"You were never meant to be born, your mother is suffering now because she has given birth to you. That mark on your neck is the proof," Mr. Anders replied. He didn't care where they were and what was happening around them, she had asked so he gave the answers.
The doors were opened on either side and he placed a hand on that of Nyx like any father would while escorting his daughter to meet her husband, albeit that not being the same with them.
The announcement for the bride's arrival was made and everyone stood to their feet, their heads and eyes turned to the opened door where they could see her and her father. She was also able to spot Beth standing not so far from the last row of seats and she closed her eyes. She didn't want to think about the woman now.
Nyx covered her veil with her free hand and took a deep yet silent breath. Taking their steps forward, her head held high, back and shoulders straight as well as her gaze, she asked,
"Why didn't you kill me then?" The man knew everything right from the beginning of her life even before she was born, so why didn't he?
"Death favors you, there have been many near-death situations where you would have lost your life but here you are without a single scar," he replied and she chuckled.
"I see, I am hated by my father but favored by death, at least I am not hated by everyone," Nyx replied humorlessly. He glanced at her but said nothing.
"Thank you for telling me this today, it has helped my mood... greatly." With that said, they walked on in silence under the eyes of everyone. Those who don't know would think they were having a last-minute cheerful heart-to-heart conversation before she was sent off, but unknown to them that it was far from it.
They stopped right beside the altar where her supposed husband was waiting with the priest right behind him.
"I leave her to you, Mr. Morgan," Mr. Anders said as he gave Nyx's hand to him.
"I promise to take good care of her," The man dressed in a white suit replied and Mr Anders only had a nod of approval before taking a step back, turning and then walking away.
Just like that, her wedding began and vows were exchanged, of which she only gave what she had recited over and over again so that she did not get it wrong. She didn't say a word that came from her heart, she just absent-mindedly said everything then it quickly came to an end. Nyx watched it all happen without having a say, she could neither oppose nor let herself be happy about the big day every woman wished for.
Immediately it was all over, she felt an intense gaze on her figure. It was so intense that she felt it would bore a hole through her back anytime soon. But weirdly, it was familiar, so familiar that it reminded her of him…
"Are you alright?" her husband asked but she did not respond. Her mind and body were still trying to make certain the gaze that she felt. Her eyes roamed the congregation trying hard to locate him, to pinpoint the direction where the gaze came from but all of her efforts proved vain.
"Nyx, my dear wife, are you alright?" he asked this time, touching her arm to get her attention. She was too focused on whatever it was that she was looking at and he didn't like it.
"Are you happy now?" Nyx asked, rather than answering his question. She turned to look at him and he looked rather taken aback by her question but she didn't care. He didn't care about her feelings before and still didn't care, so why should she be concerned for him? "Tell me, Skye, are you happy now that you have what you wanted?"
"It is not what you think, Nyx, I had to marry you," he said without revealing the reason. "This is not the right place to have this conversation, but as we are married now, I will treat you right, the way a wife should be treated."
Nyx squinted at him but eventually nodded her head. Right now, they are newlyweds, they shouldn't start an argument right away even before the reception is over.
"Thank you," he said in a whisper. He placed his hand on the small of her back to lead her to greet the guests, once all of this was over, he knew he would have to tell her the truth unless… "Come on, let us go."
Nyx had to admit that he was rather gentle with her and his words about not having a choice but to marry her had her puzzled. What could his reason be and was her father aware of it? Was that why he agreed to the wedding without a second thought? Nyx was quick to push that idea out of her mind, it did not matter who it was, or what the reason might be, her father would give her to him without a second thought.
Just like that, the hours went by and soon, all the guests made their way to their various homes except a few who were either relatives of Nyx, the bride or that of Skye, the groom.
Among them was Martha, Nyx' mother seated in her wheelchair. She looked exceptionally pale, paler than how she was when she and Nyx had a conversation. Her breathing had become even more shallow but only a few noticed because they all thought she had always looked the same.
Without thinking much about her health, she sought for the newlyweds to give them her blessings. She didn't know how much longer she would live so it was a must that she did that immediately.
"I was informed that the young Miss… Mrs. Morgan has retired to her room and does not wish to speak with anyone," her nurse informed her but she smiled and wheeled herself in the direction of the said room where Nyx was.
"Do not follow me," she instructed. It was enough that she would be barging into her room, she didn't want to take another person with her.
Wheeling her way to the elevator, she entered and headed up to the third floor. She came out when it stopped and wheeled herself towards Nyx's room. Upon getting closer, she spotted a man dressed in a black suit standing and staring at her. He was familiar somehow but she knew she had never met him before.