Lucian turned around and was stunned to see his quiet wife, laughing heartily. Her eyes crinkled into crescents and her lips split apart into a huge grin, revealing her pearly white teeth. One hand went up to hide her face while she clutched her stomach with the other as she tried to rein in her laughter.
Lucian was mesmerized by the sight of her – with the sun light hitting her from the side, the light breeze ruffling her hair and the blindingly brilliant smile on her face, she looked like a magnificent painting – perfect in every angle and stroke.
But soon, her laughter quieted down and turned into sniffles which she tried hard to conceal by taking in deep breaths.
However, Lucian noticed the change in her emotions and was perplexed about the sudden shift in her mood.
"I-I'm sorry." Violette kept her head low and dabbed at the corners of her eyes before she looked up at the mother-daughter duo in front of her.
"There's nothing to apologize for, dear." Beth waved her off with a warm smile as she went up to Violette and took her hands into hers. Then she turned to her daughter and spoke teasingly. "And besides, Joan does make really funny faces when she gets all angry."
"No, I don't." Joan instantly denied it with a stomp of her foot and threw a glare at her mum, with her brows knitting together and her nose twitching in righteous indignation.
Violette's eyes drooped down in sorrow as she forced her lips into a weak smile. Lucian let out a low chuckle and shook his head at their silly banter, while glancing back at Violette in between.
Beth looked at her fuming daughter and raised a brow, and with a smug smile hanging on her lips, she sniggered. "You sure about that?"
"Stop it, Mum!" Joan half grumbled and half pleaded as she crossed her arms and turned around, not interested in continuing the losing battle.
Beth let out a bark of laughter in triumph and turned her attention back to Violette again. "Alright, so… You two had breakfast yet?"
"Yeah, we heated the pancakes and waffles from last night." Lucian was the one to respond as Violette kept her head low and seemed to be retreating behind the ice cold walls by the second.
He realized that something was clearly bothering her and making her uncomfortable enough to mess with her emotional state. And he had a vague idea what was causing that.
He turned to Beth and spoke with an apologetic smile. "Actually, Beth, we have to leave so… we'll see you later, okay?"
"Oh? Alrighty then." Beth looked at Lucian and nodded in understanding before turning to Violette with a big smile. "I'll make you my special strawberry pie, next time."
"Forget about the pie, you have to try my original 'Fire and Ice Double Delight.'" Joan chimed in, as she stepped up and advertised her own dish.
"You…" Beth pulled her back and ordered in a strict tone. "Go and set up the tables. Now."
"Ugh, fine!" Joan groaned and turned to walk back reluctantly, while grumbling under her breath "Slave driver."
"I heard that." Beth shouted back at her daughter and watched her run off towards their trailer. She then looked at Violette and bid farewell. "It was nice meeting you, dear."
Violette didn't seem to register Beth's words as she stood there dazedly. Lucian approached her and nodded on her behalf before he took her hand into his and slowly pulled her away.
He felt Violette tremble at his touch but he didn't drop her hand and continued to lead her towards the car in slow, small steps.
Lucian unlocked the car as they approached it and went straight to the passenger side as he opened the door and helped Violette settle in first. He fastened the seat-belt around her and closed the door before going to the other side and getting in behind the steering wheel.
He then took a moment and watched her as she stared ahead with a blank gaze, lost in deep thoughts.
"Violette, are you okay?" he asked, concern and worry etched in his voice.
But the only answer he got was a passive nod. He wanted to press further but Violette turned her window down and looked out while resting her elbow on the door handle and holding her chin in her palm.
She didn't want to talk about it. He got the message.
Lucian let out a helpless sigh and shifted his gaze forward as he inserted the key and turned into ignition before driving them away.
- -
The air in the car was unexpectedly tense as the silence between the both of them seemed unsettled with a subtle hint of distress.
Lucian felt disappointed.
He wasn't angry or upset, just disappointed. From the moment they met in hospital yesterday, she hadn't spoken a single word to him yet. All he ever got were the occasional nods and a shoulder shrug here and there.
He wasn't expecting her to share all her thoughts and worries with him either. He at least wanted her to feel comfortable enough to be able to talk to him casually. But with the way it was, that won't be happening for a while and he felt… bitter.
On other hand, he didn't understand why he was so wound up about such a small thing either. He kept reminding himself that they just met yesterday and were married for less than a day. They still have a lot of time ahead and he hoped that in due time, Violette would grow more comfortable around him.
He knew she was extremely reserved, introverted and often indifferent towards most things. It would be strange if she suddenly opened up to a stranger she met just a day ago. He overheard Violette speaking on the phone earlier and her responses were short and precise with not a single word extra spoken.
But when he saw her laughing so happily without any reservations, he witnessed something more.
A glimpse of the real her.
But she quickly withdrew into her icy shell, leaving only the cold aloof exterior. He felt a pang in his heart and had a strong urge to pull her close at that moment, but he held himself back.
He knew he had to give her time and space but it seemed he got greedy and impatient anyway.
Lucian let out a defeated sigh and focused on driving instead, but as he saw a three way intersection coming up ahead, he became confused. He slowed down the car and soon it came to a stop as he turned to his quiet passenger.
Violette who was dazedly watching the scenery pass by, noticed the car slowing to a stop and looked ahead to see if there was a problem. But when she saw the road ahead clear without any traffic or other obstacles, she shifted her gaze towards the driver.
Lucian cleared his throat and met her gaze with a sheepish smile on his face as he spoke slowly. "Uh… where are we going exactly?"
A brief silence rested between them as Violette just stared at her husband who was finding it hard to keep his smile under her blank gaze. She let him squirm for a few seconds and then quietly leaned over and inputted the destination into the navigation system.
Lucian saw the route displayed on the small monitor and let out a fake cough before he accelerated the car down the road again. Violette leaned back into her seat and went back to watching the scenery pass by, with a small smile hanging on her lips.
As they continued on their journey,Violette eventually regained her poker face and slowly turned her head around to peek at the man beside her. She saw his calm profile – his gaze was focused ahead with a hint of a smile on his face as the sweeping wind kept ruffling his dark hair out of place.
She felt an odd feeling brewing in her chest as she let out a sigh and looked ahead. She was feeling really bad about blowing him off so rudely like that. He had always been sweet, sincere and considerate since the moment they met and he doesn't deserve to be treated that way by her.
But she was stubborn and proud in her own way, but most of all, she was conflicted and didn't really want to talk at that moment. As she was sure the observant Lucian noticed the sudden change in her emotional state.
She was never one to share or talk about her feelings and she always outright rejected anyone trying to convince her to do so otherwise. And she never felt compelled to explain herself for that either.
But then why was it that she was trying to justify herself now?