Valerie had just excused herself from Chanyeol's cousins and entered the toilet when a voice rang in her ears.

"I can't believe you actually dared to show your face around here again."

She turned and sighed inwardly at the sight of Jiyeon. But then her eyes caught the dark circles around her eyes which her make-up seemed to fail to cover and she suddenly realised that her eyes were puffy as well. Valerie immediately felt an immensed guilt rising in her chest at the thought of being the reason behind the woman's tears.

"Hey, Jiyeon." she greeted the other.

Jiyeon scoffed. "Oh, drop it. I don't need to hear that tone of yours." She took some steps forward and ended up into Valerie's space, but the latter refused to back down or scold the other for it because she knew she's caused enough pain for Jiyeon that could last. Plus, she didn't want to cause a scene when everyone's busy rehearsing for the wedding tomorrow.

"Look, Jiyeon. I'm sorry, I-"

"Save it, I've heard enough from Chanyeol." Jiyeon cut her off before inching even closer, their faces inches apart. Valerie's eyes widened at the this as she backed against the sink, but the other followed and trapped her there. "Listen, I still don't like you. But for Chanyeol's sake, I'll let him go. I look forward to seeing you mess things up because I'll be right there to take your place once you do. Got it, ?" Jiyeon then smirked at Valerie's dumbfounded look. "What, cat got your tongue?"

Valerie felt the anger rising in her chest. Gritting her teeth, she lauched forward and wrapped her hands around the woman's delicate neck, making Jiyeon scream from the surprise. Clenching her jaw tighter, Valerie pulled Jiyeon closer and hissed, "Come near my man and I will kill you." 

"Are you ing crazy?! Let me go!" Jiyeon screamed.

Valerie smirked. "You chose to mess with me, . And now you're scared?"

"Help me!" Jiyeon cried but Valerie scoffed and tightened her clasp around the other's neck, producing a chocking sound from Jiyeon as her breathing tube was crushed. "V-Val..."

Valerie felt a slap on her arm and blinked when she heard another voice calling her name. "VAL!" She shook her head and looked up to see Sora frowning at her. Confused, she looked around and realised that she was standing against the sink in the huge bathroom and Jiyeon was no where to be seen.

"What the hell?" she muttered and scoffed. Was I imagining all that?

"Hey, you okay?" Sora asked, gaining her attention once more.

"What? Oh yeah, I'm fine. I was just... thinking."

Sora raised a brow at this. "About what? You looked like you were ready to murder someone."

"Sorry, I must've been tired." she said, smiling inwardly to herself.

"Anyway, this has been quite an interesting week for you huh?" Sora chuckled. "I told you, you had chemistry with Chanyeol and now you guys confessed right in front of his whole family. If I didn't know any better, I'd say I was watching a Korean drama or something."

Valerie scoffed. "Oh please, just shut it. I've had enough of that reference. Chanyeol's cousin, Lizzy, wouldn't stop saying the same thing."

"Everyone's talking about it," Sora told her. "Yoora's cousins had been telling the bridesmaids about the whole drama thing and everyone's either calling you stupid or their heroin. Yoora thinks what you guys did was both stupid and smart though."

"Yeah, she told me. She wasn't happy that her brother and I lied to her, but then she was glad that we actually got together. Apparently, she thinks I'm the only one who could tame her brother and threatened to hunt me down if I ever leave him."

Sora chuckled. "Scary."

"You have no idea."

The bride-to-be happened to walk pass the bathroom then, and she turned back when she caught sight of the two through the open door. Valerie and Sora both smiled at her once Yoora leaned by the doorframe. "Thanks so much for being here, ladies." she told them with a grateful smile.

"Oh, you were hoping to see us in the toilet? No problem," Valerie joked, earning an eyeroll from her friend while Yoora seemed unimpressed. Valerie chuckled and shook her head. "Sorry, Yoora. But I should be thanking you. I mean, after everything I did-"

"Hush," the elder cut her off before continuing, "Anyway, does Chanyeol know your role for tomorrow? Is it okay that you're doing this without a rehearsal?"

"Doing what?" Sora asked, turning around while scrubbing soap in her hand. "What are you guys talking about?"

Valerie simply ignored her. "It's fine. I'm familiar with it all so I'm sure I'll do fine. We just need to make sure that everything goes well then."

Yoora smiled, suddenly bouncing excitedly. "Oh, I can't wait to see Yeol's reaction. He has never heard you sing, right?"

"Ah, so you're singing," Sora said and scoffed. "What was so secretive about that? And what song are you singing?"

"No, Chanyeol has never heard me sing," Valerie told Yoora before turning to Sora. "And nothing, I just didn't want you to ruin the surprise by being so painfully obvious."

"Don't worry, I won't say a word."

"You don't have to," her friend scoffed. "It's just so obvious with the way you act. If Chanyeol finds out before tomorrow, it's your throat I'm coming after."

Sora wrinkled her nose at this. "Geez, I get it. No need to be so mean."

"Honey, I'm just getting started." Valerie winked before turning to the door in surprise when Yoora yelped. Chanyeol grinned after poking his sister's sides, making her jump, before looking at the three ladies suspiciously.

"What kind of evil schemes are you guys plotting now?" he asked, raising a playful brow as his eyes narrowed from Yoora, to Sora, before landing to his girlfriend's figure.

She smirked. "I wouldn't know that now, sweetheart. You're the one who's always plotting something evil."

"Like deceiving the whole family," Yoora added.

Chanyeol rolled his eyes at this. "That was Jongin's idea. He's the idiot who came up with that plan."

"Now, now.. don't go blaming my man for your own stupid actions." Sora chided, earning a rather stupified reaction from Chanyeol. Valerie laughed at this before moving pass Yoora and pecked his lips.

"She's right, Channie. You're the bigger idiot, and I was stupid enough to follow."

"You liked it though."

She chuckled and pecked his lips once more. "Yeah, I do."

Chanyeol stumbled into the room, his hands roaming against every part of Valerie's body that he could touch while his lips and nibbled on hers. He let out a satisfied moan when her fingers accidentally brushed against his hard on when she fumbled to take off his belt, and he tilted his head to deepened their kiss. Something hit the back of his leg then and he knew they had reached the bed and he swiftly turned them around before pushing Valerie lightly onto the mattress, making her body bounce slightly on the bed before he pinned her down with his whole body.

"Chanyeol..." Valerie moaned when he removed his lips only to attack the side of her neck, and marking her skin. "S-Stop, y-you're going to- yah, d-don't do- oh god, don't stop." Chanyeol chuckled against her skin, making her groan and wriggle to free herself. "You just ruined the mood, ."

He chuckled again. "What did I do?"

"Whatever," she sighed and closed her eyes when he began attacking a sensitive spot behind her ears. "Oh god, that feels good."

"Yeah?" Chanyeol whispered, his voice husky in her ears.

"Hmm.." she moaned and pushed his head away only to pull him back in so she could kiss him fervently. They spent some time just making out on the bed before Valerie accidentally rubbed her thighs against his hard on, making him moan loudly.

"Seriously, Ahyoung, you'd better not leave me here with blue balls."

"I think you deserve it though," she chuckled. "I can't believe you guys barged into a bridal shower."

"We didn't want any of you to call for male strippers while we were gone," Chanyeol admitted, grinning. The men had indeed crashed into the bridal shower, dressed in masked and suits, before turning the whole place into a club. Valerie and Chanyeol had spent the whole night dancing and as they drove back to their hotel room (Chanyeol refused to go back to the house; it would wound his ego so Valerie didn't argue), Valerie had by running her hand against his thighs and peppering his neck with kisses. It took Chanyeol a great deal not to just stop the car by the roadside and kiss her senseless.

And maybe have in his Range Rover Evoque, but he doubted Valerie was that .

"If you're going to have with me tonight, don't leave marks." Valerie warned him before he could kiss her again.

Chanyeol grinned. "But I don't want to have with you, babe. I want to make love to you."

Valerie blushed and hit his chest, whining cutely when Chanyeol chuckled and kissed the side of her face. "Stop being so corny, you idiot."

"Hmmm.. then I'll just be y and make you moan my name all night long. How does that sound?"

She was still blushing red, but she wasn't going to back down to Chanyeol's bold statement. "Just don't leave marks," she repeated and he chuckled softly before leaning down to kiss her softly on the lips.

"I won't. At least, not where it's obvious."

Valerie groaned although she couldn't help but smile against his lips.

Chanyeol sat behind his teary-eyed family as his sister and family exchanged their vows in front of the priest. He could see the happiness shining in her eyes as she listened to Minho's vows and promises, and he felt his throat tightened when it finally hit him. Yoora's married now. She won't be needing me to protect her from now on, he thought. Suddenly, memories of their childhood flashed through his mind; how they used to bicker and hit each other, yet when the time comes for it, Chanyeol would find Yoora hitting other people who used to make fun of his body size (he was quite the chubby one then), and as he grew up taller and much more built, it was his turn to protect Yoora from those who used to make fun of her due to their jealousy.

But what Chanyeol remembers most is how much Yoora used to hate his pet ferret, screaming and yelling for someone to get it out of her room whenever the ferret sneaked out of its cage. Yet when it died and Chanyeol cried for his lost, Yoora spent days comforting him with her hugs and gentle words, and he even found refuge in her loving kisses. In the end, Yoora bought him another ferret despite not liking that creature, but Chanyeol lost it in a month when he forgot to lock its cage. But he didn't mind, because it was her thoughtfulness that made Chanyeol realise how much he loves his sister.

Warm fingers threaded through his, breaking his train of thought, and Chanyeol turned to see Valerie smiling softly at him. She then touched his face and brushed her fingers on his cheeks, and he wondered for a moment what she was doing until he felt the wetness on his skin. He had shed some tears unknowingly, and Valerie was there to wipe them away with an understanding and loving gaze.

"I love you," she mouthed to him, making him smile. He leaned closer and pecked her lips, brushing their noses together before looking back to the podium. The priest had just announced the bride and groom as husband and wife, and Chanyeol let out a shaky breath when they sealed it with a kiss. Cheers erupted in the garden where the wedding was held, and Chanyeol leaned towards Valerie as more tears escaped his eyes. Valerie nudged him then, and he raised his head to the podium to see Yoora smiling widely at him with tears in her own eyes, and she sent him a flying kiss at which he smiled at.

Chanyeol was enjoying the reception party as he mingled with his cousins and family friends. He smiled and bowed politely to the elders who hadn't seen him for the past years, awkwardly laughing at the praises of how well he grew and how handsome he looked at his current age. At some point, he was dragged towards his group of cousins by Jongin, and he finally let out a relief breath when he was among those his age.

"You look like you've aged a lot at the past hour," Baekhyun noted with a smirk. "The wrinkles look good on you."

"Shut up, Baek." he scowled and turned his head to the side when a champagne glass appeared out of nowhere. He smiled at Sehun who urged him to take the glass before the younger turned to his other cousins.

"Yoora's now married, so who's next?" he asked.

"Probably Baekbeom," Kyungsoo said, glancing at Baekhyun's brother who was on the dance floor with his long term girlfriend.

"I doubt it," Baekhyun snorted as stared at his brother. "They've been dating for ages but I see no sign of future weddings for them. Mom's been urging me instead since Baekbeom doesn't seem to be moving towards marriage anytime soon."

"Not everyone suits marriage," Joonmyeon offered. "Maybe they're happy to just be together without being tied for life."

Jongin scrunched his nose, took a sip of his champagne and sighed. "How boring," he said.

"Oh? Does this mean there will be future plans for you and Ms. PA over there?" Sehun teased, glancing at Sora who was laughing with some of their female cousins.

"Of course," Jongin answered without hesitation. "I'm just going to wait for Chanyeol first."

The man raised a brow at this. "Me?"

"What? You don't plan to marry Valerie?" Sehun asked, slightly tilting his head. Chanyeol saw nothing but curiousity in his eyes, making him smile before nodding.

"I do, but I'm going to take it slow." Sehun smiled and nodded his head at this. Just then, a thought crossed Chanyeol's mind and he looked around the room with a frown. "Talking about Ahyoung, has anyone seen her?"

Valerie took a deep breath to calm her racing heart just as tonight's MC was thanking everyone for coming to Minho's and Yoora's wedding. He mentioned some few things Valerie didn't bother to listen to since she was too busy calming her herself, and she slightly jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around, she smiled nervously at Minyoung who had just arrived at the reception to support her.

"How are you feeling, best?" the other asked, rubbing her hand up and down Valerie's arms to soothe her.

"I'm okay," she breathed. "I mean, this isn't the first time I sang at a wedding."

"Yes, but this time you're about to sing for your boyfriend as well." Minyoung grinned, chuckling lightly. "So sweet. Singing for the married couple when the message is meant for your bae. Why'd you choose this song, anyway?"

"Well, I'm sure Chanyeol didn't realise this, but this song was playing in the radio when we were driving to the villa. He was humming to it, and I couldn't help but think how beautiful the lyrics were."

Minyoung chuckled at this. "Oh god, you're such a sap!"

"Shut it!" Valerie swat her best friend's arm and turned when someone told her that she'll be up in two minutes. Taking another deep breath and fixing her hair, Valerie accepted the hug Minyoung gave her before carefully moving towards the side of the stage, careful not to step on her dress and fall. The MC then announced her name as the one to sing the congratulatory song and she stepped onto the stage as the lights slightly dimmed. Taking her spot right in the middle, she cupped the mic to her chest and ducked her head with her eyes closed, willing for her own strength to come to her.

And as the music began to play, she lifted her head and the first person she laid eyes on was none other than Park Chanyeol.

Author's note:

This story is coming to an end, my dears. The next chapter would be the epilogue and after that, I might post a bonus chapter. I also have a surprise for you guys, but as an advanced payment, let me hear from you, okay? Comment, comment, comment! XD