LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR PAST

Christian's gaze darted between Liana and the faces of his family, his expression calm but the little silence embedded with a wry smile heavy enough to build suspicions.

"I just have a strong feeling that you'd like this. I mean–80% of beautiful ladies who like this are allergic to spicy hot mustard." He explained, his voice carrying a tinge of compatibility.

"Huh? you're lying, Christian!" Annabel interrupted sharply, her brows furrowed into a displeasing frown. "Are you insinuating that people like me who cherish spicy hot mustard are not beautiful?" She argued.

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! All the elderly people in the room chorused a thick laugh, adding to her anger.

"I never said you're not beautiful, Annabel. But the mirror is not far from you if you want to confirm. You can make that judgement to yourself." Christian defended casually, ignoring Annabel's anger while he shifted his gaze to his new bride, planting a soft kiss on her cheeks.

"Can you see? If I can guess your favourite meal correctly, it simply means we're meant for each other, a perfect couple, right?” He raised his brows.

Liana's face flushed with a smile, her lips curled in a wry smile as her gaze met Annabel's expressionless face.

"Hey Annabel. Don't tell me that you actually took your brother's words to heart. You're as beautiful as the angels. Never mind your brother; he just doesn't know the definition of beauty." She said, her voice very calm and soothing enough to calm every anger in the young lady's mind.

"Well, she is indeed beautiful. But not as beautiful as my granddaughter in-law." Grandma Margaret snapped and the walls of the room echoed again with laughter.

'Wow! What a sweet family to be married in.' Liana thought to herself, a wave of relief sweeping over her mind.

Unlike the Clapton's family, she would have been serving the guest without appreciation or even getting time to join in a family dinner until her food gets cold.

As spoons were clicking the plates while everyone enjoyed their meals, grandma Margaret suddenly let out an awkward growl that even without a word, everyone paused for a second.

She dropped her spoon, her eyes fixed on Liana while stretching her hand across the table to have a feel of her granddaughter-in-law's soft palms.

"Liana, even if I die today, my soul will forever remain in peace because I know that my grandson's future is now complete. Look, I have something for you." She said and clapped her hands once.

Immediately, a smartly dressed young lady walked in with a box and handed it over to her. The curiosity on everyone's face as they rolled their gazes between Margaret and Liana almost made the new bride sink in shyness.

Margaret took out a large shiny piece of bangle and slid it into Liana's wrist. "I know this cost nothing much. But this is to renew our..." Margaret stopped midway and squinted when her eyes met the sharp glare from Christian.

She cleared her throat and continued.

"Liana, I don't know if a beautiful woman like you will still value a local piece as this. But this is my gift to you. Well, if you don't like it, Christian can buy you a better one."

Liana gazed at the bangle with a smile. "I love it, grandma. Thanks so much." Her thin voice echoed, penetrating every ear that listened with joy.

As soon as they returned home, Liana sat on the large sofa, her hands shoving the bangles with a questionable gaze.

Something felt completely off about it. Unlike the joy of receiving a gift from an in-law, a tiny crack she spotted on the bangle made her blink, her head spinning as past memories flooded. It looks exactly like something she once owned in the past, a reminder of the infinite love someone had promised her.

"Is it too tight on your wrist? I can help you take it off." Christian offered with a tender voice.

"Not at all." Liana replied meekly. "But what was grandma trying to say when she said the necklace is for renewal?" She asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Christian's ears perked up at the question. But he pretended not to hear her as his attention was glued to the wardrobe where he was neatly arranging the rest of her belongings.

As Liana watched Christian's manner of arrangement, a wave of reconnection washed over her. Christian almost froze when he turned and met her fixed gaze on him. "Is there anything wrong?" He asked.

Liana shook her head and feigned a smile. "Not at all. I'm just curious as to why you chose to arrange my belongings in that order. That's exactly how I arrange them at home." She observed.

"Oh, really?" Christian smiled and looked at her with surprise.

"I know it's just a coincidence, but that's a sign to tell you that this union will last till infinity." He said.

"Arranging your things like this, only reminded me of my first love. It's just unfortunate that.."

"It's okay, Christian." Liana cut in before he could finish talking. Her calm expression was gradually getting replaced with a frown as jealousy began to set in.

"I think it's best we talk about our past before we can refer to this union as marriage." She suggested, her voice firm and resolute.

"Alright." Christian responded casually with a shrug. "Ladies first." He said.

Liana lowered her head and began to explain.

"I think I used to be in love before the accident that changed my life. Eventhough my parents kept assuring me that there's nothing to miss about my past, I still find it hard to accept that. I still feel a void in my heart which I'm certain, it can only be filled with the presence of that man that I once loved. The features of this house.." she paused midway as a wave of emotions washed over her, causing little streaks of tears to roll down her cheeks.

"Okay. I honestly understand you, Liana. Trust me, I'll definitely fill that void for you." Christian assured and moved to sit beside her, pulling her into his arms.

"What about your past?" Liana's tender voice echoed with curiosity.

"Well. I don't have much to say about my past. Just that I once have a girlfriend who meant the world to me. But it's unfortunate that she lacks the virtue of patience." He said and his voice began to faint as if he got struck by the past.

"I was faced with a challenge that made us lost contact. She promised to love me, but when I returned, she was already married to someone else. My life felt worthless without her, so I kept on stocking her and wished her marriage could just end so that I'll take her back. Well, it's a good thing I heard her marriage is cracking up already." He explained.

The weight of those words cut deep into Liana's mind. A mix of jealousy and uncertainty running helter-skelter down her mind, but she still managed to conceal it in order not to look desperate. ‘Have I gotten myself into another marriage that I'll just live like a shadow of someone?’ she thought to herself.

"So, does that mean you'll take her back once she breaks free of her marriage?

"What about your son? How about his mother?" Liana didn't know when those random questions escaped from her lips even as she tried to keep her emotions in check.