cheek, her smile was like a crescent moon, subtle yet mesmerizing. Her eyes are expressive and barely conceal all her feelings for Mort. She lets her eyes, smile, and body show how she loved him, truly. No words can describe how happy she was right now.

Sumire wiped her tears when her vision started to blur again. 'I am so in love with this man. I'm so happy now that I can die anytime. And I don't care if someone tries to interrupt our wedding now though I hope no one ruined this moment. He is the man am going marry even if we are in the midst of war. He is the one for me.' the maiden long said in her mind.

And as she got closer to Mort's place, an image of the stranger man in her forgotten memory slowly took shape in her mind.

Mort who wanted to approach and hug his bride patiently waited for her. He knew after this ceremony, she is all his, and would be alone with her. He wants to spend a lot of time and be with her in their home where they will build their own family.

The corner of his lips moved up a bit, forming a smile. But Mort's eyes remain cold but with a hint of gentleness. His gaze travels to Sumire's bump which is barely noticeable from the gown. He wants to do a lot of things with her. The hunk made a promise he'll raise their kids differently from the world he used to grow up in. He will become an awesome Dad.

Sumire is two steps from him, Mort extended his hand but the maiden suddenly stopped from approaching him which surprised the small crowd. Horrified looks from everyone in the place and they could hear the sound of their heartbeat from the silence.

Stood handsomely and huge on the place, Mort locked his stunned gaze on the maiden who was now unmoved, unblinking, and pupils dilated staring at him.

"You are the stranger. My first kiss. That day I did not just steal your first kiss from you...I also stole your painting. God, how could I forget about this important piece? How dare I do that?" Sumire murmured as a single orb of tear cascaded on her cheek.

With one big stride, Mort pulled Sumire's waist and kissed her on the lips with longing and full of passion.

"I love you," Mort whispered between their half-sealed lips, and the tip of their noses intimately touches. He was about to kiss Sumire again when someone from the three chimpanzees he adopted audaciously interrupted him.

"Do it later, Dad! Let's start! We're hungry!" Narco shouted from the back who was in charge of playing the piano for Sumire's grand entrance with his favorite song masterpiece. His remark sparked guffaws around the place.

"Shall we start then?" The officiant said smilingly which surprises the maiden who did not notice his presence in the place.

12:30 midnight. The secular wedding ceremony begins. The officiant welcomes the family, friends, and loved ones who have come from far and near to celebrate with the couple.

"We are gathered here today to unite this couple in the bonds of matrimony. If anyone here today can show just cause why they should not be legally joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace." The officiant said. Dark glares and silence answered him. None of the small crowd disagreed with the union. Sweating profusely, the officiant was overwhelmed by their presence, gulped, and preceded to exchange vows.

Mort take her hand and entwined with his. Sumire look into his eyes lovingly and captivatingly smiled at him.

"I, MORT DMITRIV ASLANOV, take you SUMIRE MASSOULLÈVE my darling, it's with pride and joy that I take you for my wife. You have bewitched me, body and soul. I promise to love you for eternity and to trust you with my credit cards. I promise to try to figure out what you mean by ‘Anything’ when I ask about your food preferences.

With this ring, I vow to love you unconditionally. To warm your night and fulfill your desires. My wife, I love you, truly, madly, deeply... and I was thinking—maybe we should make more babies after our twins are born..." Mort said out loud making the guests chuckle and Sumire's cheeks turn crimson red in embarrassment.

"By the old gods and the new, I love you, Sumire," Mort added and brought her hand to his lips and planted a soft kiss.

The maiden beguilingly smiled and took Mort's hand.

"I, SUMIRE MASSOULLÈVE, take you MORT DMITRIV ASLANOV to be my husband, my partner in life, and my one true love. I am yours now and forevermore. I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the years and decades of this world alone. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love from this day forward as long as we both shall live.

With this ring, I vow to love you, dressed or naked. But I love you more when naked..."

Sumire naughtily said in a whisper and winked at the hunk. Jaw clenched, Mort stared deeply into her eyes making Sumire gulp and shivers the way he gaze at her.

"I give you my promise, that from this day forward you shall not walk alone. Together, we can weather any storm, no matter the season of our lives. May my heart be your shelter and my arms be your home.

From sunrise until sunset, dusk to dawn. I love you endlessly, Mort."

The maiden heartily said. The tears of joy cascaded down her cheeks. She planted a kiss on the back of his palm. Mort stared at her and wipe her tears away.

The officiant then preceded, "MORT DMITRIV ASLANOV and SUMIRE MASSOULLÈVE, my wish to you is a home full of love and laughter. May harmony and happiness be with you always. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Mr. Aslanov, you may kiss your lovely bride."

Mort snaked his arm into Sumire's waist and sealed the gap between them. He cupped her face with one big palm and leaned. Her heart begins to pound, she stood there, feeling a desire run from her heart, and down to her chest. Sumire closed her eyes.

Bend down, the hunk slightly tilted his head. Their lips met, and the magic sparks. Sumire parted her lips, welcoming him. Under the crescent moon, they shared an infinite passionate kiss.

His fiery tongue slips inside her soft, luscious mouth. His hands felt like warm embers, raising a fire from within her. Mort's hand crept to her waist and his chest pressed against hers, not wanting to let go of her lips.

"Wooohhh!!!" Leroy and Lyric jump in the air and give each other high fives. Klauss on their side just gave the newlywed a clap.

"Congratulations, Sumiiii!!!" Eiryss said while crying out loud along with Lunaire whose eyes were swollen from tears.

"Make sure to give us more grandkids, Mort." Don Zagreus said in a serious tone and the rest of the Aslanovs agreed with him.

"Boss, go find a room!" Leroy shouted and Lyric elbowed him on the side. The loud cheers and applause bombed the place, congratulating the newlywed.

Finally, Sumire pulled away slowly from the intimate kiss and Mort groaned softly as he kept his eyes clenched shut for a moment afterward, not wanting to wake up from this dream she’d brought to life, savoring the moment.

"Don't you know not to run away from me, my love? I love the hunt." Mort murmured softly but with a hint of danger in his tone making the maiden gulp hard.

"I..ah..a-am..actually, I want to pro~" Stammered and words left in the air, Sumire squealed when Mort scope her from the ground into a bridal carry. Escaping from his grasp is futile.

"Be ready, wife. Let's consummate our honeymoon now. We have a long night to go."