Chapter 7

All through the reception, my heart kept beating like a deer being chased by a lion.

The anxiety that took over my whole body from that minute on the altar never dissipated for even a second.

There was something chilling in his words, that wasn't my Rhys. It wasn't him.

I looked around the hall, waiting for an opportunity to have him all to myself but every angle, there was always someone around there, wanting to talk to him.

“Celestine, are you okay? You don't seem to be enjoying your own wedding.” My mom said with worry as she sat beside me on the couple’s seat at the head of the stage.

It shouldn't be her sitting by my side right now, it should be him. But he was busy chatting and laughing with other people.

“I'm fine. I'm just not in the mood. We can say that my cold feet affected me up to this point.” I said with a smile.

My mom quirked an eyebrow, “Cold feet? Celestine there's no way you can have cold feet. You were all bubbly with joy while the wedding plans were going on. What happened then?”

I shrugged, “I'm not sure. I was probably having second thoughts.

Maybe I was worried if I'd be a good wife to Rhys.” I said.

She smiled and held my hand in hers, “Trust me love, you'll do great. I can't picture anyone being perfect for Rhys other than you.”

“My sweet wife,”

My mom and I looked up and saw Rhys with a wine glass in one hand as he walked up the stage towards us.

My mom stood up immediately and walked towards him, “You shouldn't leave your bride all on her own on your wedding day.”

Rhys smiled, “Of course. My apologies. I thought I'd do all the greetings on her behalf. I'm trying to keep her strength for tonight.”

I didn't see my mom’s reaction and I doubt sh noticed the glint in his eyes but she scurried away as soon as those words left his mouth.

“Come on love. We should open the dance floor, dont you think?” He smirked.

I stared at his hand hesitantly, “Uhm…I'm not-”

“Oh, don't be silly.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the chair, sending me crashing into his arms with a gasp.

“Sorry, did I hurt you?” He asked.

“Yes.” I whispered and his hand clutching my arm tightened. I winced. “You're hurting me.”

He released me immediately with an apologetic smile, “Sorry. I think I'm too drunk.”

I looked into his eyes, trying to search for something and my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach as I found exactly what I was looking for.

Anger.

“Rhys, did I do something wrong?” I whispered.

“No my love. You could never be wrong about anything.” And with that he whisked me to the center of the floor.

His hand slowly snaked around my waist and the other one caressed my shoulder, his fingers trailing down my hand in a gentle graze before his hand wrapped around my wrist gently, pulling my arm and placing it around his neck.

“You look beautiful tonight.” He whispered as the slow song drifted in the air.

His forehead rested against mine and our nose slightly brushed as he led me in the dance.

Slow, sensual and romantic.

His fingers and hands moved and touched the right places.

We danced like we were the only ones in the world.

All our focus was on each other and our body movements spoke the words our mouth refuse to speak.

Right here in this moment, he felt like my Rhys again. Loving, sensual, and dominant.

He commanded and authored our movements.

I felt like I was floating in the sky and by the time the song ended, every nerve in me was at attention and awe of this perfect man who'd just become my husband.

“I need to talk to you.” The words escaped my lips in a breathy voice.

“Let's go home.” He replied, his voice a tone lower and deeper than it was earlier.

Home… It now sounded different in my ears as he said it.

He held my hand and pulled me from the dance floor as other couples filled it up.

“Apologies, but I'm too desperate to have some alone time with my wife.” He said to my parents with a smile.

“But the party isn't over yet.” My sister said with a huff. “I haven't had time to talk to Celestine yet.”

I pulled away from Rhys and crouched in front of her, my finger pushed away a lock of hair that had escaped the bow-hairstyle it was packed in.

“You can always come visit me, you know?”

“Really? He'll let me visit?” She asked, gesturing at Rhys.

“Of course I will.” Rhys said with a warm smile and ruffled her hair.

I felt a pang in my heart, he hadn't smiled at me that way all through our wedding.

Something is definitely wrong.

************************************************

“Why aren't you talking to me? What did I do wrong?” I asked as he drove through the quiet road leading to main road.

“I am talking to you now.” He said, not glancing at me.

“No, you aren't. Are you upset with me?” I asked and he said nothing. “Rhys.”

“I'm trying to concentrate here, Celestine.” He replied like he was frustrated.

“We just got married Rhys, it's too early for couple dispute. Will you-”

“I guess it wasn't to early for your lies and cunning ways then.”

I froze and turned to him slowly, “What!”

“I refuse to believe that you didn't know who I was, Celestine. I could have sworn that I appeared on the news papers and ever social media out there for quite some time.”

“Why are you still thinking about this? I already told you-”

“It's your words against your actions. And I have to tell you both aren't correlating.” He shrugged.

“I know I lied to you-”

“And I'd like to know why? Your reason isn't enough reason.” He chuckled. The kind of chuckle that sounded so empty, it made you suddenly feel fear.

“I promise, there's nothing more than that. I truly don't like being in the spotlight.”

“Another lie.”

He suddenly pulled the gear and parked close to the curb.

“Out.”

I blinked, “Sorry?”

“Out.”

I looked around, “You want me to get out?” I turned to look back at him and scooted backwards a bit. He looked…dangerous.

My hands clutched my skirt in fear and I immediately got out of the car.

Without even sparring me another glance, he drove off.

Leaving me standing in the middle of nowhere, in my wedding gown.