She felt like she was floating on a cloud as they made their way back down the aisle and then stood there greeting guests. She was on autopilot as they cut the cake and sipped champagne. She wouldn't be able to repeat a word that was said during the toasts. She had ears and eyes for nothing but her husband.
When it was finally time for the dancing to begin, Emily melted into Mark's arms and laid her head against his chest. He gently rubbed her back, soothing her nerves completely. He was the most magnificent man she could have ever hoped for.
He sang along to the country tune that was being played by the live band and she glided along the star lit dance floor, like a true princess, being courted by her prince charming. She couldn't believe a wedding could be so magical or she was Mark's bride.
"Have I told you how beautiful you look?" he asked her.
"Only about a hundred times tonight."
"You're always gorgeous but seeing you walking down the aisle in that dress has taken all rational thoughts from my head," he said as he spun her around.
"Seeing you in that tuxedo, looking so striking has made me want to strip it from you piece by piece," she whispered.
Mark's whole body tensed at her softly spoken words. He pulled her tightly against his body and even through the layers of silk and lace she could feel how her words had affected him.
"Let's get out of here," he pled with her.
"That sounds perfect to me," she responded and took his hand as he started to lead her off the dance floor.
They both heard a commotion over by the caterer's station and turned to find out what was going on. They heard one of the security guards on staff tell someone to leave immediately, before there were consequences.
They both walked towards the commotion to find out what was going on. Emily gasped when she discovered who was causing all the turmoil. She spotted them about two seconds before they saw her.
"Do you really think the judge is going to believe this sham of a marriage you little slut?" a middle aged woman spat at Emily.
"What are you doing here?" Emily asked them in complete shock.
"We came to get our grandson. You stole him from us and with your husband barely in the grave, it looks like you found yourself a new man to throw his money at you. You always were a gold digger. We begged our son not to marry you. We even told him the boy wasn't his. We were shocked when the DNA results came in," the woman continued to throw insults at Emily.
"You had my son tested without my knowledge," Emily raged at her. Mark was impressed the only thing she even bothered to comment on was the violation against her son.
"Of course we did. You didn't think we were going to take the word of some tramp the boy was really our son's did you?" the woman spit out.
"If you don't want anything to do with him, then why would you fight for custody?" Emily asked the horrible woman.
"You took our son from us, now we will take yours from you," the woman said in explanation.
Mark was stunned by the hatred coming from the woman who used to be Emily's mother-in-law. He didn't know someone could be that cruel and evil. He'd never been tempted to hit a woman in his life but had to fight like hell not to slap her.
"You won't come near my son. You never wanted him and you won't use him as some pawn in a game I don't want to play," Emily said, with the full force of a mother's protectiveness in her voice.
"You stupid little girl, you can't beat us," the woman spat.
"You try and take my son and you'll see how I beat you," Emily said, deliberately misinterpreting her meaning.
"We're taking Trevor tonight. Where is he?" the woman said and started moving towards the wedding reception area.
"Over my dead body," Mark told the woman, stepping in front of her.
She sneered at Mark and then stumbled backwards, as he was flanked on either side by his brothers. The three of them standing there made an intimidating sight.
"Security, escort this couple off my grounds. If they fight you in any way call the sheriff. He's a personal friend and will be here in minutes," Mark added as he glared at the hateful woman.
"Fine we will go for now but enjoy your pretend family, because come Monday morning, the boy will be ours," she said, before turning around and stomping away. Her husband followed meekly behind and the security guards followed behind them both, making sure they really did leave.
"Emily I'm so sorry that happened," Mark said to her, as he pulled her shaking body into his arms.
"No Mark I'm the one who is sorry. You shouldn't have to be involved in this," she said on a sob.
"You didn't deserve any of the things she said to you. Don't let her have power over you by affecting you in any way at all," he said as he clasped her chin in his gentle hands.