In the morning, Rhys woke to find the bed empty. She was gone, leaving only a faint scent of her perfume on the pillow. He remembered the night before very clearly.
They left the bar and stumbled into his penthouse, a tangle of limbs and urgent kisses. It was a night of passion, of forgetting the world outside.
He felt a pang of disappointment, but he shook it off. It was just a one-night stand, after all. Nothing more.He still had an arranged marriage to prepare for ,in the upcoming weeks with a bride he had never met .
Two days before the wedding Rhys decided to pay his bride a visit to reduce the tension he was already feeling about marrying a stranger
Rhys dressed in a tailored suit, his expression cold and determined. He would meet Celestine Zane, marry her, and fulfill his grandfather's will. But he would not let her into his heart.
The Zane estate was grand, a sprawling mansion with manicured gardens and an air of old money.
Rhys was greeted by Celestine's father,Rhys father's best friend Maverick Zane, one of the reasons he decided to accept the marriage , Maverick gave off the aura of an Imposing man with a stern expression.
"Welcome, Mr. Alastair," he said, extending a hand. "Please, come in."
"Good afternoon Uncle, you don't have to be polite with me, we are family already and we will soon be joined by marriage" Rhys smiled at Maverick
"I guess you are right Rhys, I'm so happy you agreed to marry my daughter, come let me take you to your bride"Maverick led the way.
Rhys followed him into a lavishly decorated sitting room, where a young woman stood by the window. She turned as they entered, and Rhys felt his heart stop.
It was her. The woman from the bar. Celene
"Celestine," her father said, "this is Rhys Alastair."
Celestine's eyes widened in recognition. "You?"
Rhys felt a surge of anger and betrayal. "You didn't tell me your real name."
Celestine looked flustered. "I didn't know who you were, either. It was just a coincidence…"
"A coincidence?" Rhys interrupted, his voice cold. "Or a setup?"
"Rhys," her father interjected, "please, let's sit down and talk."
Rhys ignored him, his gaze locked on Celestine. "You played me."
"It wasn't like that," she said, her voice trembling. "I didn't know it would be you. I never meant to deceive you."
Rhys took a step back, his anger boiling over. "This marriage is a sham. And you… you're nothing but a liar."With that, he turned and stormed out of the room, leaving Celestine standing there, tears in her eyes.
She had been feeling guilty about hooking up with a stranger a week before her proposed wedding to a man she has known since childhood.
But haven't seen him since she got back to the country six years ago,after her studies abroad.
And now the day she finally meets him, he turns out to be the same man she met at the bar,
"Mom why did it have to be him, I, I" Celestine broke down in tears, her mother walked to her side , her expression both understanding and concerned.
"Celestine, I know this is difficult, but you must understand the importance of this marriage for both our families, we have to find a way to make him understand you didn't do it with evil deeds in mind ."
Celestine wiped her tears and looked at her mother, Lady Eleanor Zane, a woman of grace and wisdom. "Mom, I know what's at stake, but I never imagined it would be like this. Rhys hates me now. How can we possibly make this marriage work?"
Lady Eleanor sighed and sat down beside her daughter. "Marriage is not always about love at first sight, Celestine. It's about building a life together, learning to trust each other. What happened between you and Rhys before you knew who he was,is unfortunate, but it's not insurmountable."
Celestine nodded, though uncertainty clouded her eyes. "I need to talk to him, to explain." She stood up and ran out of the room to try and find Rhys, but he was long gone.
Meanwhile, Rhys had stormed out of the mansion, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. He had come to terms with an arranged marriage, but this unexpected twist left him feeling manipulated and betrayed. He drove back to his penthouse, unable to shake the image of Celestine from his mind.
Once home, Rhys poured himself a drink and stood by the window, looking out at the city. The encounter had stirred something deep within him—feelings he didn't want to acknowledge. He had felt a connection with Celestine that night at the bar, a fleeting glimpse of something real amidst the chaos of his life. But now, that connection felt tainted.
Two days passed, and the wedding day arrived with the tension between Rhys and Celestine unresolved. The grand Alastair estate was adorned with flowers and decorations, a celebration in full swing, yet the groom remained stoic and distant.
Celestine, in her bridal suite, looked stunning in her white gown, but her heart was heavy. She knew she had to make things right with Rhys, but she had no idea how. As she stood before the mirror, her mother entered, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"You look beautiful, my dear," Lady Eleanor said softly. "Remember, today is just the beginning. You and Rhys will find your way through this."
Celestine nodded, though her confidence wavered. She took a deep breath and made her way to the ceremony. The grand hall was filled with guests, all eyes on her as she walked down the aisle. Rhys stood at the altar, his expression unreadable.
As the ceremony began, the tension between them was palpable. When it came time to exchange vows, Rhys spoke his lines with a cold, detached demeanor. Celestine, on the other hand, tried to infuse her words with sincerity, hoping to reach him.
"I vow to stand by you, to support you," Celestine said, her voice trembling. "To work together, despite everything."
Rhys met her gaze, his eyes flickering with an emotion she couldn't quite place. He said his vows, but the warmth was missing. The ceremony concluded, and they were pronounced husband and wife. Yet, the distance between them remained.
The reception was a lavish affair, with music, dancing, and speeches. Rhys and Celestine performed their duties, greeting guests and posing for photos, but they barely spoke to each other. When it was time for the first dance, they moved stiffly, the silence between them deafening.
As the night wore o
n, Rhys finally approached Celestine. "We need to talk," he said, his voice low.