Chapter 4 0004
CAITLYN'S POV
“Are you okay?” The woman asked as she reached around me to lace the wedding dress.
I swallowed heavily, trying to force my breathing to remain steady as I tried to smile at her. “Yeah, it's just nerves and everything” I lied easily.
She nodded sympathetically. “Oh, sweetie, I understand,” She smiled at me. “There's nothing to be nervous about. It's your big day. Smile”
Those words only drove the knife of guilt deeper into my guts. It was my big day, and yet, I couldn't stop thinking of what happened a few days ago. I couldn't stop thinking about what I had done.
Shame burned in my chest each time I thought about it and I wondered if I had to tell Collins. How would I tell him though? What would I say? I couldn't. A shaky breath left me and I bit down on my lip, careful not to let tears start brimming in my eyes because I knew that it would ruin my makeup.
The woman who was circling me while the compound buzzed with merry celebration finally paused. “Okay, you look perfect”
A smile didn't still touch my lips and I just stared blankly at her. I didn't feel that perfect though.
My palms felt clammy with sweat as I stared at the priest who had been talking for what seemed to be eternity.
He was saying something but I wasn't listening. Collin was all smiles, not a single speck of dirt on his dark tuxedo. My father was at the front of the crowd, a proud smile on his face while everyone looked on happily.
Yet, it felt like they all knew and their gazes were condemning, crushing me under their weight.
I wanted nothing more than for all this to be over so that I could crawl back under the covers of a bed and just cry. A weird feeling bubbled in my chest each time I opened my mouth to recite the vows, and I even managed to stumble over my words one time, but of course, everyone thought that it was just the nerves from getting married.
“Do you take Collin Hayes to be your lovely wedded husband?” The priest rasped, his voice echoing in the still air.
I held my breath for a second before I nodded. “I do”
Everyone clapped as the priest turned to ask Collin the same question to which he answered the same question.
The priest stepped back and nodded as the violinistsㅡ which I wasn't still sure why we needed by the wayㅡ hummed a soft symphony in the background.
It was all rounding up now and I was just sitting at the front, my fingers fidgeting each time I caught the stare of someone in the crowd.
Collin, who had been sneaking glances at me, leaned to the side from where he sat to talk to me. “Are you okay?”
That jerked me out of my thoughts as I raced for an answer. No.
“Yes,” I smiled instead. “I just feel too giddy right now”
He broke into one of those perfect grins. “Of course you are. It's not every day you get married to me,” He joked, but his words fell flat. “Listen, you'll be fine”
Without warning, he reached out and gripped my hand, lacing his fingers with mine. The sudden contact made me jerk as I tried not to let myself tremble. “Thank you”
He was right. I would be fine. Everyone made silly mistakes. I didn't know what I was doing and I was weak when I succumbed to it. No one would know. No one would have to know that I slept with a stranger in a bar and worseㅡ enjoyed it.
My gaze swept over the crowd again as my racing heartbeat reduced to just small thumps at intervals. Okay. A small smile touched my lips at the thought that I would be fine and I could just forget that night ever happened. Thenㅡ
I felt it before I saw it. The way the atmosphere shifted into something dark, dangerousㅡ Something familiar.
My gaze slid to the entrance and I saw someone walking in. Stiff shoulders, a familiar dark build under an even familiar leather jacket with an insignia of a serpent engraved on it.
My gaze stayed fixed on the man and my heart raced wildly in my chest as he found a seat at the back and settled on it. Oh god.
Everyone turned around, a few shifting uncomfortably in their seats as whispers resumed in the church but I wasn't listening ㅡ I sat there frozen because that was my mistake that just walked in. And he was staring pointedly at me.
The world seemed to spin on its axis and sounds and sights just blended into one another, making a cacophony. He… oh god.
What was he doing here?
Collin, who was already aware of the presence of the man, shifted in his seat beside me even as the priest kept up the sermon. “What is he doing here?” He muttered under his breath.
He… he was here to ruin my marriage. He was going to stand up and tell everyone what I had been up to that night. There was no other explanation for it. There was no other reason he would attend a wedding on this side of the town.
A sickening feeling bubbled in my chest and I wanted nothing more than to get some air.
My vision swam and I forced myself to my feet, aware of the gazes blazing through me.
“Caitlyn?” Collin hissed, confused at my sudden action. “Sit down”
My father at the front stood to his feet, concern bleeding into confusion in his eyes.
I took a stumbling step forward as my gaze darted to him againㅡ Jaxon. He still sat there, his posture rigid in the chair as he regarded me silently.
No. He couldn't ruin my marriage. “Please…” I mouthed to no one in particular before the darkness pulled me under and my feet gave out.