CHAPTER 155. CLAIRE

CHAPTER 155. CLAIRE
I couldn’t believe I was getting married today.
I found it hard to get out of bed and drag my feet to the bathroom. I cried all night until I fell asleep from exhaustion. I slept clutching the paper bag Raviel had given me. I hoped it was him, but it would never be him.
My face looked absolutely horrific as I stood in front of the mirror. My eyes were puffy and red, my eye bags were so dark, and I looked utterly miserable. There wasn’t a hint of happiness on my face, even though I was the bride.
My wedding dress lay spread out on my bed. It was just a simple, long-sleeved white dress with sequins on the chest. It didn't have a long train since we were getting married at a registry office. I didn't need a fancy dress if the wedding would only last thirty minutes.
After I was ready in my wedding dress and had applied light makeup, I went to Aiden's room to change his diaper and dress him in a very cute mini tuxedo. I'd bought it about three days ago with Anthonio after we'd debated for about half an hour whether we should buy the mini tuxedo for Aiden or dress him in regular baby clothes for our wedding. I won the argument. I told Anthonio that Aiden should look proper, even though he was just a baby, because it was his mother's wedding, after all.
Aiden was already awake when I entered his room. He was playing with his rubber toys, and he immediately smiled when he heard my footsteps. He was the one who finally made me smile again. He was becoming more and more like Raviel by the day. He was a mini version of Raviel that I could have forever.
“Hello, my boy. Are you ready for your mother’s wedding today, huh?”
He pumped his tiny fists in the air.
I chuckled and lifted him out of his crib.
“We’re going to the registry office. You’ll see your mother get married today.”
I looked at him sadly.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be marrying your Daddy today. I’m marrying Anthonio.”
Aiden looked at me with his blue eyes, as if he understood what I was saying. He dropped his head on my chest, and I hugged him tightly.
“You’ll see your Daddy again. I promise. We’ll find a way to see him.”
I quickly changed his diaper and dressed him in the tuxedo I had prepared in his closet.
Aiden looked incredibly handsome in his attire, complete with black shoes that embraced his tiny feet.
“Oh, my handsome baby. You look so much like your daddy.”
The doorbell rang.
I hurried to open the door and found Anthonio standing in front of my apartment. He looked stunning in his black tuxedo and bow tie. His groom aura radiated strongly.
“Hi. Come in.”
“Are you and Aiden ready? If so, we’re leaving now.”
“We are. I’ll get Aiden’s stroller and bag.”
Anthonio took Aiden from me while I gathered his belongings.
We headed to the registry office in silence. Anthonio hadn’t said much since we left my apartment building. He was probably nervous because this was our wedding, even if we weren’t holding it in a lavish cathedral with hundreds of guests in attendance.
I didn’t feel any nervousness. In fact, I couldn’t feel any emotion. My heart felt numb towards this wedding. Instead of feeling happy, I felt sad about what happened to Raviel and me last night.
"So, he really won't come to our wedding?"
"Raviel?"
Anthonio nodded.
“Didn’t he tell you that night he wasn’t coming? He’s a man of his word.”
“He never came to your apartment again?”
“No. He’s probably in Miami.”
He probably flew straight to Miami after dropping me off in front of my apartment building. He couldn’t possibly stay to watch me become someone else’s.
When we arrived at the registry office, Chiara was waiting for us at the front door with a bouquet of white lilies. She greeted us with a warm, motherly hug. She was the only one who looked happy among the four of us. She was wearing a light blue satin dress and her hair was pulled back into a simple bun at the nape of her neck. Chiara’s face lit up as she hugged Anthonio and me in turn.
“You two look absolutely perfect. I can’t wait to call you my daughter-in-law, Claire.”
“Thank you for welcoming me into your family. You are everything to me. I owe you and Anthonio so much. You gave me a second life.”
“It's nothing. We're happy to have you in our family. You bring joy to my son's life. He's never loved a woman as much as he loves you. And since his father died, Anthonio has been a bitter man. You're the one who made him smile again.”
I gently rubbed Chiara's shoulder and smiled at her. I didn't have the words to say to her because my tongue was numb. I was worried I'd tell a lie or something else if I forced myself to speak.
"Our wedding will be in the hall on the third floor."
"Okay. Let's go."
Anthonio didn't even hold my hand as we walked to the room he was referring to. He gripped the stroller handle tightly, and his face looked tense.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"You look tense," I stroked his face gently.
"No groom is unnerved on his wedding day."
"You're right. This wedding was still nerve-wracking, even though it was held at a registry office."
He fell silent after our brief conversation.
I sensed Anthonio wasn't as enthusiastic as he had been last week when he'd told me he wanted to marry me. He'd also been busier at work and less concerned about our wedding. I don't know what happened to him, but I hope everything will be okay.
When we entered the hall, a civil registry officer was waiting for us. Anthonio had registered for our marriage last week, and all our marriage documents were already on the table. I could see them from where I was standing.
“Mom, can you watch Aiden for a moment? I need to talk to Claire.”
“Sure.”
I raised my eyebrows in confusion at Anthonio. He grabbed my wrist and led me out of the hall.
“What happened?”
Anthonio didn’t say anything, just glared at me.
“Anthonio?”
“I can’t marry you, Claire.”
I frowned deeply.
“I don’t understand.”
“I can’t marry you. Is that not clear to you?” he snapped at me.
I stepped back, but he gripped my arm tightly.
“I can’t marry a woman who doesn’t want me at all.”
“An-Anthonio…”
“Do you really love me, Claire?”
His palms gripped my shoulders tightly, anger and sadness mixed together on his face.