#6:

"Mr. Angelo Hernandez, do you take Ms. Faye Alcaide as your spouse, your life partner, in both good times and bad?"

The officiant's voice resonated in the air, filled with a formality that weighed heavily on my heart.

"I do," I replied, my voice steady yet surrounded by an uncertain.

"Ms. Faye Alcaide, do you accept Mr. Hernandez as your husband, your companion in life, through hardships and ease?"

"I do." There was a brief pause, and then her response came, unwavering and crisp.

The ceremony progressed seamlessly to the exchange of vows and rings, each word echoing in the sanctuary we stood in, like a beautiful setting full of love and hope.

Before our guests, it was as if our affection for one another cut across reality, conveying a deep and genuine connection.

Yet, little did they know that this representation of love was merely a facade, a performance crafted to fulfill the expectations of our two families.

Suddenly, the officiant announced.

"Now, you may kiss your bride," signaling the moment where our fabricated unity would officially be sealed.

We stood face to face, the world around us blurring into insignificance as our eyes locked in a fleeting moment. I lifted my hand, gently caressing her cheek, and leaned in slowly.

Our lips almost touched as I pressed my thumb against the center of our mouths, careful to steer clear of a full contact kiss.

To everyone watching, it appeared to be a tender embrace, a genuine kiss shared between the newlyweds. But in reality, it was a delicate illusion, carefully crafted to maintain the sanctity of the ceremony while concealing the truth of ourselves.

......

"Congratulations, niece," Faye's uncle greeted with a wide smile that seemed joyous at first glance.

Yet, I could see through the facade—it was a mere mask, a fake smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Thank you, uncle," Faye replied warmly, enveloping him in a heartfelt hug.

As she gently stepped back, Clark's attention shifted toward me, and I felt a sudden change in the air around us.

"Welcome to our family, Mr. Hernandez. And congratulations," he said, his words dripping with velvet softness.

But as he took a few steps closer and halted right in front of me, the atmosphere darkened. The veneer of his smile faded, revealing a hint of menace beneath.

The warmth he'd shown Faye evaporated, transforming into a cold, piercing glare directed at me that sent a shiver down my spine.

I looked at him seriously, carefully masking the unease that bubbled beneath the surface as he fixed his gaze on me.

"Thank you, uncle-in-law," I replied, deliberately emphasizing the term "uncle-in-law."

As I spoke, I noticed the corners of his lips twitching upwards, almost as if he were about to utter something more.

Luckily, my in-laws approached us just in time.

"Congratulations, hija, hijo!"

Faye's mom beamed, her joy unmistakable at finally witnessing Faye and me tie the knot.

"Thank you, Mom," Faye said, wrapping her arms around her mother in a warm embrace, while I simply smiled, trying to ignore Clark's lingering presence.

However, Clark broke the moment with another word that drew our attention, particularly that of Faye's mother, whose expression darkened as she regarded her brother-in-law.

"Congratulations, sister-in-law. I hope your family’s joining forces will be successful," he remarked, his tone dripping with an ambiguous undertone as he addressed her again.

I felt an unsettling discomfort in his words when he congratulated me on my niece’s wedding.

"I won’t stay long, and you, Mr. Hernandez, are welcome again. Enjoy your day; we’ll see each other more often in the coming days," he added.

Before any of us could respond, he turned and waved, leaving behind a heavy silence that felt almost suffocating.

As Clark walked away, I couldn’t help but notice Faye's mother’s fists clenched tightly around the hem of her dress, hinting at an underlying tension between her and her brother-in-law.

.....

As our wedding celebration continued, we moved to the historic mansion of the old Alcaide.

With Faye's grandfather being advanced in age and unable to endure a large gathering, we chose this more intimate setting.

Upon our arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the cheerful staff who inhabited the mansion. Inside, the old Alcaide awaited us, and I noticed Clark standing at his side, his gaze fixed on me. I chose to ignore him as I approached the old man.

After the old man stood to greet us, I exchanged kind words with him, and he offered his heartfelt wishes for our wedding.

To our surprise, he gifted us a substantial amount of money, along with a house and lot for Faye and me to start our family.

“Thank you, grandpa,” Faye said, her voice filled with joy as she hugged her grandfather’s arm in gratitude.

As the gathering came to a close, the other relatives of Alcaide began to depart, leaving only Faye and me in the grand mansion of her grandfather.

Her parents decided to stay behind as well, and it was clear they had no intention of sending us off on our first night as newlyweds.

The elder Alcaide, with a knowing smile, mentioned that we would continue our celebration elsewhere the following day, but he insisted that our first night should be spent in this very mansion.

It felt as if he was orchestrating our lives, leaving little doubt about their intentions. I could sense they were eager to hear all about how Faye and I would cherish our first intimate night together, curious about the tender moments we would share.

.....

As Faye and I entered our spacious room, I noticed her intense gaze fixed upon me.

She walked closer, and despite the fact that our marriage was arranged by our parents, I found it impossible to look away, especially as she began to remove her clothes.

When she stopped directly in front of me, I realized she had already undressed, leaving only a delicate lace garment to cover her most intimate areas.

Her black lace bra hugged her curves tightly, accentuating the shape of her breasts, with her rosy nipples clearly visible. As for her lace panty, I admired the beautiful contours of her femininity, perfectly groomed.

"Angelo, am I beautiful?" Faye asked as she gently caressed my cheek with her cold palm. I tilted my head, captivated by her presence.

"Hmmm," I murmured, my gaze locked on her.

One of her hands moved to rest on my broad chest, and I felt her touch was delicate, almost as if she couldn't quite feel it.

"So hard," she remarked softly.

Her fingers, which had been brushing my cheek, now traveled up my neck to grip my nape. As she leaned in closer, eyes closed, our lips were almost to touch.

Just then, the shrill ring of my phone shattered the moment. Faye's eyes flew open in surprise, and instinctively, I removed her hand from her hold.

"Just a moment," I said, stepping away.

I swiftly retrieved my cellphone from the pocket of my Americana and saw it was my father calling.

"Yes, Dad? What’s the matter?" I inquired, puzzled as to why he would interrupt at such an intimate time, especially knowing it was our honeymoon night.

"Your mother is in the hospital right now." His words sent a jolt of shock through me.

Without a second thought, I rushed out of the room, my mind racing with concern for my mother as I sought to find out how she was doing.