74. Beautiful

**Andrew**

*4:20PM*

"We're done now." Was all he needed to hear.

When Justina stated that there was a lot to pick and choose from, she wasn't kidding. Andrew stepped out from the dressing area, sporting a crisp black suit with white trimming and a black bow tie littered with gold thread.

He frowned as he took in the outfit his mother chose for him. The jacket was a little big, but manageable. Now that Michelle and Coby Jacobs had taken of where they needed to do the adjustments, Andrew was free to take it off and return to his casual wear.

To Andrew's side, not a far distance from his left, was a fair maiden with thick, silver hair that flowed graciously down her back. She played with the wrist of the lace sleeve belonging to her wedding dress, eyes cast doubtfully on its sweetheart top. From the hips to where her thighs would be, her dress was tight fit, but it eventually spread wide enough for her legs to walk and even run with little trouble.

When she spotted him, Andrew offered her a smile. She smiled back.

He strode in her direction, successfully avoiding crushing into a lad carrying carnations before reaching his destination. Upon arriving he took a swift bow that aligned his head with his waist. "It's a good day every time I see you, Lady Miriam."

Miriam hid her chuckle behind her fingers. "Rise. You're a nobleman too and it's not like we're strangers. Is that the suit you've chosen to wear to our wedding?"

Andrew nodded and followed her command, smile still plastered on his face.

"Sorta. My mom wouldn't stop ranting about how perfect it was, so I got it." Soft

brown eyes traveled from her feet to her shoulders. "Now you on the other hand, are killing it. You know how to find clothing that suits you."

A dusted of pink flooded her cheeks. "Thank you for the compliment," Miriam said, scratching her small nose. "But I am afraid that, once again, my situation is more or less the same as yours."

He allowed her words to settle before bobbing his head to show he understood.

On the stage, a band started playing to the tune of *Bed of Roses*. Miriam glanced away for a moment to look at them, and when she turned back Andrew than his arm outstretched. "Let's see if these clothes can hold out well enough at the reception," he said, smirking.

Miriam returned the expression as she placed her hand in his. "Shouldn't we be returning them so they don't get dirty?"

"Surely they won't mind if the future newly weds hold on to their wedding outfits for a little longer."

Without anymore protests, Miriam allowed Andrew to lead her to the middle of the building, where he took her right hand in his and made her left one rest on his shoulder while his took her waist. She kept her gaze on his with a smile. Then, they danced.

Everyone seemed smart enough to stay out of the way and either watch or continue their assigned tasks. At first Miriam's mind was focused on watching her step and keeping up with the tune of the instruments. But now, she wanted to do nothing more than enjoy the look on Andrew's face as he beamed down at her. Her eyes grew as she once again acknowledged her growing feelings for him. A part of her knew he would never accept her, somehow she hoped he too would think of her as more than a friend after spending their married life together as a couple.

That's right. Andrew would soon be hers, and no one else's.

He snickered. "If you keep looking at me like that I'll start thinking that you want me to kiss you," he teased. Miriam turned her head from him as if annoyed. "Well it wouldn't be a big deal since I'll soon be your wife, would it?"

Andrew laughed. "Wife..." He repeated, his gaze drifting away.

Jacobs' words plagued his mind.

In hs arms he saw Donya smiling up at. Telling him how happy she was to be a part of his life. How she hoped those vows he said to her at their wedding would still be true decades into their marriage.

But she wasn't here.

Andrew would soon have to be with someone who he didn't love, who we would have to sleep with, have children with, and share a house with for the rest of his life.

And that person wasn't her.

He felt sick. He couldn't do this anymore. Conciquences be damned! He never asked for this anyway. And he can't keep forcing himself to stay on a path that will hurt both him and Miriam in the long run.

She was a great friend and a sweet girl, but not his lover. She deserved to be engaged to someone she had feelings for and could love her back. And that person was not him.

He led her closer to one of the walls before the song ended. Andrew had already made up his mind.

"Tell Jacobs that I'll return these later." Off he went before she could get a word in, weaving through the small gathering of workers that stopped to watch them.

The yellow of the sun's rays were beginning to form into a deep orange. Shadows from the surrounding buildings crawled their way across the street.

Andrew hopped down three steps at a time, thankful that his black leather shoes was strong enough to bare the impact.

He took out his phone and immediately dialed Stephen's number.

His second picked up in two rings.

"Yes sir, are you all done and ready to be escorted home?"

"No. I am done but Mom isn't coming with me. And I'm not going home, but need you to take me to somewhere else." Andrew took in the evening sky.

"Is it an emergency? I'm bringing the car around, sir."

After hanging up the call, Andrew's lips spread into a what his best friend would call a sh-teating grin. A whole cluster of things were about to change, and he was ready for it.

-------------------

As he stood outside of Donya's house a whirlpool of emotions flooded his mind. Fear? Nervousness? Hope? Desire? Fret? Andrew chose to neglect fear, he had nothing to be afraid of. It was only Donya, the girl he got to know after years of digging up info about her friend and Jenifer, as well following the King's secret set of instructions.

*"Keep her safe until she makes up her mind to come to us."*

Now she was within their care and safe, the Kings wouldn't let anything happen to her.

Don would be happy to hear that.

*So why don't you go in and tell her?*

No small navy blue vehicle parked outside the house. Her mom most likely left for work. But the window to the kitchen shone from light from the inside.

He knocked on the door, then slid his hands into the pocket of his jeans. Thankfully he always made sure to carry clothes with him incase the ones he was wearing got soiled with rogue blood. After changing he sent off Stephen to return the outfit to Coby.

The door opened and Andrew stiffened, ensuring that he had a polite smile on his face. A taller, honey blonde woman version of Donya greeted him.

"Oh, it's you again." Her lips tilted upward. "Remind me of your name again?"

"Good evening, Miss Abigail. I'm Andrew. It's great to see you after such a long time."

Andrew wondered which memory played in her mind right now. True, it wasn't the first time he visited. The problem was he used his abilities to mess with her mind when he wanted info on Serene. But more recently She should remember him for being the guy who sometimes dropped her daughter off when her classes were over. Hopefully those were the ones she recalled instead.

She took it upon herself to invite him inside. The next thing he knew he was seated in her kitchen with a cup of orange juice occupying his hands.

The lady in question sat on the other side of him with her elbows inched into the scratched hardwood table. "So," she said, her soft voice emphasized each word. "What are you to my daughter?"