Chapter 71 Their Wedding Day : Real Or Fake?
Christian gaped at her, shocked by her reaction. He had never expected her to actually sign the agreement. He was sure she would admit to her wishes if pushed to the edge. Now watching her actually sign the contract made his heart sink with disappointment.
“You should have read the document, Ms. Carnell,” advised the lawyer with a grim look on his face. He glanced at a shattered Christian and shook his head with disapproval. He had warned him about this, but Christian had been over-confident.
“I don’t need to, Mr. Anderson. Is there anywhere else I have to sign?”
“No, that would be all.” Skylar got up to leave the office. She didn’t want to break down in front of them. Her heart filled up with desperation, but she couldn’t admit her feelings in front of the lawyer.
“I’ll wait outside then.” She gave Christian a brief glance and rushed out, leaving both of them gaping after her.
“I knew this would backfire. You should have talked to her first, Christian.”
Christian sat with his head in his hands, a sense of remorse washing over him. He hadn’t expected her to go ahead with the contract marriage.
“She’s stubborn. I thought she would confess if pushed to the edge,” he said, helplessly staring at the lawyer. “Isn’t there a way to avoid the contract marriage? I want an actual marriage with her, Uncle Ferdinand.”
“Yes, there’s a way. Don’t sign the contract. It will be valid only with both of your signatures.”
Christian’s eyes lit up with hope and he took the agreement and thanked the lawyer. After five minutes, he walked out of the lawyer’s office and looked around for Skylar.
“Ms. Carnell is waiting in the car,” said Mike, one of the bodyguards. Christian released a breath of relief, knowing she was safe.
After fifteen minutes, they were back at Caleb’s house. The entire way, Skylar didn’t say a word to him. Christian noted the grim look on her face and left her alone. He didn’t wish to create a scene in front of the bodyguards.
“Oh, thank God you two are safely back,” said Granny, who had been worried about them.
“You’re wedding is scheduled for tomorrow. Why don’t you two rest?” scolded Lillian.
“Yes, I’m exhausted. I’ll hit the bed right away. Good night,” said Skylar, with a fake smile.
“I need a drink first,” said Christian, going over to the bar to join Sebastian.
“Not too much, Chris. You don’t need a hangover tomorrow.” They all retired to their rooms, except Christian and Sebastian.
Skylar was glad that she didn’t need to face Christian within the close confines of her room. She quickly changed and lay down on her side. A strange restlessness gripped her heart. Would they remain married for only two years? What about the heartfelt moments they spend together? What about the confessions Christian made earlier? She had been sure he was in love with her! Why did he then proceed with the contract marriage without consulting her first?
She twisted and turned for an hour, but Christian didn’t join her. Finally, exhaustion overcame her and she dozed off to sleep.
The next morning, Lillian woke her up, startling her totally. Where was Christian? Didn’t he sleep here with her?
“Oh, am I late?” she asked, sitting up with a start.
“Not much. The wedding is at 10 o’clock in the morning. Just shower and come down for breakfast.”
“Where’s Christian?”
“He’s at the breakfast table already!” Lillian smiled at the jaw-dropped look on her face and walked out of her room. Skylar rushed to the en-suite, but her mind was still full of questions. Didn’t Christian sleep at all last night? She would surely have noticed if he had come into their room. Was he avoiding her?
After ten minutes, she went down for a quick breakfast, but Christian was nowhere around. “After breakfast, I will get you ready,” said Erica.
“Thanks. Where are the others?” she asked, although she meant only Christian.
“Christian is in my room. Sebastian is helping him get ready,” said Erica with a chuckle. Granny and Lillian were too busy with the twins while Caleb and Grandpa Ben were at the church already. With only two hours left, Skylar couldn’t stop panicking. How would she get ready in such a brief span of time?
“How will we manage in two hours?” she asked Erica, getting up after a quick breakfast.
“We will. Relax. Let’s go.”
Skylar went upstairs to her room and Erica walked in after a few minutes with some shopping bags from Lillian’s closet. They contained her wedding dress and all the accessories.
“I’ll do your hair first. How do you want it? A bun or do you want it hanging loose around your shoulders? I can curl it a bit.”
“No, just make a bun, please.” So Erica complied and within ten minutes, she made a beautiful bun with loose tendrils framing her face. Next, Erica worked on her makeup, and Skylar actually liked the nude look she gave her.
“You’re quite good at this, Erica!” she gasped, admiring her handiwork.
“I own a salon in New York. This is what I’ve been doing since the age of sixteen. Sebastian is a regular at my salon. That’s where we met, actually!” They chatted a lot as Erica got her ready. Her stories made her laugh and relaxed her a lot.
“There, done!” said Erica, admiring her handiwork. “You look so radiant in this dress. It matches your complexion and hair. Skylar gazed at the fit and flare Chantilly Lace gown with wide eyes. The crystal beaded embroidery, the sheer train, and the perfect fit strangely endeared the dress to her. She gazed back at herself, surprised at the blushing bride staring back at her rather than a scowling one.
Lillian and Granny came inside to check their progress.
“Wow! What a transformation! You’re looking so ethereal!” said Lillian, giving her a hug.
“I want you to wear your mom’s wedding jewelry, Skye. She always wanted you to have it,” said her granny. She handed Skylar a heavy diamond solitaire pendant, encrusted with beautiful rubies all around it. The matching earrings and bracelet were priceless, too.
“It’s too expensive, granny.”
“It’s yours, Skye. She’ll be so happy if you wear it on your special day.” Lillian helped her wear them and Skylar stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. She couldn’t believe that it was really her wedding day. It wasn’t anything like Sienna’s wedding! Her friends weren’t there! Christian was avoiding her! She had signed a contract agreement against her wishes! Was this what she wanted? Was this how she wanted her wedding to be?
Erica fixed her veil while she stared at her own reflection. It was true she looked radiant, but what about her heart? Was it happy? If only she could have admitted her feelings to Christian earlier. Everything happened so fast, she didn’t get a moment to talk to him. Why did he have to hurry? Would a week’s delay affect them in any way?
“Relax dear! Everything will be fine. I know Christian is unnecessarily rushing everything but try to think from his viewpoint. He’s scared to lose you. He wants to take you away from Steele,” said Granny when they were alone for a moment. The others had gone to get ready, and she stood with her granny, thinking about what she just said.
“Steele can follow us to LA, too, granny. Unless he is arrested, there isn’t any respite from the man. I don’t understand why Christian is so keen on marrying me at such short notice. I just came to know last night. I really didn’t want to get married this way, granny. I wanted to invite my childhood friends. They’ll be so upset!”
“It’s God’s will. We have no say in it. You can treat your friends later.”
“No, it’s Christian’s will, and I’m tired of being ordered around. It’s something I’ve hated all my life.”
“Sometimes you should make exceptions for the ones who love you unconditionally. Christian has loved you from the time he didn’t even know the meaning of the term. Whatever he is doing right now is because he cherishes you. Please don’t give up on him. Try to understand him, Skye. No one can love you as much as he does.”
Lillian and the kids rushed in to escort her to the car, waiting to take them to the church. Sebastian and Erica followed them with her grandparents. However, granny’s words echoed inside Skylar’s head all the way to the church. Of course, she had felt Christian’s love for her many times in everything he did but it was different now. For the first time, someone informed her about his feelings for her.
Her heart melted at the knowledge, and she felt herself warming up towards the man. But one question bugged her the most. If he loved her so much, why did he agree to a contract marriage with her?
They reached the church and she was brought out of her reverie. Lillian helped her to alight, and Skylar gazed at the pristine white decorations around her. White hydrangeas, lilies, tulips, and white tulle drapes created a calming atmosphere.
She noticed Grandpa Ben and a couple of others waiting near the entrance.
“We shall start in five minutes,” said Grandpa Ben as they joined him. Skylar nodded, but her eyes sought Christian. Where was he?