Chapter 3 - The Wedding Day

Charlotte's POV

After one week...

She was facing the mirror now, lost in thought. Today is her wedding day with Elijah. It's not a grand affair—no wedding gown, not in a church, no venue for the wedding reception, and most importantly, no guests except for their respective families.

She requested that her parents not let her and Elijah get married in a church; she preferred to get married just at the judge's office and without anyone knowing that they were getting married. It's because it's unavoidable for people not to pry into why she and Elijah were getting married, and in people's minds, it's like they're making up their own story about why they're getting married, so it's better to just keep quiet. After all, the reason they're getting married is because of a mistake, but she couldn't help but cry before this day because she never thought that her brother's friend would do such a thing to her, but she couldn't do anything about it now because everything had already happened and now she would be tied to the guy.

There was a knock on the door, so she stood up and opened it. It was her mother. Her mother looked her up and down.

"Why aren't you dressed yet? We'll be leaving in a few hours."

"I'll just wear a dress, so it's okay to do it later."

"You haven't even started putting on your makeup, and your hair isn't styled either. I thought you had it under control, so I didn't hire a stylist for you."

She smiled faintly before returning to her vanity mirror. Her mother entered and stopped behind her while they faced each other in the mirror.

"Are you mad at me, your dad, and your brother?" She shook her head. "I know it's too early for you to get married. I wanted you to be 25 years old when you got married, but it seems like not everything is according to what I want, and besides, I don't control what happens to you."

Her mother took the comb. She was the one who fixed her hair, just tying it up and dropping a few strands in front of her face. She also did her makeup because it's just light makeup anyway; there's no need to beautify much because their wedding is simple.

"There, my only daughter is really beautiful." Her mother smiled. "But what I want is that even if your marriage with Elijah is just an arranged one, you'll still serve him as his wife, Charlotte."

How could she do that if she doesn't know how? She's busy with school, and he's busy with his company, so how? Maybe the only special thing she could contribute is not being rude and speaking to Elijah politely, even if she doesn't want to see him every time she comes home. Once their wedding is over today, they'll go straight to Elijah's house. There's also a simple feast there, and that's where she'll live; even her belongings are in the car, packed in a suitcase.

"Char, let's go. We might be late going to the municipal hall; the mayor has a lot to do; he just squeezed us into his schedule, but..." Her mother looked at her clothes. "Change your clothes first and wear sandals; I'll go out to check on your dad." She nodded.

After her mother left, she faced the mirror again. In a few hours, her surname would be Walton, but she wouldn't use it until she finished college. She looked at her bed, and there lay the white dress she would wear. She took it and put it on, but before leaving the room, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror.

02 San Antonio Road...

After a few hours, their car stopped at a municipal hall. She also noticed that there were cars parked on the side; it seems like Elijah's family is already there. They got off and walked inside. She noticed the employees there were busy as they passed by because they were heading to a room where the judge office is, but before she could enter, her mother pulled her back.

She raised an eyebrow. "Why, Ma?"

Her mother took something from her bag—a white, thin cloth.

"Wear this. This will be your veil."

"Do I really need that, Mom?"

"Yes, you do. Turn around and bend down a bit."

She turned around, and her mother started placing the veil on her head. She was really prepared because she also brought hairpins. Then she faced her and placed the other part of the veil on her face.

"Let's go."

Her mother and father went inside first before she was pulled by her mother. But when they entered, she felt like sinking into the tiles of the municipal hall because everyone's eyes were on her. Good thing her mother gave her a veil, so it's not too embarrassing.

"The bride is already here. We should start," said the judge.

She couldn't see Elijah much because of her veil, but she couldn't hide the fact that her brother's friend was very handsome; although he looked strict and stern when not smiling, the bruise on the side of his lips and eyes was barely visible. She also noticed that they were wearing the same design of attire; he was in a barong, while she was in an ancient-looking dress.

She placed her hand when they faced Mayor Kevin, based on what she saw on the wooden plate above the table.

Two hours passed before the judge finished the wedding ceremony, before they reached the part, "You may now kiss the bride."

She just looked at the judge when he said that; she didn't want to face Elijah. But Elijah himself faced her and slowly raised her veil. She couldn't look into his eyes, so she just looked at his neck.

Her lips met Elijah's on the corner of her lips, but his lips moved as if smiling or grinning. Even when he moved away, his expression remained serious. Maybe it was just her imagination.

"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Walton." The judge laid out a paper. "Sign above your printed name, so your marriage today will be valid."

Elijah signed first, then her. When they looked back, their families were smiling broadly, both Elijah's and hers, except for her dad and brother. When Elijah's family learned what he did, her mother pleaded with them not to hurt him because he had already received serious punches from her dad, so her mother said they should just talk calmly until they got married today. Elijah's parents were actually nice when she met them, but Elijah's stern face seems to have inherited it from his father, too serious as if, at first glance, he didn't like you for his son.

Her mother approached her. "Congratulations, my child." She hugged her, and with a big smile, my mother looked at Elijah. "Congrats, Elijah."

"Thank you, Aunt."

"Now that you are already married, I will assume that you take care of my daughter," her dad said from behind Elijah.

Elijah smiled slightly and bowed. "You can count on me to take care of your daughter, Aunt."

"Good to know, so let's go. I'm hungry."

She was about to walk away, but someone held her hand. She looked to see who it was; it was Elijah.

"Why?"

"You'll ride with me."

She looked at his face; it seemed like he was forcing himself to let her ride with him.

"No, I'll just ride with Mom in their car."

His grip on her hand tightened, and he spoke firmly. "I'll go ahead of your family because once you try to get in their car, they'll push you to ride in mine, using the excuse that you're already married."

She blinked. "Okay, let's go." She took her hand from his grasp before starting to walk, leaving Elijah behind. But before she could even step out of the town hall, she was surprised to feel someone holding her hand again. She quickly glanced, only to see Elijah without a smile on his lips.

They exited together, and she was sure she saw her mother smiling as she noticed them holding hands, but her brother and father didn't seem pleased. She raised her hand, and her mother nodded in acknowledgment.

Elijah even opened the car door for her and closed it before moving to the other side of the car and getting in the driver's seat.

They traveled for a long time, and she didn't realize Elijah's house was this far from the town hall. She also felt hungry because she only had coffee before leaving the house.

They were the last ones to enter Elijah's house compound, but she didn't expect it to be this big, like a white house. An entire barangay could live there.

She didn't notice when the car stopped. She was surprised when the door opened, and Elijah was already out. She stepped out while still looking at the front of his house.

"Let's go inside." He walked, but she was surprised that he didn't even offer her assistance, especially since the path was rocky before reaching the flat area.

Because her sandals had heels, she walked slowly. She almost stumbled when she accidentally stepped on a rock. Just one step more, and she would be okay. When she did, she smiled broadly, but when she looked up, she lost it when she saw Elijah staring at her and gesturing for her to hurry up. It seemed he realized she couldn't be left alone outside, and Elijah was the first one inside.

Elijah entered first, while she followed behind. But when Elijah stopped, she bumped into his solid back.

She winced because the bump was slightly stronger.

"What are you doing?" He was already looking at her.

She avoided his gaze. "Are you following me?" She didn't know what to say. "Tsk, you are free to go wherever you want here. I'm not your food."

She rolled her eyes before walking away from him. It's up to Elijah; she just needed to find something to eat because she was hungry, but she stopped when she realized. Does their relationship mean they're like cats and dogs that don't get along? One is nice, but the other is grumpy. Of course, she's the nice one, and Elijah is the grumpy one. She just shrugged. They won't see each other every hour anyway, so it's probably okay.

Everyone was busy because they were hungry; even her family was already at a table, eating. While she was just about to scoop her food, there was no one standing beside the food, so she had to manage herself. She took a long time choosing her dish because, while everyone was busy, she tasted them one by one, so if she didn't like it, she wouldn't take it and put it on her plate.

She saw a golden brown color, probably fish filet, so she took one and ate it, but she almost choked when someone suddenly held her shoulder.

"Just choose what you'll eat; it's been a few minutes, and what are you doing? Are you tasting each one?"

While chewing and finishing what was in her mouth before swallowing, she looked at Elijah. "I'm just tasting which ones aren't delicious."

"That's not good, Charlotte."

It's true, what she was doing wasn't good, but the food she would take would be wasted if she didn't like it anyway, so she just made sure.

"It's just family here."

"Even so, show some manners."

She frowned. Elijah's true nature seems to be coming out. He was about to speak, but she threw a whole fish filet in his mouth, as if trying to make him speak.

"Opps, don't talk when your mouth is full. Show some manners too, Elijah." He frowned as he slowly chewed what he had eaten. She left Elijah there because she was going to eat.