New Romance in Marriage

“Chris Jewell, do you take Paige Quirk to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love and honor her until death do you part?” The priest asked Chris.

Paige looked at the priest in surprise. How did he know her name?

A minute ago, she was worried the priest might read out her sister’s name.

Shocked, the guests whispered among themselves. That was not the name of the bride.

“I do,” Chris answered, his voice aloof as always.

The priest gleefully nodded and asked Paige, “Paige Quirk, do you take Chris Jewell to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to be faithful to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love and honor him until death do you part?”

Paige looked at the priest and replied, “I do.”

With a faint smile, the priest announced, “Now, you may exchange rings.”

The best man and maid of honor brought out the ring boxes and opened them. Paige held the ring while gripping Chris’ hand to slip it in.

Although she looked composed on the surface, the truth was… her palms were clammy.

It was Chris’ turn to put the ring on Paige’s finger.

He held the ring in one hand and took Paige’s hand in the other before slipping the ring on her finger.

However, the ring got stuck on her joint.

It simply would not fit. The ring was too small.

Though it was a perfect fit for her sister. Sierra had a thin frame, standing 5’5” and weighing 90 pounds. Paige was slightly heavier, and her fingers were slightly thicker.

Chris looked at Paige’s round fingers, then at her face. His eyes flickered with amusement.

Paige turned red in embarrassment.

Maybe it was time for her to work out.

With the ring exchange ceremony concluded, the priest happily nodded and benevolently looked at the newly married couple. “You may now kiss the bride.”

Paige’s heart raced as she nervously blushed at Chris. She awkwardly shied away from Chris’s direct gaze in panic, and her lashes fluttered from unease.

Chris took Paige's arms into his own as his face drew closer to hers.

Paige knew there was nowhere to run. As the indifferent but attractive face leaned closer, she closed her eyes and clutched her dress with bated breath.

The next thing she knew, she felt a cold brush against her lips.

She opened her eyes in shock.

Paige could not believe that Chris had kissed her.

She thought that Chris would position himself to look like he was kissing her. To her surprise, he pecked her lips for real.

How could he kiss her?

She was supposed to be his sister-in-law.

What an animal.

Chris did not go deep into the kiss and only gave her a light peck. He could taste the apple-flavored lip balm she was wearing. It was sweet and sour with a hint of mint.

It tasted good.

Chris pulled away and met her widened eyes. He chuckled at her expression of shock.

She was adorable.

Chris’ laughter flushed Paige’s face further. She turned her head away in frustration.

…

It was 10:00 PM. Chris and Paige’s reception was held in Hevensford’s only six-star hotel. The Jewells had spared no expense in booking out the entire hotel and setting up the presidential suite as the bridal suite. The suite was decorated with heart-shaped balloons and blossoming roses.

It should have been sensual and romantic. However, the air was thick with awkwardness and tension.

The Jewells and the Quirks sat on the sofa. The Jewells were visibly upset, while the Quirks appeared uneasy.

“I’m really sorry for today, Zander.” Bob, Paige’s dad, let out an embarrassed smile.

Zander, Chris’ grandfather, scoffed and looked at Bob in disdain. “Did you think an apology would cut it?”

“Um…” Put in a difficult position, Bob did not know what to do.

The whole thing was the Quirk family’s fault, to begin with. Not to mention, Bob felt small in the presence of Zander’s authority as someone in power.

In the end, he took his anger out on Sierra, furrowing his brows and glaring at her. He yelled, “Apologize to Chris and his parents right now.”

Sierra’s eyes were swollen from crying all day.

She tearfully turned to Chris, who kept a stoic face. She had always been smitten by his handsome face. However, her supposed husband was now married to her sister, Paige.

Her fiancé became her brother-in-law.

Sierra burst into tears. “Chris…”

She wanted to apologize but knew her apology would be an admission of guilt. She would be admitting that she had cheated on Chris.

Still, an apology was her only way forward. She could not deny the concrete evidence.

Hence, she looked at Chris through her tears, pleading with her eyes. She clung to the hope that Chris still had feelings for her and that his marriage to Paige was only a temporary measure.