04 wedding bells

Penelope's POV

“She can't marry that Thalorian. How are you so calm about this?! She's your sister!”

“Why are you more worried than I am? She's my sister, not yours.”

It's been thirty minutes since Calypso broke the news, drank some wine and left. Leila fell asleep and I made a makeshift bed out of my fluffiest blankets.

Right now, I stare at my frantic husband, and a part of me finds this all amusing. Deeply sad, but amusing. He's pacing our bedroom floor like a headless chicken, clearly losing his mind over Calypso's marriage. A part of me wonders how he'd react if I tell him I know he's fucking her.

My mind goes back to the divorce papers.

He rounds on me as if he's discovered the mysteries of the universe. “Thalorians are terrible people, Pen. Those people lack morality, basic decency. You don't understand what I'm saying. She can't marry one of them!”

Sure, I know of the Thalorians. Who doesn't?

For almost fifty years they've been at the number one spot in the business world. They run Olympus, the biggest company hive in the world with branches in every country. Billionaires doesn't even begin to cut. They're called “gods of the new century” because of their influence and power.

Calypso is about to become a literal goddess. Isn't that wonderful?

“I'd say it's a good thing. Calypso is marrying into wealth and power.”

“As if she's marrying a legitimate Thalorian,”

I bite my lip at his cutting tone. “Doesn't matter,”

He brushes his hands over his face and groans in frustration. “They have ties in the mafia. The fucking mafia. Do you have any idea what that would mean for us?”

“That means she'll be protected.”

“You're not listening to me!”

“No! You are not listening to me! She's getting married, so what?! She's an adult. She can choose who he wants to marry. And she said she loves him, what's wrong with that?!”

Except, I know what's wrong with that. It makes me shake with rage that he has the guts to be this fucking shameless in front of me.

He stares at me like I've grown an extra head. “I can't believe you. I thought you loved your sister.”

“Which is exactly why I'm going to support her, wear a beautiful dress and stand by her side as her maid of fucking honour.”

Silence stretches between us as we face each other off. He breaks eye contact, sighing to. himself.

“Since you don't care, I'm going to stop that wedding.”

My anger chips away at the corners and in it's place comes despair. It's a different kind of pain seeing this right now. My husband about to sabotage my sister's wedding because he's in love with her.

“You wouldn't dare,” my voice shakes with the weight of my emotions.

“Watch me.” he says, finality in his tone.

He wasn't joking.

The next two weeks are nothing short of hectic.

The couple wanted a private wedding. It would appear that the Thalorians aren't aware of the wedding for whatever reasons. Not that I cared.

I was at Calypso's side most of the time. Cake tasting. Venue scouting. Picking dresses. All of that. It was exhausting, dragging myself along with her.

And Charles, he did exactly what he said he would.

He threatened Angelo, who by the way was very sweet and kind, and he tried on several occasions to talk Calypso out of it. For once, I was grateful for my sister's stubbornness.

Our parents flew in for the wedding. Everything was ready. Calypso was going along with it. At a point all I wanted was for it to be over so I could rest.

I decided. The moment it was done, I'm divorcing Charles. Consequences be damned.

A day to the wedding, I'm getting my things together when Seraphina calls.

“So! Here's what I found about your mystery man!” Seraphina's chirper voice makes me smile. “Technically, he's not a member of the Halstead family. He was disowned years ago.”

“Why?”

“I don't know, honestly. There's not much known about this guy except his name. Vincent.”

“Vincent,” I say to myself, picturing the insanely attractive man that have me a kitten. Speaking of kitten, Leila is cuddled up in her cat bed, sleeping peacefully. “What does he do?” I ask Seraphina.

“Judging from the kitten incident, I thought he ran an animal shelter or something,” sounds of typing from her side are all I hear for a while. “There's no information on his line of business. But you might wanna listen to this.”

I press the phone closer to my ear. “What? Is he a gangster?”

“Not exactly. He's known as the Devil of Deals in some really elite circles. Basically, he grants wishes in the form of deals. He's very expensive from what I was able to find. But very sought after. No one knows what he looks like, no one's ever met him before.”

Devil of Deals? Come to think of it, I think I've heard something like that before. I can't place where exactly.

Vincent Halstead, the Devil of Deals. Was that the same man I met? This elusive Devil just handed me a kitten?

“I don't know, what if it's not him?”

“There's only one way to find out,” Seraphina sighs. “What do you think though? Did he have the devilish aura?”

“Oh he had more than the aura. He looked like he stepped out of hell or something—”

The door opens and Charles walks in. “Sera, I'll call you back.”

I hang up and turn to Charles. He's spotting a three day old beard, his hair is messy and his eyes are dull.

He walks up to me and hands me an envelope. “Here,” his voice is low.

I smirk to myself. Ah, so he finally wants this huh?

“I have something for you too,” I ask as I take the envelope. I pick up my own envelope from the dresser and hand it to him.

“This better not be some work related shit,” he grumbles as he tears into the envelope. Lately he's been in a foul mood. Of course, his girlfriend is getting married. How touching.

Leila paws at the hem of my gown and I pick her up. She's a bit bigger, and her purrs bring me comfort.

Charles read the papers. His brows scrunch together and he glances at me. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Shall I explain what a divorce agreement is, Mr Halstead?”

He scoffs in disbelief. “You're divorcing me?!”