Chapter One

Sylvie’s POV

I am Sylvie Carter and I'm twenty-three, a lone child, no parents, no friends, luckily … I'm engaged and … Achoo…

Achoo…

That was the seventh time I’d sneezed this evening. Four days to my wedding, and here I was, battling an impossible flu. The penthouse at the Imperial Crest was painfully quiet. The staff had all gone for the day, leaving me alone with my thoughts and no one to talk to.

I simply carried the bag of drugs I had gotten earlier from the doctor and dropped it by the side table and I sat on our velvet couch, staring at the city buzzing below through the floor to ceiling window that also reflected my blue eyes.

“I wonder what life is like down there?” I whispered as I watched the cars move like tiny glowing dots of lights. I found myself mesmerized by them.

I’m sure the people there must be drinking, or eating or partying or even having fun with their family or friends. I would trade 5 of … or maybe 7 of my Birkin bags to have someone I could talk to… and trust. 

Too bad. Wishes are not horses 

I turned to my watch, 8:45pm and my fiancé, Darian, still wasn’t back.

My head pulsed as I could feel the dull persistent throb that hummed behind my eyes, my stomach felt strange too... Is this what cold feet are supposed to be like? But then, I guess not, especially as I just returned from the doctor.  

“Sylvie?’’

I jumped slightly, looking up as the doors clicked shut and Darian walked in, his movement brisk and efficient as he began loosening his tie. 

“Darian.”

He smiled as he removed his suit jacket with a practiced shrug, dropping it onto the chair like the entire world belonged to him. I suppose in a way it does belong to him.

“There you are,” he said, his voice so deep and smooth as he walked straight to me. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead, “Hey, baby.”

“Hey, stranger,” I smiled, leaning into his warm embrace.. 

He then pulled back and caressed my cheek with his thumb as he studied my face. His eyes, usually so sharp and calculated in business, showed a raw flickering concern.

“I couldn’t reach you earlier and when I called your boss, he told me you went to see a doctor,” he said and I moved sharply to get my phone.

“Ohhh yeahh, I had the phone on DND in the doctor’s office. Forgot to turn it off. Sorry about that.” 

“How are you feeling now, what did he say? Should we move the wedding? Is it stressing you?’’ he bombarded at once.

I laughed, “No, it’s just a flu. I’ll be fine before the wedding.”

He furrowed his brows, taking my hands into his. “Are you sure, Bambi? I mean, you look so pale, this just can’t be the flu only.”

“Yes, I am sure. He even gave me fluids for energy while I was there.”

“Did they run tests?”

“Yes, they did.”

“Blood work? A full panel?’’

“Yes, Darian”. I said, offering a smile to soothe the panic in his voice. “They ran everything and the doctor cleared me’’ 

He didn’t look convinced. Instead, he sat beside me, pulling my hands to his chest. “After the fluids, he gave you some drugs, right?’’

“Yes Darian, they did everything. I’m really okay, it's just a little headache and catarrh that’s holding me back but when I am done with the drugs, I will be good before Saturday.”

He let out a long, shaky sigh, resting his forehead against mine “I just… I don’t want anything to happen to you. I don’t care about the guests, Sylvie. I just need you to be healthy, I can’t lose you.’’

The intensity of his voice made my chest tighten. It wasn’t about the “options’’ for him. It was about me. I laughed softly.

“I’m not going to collapse,” I said. “I am just tired.”

“Okay, baby,” he whispered, kissing my knuckles. “I just want you to know you can tell me anything. I am your partner before I’m anything else to anybody.”

I crossed my arms, feeling the weight of his love almost the same weight of my headache “You’re stressing me with all these, I thought you came back because you missed me? Why are you adding to the stress?”

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest. “I know. I’m sorry. I just love you too much for my own good.”

“Well,’’ I said, trying not to sound ungrateful." If we are talking about stress, your mother should be the first on the list.”

He rolled his eyes playfully, laughing “Ah-ha. Her. The only woman, we whisper her name, the unstoppable force.”

I burst out laughing and snorted a bit before grabbing a tissue to blow my nose.

“Stop,” I said, clutching my stomach. 

“Why? I’m serious,” Darian insisted.

“I know,” I said as I finally calmed. “What she does isn’t always very funny. She called again today.”

“She called me too, but what did she do this time around?’’ he asked while tucking my hair behind my ear. 

“She wants to meet tomorrow. I tried to push her off but you know how she is,’’ I said, rolling my eyes. “She even said something about changing the flowers. But do we really need to go? We had already picked the flowers we wanted. It's our day, not hers you know.”

“She’s just excited, baby,” he said softly, rubbing my arm.

“She wants everything to be perfect because she thinks you deserve the world.”

“She wants to change everything,” I countered. “The gold plates, the flowers… She wants the Thorne family silver. Darian, It's so heavy and old fashioned.”

He pulled back to look at me, a gentle smile on his lips. “That silver has been in every Thorne wedding for three generations. It's her way of saying you’re officially one of us. It's not about the plates, Sylvie. It's about her welcoming you into the family”.

“What about what I want?” I asked, my voice small.

He leaned in and kissed my nose. “You get me. For the rest of our lives. Isn’t that enough of a headache?”

I sighed, not wanting to drag issues. I didn’t really have the strength to argue. “Fine. I’ll go.”

“That’s my girl,” he said beaming

“But you’ll be there, right?” I asked quickly before sneezing again. “I can’t face her alone.”

“I’ll try, baby,” he muttered. “What about your drugs? Take them?”

I shook my head.

“Lemme get you water,” he kissed my head and left for the kitchen.

I grabbed the drugs bag from the table, opening it to remove the drugs when I noticed a paper that wasn’t there before.

I removed it, opened it and was shocked.