Look, Celeste

Celeste's POV

Henry walked in with a well straightened suit, and my chest swelled with pride.

I still couldn't believe Henry chose me to be his wife. Sometimes it made me feel like I'd won the lottery.

He came up behind me as I applied make-up in front of the vanity, and he titled my head back gently, pressing a quick kiss to my forehead.

“Finally the cardigan is inside the closet.” His teasing smile was wide, but I wore a sharp frown.

“I told you I'm more comfortable in loose clothing. Besides, isn't that why you married me, aside from the fact that you love me?”

Something twitched in his jaw for a swift second before he responded.

“Right, of course.” His smile remained as he reached for his phone, stepping away.

“Speaking of your sister, isn't she going to be so beautiful tonight?”

There was something chirpy about his tone, his eyes lit up. For the first time in a while, Henry was excited for a family event.

After everything he'd been through with my mother and my relentless need to defend him, it was quite shocking, even though it was long over. It affected him for a while.

My cheeks heated at his growing acceptance.

“She most definitely is going to be.” I couldn't wait to see her.

Since she's getting married, our family decided to throw an official party. Finally the little sister I've been cradling for years was finally becoming the woman I knew she'd always be.

Getting her full fit for tonight was like a final act, before carefully giving her away to her fiance, Kade Thorn.

As in, The Kade Thorn, only the coldest and the most ruthless CEO of the Thorn pharmaceutical industries.

It was quite shocking that he was getting married into this family.

I suppose I looked forward to meeting him tonight.

Henry's phone rang out just then, and I caught the caller ID from the corner of my eye.

Nancy.

He's never mentioned ‘Nancy’ to me before.

His face almost collapsed like he couldn't be more displeased by the call.

Maybe it was a business call. It had to be a business call.

“Let me take this.” He excused himself quickly. I pressed my lips together. Poor guy, always getting drowned in work calls.

It was strange to realize another woman bore my sister's name though. It's so rare.

I was about to return to my makeup when my eyes fell on something small and glittery, resting amongst the things I just set on the vanity table.

I picked it up. It was an earring. I got an instant feeling of deja vu.

Where have I seen this?

I searched my mind for a moment before the memory hit. This is Nancy's. I picked it out personally for her when we went shopping last year. How was it here?

That's odd. I pocketed it immediately, the same time Henry came out of the bathroom, his call over. Maybe later I'll hand it over to her, it must've gotten mixed in with my jewelry box somehow.

………

Henry made sure we mingled with the guests, his excitement through the roof.

Our arms were locked gracefully, and I got a lot of compliments on my dinner dress.

Mother clearly outdid herself with the interiors for this hall as it was outstanding, from ground level to ceiling.

It was overwhelming to meet so many famous people in one night. Even at my own wedding, I didn't get to see this level of people.

It's okay, anything for Nancy.

Speaking of Nancy, the room stilled the moment she walked in, then we all stood to welcome her, her hands intertwined with Kade Thorne's.

Nancy immediately stole the show with her dress and her beauty. She looked so dazzling, heavily magnetic. While everyone cheered around me, I couldn't help but pause for a second to stare at the CEO from top to bottom.

Pictures clearly didn't do the man justice.

Handsome was an understatement.

Clearly, nothing about his appearance was an accident, as all his features were too unreasonably perfect.

He was the kind of man that didn't need to smile to charm anybody, and the kind of man that made you stare without meaning to.

I looked away so fast.

It was only when I pulled my gaze away that I noticed the energy shift in Henry.

He's been happy all night. Why was he suddenly watching the couple and...clenching his fists?

And why were some women stealing glances at me and making side remarks?

Discomfort slowly crept under my skin.

I caught the moment Nancy stole a quick glance at Henry. She seemed to whisper something that I couldn't catch. His fists immediately dissolved.

What were they possibly communicating about secretly?

After everyone welcomed them, most of the family met to exchange pleasantries. I exchanged a warm hug with her and when I pulled back, Kade was standing beside her, staring right at me.

It was…. astonishing. Then he stretched out his hand.

“Kade Thorn.”

I took in a sharp, unnoticeable breath.

“Nice to meet you, I'm Celeste, her elder sister.”

He nodded and stepped away, but he never stopped pinning me with a look.

From across the room, he kept tracking my movements, making me very aware. I had to dab my sweaty hands over my dress continuously.

I suddenly couldn't find my husband anymore, and when my gaze found him eventually, he was standing beside Nancy and some of her friends, and I guess he said something funny, because they all burst out laughing.

Something cold prickled down my spine as I watched them, the way his eyes softened as he stared at my sister, the admiration in them, his warm smiles with that familiar glint in his eyes. It made something twist deeply in my gut.

Was it because maybe I always knew I was never enough when it came to her in everybody else's eyes?

I shook those thoughts away quickly, a soft hand to my chest like I just recovered from a shock.

I couldn't believe I just let myself go like that. Henry's never given me a reason to feel this way before.

He looked so happy around family for the first time in so long. I ignored the ache in my chest. As long as he was happy, I was happy.

Upon raising my head again, my eyes met with Kade’s. He was still staring but this time, curiosity was written all over his gaze, like he was assessing me for some reason.

Altogether, it made me uncomfortable.

I soon excused myself and headed to the bathroom and for some reason, my legs had turned to jelly.

I thought I was okay with what Henry was doing. I wasn't.

The earring.

The phone call from earlier…was it her? Nancy?

No…right? Why would she be calling him?

That made no sense. I'm definitely overreacting.

Just before I could push through the restroom door, I stopped in my tracks from two unmistakable voices.

“Mom, I think you should talk to her.” I heard Nancy say.

“But she tried so well tonight.”

Sharp venom floated through the door in the form of my sister's voice, conveying her next words.

“Sometimes I feel bad for Henry,”

My breath caught.

“He's such a saint, the way he tries to make things work between them...”

W-what?

“I understand that not everyone can wear something that shows a little skin, but if she would, she wouldn't have these problems…Henry would look at her without that look in his eyes that's so heartbreaking…”

Their voices seemed to distort right then from the inside out, and my hands clamped tightly around my stomach, trying to hold in the sudden pain.

I have…. problems?

My wobbled legs supported me to the wall and it was the only reason I remained upright.

I spent a lot of time getting ready because I wanted Henry to admire me for once.

“Why mock your sister?”

Deep laughter rumbled from Nancy's throat, like she was in fact, mocking me.

“I'm not. A man like Henry is her husband. She's lucky.”

“Don't think I don't know what you're doing by the way.”

I heard a panicked gasp.

“Mom! What are you trying to say? Lower your voice!”

“Just don't get pregnant, you're getting married.”

I stood rooted to the spot for a couple of minutes, internally lost.

The both of them complimented my dress earlier.

I took another deliberate, slow sweep of my dress and this time, the same dress that made me feel pretty now felt like the ugliest sack.

Was it because I didn't have my cleavage out like most women did?

My eyes burned with tears, but I blinked fast, refusing to let them fall.

With every breath, my chest constricted, like something heavy sat on it, cracking my ribs mercilessly.

Nancy was always praised for her fashion choices but I never was, at least until tonight. So even that was a lie.

All night, everyone saw poor fashion choices when they looked at me? How many of the compliments were coated in pity I had missed?

My fingers gripped tightly to the fabric of my dress, my knuckles tight against my chest.

I didn't feel like showing my face there anymore. I just wanted to go home and hide.

Still, I had to suppress everything, turn around and head back, trying hard to hide deliberately in the crowd, away from any attention.

My husband didn't look for me or come back to my side, but the second Nancy came back out, he was soon back to talking with her friends like I didn't exist to him.

It's all in my head. Maybe he was trying to network. Henry had a habit of working a room.

I was still in my head when a tall figure walked up to me, startling me and blocking my view completely.

“So, the elder sister,”

Kade.

I instinctively took a step back as I beheld him.

This man had a consuming aura that was enough to suffocate me.

I nodded.

He shot me an irritated look, his eyes cold and unfriendly.

“Don't nod when you can speak.”

I swallowed, looking down.

“Yes…yes I am.”

“Consider meeting my eyes. It's not that hard.”

“Sorry—”

He shook his head.

“No, don't do that. Just, never mind. Look at them.”

He left me, his eyes moving towards them, making me follow.

“What about them?”

True irritation flashed through his eyes.

“Look, Celeste.”

I looked. And I really, really looked. The smiles, the body language, their eyes conveying words they couldn't say.

My heart plummeted.

It was a sickening lurch that left my chest hollow.

Panic spread through me.

Then I choked out words.

“W-what are you trying to say? How dare you accuse your own fiancee of something like that?” I couldn't stop the crack in my voice.

His lips titled sideways, a dark glint in his eyes. He took a last slow and deliberate sweep of my body, his gaze dragged back to meet mine once again.

“This sucks, because you're pretty.”

I blinked several times as he stepped away and left.

…….

I left early, sick to my stomach.

My throat felt raw like I had been screaming, even though I had barely made a sound all night.

My fingers were trembling when I walked into the room, and my heart raced as I set the earring on Henry's nightstand.

I lowered myself onto the edge of the bed and wrapped my arms around myself.

Then I waited.