It was Saturday morning, and the Beckhams were on their way to the airport. Eva took a deep breath, trying to shake off the tension that had been building since her family announced they would be attending her cousin's wedding in the City of Lights.
Upon arrival, they checked in, while her father handled everything else. In about an hour, their flight was set to take off, and they all made their way to board the plane.
"Are you getting married right after college, Eva?" Her brother asked.
His curiosity made her reflect on the question for a minute. She hadn't thought about marriage at all, and now, she was forced to dwell on such a conversation.
"You know, Mack, I've never actually thought about it. But I'd like to think you'll go first…" She teased.
"No way! You're older and almost done with college. I mean, you have only a semester left. I'm in my second year, barely finishing soon, so…" He claimed.
Their parents laughed at them, as they continued to go back and forth, debating about the future.
In what appeared to be an 8-hour long trip, the family was finally in Paris.
The family's chauffeur arrived just in time to take them to the mansion where they would be housed for the entire time there.
As soon as they arrived, Eva couldn't wait to go to her room. She was exhausted and barely knew how to walk…
"Don't you want to at least check out the lovely house, Eva?" Her mother asked.
"Not now, mom. I need to lie down for a bit. Although I must admit that this place is huge and breathtaking. I'll tour around before we leave." She said, and followed the housekeeper upstairs.
"Aren't we there yet? I think I'll pass out." She said, the stairs leading up to her room appeared to be endless…
"Désolé, mademoiselle, nous y sommes presque."
"I have no idea what that means, but okay…"
The housekeeper smiled.
"I mean we're almost there."
Finally they arrived at her room, it was a big, spacious room. Eva seemed to be drawn to the simplicity of the furniture and paintings.
"It's beautiful!" She muttered under her breath, but the housekeeper heard her.
"I'll take my leave now, Madame. You can use the telephone if you need me to assist you with anything."
"Wait! You didn't tell me your name." Eva inserted.
"My name is Louise, Madame."
"Please, call me Eva."
"Okay…Madame Eva." She said
"Without the Madame…"
They both laughed. Eva knew she liked her already. Louise left her alone afterwards.
Tired and desperately sleepy, Eva fell on the bed, still fully dressed, but without worries…
…
"Eva!…Hurry up!" Her mother's voice called from the entrance of the lavish venue, a stunning chateau with twinkling fairy lights.
As she walked toward the entrance, she couldn't help but notice the elegant guests. Eva was dressed in a soft lavender gown that accentuated her figure, feeling both beautiful and self-conscious. She had spent hours getting ready, hoping to distract herself from the chaos of her life back home.
Inside, the mood in the room was electrifying. Her relatives greeted her with warm hugs and cheek pinches, each asking about her studies and love life. She wore a welcoming smile, answering their questions while scanning the crowd for familiar faces.
Her cousin, Dominic, looked dashing in his wedding suit, standing next to his beautiful bride, Margaux. Both of them were surrounded by friends and family who showered them with love and well-wishes.
As the ceremony began, Eva found herself seated next to her younger cousin, Anna, who was more interested in playing with her phone than paying attention to the vows being exchanged.
Eva's mind wandered as she watched Dominic and his bride exchange heartfelt promises. The beauty of love was undeniable, yet it felt distant to Eva, who was still grappling with her own tangled emotions.
Suddenly, she felt a presence beside her. Turning slightly, she caught sight of a tall man with dark curly hair and striking green eyes. He wore a wonderfully tailored suit that hugged his perfectly muscled body which gave off a level of confidence that made her heart skip a beat.
Get a grip, Eva!
"Is this seat taken?" He asked with a charming smile.
"No." She replied.
"I'm Èdouard." He introduced himself, extending his hand.
"Eva." She said, shaking his hand lightly. His grip was firm yet gentle.
As they settled into a conversation during the ceremony, she learned he was a friend of her cousin's. They talked about their families and shared laughter over awkward wedding moments.
After the ceremony concluded, the guests moved to the garden terrace for cocktails and appetizers. The sun began to set, painting the sky in a shade of orange. Eva stood near the edge of the terrace, mesmerized by the view when Èdouard joined her again.
"Beautiful view…" He said, leaning against the railing beside her.
"Almost as beautiful as Dominic's bride." She joked lightly.
He chuckled.
"True, but I think you might give her a run for her money."
Eva blushed at his compliment. They continued to chat as they sipped their drinks. She indulged in champagne while he opted for something non-alcoholic.
Their connection deepened as they shared personal stories— he spoke about his travels around Europe, while she recounted childhood memories spent at family gatherings.
Just then, Dominic approached them with excitement in his eyes.
"Eva! I want you to meet my best friend from college!"
As introductions were made, Èdouard stepped back slightly to let Dominic have his moment with Eva. But before he could walk away entirely, Dominic turned back to him with an inquisitive look.
"Èdouard! You should join us for dinner later…It'll be fun."
"Sure." He replied casually, shooting Eva an amused glance.
As dinner commenced inside the chateau's grand dining hall, Eva found herself seated between Dominic and Èdouard at one of the long tables decorated with flowers and candles. The room sparked with laughter and the clinking of glasses as speeches were made and toasts were raised.