Sabrina’s spring-inspired tulle gown covered in Chantilly and guipure lace roses from its neckline through its floor-length skirt floats down the corridor of the courthouse as she walked side by side with her friend.
When he glanced at her, she looked like someone has died. Her smile was forced, and he could tell that she was not happy. Well, he wasn’t happy either. Everything happened too fast. He was almost engaged with Claire Beckham, but fortunately, Claire Beckham announced that his looks were ordinary and she wanted someone more good-looking. Then, there was Isabelle, Claire’s cousin, and Daniel’s fiancee.
“Are you ready?” she asked while faking a smile.
“I don’t know, Sabrina,” Kenneth replied.
After their wedding, Kenneth assumed they would go home right away but they were required to stay a little bit, to take pictures and signed the documents. When he heard how Sabrina’s stomach grumbled, he almost laughed, but he resisted to make himself appear as a happy groom.
He felt bad for Sabrina Hart because she wasn’t even able to invite her families if she has any. She was only able to inform her friend, Heather Middleton about the rushed wedding, then she was dragged around. From his apartment to the mansion, and then to the courthouse.
“Are you okay?” Kenneth asked the woman because he had noticed earlier that she seemed pale.
“Not really, I’m starving,” she whispered.
“Me too,” Kenneth said.
He also didn’t have time to eat properly earlier because his family was constantly nagging him for compromising a woman whose background was unknown. If only they hadn’t gotten married today. If only he were still free. He searched for Isabelle with his eyes, and when he saw her, he suddenly felt encouraged. Later, when it was just the two of them, he would talk to her.
“I feel like I’m going to faint from hunger,” she said.
“Don’t you dare!” he warned her.
If there’s something that Gabriel McBride hated the most, it was a scandal. Actually, for the same reason, the old man forced him to take Sabrina as his wife just because they had sex. Kenneth looked at his wife with a stern expression. He would be even more embarrassed if she fainted now. But he didn’t think Sabrina was joking, so he tightly held one of her hands and squeezed her fingers. The woman winced in pain.
“Stop it, I’m fine now.” Sabrina pulled her hand away because it was hurting.
Kenneth persisted and didn’t let go of her hands. He could hear cameras clicking everywhere, and since they were both faking a smile, they would probably look good in the photos.
“By the way, what should we call each other as a married couple?” she asked all of a sudden.
“Do we really need that? Besides, it will just sound awkward for people to hear,” he couldn’t understand Sabrina’s trip and why she thought of their possible endearments.
“Well, of course! Just because we don’t love each other, doesn’t mean we have to be cold and indifferent to each other. Come on, help me think, quickly.” Sabrina pestered him.
“Why bother? We’ll separate someday anyway,” Kenneth said.
“I know. But I thought, why don’t we treat this situation as practice? That way, when we eventually marry the people we truly love, we’ll know what to do. What can you say?” Sabrina continued to persuade him.
“All I can say is you’re crazy. We’re already in this situation, and you still managed to joke about it. You know, if are not in this situation right now, I think we can be good friends.”
“Just friends? Are you sure you won’t fall in love with me?” Sabrina asked.
“Doubtful,” was Kenneth’s only response.
Instead of getting annoyed with Kenneth, Sabrina just laughed because he was brutally honest. He didn’t sugarcoat anything.
“You’re something else. But seriously, I appreciate your honesty,” she said.
Kenneth furrowed his brow as he looked at the woman’s face. He just realized that Sabrina looked so pretty in her wedding dress. “You are beautiful,” he declared.
“What?” She was flustered by his latest comment.
For the first time in the day, Kenneth wanted to laugh because he enjoyed making her uncomfortable. Did she not know she was pretty? When he looked at their guests, mostly from his side of the family, they seemed to enjoy the festivities.
“Enjoy your food,” he told her.
While eating, he noticed Isabelle across the table. She was with Daniel and she looked so happy while touching Daniel’s arm. Kenneth couldn’t explain but he was jealous while watching Daniel and Isabelle. Inwardly, he wished that Isabelle was engaged to him.
But then, he caught Isabelle smiling at him. He smiled back because it was the right thing to do.
Then, Kenneth noticed that Daniel left. Isabelle tried to follow but Daniel may have said something to Isabelle because the woman stopped walking.
At that moment, Kenneth wondered about their conversation. Then, he excused himself from Sabrina to check on Isabelle. The woman was obviously hurt because of Daniel.
When Isabelled strolled toward the hallway, he continued to follow her. Then, she turned right and vanished in the dark. Kenneth quickened his steps to catch up to her. Then, he shrieked when she suddenly appeared in front of him.
“Isabelle!” he exclaimed in surprise.
“Where are you going, Kenneth? I thought it was someone else who was following me, so I was trying to hide,” she explained.
“I’m going to get some wine that my wife has requested,” he lied.
“Oh, but this is not the way toward the wine cellar!”
“It’s in my room actually. We bought it together,” he lied again. Fortunately, his room was nearby so Isabelle would probably believe his lies.
“What a thoughtful husband,” she said but her voice has a hint of sadness.
“Are you alright?” he asked, but then Isabelle seemed to be ill, and he wasn’t fast enough to catch her, her body would fall on the cold floor. “Isabelle!”