The Bride With a Secret

Chapter 2

Two days after, I wore a white wedding dress

I was so tight that I could not breathe properly, my ribs hurt and the air was too heavy.

My heart rang so hard in my ear.

“Ready?” someone asked behind me.

No

“Yes,” I whispered.

The word left my mouth like a lie.

___

The ballroom was so full.

I took small steps down the long aisle, and I walked carefully so that I would not trip.

 I heard some whispers and followed me as I walked down the aisle.

“Who is she?”

“She is not even from here.”

“She must be after his money.”

“He deserves better.”

“Is she pregnant?”

“Lucien Stone married her?”

I pretended not to hear them at all , but the words kept getting into me and then I saw him.

Lucien.

He was at the end of the aisle and was handsome as always, but his eyes were hard.

He watched me walk toward him without a single smile. There was no softness or welcome.

Just silence.

I stopped in front of him and forced myself to look up. His eyes met mine and the priest began to speak.

Lucien didn’t look away, he didn’t blink.

“Do you, Lucien Stone, take Elena Rivera”

“I do,” he said quickly, like he was checking a box. It was flat, cold. It was like this was just another deal to him.

The priest turned to me and I swallowed.

“I do,” I whispered.

Our voices hung in the air.

We exchanged rings and his fingers were steady. He slid the ring onto my hand like it meant nothing.

My fingers shook when I did the same and the priest announced us as husband and wife.

People clapped and cameras flashed.

Lucien leaned close, his lips brushed my cheek. It was not soft, nor sweet.

And then a warning.

“Don’t mess this up,” he whispered so only I could hear.

I faked a smile for the photo and I felt some sharp pain in my tummy.

___

Later that evening, we arrived at his penthouse.

“You will stay here,” Lucien said without looking at me. “There’s a guest room at the end of the hall.”

I blinked. “A guest room?”

He turned his head just slightly. “You didn’t think we would share a bed, did you?”

“No,” I said quickly, too quickly and he gave a short nod. “Good.”

He disappeared into his office and shut the door and the sound echoed.

I stood alone in the middle of the living and 

I felt like I just made the biggest mistake of my life.

__

At midnight, I sneaked out and I changed into jeans, a hoodie, and a cap. 

I pulled the hood low over my face and I entered into a cab and kept my eyes on the window.

At the hospital, I used the back entrance and the night nurse knew me, she just nodded and I opened the door. There were no words and I stepped inside the room.

Jace was fast asleep.

My heart wanted to rip away from my chest when I saw him.

 He was looking so small, and so still. He held his bear firmly to his chest and I heard the deep sound from his breathing.

I sat beside the bed and stroked his hair.

“Hi, baby,” I whispered. “Mommy’s here.”

His eyes fluttered open and one eye peeked at me.

“You look like a princess,” he mumbled.

I smiled and my throat burnt. “I’m your princess, okay?”

He nodded, his eyes already closing again.

“Did you bring me juice?” he whispered.

“Tomorrow,” I promised. “I will bring your favorite.”

He nodded again and his breathing evened out. He was asleep before I could say more.

I stayed there for a long time, and watched him sleep.

I brushed his cheek with my fingers.

“I did this for you,” I whispered. “Everything. Mommy’s going to fix it, I swear.”

__

When I left the hallway was quiet.

I stepped out and almost crashed into someone.

“Whoa,” a deep voice said and I froze.

He was tall, broad, strong jaw, rugged and clean-cut.

It was Hunter.

Lucien’s best friend.

He looked surprised. “Elena?”

I smiled quickly, it was too quickly. “Hey.”

His eyes flickered past me, to the door I just came from. “What are you doing here?”

I lied. It was fast. “My friend’s son is sick. I was just visiting.”

“At this hour?”

“She was scared to come alone.”

He watched me and he didn’t believe me but felt it.

“You’re married now,” he said quietly. “You should be with Lucien.”

I felt some sharp pain in my chest. “Yeah… I was just heading home.”

Hunter didn’t move and his eyes just stayed locked on mine, it was like he wanted to say something more.

I walked past him before he could.

My heart raced fast.

__

When I got back, the sky was turning light blue. I opened the penthouse door quietly and walked in slowly.

To my surprise, Lucien was awake, he was sitting in the kitchen, and he held a  white mug.

 Steam curled up from his coffee and his shirt sleeves and his hair was a little messy, like he had been awake all night.

He didn’t even look surprised.

“Where were you?” he asked, not angry. He was just a bit curious, like he already knew I was lying.

“Just… went for a walk.”

He took a slow sip of coffee and then he picked up his phone and the screen lit up and a message popped in.

His eyes scanned it and his jaw tightened, but he did not say anything, he just kept staring at it.

There was silence between us and I felt cold, exposed and scared.

I turned away slowly and walked toward my room.

Don’t ask.

Please don’t ask.

I closed the door gently and I pressed my back on the door.

My heart beat fast and my palms became very wet 

Please don’t let him know.

Please… not yet.