Chapter 2: The Bridal Suite

Sam's POV 

I had no choice!

Even though I knew that the road ahead was full of traps and social warfare, I still had to continue.

Fortunately, everything had just begun and there was room to turn things around! Since God had given me a chance to relive my tragic life, I must not let this second chance go to waste!

To be reborn at this moment was a twist of fate, compensation and also a challenge!

The endless hushed and expectant voices filled my ears. just like in my past life. I was so overwhelmed that I started feeling dizzy but I was still as compliant as a wooden mannequin.

I obediently followed all the commands through the photo shoots and choreographed toasts until I was finally escorted into the luxurious bridal suite.

The bridal suite was penthouse that overlooked the ocean while sitting on the custom-made canopy bed.

The noisy and boisterous world finally quieted down but my heart still felt restless. The closer the moment of facing me husband, the more nervous I felt.

Recognizing and accepting reality was one thing, Integrating into it was another. My husband, the familiar but strange Ethan Sterling.

How should I handle him?

I felt a headache coming on!

The heavy, custom-made beaded veil seemed to have become heavier and it was almost giving me a migraine.

I took a deep breath and carefully lifted the veil. I gently placed it on the white satin duvet that was embroidered with the Sterling family crest.

"Miss, Miss, no, this isn't proper, you should quickly put it back on!" Lily, a maid who came with me to the penthouse, immediately widened her eyes in shock and stammered out her words.

The Sterling family, being the nation's tech giants, made the CEO's wedding a spectacle of extravagance ceremony. 

In just half a day, Lily had seen so much that she had become dazzled and overwhelmed. She seemed to be feeling timid and inferior to the extent of not knowing where to put her hands and feet from nervousness. As she saw me lifting the veil, she got so frightened.

"It's alright, no one else is here with us! My neck is aching and I couldn't breathe properly. I just want to take a rest, I will put it back on. Don't worry!" I twisted my neck to straighten it while raising my hand to massage it.

As I felt a little bit better, I involuntarily let out a satisfied sigh.

"But, won't that bring bad luck in the marriage?"

“What! Why are you so superstitious?” In my previous life, I followed all the social rules from sitting stiffly for half the day without moving even a finger and what was the result? 

Was it auspicious? 

Could my life get any worse than that?

"But this goes against the traditions of the Sterling, the will complain..."

"As long as we don't talk about it, who will know?" I blinked and smiled to make her feel relaxed.

"Miss, you're really something else!" Lily grew up with me and our rules were less strict. 

My smile finally calmed her and she grinned. Her anxiety and unease seemed to be calming down gradually.

"You must be tired from the day's events already, aren't you hungry?" I smiled as I asked.

****

Lily hurriedly nodded before shaking her head. She uttered slowly as if she just remembered, "Oh right," 

She pulled out a cloth napkin from her clutch. There were two bagels wrapped inside it. She presented them to me and said, "Miss, these were given by Laura, your sister-in-law, when we were at the airport. She said that you should eat this now so that you won't feel hunger in your stomach before dinner will be ready. I'm sorry, I nearly forgot about it."

Lily just mentioned "Laura," my elder sister-in-law.

"I'm so happy and grateful that my sister-in-law remember me!" I felt my nose tingled as I almost started shedding tears. 

In my previous life, due to my social awkwardness and naivety, my underwent great humiliation when he visited the Sterling mansion. 

Laura could not stand any wrongdoings. After having an argument with the Sterling matriarch, he threatened to cut ties while storming out with her husband and niece. 

From that moment onwards, we had no more contact! Due to this, the staff in the Sterling house mocked and belittled me behind my back while my mother-in-law and husband also took a strong dislike on my family.

"Really, Laura is so kind. She has a heart soft despite her sharp way of speaking!" Lily watched as I took the bagels in her hands while staring at them absently and swallowing unconsciously.

Feeling warmth in my heart, I took one bar for myself and offered the other to Lily, "Here, one for you too!"

"Ah, thank you, Miss!" Lily beamed as she took it and bit into it right away.

"Miss," Lily suddenly stopped and stared at me with a grin, she said, "The Sterling family is so rich, I wonder how many exquisite catered meals they have! In the future, Miss, you'll surely be living in luxury! As your maid, I'll also bask in reflected glory!"

Lily's eyes gleamed and her pretty face showed a mix of innocence and longing as her mouth slightly smiled.

My heart sank immediately and I felt a lump in my throat.

"Lily," I thought for a moment before I continued speaking to Lily earnestly, "We have been together since we were little. I've always regarded you as a sister so I don't need to hide anything from you. As a small-town girl with a declining family business, marrying into a family like the Sterlings doesn't guarantee anything. My husband being the CEO means our days are not going to be easy!"

"Why will that be!" Lily exclaimed in surprise. "You are Mrs. Sterling. You will be the main wife and you got married with a massive prenup and a publicized engagement!"

"That's the reason why it won't be easy!" I stated decisively. "Our family's current net worth probably can't compare to the Sterling family's housekeeper's annual salary. I can not take a high position of power here because these socialites and corporate executives can not be convinced. Trying to do that will only cause more problems!"

Lily was still puzzled, she kept staring blankly at me while forcing a smile. She shook her head. "I can't understand the 'social power' side of it."

I smiled wryly at Lily's straightforwardness and her freedom from the cutthroat corporate world, there was no way she would understand that.

"It's true! Lily, you just need to listen to me. In this house, don't take any unnecessary step, don't say any unnecessary words! Do you understand? Just remain invisible in the background."

"Yes, I understand! I will only listen to you!" Lily replied with a relieved smile and kept looking at me adorably.

A while later, I put the veil back on and covered my head while sitting upright on the bed. I heard the faint sound of footsteps accompanied by a cheerful and masculine laughter. As it kept getting closer to the suite door, my palms tightened and my body tensed up.