The party had finally ended. Aneira and Jaxton stood side by side at the grand entrance of the hall, bidding farewell to the guests as they walked out of the hall. Aneira's face ached from smiling, but the sight of her parents, Henry and Haisley, walking towards her brought a rush of warmth and comfort.
Her father, Henry, reached out first, pulling her into a tight hug. "Be a good wife, okay?" he murmured softly into her ear. "And remember, our door is always open. You can come visit anytime."
Aneira's chest tightened with emotion. For a moment, she forgot about the pressure from the wedding, the expectations, the shock she was still feeling. She was just a daughter saying goodbye to her family. She held her father a little longer, squeezing him tightly, as if afraid to let go.
"I love you, Dad," she whispered.
Haisley, her mother, joined in, wrapping both of them in her arms. "We're so proud of you, sweetheart," she said, kissing the top of Aneira's head. "Don't hesitate to call if you need anything."
They slowly broke the embrace, and Aneira watched as her parents walked away, their figures disappearing into the night. Her heart was heavy, but Jaxton's presence beside her kept her heart at ease. He had been by her side the whole evening, always there to protect her, to guide her through the unfamiliar sea of people.
Sophia, who was at the side, watched the entire scene with gritted teeth. She had to clench her fists to keep herself from doing anything reckless. Every time Aneira moved, Jaxton was right there; shielding her, caring for her in a way that made Sophia's stomach churn with jealousy. It infuriated her, but she couldn't show it. Aiden's warning from earlier echoed in her mind, and she swallowed her anger, forcing a strained smile onto her face.
She turned her attention to Aiden, who was now hugging Aneira, ruffling her hair, something he had never done for her before. Aneira laughed, lightly swatting his hand away. The simple gesture made Sophia's blood boil even more.
Why did Aneira get all this love, all this protection? What had she done to deserve it?
Aiden caught Sophia's eye, his expression serious. She quickly averted her gaze, feeling the weight of his earlier words settle over her again. She couldn't act impulsively…not tonight. She had to bide her time.
Jaxton gently placed his hand on Aneira's back, guiding her toward the car. Without a word, he opened the passenger door, holding it open for her. Aneira hesitated for a moment, before climbing into the car. She raised her head to look at him, expecting him to close the door after she had gotten into the car, but instead, he bent down, surprising her.
His lips brushed against her forehead in a tender kiss. "I love you," he whispered softly, his breath warm against her skin.
Aneira froze.
She blinked, taken aback by the sudden intimacy. The weight of his words hung in the air, making her heart race. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. All she could do was stare up at him. She felt so confused, and something else she couldn't quite place her hands on.
Jaxton smiled at her silence, closing the door gently before walking around to the driver's side. As the car pulled away from the venue, Aneira leaned back in her seat, her mind racing. The way Jaxton had been with her all night; protective, caring, attentive, was just so unexpected. He was still a stranger, yet he made her feel something she couldn't ignore. It unsettled her but also she was curious.
She turned her head to glanc out the window as the city lights blurred past, her thoughts drifting to how her future would be.
What kind of marriage was this going to be? And what role would Jaxton truly play in her life?
However, one thing was certain: she would never allow herself to be used like before.
—-
The Argent Manor
The Grigoras family mansion, known as The Argent Manor, stood as a testament to timeless wealth and grandeur. Its silver-tinted gates gleamed under the moonlight, flanked by sprawling gardens and a towering fountain that shimmered like molten silver. The mansion itself loomed ahead, an architectural masterpiece blending modern elegance with classic intricacy.
Sophia stormed out of the car, her heels clicking sharply against the polished stone driveway. The night's events had ignited a firestorm of rage within her, and she couldn't contain it any longer. The moment she entered the grand foyer, she flung her bag to the floor with such force that it echoed through the quiet halls. Turning sharply, she faced Haisley with blazing eyes.
"Mom," she spat, her voice trembling with fury, "you should've stopped that marriage. You shouldn't have allowed Aneira to marry Jaxton!"
Haisley opened her mouth to respond, but before she could utter a word, Henry's voice rang out, cutting through the tension.
"And why is that?"
Sophia froze as her father emerged from the shadows of the room, his expression stern, his presence commanding. He stepped past Haisley and stood before his daughter, his tall frame and steely gaze enough to make her falter.
But Sophia was too consumed by her emotions to back down. She clenched her fists and tried to meet his gaze, though the weight of his disappointment was almost unbearable. Still, she refused to stay silent.
"I'm worried about Aneira, Dad," she said, softening her voice as she reached out to take his hand. "She doesn't even know who that man is. We don't know who he is! I just... I don't want her to get hurt."
Henry's eyes darkened, and he slowly pulled his hand away from hers. The coldness in his gesture sent a shiver down Sophia's spine.
"Did you not hurt her?" he asked, his voice calm but heavy with accusation.
Sophia blinked, stunned. "What? Dad, how?"
Henry's gaze didn't waver. "Was Ethan not her boyfriend?"
Sophia's heart dropped. She took a shaky step back, her mind racing. "Dad, I... I didn't know! I didn't know who Aneira was before. I didn't even know Ethan was dating her. I—"
"Now that you do," Henry interrupted sharply, "you will end things with Ethan."
The command hit Sophia like a slap. Her breath caught in her throat as her father's words echoed in her mind. She stared at him, wide-eyed, her lips trembling as she tried to process what he'd just said.
"What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Break up with him," Henry repeated, his tone unwavering.
Sophia's heart shattered. She stumbled back, shaking her head in disbelief. "No... Dad, you can't mean that!" She turned to Haisley, desperation etched across her face. "Mom, say something!"
But Haisley remained silent, her eyes filled with quiet sorrow. Sophia felt her anger boil over, her chest tightening with the weight of betrayal.
"Don't tell me you're in love with Ethan," Henry said suddenly, his voice cutting through her thoughts like a blade.
"Dad!" Sophia screamed, her voice cracking with frustration. Her whole body trembled as she clenched her fists, fighting the urge to lash out. "I'm your daughter!"
"And Aneira is my daughter too," Henry replied softly, his voice tinged with sadness.
Sophia's world tilted. Her mind reeled as she tried to comprehend his words. "What?" she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. Tears welled in her eyes as she turned to Haisley. "Mom... what is he saying?"
Haisley's expression crumbled. She stepped forward and gently took Sophia's hand, her grip firm yet comforting. "Your dad is right," she said softly. "We understand that you didn't know about Ethan and Aneira before, but now that you do—"
"No!" Sophia yanked her hand away, her voice rising in defiance. "Never! I'm not breaking up with Ethan! Aneira is married now. She has Jaxton, and I don't care about all this bullshit!"
Her voice echoed through the grand hall as she spun on her heel and stormed up the stairs. The door to her room slammed shut with a resounding bang, the sound reverberating through the quiet mansion.
Haisley sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. She turned to Henry, her eyes pleading. "You shouldn't have said that tonight," she said quietly.
Henry ran a hand over his face, exhaustion etched into his features. "I had to. I won't let one daughter's selfishness destroy the other's happiness." Without another word, he walked away, leaving Haisley standing alone in the vast, echoing space of The Argent Manor.