Chapter 56 Honeymoon
It had been a full week since the wedding, and that morning, Derek and Rebecca were preparing to leave for their honeymoon.
From the outside, everything looked normal. The staff at the mansion bustled around early that morning, carefully loading their luggage into the car.
The driver stood ready, and even Mr. Edward watched them from the sitting room with a satisfied smile, clearly pleased that his grandson and new granddaughter-in-law were playing their roles well.
Rebecca stood by the staircase, holding her small handbag tightly. She looked calm, but inside, her thoughts were restless. A honeymoon. The word still felt strange to her. This marriage was supposed to be an arrangement, a temporary solution, yet here she was, about to travel out of town with a man who was technically her husband and the father of her child.
Derek came out of the room moments later, dressed casually in dark jeans, a white shirt, and a light jacket. He looked relaxed, almost too relaxed, like this trip was nothing out of the ordinary. When he noticed Rebecca staring off into space, he smiled faintly, as he stood behind her.
"Ready?" he asked.
She let out an inaudible sign before nodding. She can do this, she told herself.
They walked out together, side by side. It felt awkward, but at the same time strangely natural. Over the past week, they had been trying, at least on the surface to act like a real couple.
Derek opened doors for her, asked if she’d eaten, and reminded her to rest. While Rebecca had also tried on her part.
She responded politely, sometimes even smiling, though she always wondered if everything was just an act.
The drive to the airport was quiet at first. Rebecca stared out the window, watching the city slowly fade into open roads. Derek, noticing the silence, decided to speak.
"You’ve been quiet," he said lightly. "Nervous?"
She glanced at him. "About the flight? No."
"About spending a whole week with me?" he teased with a raised brow, Rebecca looked at him briefly before turning back to look ahead.
She huffed softly before replying. "You’re impossible."
Derek chuckled. "I’ll take that as a yes."
Despite herself, Rebecca smiled. It was small, but it was real.
The flight went smoothly. Derek made sure Rebecca was comfortable, offering her snacks and asking if she needed anything. She tried to ignore how attentive he was, but it was hard. Every now and then, she caught herself wondering if he was doing all that because that was how he was or because he'd just grown accustomed to acting that way.
When they finally arrived at their destination, the city felt different calmer, warmer, almost dreamlike. The hotel was grand, standing tall with wide glass doors and soft golden lights glowing inside. Rebecca took it all in as they stepped out of the car.
"This place is beautiful," she murmured with a smile, as they walked towards the entrance.
Derek nodded. "I thought you’d like it."
Inside, the lobby was busy. Guests moved around with suitcases, some laughing, some arguing softly, others clearly exhausted from traveling. Rebecca felt relieved seeing how lively the hotel was. With so many people around, she felt a little less tense.
The receptionist’s eyes widened slightly in recognition, but she quickly regained her composure as Derek and Rebecca walked over to the counter.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Hemsworth," she said warmly. "Welcome."
"Thank you," Derek replied. "We have a reservation."
"And it would be appreciated if we can get two rooms," Rebecca chipped in, standing beside Derek. She wasn't aware of the reservation, but she knew it would be a single room and she just didn't trust herself nor Derek to be in the same room and alone.
Though they'd been sleeping in the same room since after the wedding but sleeping in the same here would feel somehow. They weren't trying to prove anything to anyone so why pretend here?
The receptionist typed on her computer for a moment, then frowned just a little.
Rebecca noticed immediately and her heart sank.
"Is there a problem?" She asked.
The receptionist hesitated. "Well… there seems to be a small issue with the booking."
Derek raised an eyebrow. "What kind of issue?"
"We have only one room which you'd reserved," the receptionist said carefully. "The hotel is fully booked for the entire week."
Rebecca blinked surprised. "One room?" she repeated. "In a hotel this big?" She asked, as she looked at Derek.
Was this one of Derek's plans to get them to act like a loving couple, she thought as she looked at him but he seemed busy on his phone.
"Yes, ma’am," the receptionist replied. "There’s been a large event in the city. Every other room is occupied."
Rebecca turned to Derek again. "We can get two separate rooms, right? Or at least a double-bed room?" She asked him, hoping he would say something.
The receptionist shook her head apologetically. "I’m sorry ma'am but the available room has only one bed."
Rebecca felt her chest tighten as she turned back to look at the receptionist. "Then add another bed," she said firmly. "Or change it to a double bed."
"I really wish we could," the receptionist replied, sounding sincere. "But the room cannot be altered."
Derek crossed his arms. "Even if I’m one of the hotel’s investors?" He asked.
The receptionist swallowed nervously but still shook her head. "Even so, sir. We truly can’t make changes right now."
Rebecca exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself. She looked around the busy lobby, then back at the receptionist, as if hoping the answer would magically change.
"So you’re saying," Rebecca said slowly, "that in this entire hotel, there’s only one room, with one bed."
"Yes, ma’am. That was the reservation that was made."
Rebecca felt defeated. She turned away from the desk and rubbed her temple. "This is unbelievable," she muttered.
Derek watched her quietly, then smiled faintly, clearly amused, he just doesn't understand why she was fighting for them to be in separate rooms or separate beds.
"Well," he said, "looks like we are stuck together,"
Rebecca shot him a look. "Don’t start." She murmured
She walked a few steps away, clearly thinking. Derek followed her.
"Let’s just get another hotel," Rebecca suggested.
"Every decent hotel around here is booked," Derek replied. "I checked already."
Rebecca groaned softly. "Of course you did."
She stood there, arms crossed, clearly trying to find a way out of the situation. Derek studied her for a moment before speaking again.
"Rebecca," he said calmly, "we’ve been sleeping in the same room since we got married."
"That’s different," she replied quickly.
"H
ow?" he asked. "Just because we're alone here. Don't tell me you are suddenly scared that something might happen between us?"