Aiden softly drew me away from the guests, taking my hand in his. My mind went towards his destination.
We walked in a straight line, and I am glad no one noticed us. They did not notice us passing by because they were busy talking to each other.
I look around at the spot where Aiden took me. My wedding reception was held on open ground because it was held at a resort. Aiden escorted me to a small group of folks.
When I looked up at the sky, the sun was likewise setting. That is why the wind is growing colder because, aside from the fact that it is December, the weather is getting colder because it is almost night-time.
As I watched the sun set, I grinned. The sunset is my favorite part of the day. A sunrise is something I prefer. I adore the dark, and I adore how the moon and stars are able to shine when the sky is dark.
It soothes me with the dark sky and the sunset. It was as if it was how I felt, alone in a life that was gloomy and colorless, but nonetheless beautiful and shining in its own right.
Aiden muttered gently, barely enough for me to hear, “You are gorgeous.” I smiled warmly as I turned to him.
“A, I know I am lovely.” I could not stop smiling. When I said that, Aiden”s eyes widened.
“Did I state out loud what I was going to think about?” he said shyly.
I could see his blush more easily because the ray from the lowering sun hit his face. His remark made me laugh out loud.
“Hey, are you blushing?” I asked him, raising my brows in response. He did not glance at me as he cleared his throat. What he did made me laugh even harder.
“You are adorable when you are shy,” I exclaimed with a smile that made him blush even more. His reaction makes me shudder.
He murmured gently touching my hair, “It is just that you are so lovely when you look at the sunset with surprise in your eyes, and you appear like an innocent kid witnessing her favorite dish.”
He hid my ear from the strands of my hair that had escaped. Because the wind was a little strong where we were, my hair is blowing a little.
“Let us sit down first,” he said as he led me to a nearby bench and assisted me in sitting down.
He sat on the bench next to me after assisting me in getting up.
As we watched the sun go down and the darkness spread around us, we were both silent. The driveway’s lanterns all lit up at the same time, illuminating the entire area.
Aiden asks me a delicate question, “How are you, Anna?”
I turned around and looked him in the eyes. As he stared ahead, his expression was stern. He did not pay me a second’s notice.
Before turning back to the front, I let out a big sigh.
I could not speak for a long time after that. I try to think about what I am going to say. I am also interested in how I feel.
“I, uh, I am good,” I said as I walked away.
In my mind”s eye, I am gazing out over the sea of blue. It makes me think of someone. Every time I see something blue, I cannot help but think of him.
He said, “I am genuinely against your wedding with him, Anna.” Because of what he said, my forehead furrowed, but my gaze stayed fixed on the enormous ocean. I allowed him to proceed with what he was about to say.
“I am not surprised that Alessandre is still in a relationship with Cassy Esguerra, but I am not sure why your marriage has not ended.” He continued. Because of what I heard, my chest clenched and ached.
With gritted teeth, Aiden added, “I am scared that if you continue to do this, you might get wounded.”
“Anna, he is not regarded as a ruthless billionaire for nothing. He is harsh and has no mercy on those that collide with him. He has a stand and no one who has succeeded or prevailed over him.” I smiled at him with a thrifty grin as I turned to him.
As I smiled and said to Aiden: “Ah, it is not obvious but Alessandre is nice, and besides, he voluntarily cooperated with his parents” request. It is not obvious to him but he has a lot of respect for his parents and I know he won”t damage me.”
At what I stated, he shook his head. Despite what I am saying, he does not seem to believe me.
“Look, Anna, his name is all over the business world, and apart from his talent, he is also manipulative, so the company. The company has been successful since he led it, and he can oppose his parents” wishes anytime he wants, but he did not, why? It is not because he respects his parents, as you are saying, it is because he has something under his hood, he is planning something!” He said, his voice rising as his mouth twitched.
When I heard what he said, I swiftly shook my head. In my eyes, I could see my disapproval of what he stated.
“That is not true,” I said emphatically, but Aiden scolded me vehemently.
As his mouth twitched, his forehead furrowed and his mouth twitched as well. “Is that really how much you trust him?” he asked.
“A, stop it. We are just getting married, so it is too soon to criticize him. And furthermore, I know him, I have known them since I was ten years old, and I know he is not that type of person. I trust him.” I emphasized. Because of what I stated, Aiden”s shoulder slumped.
My tears well up as I look at him. “Why are you doing this?” I ask. “You were not like this before, ah. You even told me before that you would support me in whatever decision I made, and this is it. This is my decision, A.” He kept his distance from me.
“You are asking me why I am doing this? Are you numb? Don”t you even notice or feel it?” he scowled as he looked at me with a tense expression on his face.
“What do you mean, A?” I was perplexed.
At what he was saying, my brows wrinkled. Aiden”s behavior has changed recently, according to me. I frequently notice him looking at me. He was also always on the lookout for me and took extra care of me.
As he ruffles his own hair, he adds, “Tsk, I am not sure if you are human or rock, but you are so numb, fuck!”
I looked at him in disbelief. Is there a problem with him?
While peering right into my eyes, he said, “I like you, Anna.”
I was taken aback by what he said. At what he said, my eyes widened and my surroundings seemed to stop moving. I am taken aback when I see him. Is this what I have been told? Isn”t it true that he likes me?
While Alessandre was still gazing at me intently, I nervously laughed and remarked, “Haha, I believe I need to clean my ears, it appears like my hearing is disappearing.”
My hope was that he would retract what he would said and tell me he was just joking, but that did not happen.
When he did not withdraw what he had said a few minutes later, my shoulder slumped.
I yelled, “Are you serious?” Because of my fear, I covered my mouth to keep my voice from rising too high.
Aiden: “Are you serious about what you have said, huh? Do you like me? As in, it is me that you like? Maybe you are just kidding and I am not really what you want. I mean, I am just me, Annalise Fay, your friend. Are you pranking me? I am telling you Aiden, you have been pranking me too much.” I nervously said to him. My smile fell as he gently shook his head.
He said, “I am serious, Anna. I like you.”
After then, I could not stop the trickling after a bead of tears spilled from my eyes. I cannot seem to stop myself from crying.
Aiden was perplexed when he asked me, “Why are you crying?” I am not sure how he managed to get me to stop weeping.
As he massaged my back, he said, “Hey, Anna, stop sobbing.”
As a result, I cannot answer because I am sobbing. “Is what you said true? A, we are friends, and I am married.”
He was amused by what I had said and drew me closer to him, hugging me. When I felt his gentle kiss on my hair and felt his warm arms on me, I cried even more.
As he softly rubbed my back, he urged, “Come on, do not cry.”
“How would I stop crying if you said that?” I said, still sobbing. “You will only hurt yourself if you keep liking me, A.”
When I hiccuped, he laughed. I was forced to face him, but I was still slumped over his chest.
He said gently to me, “Hey, honey, have a look at me.” I shook my head in a tense manner.
Then, as he patted my back, he said, “Hey, do not think about how I feel. I just told you that because I do not want to regret that I did not even tell you how I feel.”
“You are a very lovely woman, Anna. You are beautiful inside and out, so you are not be difficult to love. You are tough and sweet. But do not worry, I am not asking you to like me either.” My cheeks are still dripping with tears.
I was sad when I gazed up at him. When he noticed how I was staring at him, his eyebrows met.
He said, “Hey, I am warning you, Anna, do not pity me.” The melancholy he sees in my eyes is undoubtedly irritating him.
“You have no need to like me back,” he remarked with a lovely smile on his face.
He said, “Tsk, maybe I should not have confessed to you because it is embarrassing.” He was clearly ashamed, and his face was crimson.
His remark made me laugh out loud. When he saw me laughing, he also smiled at me.
As he touched my face, he murmured, “That is my girl. You want to know what I enjoy most about you?”
His question frightened me to no end.
Laughing, I responded, “What about my body?” His eyes widened as he seemed to stare at me in disbelief.
“Is that really what you thought, Anna?” he smirks cruelly at me. “Yes, I like you, but to be honest, I do noy like your figure. You look so tiny.”
When he said it, my jaw dropped. Honestly, I am not sure what he meant.
“You know what, you are the only one I have ever seen criticize a lady he likes.” I shook my head in disbelief as I glanced at him. He gave me a wink as he laughed loudly at me.
He laughed at me and said, “Tsk, you thought I was whipped by you, but I am not.” To him, I pouted.
When he held my hands, he said, “But in a serious matter,” I said, “I do not want to hurt you because I know you cannot control how you feel, but I just hope that while liking me, I do not hurt you.”
“You are precious to me, A,” I said. “And I love you, A, but not in the way you want me to.” At what I stated, he shook his head.
“I know and understand, Anna, but I only have one wish for you,” he added, his gaze fixed on me. I gave him a nod and waited for him to speak up.
“Please do not let Alessandre hurt you; if he hurts you, tell me and I will beat him up. Do you understand what I am saying?” He gently stared at me. His warm eyes are fixed on me. I smiled softly at him because he looked at me affectionately.
In response to him, I grinned and said, “I promise, A.”
Aiden gave me a big grin. Aiden sighed at the same time after that. What we did made us both laugh out loud.
As I sit next to Aiden and stare at the night sky, I understand one thing: there are still people who care about me and perceive my worth. Aiden made me know that I am not alone and that he will always be by my side no matter what happens.
I am unhappy to learn that Aiden likes me because I am sure I will not be able to reciprocate his feelings for me, but I am glad he told me how he feels. We have become closer and more at ease with each other, I believe.
I opened the door to the room where I would be staying tonight. We will stay at the resort for the night and then return to our new home the next day.
Because the visitors are still having fun and do not seem to have any plans to go home, I went first into my room. They appear to having a lot of fun boasting to one another.
When I heard the cheering people all the way to my room, all I could do was shake my head.
I look around the room with wide eyes. I was surprised at the sheer magnitude of this space.
Aunt Lila arranged for us to stay in the presidential suite. Since we are already married, this is also where Alessandre will sleep tonight.
It is possible that our room has two bedrooms because it is larger, which is good for me.
I stopped paying attention to the room”s design and went to the bathroom instead. My body is itchy and sticky from the severe heat.
I even had a hard time removing the gown since I was concerned it would be ruined if I did so. The gown is simply too lovely to be broken.
When I am finally able to take off the gown, I sigh.
The chilly water bit into my skin as I took a plunge in the bath tub, which I enjoyed. The shower gel”s vanilla smell was able to calm me down.
As I closed my eyes, I smiled. These previous several days have been so tiring and this cold bath definitely calms down my nerves.
I sat in the bath tub for about an hour before deciding to jump into the water.
I put on my silk pajamas and proceeded to the bedroom to sleep. When I felt how soft the bed was, I smiled. It was as if I was lying in a soft feathers when I was lying on the comfortable bed.
“Are they still not going to rest?” I wondered myself as I heard the laughing voices of people who attended our wedding. It is almost ten o”clock in the evening. Ah, they do not seem to be tired.
I closed my eyes and shrugged. Even if they make a lot of noise, it is fine with me. Furthermore, even if the environment is noisy, I am able to sleep.
I am a sleepy head. When I am exhausted, I am able to sleep anywhere.
I was just shutting my eyes when I heard a collision from outside. My forehead furrowed and I just ignored it. It was most likely one of the drunken guests.
I drew the comforter up on my body.
When I heard the collision outside, I closed my eyes again, but this time it was louder than before. I cannot help but wonder because it seems to come from outside my room.
When the door to the room suddenly opened, I was about to get out of bed. I was going to sleep in the dark because I would not be able to sleep if the light was on.
I could see the entry of a bulk of people. My forehead furrowed.
“Alessandre? Is that you?” I asked softly while still frowning.
Suddenly the room light switched on. Because I was dazzled by the light, I squinted my eyes.
“Oh my god! I told you let us just get another hotel room, eh. You are wife is here!” A woman screamed loudly which startled me.
As I reflected on their actions, my eyes widened. My whole body stiffened when I saw that Alessandre was here but he is not alone.
He is with a woman, one of the guests on our wedding. When I observed how his hand moved over the woman”s body, I felt like I was bathed in ice. Alessandre kissed the woman”s neck as his face slipped into her neck.
“Hey, stop it! I am tickled!” The lady smiles as she pretends to stop Alessandre from kissing her neck but the truth is that the woman wants to like what Alessandre is doing to her.
While enjoying my husband”s kisses, she even has the nerve to smirk at me.
My tears were already streaming from my eyes when I did not notice it. I could not seem to get out of my chair because my body was shaking.
As she pushed Alessandre away from her neck, the woman yelled, “Hey, stop it, babe. Your wife is here.” When Alessandre whimpered, she smirked at me.
When Alessandre awoke from his slumber on the woman”s neck, he took a critical look at me. When I saw the rage in his eyes, I flinched. As he glanced at my teary face, his mouth twitched.
“Do you want to watch me fuck her?” he asked me with an evil smirk. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
As he said it, his voice is chilly and deadly. At what he stated, my body”s hair surged to the surface.
As she massaged Alessandre”s big chest, the woman quietly murmured, “Babe, calm down. Let us simply grab another hotel room.”
I closed my eyes firmly and prayed that it was all a figment of my imagination. Alessandre was still smiling at me when I opened my eyes. He appeared pleased to see me in pain.
“If you wanted to see how I would rape her senselessly,” he said, his nasty sneer still on his lips, he shrugged.
I instantly stood up and forced myself to move away from them when they kissed again.
My entire body was shaking, and I was constantly shedding tears.
In the room, I could hear how loudly the two moaned.
I almost raced all the way to the door and out of that room because there was a sob in my mouth that had escaped.