#5

Faye and I had to reschedule our wedding once again, which meant that our entire family was busy with preparations.

As Faye and I tackled the planning, it was unavoidable for Clark and me to cross paths. He always seemed to be right behind me, ready to tease.

No matter how hard I tried to avoid him, he would find a way to approach me deliberately.

On our wedding day, I was preoccupied with putting on my suit. As I was getting dressed, I didn't notice the door to my dressing room opening.

Just as I was about to change out of my t-shirt into my polo shirt, I was startled when someone suddenly hugged me from behind. I felt his palm pressing against my stomach, and he began to caress my abs.

“Let go of me,” I said angrily, trying to pull away and squirm out of his grasp.

Even though I didn’t have to look to know who it was, I was well aware that only one person would dare to act so boldly – Clark, Faye’s uncle.

“What are you doing, Mr. Alcaide? You’re crossing the line with your actions,” I scolded him.

However, my anger seemed to have no effect on him. He merely grinned as he glanced at my bare torso, having caught me shirtless just before he made his move.

"You seem quite eager to marry my niece," he remarked.

"That’s none of your business, Mr. Alcaide. You are only my future spouse's relative, so I expect you to respect this day."

"Oh! If you know you're marrying my niece, then why did you allow me to sleep with you that night? You can't deny that you enjoyed it." He smirked.

“I told you, that was just the result of my drunkenness. It won’t happen again. So please, Mr. Alcaide, even if you don’t respect me as your future relative, at least behave properly out of respect for your niece,” I replied firmly.

I wanted to make it clear to him that I was not someone to be dismissed lightly. With that, I pushed him out of the dressing room.

However, just before I could fully close the door, he caught my wrist with a strong grip and pulled me closer to him.

I have a solid build with broad shoulders and defined abs, maintaining a strong posture typical of a man.

Yet, when I compared myself to Clark’s physique, I felt inadequate. His body was impressive—not overwhelmingly large, but certainly well-built.

I recalled that night when he displayed an eight-pack of abs, and they were undeniably sculpted. His sun-kissed skin contrasted sharply with my much fairer complexion, adding to the overall strength of his appearance.

I stood tall at 5'10", but in his presence, his towering height of 6'3" to 6'4" felt like an insurmountable difference.

"Let me go!" I managed to gasp, struggling against his grip.

Yet, his arms tightened around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I pushed my hands between our bodies, attempting to create some space. As I strained to push him away, he leaned in closer, his breath warm against my skin.

I quickly turned my face away when I felt him try to kiss me. But he deftly captured my jaw with one hand, forcing my lips to meet his with an intensity that caught me off guard.

"Ugh!" I stifled a groan, desperately trying to avoid his kiss.

His grip was firm, keeping our lips locked together, refusing to let go.

In that moment, a plan formed in my mind—I wanted to bite his lips. Just as I prepared to execute my tiny rebellion, it was as if he predict my move.

He abruptly halted the kiss, yet his hold around my waist remained unyielding.

A teasing smirk crept onto his lips, and he kissed me again, albeit a quick peck, before releasing me.

Fueled by a mix of anger and defiance, I balled my fist, ready to deliver a punch that would hopefully reclaim my dignity. But before my fist could find its target, a loud knock interrupted us, pulling both our attention away.

We turned to the door in unison. He smirked again, a devilish expression that unsettled me further. Stepping back, he made no move to leave.

"Open it," he commanded, leaning against the wall beside the door, arms crossed over his chest.

My clenched fist relaxed as I tried to calm myself. I smoothed out my polo shirt before slowly opening the door. To my surprise, Faye stood outside, smiling brightly at me. But her smile faded when she noticed her Uncle Clark lounging against the wall.

"Uncle, why are you here?" Faye asked, stepping closer and grabbing hold of my arms, her expression shifting from warmth to concern.

"I just want to congratulate him for your wedding," Clark answered seriously, his gaze fixed on me.

"Oh! Thank you, Uncle," Faye replied, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yes, honey. Your uncle is quite a sweet talker," I added with a sardonic tone that betrayed my anger towards Clark.

In an attempt to erase his unwelcome affection, I decided to demonstrate my feelings for Faye by kissing her in front of him, making it clear that I preferred her lips over his.

I turned Faye to face me, wrapping my arms around her waist and lifting her slightly off the ground. Gently, I held her chin to tilt her face up to mine.

Surprised by my boldness, Faye's eyes widened, but she didn't resist my hold on her chin. As I leaned in closer, she instinctively closed her eyes, waiting for our lips to meet.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Clark standing upright from his leaning position against the wall, his furrowed brow and clenched fist revealing his growing tension.

I couldn't help but smirk as I finally closed the distance between Faye and me. Just as my lips were about to touch hers, Clark's voice interrupted us.

"Your guests are waiting, niece," he said.

Faye's eyes flew open in surprise, clearly taken aback by the moment.

Reluctantly, I loosened my embrace around her waist and finally let her go.

"Wait for me outside," I said to Faye, "And bring your uncle along."

"S-sure," she replied, looking back at her uncle. "Uncle, let's go."

Clark said nothing, merely casting another glance at me—a look that sent shivers down my spine, tinged with an unspoken threat.

Then he turned and walked away, with Faye following closely behind him.