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Their wedding was extraordinarily luxurious and very beautiful; unfortunately, Dave's mother could not attend because he said his mother was seeking treatment abroad. The sudden condition of their marriage made Dave's mother unable to rearrange her schedule. However, Dave said that his mother sent greetings and as soon as she returned from overseas, she would visit the two of them with a wedding present.

They entered the bridal chamber that had been lavishly decorated by a well-known decorator; of course, the flowers were supplied by Angel's greenhouse. Some are donations from her best friend Jim who is very happy with Angel's wedding.

Jim is indeed her close friend, who always helps her whenever he can. Many thought they were close, but only Angel and Jim knew that they couldn't be more than that. Jim was gay and he wasn't attracted to women.

Angel still kept the secret to herself, she hadn't told Dave yet. At first, she was still hesitant because Jim himself made her promise not to tell anyone. The man is still ashamed of the fact of his identity and does not want anyone to know, except for his best friend Angel.

However, Angel considers asking Jim's permission so she can tell Dave. Dave is her husband and she is sure he will not judge Jim. After all, Dave had questioned her closeness to Jim several times and seemed jealous of it. If Dave had known that Jim was gay, maybe he would have calmed down.

After changing into her white nightgown, Angel sat hesitantly on the bed. Dave hadn't been in since earlier because there were still a lot of guests outside even though it was already ten o'clock at night. The guests were mostly Dave's co-workers. Angel had entered first because she was exhausted from the lavish party this morning, while Dave still had to accompany his guests for the sake of politeness.

It was late at night when Dave finally came in. Angel was still waiting sleepily sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked up as the man closed the door to their bridal chamber.

“Everyone home?”

It's so quite.

Dave stared at her for a long time, and then answered curtly, “They are.”

Now Angel's heart was beating fast. She is alone with her husband now. She had never been alone in a room with any man before. Dave was her first man in every way and tonight they were husband and wife. Angel blushed, imagining how they would spend the night.

Angel, however, harbored a fear that she would disappoint Dave who seemed to be more mature and experienced than she was. They were eight years apart: Angel was only twenty-four and Dave was thirty-two. People say that their age is the right age for married life.

“You still haven't slept?” Dave was still standing by the dressing table and was starting to untie his tie. His own suit draped sloppily on the dresser.

Angel shook her head, smiling shyly. “Not yet, I'm waiting for you.”

Dave's eyes narrowed. The man looked so mysterious behind the dim yellow light of the room.

“You should have just slept,” he muttered coldly, then took off his shirt and stepped into the bathroom.

Angel was still stunned, confused by the change in Dave's tone of voice to her. The man had never spoken to her in such a cold tone of voice. Was it possible that Dave was tired? When Dave came out of the bathroom, he had already changed into black pajamas. He raised an eyebrow as he stood on the edge of the bed.

“Get over there!” he mumbled harshly, causing Angel to rush up onto the bed and shift to the other end, confused and apprehensive.

Dave then climbed into bed and lay there. Angel turned to ask, but the man was lying on his back with regular breaths as if he had fallen asleep just like that.

Is the man asleep? Why is he behaving like that? Is Dave exhausted… or was the man mad at her for something she wasn't aware of? Could it be that Angel had offended Dave unknowingly? But when? Why?

All these questions haunted Angel's mind. She lay with her eyes open, staring at Dave's straight back.

However, it looks like the question will not be answered tonight. Dave seemed to be fast asleep. Finally, with her feelings raging in confusion, Angel forced herself to close her eyes.

Her wedding night passed in suffocating silence.

***

The morning when Angel opened her eyes, she was still confused about her whereabouts. For a moment, she was a little surprised to be in a room she didn't recognize, but then she gathered her memories.

Her wedding… Dave's house.

Angel nervously straightened her body, looking for Dave, of course, but the other side of the bed was empty. Dave is gone.

She glanced at the clock on the wall not far from her, it was already seven in the morning.  Angel had never woken up this late before; she always got up at six in the morning, then headed to the greenhouse and tended her plants. Now that Jim is looking after her plants, the man said he wanted to give Angel freedom for a temporary honeymoon.

Angel awkwardly stepped up from the bed. Is Dave out for breakfast? Why didn't Dave wake her up? Does the man not want to disturb her sleep?

Angel stepped into the bathroom and showered with warm water to refresh herself and her body, which felt tired after yesterday's party. After that, she stepped out of Dave's room.

Dave's house was quiet. His room was on the second floor and no one was there. Angel hesitantly descended the stairs and stepped down; a servant immediately bowed respectfully as soon as he saw her.

“Where is… my husband?”  Angel asked quietly, still hesitant to claim Dave as her husband.

The servant still bowed respectfully.  “Mr. Dave has been leaving since this morning, madam.”

“Leaving to where?” Angel frowned.

“Leaving for work,” answered the servant briefly, then said goodbye to continue his work behind him.

For work? Today is the first day they are officially married and Dave is leaving for work. Was her husband so busy that he couldn't take a day off after their wedding? Isn't there a honeymoon like people usually do?

As far as Angel knows, most people choose to spend time together by not working. They don't need to have to go on vacation somewhere, even just being together at home is enough.

Angel thought Dave would take time for them to relax together, especially considering their short relationship before marriage.  Doesn't Dave want to get to know her more, just like Angel wants to get to know her husband more deeply?

Not to mention she still couldn't believe the fact that Dave had left for work without saying goodbye to her. Angel was still wondering about Dave's rude and cold attitude last night, but this morning his attitude made her wonder even more.

What kind of husband leaves his bride after their first night untouched, just to go to work?

Angel was silent. Her eyes stared at the beauty of the house with all its luxurious minimalist-style interiors in confusion. The house felt so distance for her and suddenly, Dave felt like a stranger for her too.

***