Christian waited patiently, watching her gracefully walk towards him. The dress Mrs. Allenwood got for her fitted her perfectly. After all, he was the one who gave her the measurements! His gaze ran down the entire length of her with satisfaction. When it settled on her face, he held her unwavering gaze. He could sense her annoyance as she approached him. Why the hell was she mad at him now on their special day?
He strode forward to greet her and ask her the reason for her annoyance. With all eyes watching their every move, it wouldn’t be easy to talk to her much.
He smiled and stopped in front of her. “Emerald suits you best, don’t you think so?” he whispered with a glint in his eyes.
“Yes, and black suits you. It portrays your heart and mind well. Don’t you think so?” He chuckled and offered her an arm for her to hold.
“My heart’s made of pure gold, babe! And my mind is all white and open. You’ll realize it soon.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m the polluted one!” Yet she placed her hand in the crook of her arm and he led her forward.
“I didn’t say that! Yes, you’re the stubborn one, for sure!”
“Skylar, Christian, please take your seats for the engagement ceremony to begin,” said Lillian, leading them toward a grand loveseat. They sat down, and Skylar watched the proceedings with awe, forgetting her predicament. Everyone gathered around them while their grandparents occupied the seats beside them. They brought in a blessing tray and the ceremony began.
She had never seen an engagement ceremony as grand as this. Christian picked up the ring he had bought for her and pushed it gently into her finger. It was a sparkling solitaire ring with small embedded diamonds all around, intricately twisted to form a unique design. Somehow she loved the ring immensely, and a smile broke out on her face.
“My turn,” he murmured, relieved to see the smile.
She picked up the matching ring Caleb bought for him and caught his hand. A shot of electric tingle shot up her body and she quickly pushed the ring to his finger and released him. Everyone present congratulated them, demanding a kiss as was the norm.
“We want a kiss! C’mon, Skylar, you need to uphold the tradition!” Someone prodded her from the spectators.
“Chris, kiss your fiancee!” said another.
Skylar’s heart raced as she gave him a helpless look. She hadn’t expected them to actually demand it so openly in front of Grandpa Ben. Didn’t they fear him as she did?
Christian leaned in and planted a small kiss on her gaping mouth before she could realize what was happening. This time, she pecked him back, since the entire world was watching them. It wasn’t a proper kiss, one that would have satisfied his hunger. But it would do for the time being. He couldn’t afford to have her fighting with him in front of everyone!
Thankfully, it was over and the guests rushed towards the buffet table where a grand dinner was served. Skylar released a breath of relief that it was over and done with. She had expected Christian to take advantage of their situation and demand a kiss from her, but he didn’t. He simply performed an obligation.
She saw him serving her granny her dinner and talking to her. Despite being surrounded by his family, he didn’t forget her granny like Caleb had. He was busy chatting with Sebastian and enjoying his own food! Christian’s gesture overwhelmed her! She just couldn’t stop noticing the caring side of his nature.
Maybe he really had a pure and golden heart!
‘No, Skylar! Don’t fall for him at all! It’s just an act to make you surrender to him!’
Skylar avoided looking at him for her own peace of mind and sat down with her granny instead. “Why aren’t you eating, my dear?”
“I’m not at all hungry now. Maybe I’ll have a little later,” she said, but granny didn’t approve.
“You shouldn’t skip your meals, Skye. It will affect your health.”
“Here, share with me,” said Christian, joining them with a plateful of food. “Skipping dinner isn’t an option at all.” It was a stern order, and Skylar chose not to create a scene in front of Grandpa Ben. She picked up the spoon and helped herself to the delicious food.
“I’m so glad you’re there for her, my boy. Your parents would have been so happy to see their dream turn into a reality.”
“Maybe not! This engagement wouldn’t have happened if they were alive, Granny,” said Christian with a sad smile. Both Skylar and her granny gaped at him.
“Why not?” asked Skylar with interest. Now, what was she missing out?
“They would have arranged for Skylar and Sebastian’s wedding instead.” Skylar noted the bitterness in his tone with surprise. Did she imagine it?
“I wouldn’t have ever married Sebastian. I would have run away!” she said, making Christian turn to give her a smile. Granny, too, smiled at her headstrong granddaughter. Maybe everything happened for a reason. Maybe Skylar had, at last, found a match with the caring, loving, and patient man who loved her to the moon and back. She could relax and stop worrying about her granddaughter for a change. Now, even if anything untoward happened to her, she wouldn’t have to stress about Skylar. She was in safe hands.
“You would? What if they chose me instead?” he prodded, anxiously waiting for her reply.
“Then she would have happily married you, right?” said her granny with a chuckle. Skylar nodded, a blush creeping up her cheeks at the look of surprise on his face.
“I’m honored then.” He got up to get a second helping of everything, glad that she was eating a proper meal.
“He’s genuine at heart, Skylar. I know we have forced this upon you but try to see the good in him before the bad. Give your relationship time. I’m sure you’ll fall in love with him with time.” Skylar nodded at her granny, wondering how she would react if she knew they were in for a contract marriage only.
“What about my career, granny? I was thinking of starting something of my own.”
“Life doesn’t end after marriage, Skye. You can always start something afterward. I’m sure Christian would never stop you from chasing your dreams.”
“I guess he won’t,” said Skylar with a frown.
“Your grandpa and I won’t live long, my dear. Caleb and Lillian are busy in their own world. So are your friends. They’ll marry and have children and won’t get the time to meet you like before. It would be a lonely life without a loving partner to come home to. So embrace what God has blessed you with. Try not to argue at every point and reason it out first in your head. Life isn’t always about winning an argument! It’s about giving yourself and your loved ones happiness!”
Skylar considered her granny’s words solemnly. The place was chaotic with everyone enjoying around her, but she was lost in her own thoughts. Her Granny’s advice echoed in her head like a broken record.
“Let’s finish up dinner. Granny, do you need something?” asked Christian, joining them at the table with more food.
“No, this is enough. Thank you, my dear boy.” Grandpa Ben and her grandpa joined them at the table and they started discussing the food. Skylar ate in silence. Grandpa Ben’s presence always left her dumbstruck.
“When are you two leaving, Christian?” asked Grandpa Ben.
“Tomorrow early morning, Grandpa. I have a meeting with the Stellar Group the day after.”
“Give my regards to Robert Stellar. I’ve known him for almost twenty years now,” said Grandpa Ben.
“Sure, Grandpa.” Grandpa Ben told them about his friendship with Robert Stellar. It didn’t interest them much, and Christian steered her away from the table after dinner.
“Dance with me,” he ordered, leading her to the dance floor where couples swayed to a slow romantic number. There was Caleb and Lillian too! Skylar opened her mouth to ask if it was necessary when her granny’s words echoed in her head. She sighed and closed her mouth, following him to the dance floor in silence.
Would her friends all get married eventually and not have time for her? Would she lead a lonely life if she separated from Christian?
“Where are you lost?” he whispered in her ear, his mouth grazing her soft skin. With a jolt, she came out of her reverie and focused on him. When had he pulled her so close to him? She gazed into his beautiful blue eyes and the world ceased to exist around her. Yes, she could feel a hypnotic pull towards him. Was it accidental?
He swayed to the music with her in his arms. She could feel every contour of his fiery hot body pressed against hers. It generated a strange heat in the pit of her stomach, confusing her totally.
“Skylar?” he whispered again.
“Umm, nothing. I was thinking about when you’re planning our wedding.”
“Soon! But if you’re in a hurry, we could marry tomorrow.”
“No, I didn’t mean it that way. Can you give me some time to get adjusted to us? This time, I’ll decide when we would get married.”