Chapter 16 Honeymoon decorations
CHAPTER 16: Honeymoon decorations
Vera
His lips touched mine.
For a fraction of a second, I forgot how to breathe, how to move, how to be anything other than acutely aware of the fact that this was happening.
His warm breath fanned my face as his lips pressed against mine. My hands remained stiff at my sides, my mind totally shut down.
It was not my first kiss. But it was the first time I had this reaction to a kiss.
Then I remembered we had an audience. The quiet room. The watching eyes.
Silas's firm grip on my waist seemed to be urging me to respond.
My fingers curled into the fabric of his suit jacket, and I tilted my head just enough to meet him halfway.
The kiss was warm, controlled,unhurried, but brief. And when he pulled away, my lips tingled, along with every inch of my skin.
We faced the guests, hands clasped together as they clapped and cheered.
Yet, I was a mess inside.
I was unsettled by the slow, creeping realization that I was affected by the kiss.
I dared to throw Silas a side glance, but he gave me nothing. His expression was calm, unreadable, just like it had been since I saw him with Natalie.
Applause followed.
In the blink of an eye, we were walking down the aisle. Suddenly we were being congratulated from all sides.
Lily flung herself into my arms. “Congratulations Vera.” Her gaze flicked to Silas. “To you two. I’m so happy for you,” she beamed.
“Thank you, Lily.”
Silas merely nodded.
She took a step back as Chauncey stepped forward.
“Welcome to the family,” he said, his voice easy, but his eyes thoughtful. He pulled me into a hug, his gaze on his brother. Then he turned to me. “You did well up there,” he whispered with a small, kind smile.
“Thank you,” I replied, my voice almost shaky.
Lucas followed shortly after. “Congratulations to you both,” he said. “You make a fine couple.”
“Thank you, Lucas,” Silas replied smoothly, gripping his hand in a firm handshake, while his other hand rested at the small of my back.
It didn't help that it felt that my skin was burning where his touch was.
Cherr drew me into a hug. Silas’s hand slipped away, and I wrapped my hand around Cherry.
I really needed that hug.
“Congratulations, best friend," she sniffled. We drew back. “I hope you find happiness. That's all I want.”
I laughed, short. “Thank you, Cher.”
The reception passed in a haze of soft music and muted conversations. It was understated, intimate, quiet, no grand spectacle.
My palms were cold and clammy, and I constantly found myself wiping it on my dress.
It almost felt like I was having an out of body experience.
When food was placed before us, I barely glanced at it. I was not hungry, even though I had barely eaten anything earlier.
Silas leaned in slightly.
“Eat,” he murmured, low enough that only I could hear. “For the baby.”
I stared at him, surprised that he bothered about the baby’s welfare, but his gaze was already ahead, watching the guests mingle.
I nodded, embarrassed, and obediently took a few bites, even though my appetite was nonexistent.
Even though I fixed my eyes on the plate of food before me, I could feel his attention flicker to me every now and then.
“You—,” he paused, “carried yourself quite well today.”
I wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or unsettled.
“Thank you,” I replied.
“But you'd have to be prepared,” he continued, his tone even. “This was only the beginning. You’ll need to put in more work in the future.”
The food went down the wrong track, and I coughed.
He quickly handed me a glass of water. I took it gratefully, almost downing the entire cup.
“Are you okay, now?”
I nodded, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.
“You have to be more careful.”
I swallowed and nodded.
The clinking sound of cutlery against glass drew our attention to the guests.
Chauncey was standing, lifting his glass to command attention.
“May I have your attention, everyone?” He said with a charming smile. “To my brother and his new wife,” he began, his voice carrying easily through the room. “May your marriage be long, steady, and filled with happiness. And,” he added with a grin, “may there be many healthy children in your future.”
Soft laughter followed, polite and warm.
I smiled instinctively, but my attention shifted to Silas.
Something changed.
It was subtle…just a tightening of his jaw, despite the smile on his lips. And it confused me.
Before I could think too much about it, Lily took the floor, a glass in hand.
That was alcohol.
I was immediately uncomfortable, given her recent ordeal in the hospital. Besides, her eighteenth birthday was still a few months away.
“To my darling sister, Vera, and her new husband, Silas, I wish you so much joy and happiness in your union. Cheers.”
My new husband.
It felt alien.
I smiled, acknowledging their toast.
The hair on my nape suddenly rose, a strong feeling of being watched washed over me.
I whipped around, and caught sight of Natalie, sitting at a corner of the room, a glass in hand, her gaze pinned on me, or Silas, I couldn't tell.
I quickly averted my gaze.
Soon, it was time to leave.
Cherry pulled me into a tight embrace, her arms firm around me. “I’ll visit,” she whispered fiercely. “Often. Don't disappear on me. I don't care how busy you get.”
“I’d like that,” I said softly, my throat tight.
I was going to miss my best friend a lot.
Chauncey, standing nearby, shrugged. “No need to be emotional, sister in law. I can bring her over myself if I have to.”
Cherry rolled her eyes but smiled faintly.
Lily stepped forward immediately, linking her arm with Chauncey’s.
There was a flash of surprise in his eyes.
“Since the newlyweds are leaving together, can you drive me to Silas’s place?” she asked him brightly.
“Of course,” he replied easily.
There were more hugs and a few sniffles, then we left.
The drive passed quietly.
Silas was busy scrolling through his phone the whole ride, and I was grateful for the silence.
When we arrived at his residence, we had barely stepped inside before his phone rang.
His expression shifted as he glanced at the screen.
“I’ll take this,” he said briefly. Then, turning to one of the maids, he added, “Assist my wife to settle in.”
With that he disappeared into what I presumed to be his office.
My wife.
The words settled heavily in my chest.
That was what I was to him now.
His wife.
His fake wife.
I followed the maid down a quiet hallway, my nerves tightening with each step. We seemed to be heading to a different room than the one I had been in the last time I was here.
When the door opened, I stopped short.
The room was adorned with soft lighting, red and white rose petals scattered across the bed, candles flickering along the walls.
Honeymoon decorations.
Heat rushed to my face, embarrassment flooding me.
I was confused.
Has Silas done this?
My first instinct was to retreat, but the door closed softly behind me.
I barely had time to process it when the door opened again.
I turned around and I was face to face with Silas.