Chereads / After Nine Lives / Chapter 18 - Wedding night

Chapter 18 - Wedding night

Vanya trudged into her new bedroom, her feet heavy with the weight of her emotions. She was exhausted, both physically and mentally. The events of the day had left her feeling drained and defeated.

She flopped down onto the bed, her eyes welling up with tears. She couldn't believe that Nolan had stood her up on their wedding day. She couldn't believe that he had treated her with such disrespect and disregard.

As she lay there, Vanya felt a wave of sadness wash over her. She had never felt so alone and so unloved in her life. She wondered if she had made a mistake by marrying Nolan, if she had been foolish to think that he would ever truly care for her.

Meanwhile, Nolan was sitting in his study, surrounded by his three friends, Alex, Ryan, and Jack. They were all drinking and laughing, teasing Nolan mercilessly about his marriage.

"Hey, Nolan, how's married life treating you?" Alex asked, grinning mischievously.

Nolan raised an eyebrow, his expression cold and unamused. "It's fine," he said curtly.

Ryan chuckled. "Oh, come on, Nolan, you can't fool us. We know you're secretly thrilled to be off the market."

Nolan's expression didn't change, but his friends could see the faintest glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

"Actually, I'm just relieved to have the whole thing over with," Nolan said dryly.

Jack guffawed. "Oh, man, you're such a romantic, Nolan. I bet Vanya is just swooning over your charming personality."

Nolan rolled his eyes, his expression unchanging. "Shut up, Jack."

As the night wore on, Nolan's friends continued to tease him mercilessly about his marriage. Nolan, on the other hand, continued to drink, his expression growing more and more relaxed.

By the time his friends left, Nolan was stumbling drunk, his words slurring together as he tried to speak.

"Thith marriage thing ith a joke," Nolan slurred, his eyes glassy and unfocused.

His assistant, James, looked on with concern, trying to decide what to do with his inebriated boss.

"Sir, maybe you should go to bed," James suggested, trying to steer Nolan towards his bedroom.

But Nolan shook his head, his expression stubborn. "No, no, I wanna see my wife," he slurred, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for Vanya.

James hesitated, unsure of what to do. But then he remembered that Nolan and Vanya were supposed to be staying together in the same room.

"Okay, sir, let's get you to your room," James said, trying to wheel Nolan towards Vanya's room.

Nolan didn't protest, too drunk to care where he was going. As James wheeled him into Vanya's room, Nolan looked up at his assistant with a goofy grin.

"Thith ith my wife's room, right?" Nolan slurred, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for Vanya.

James nodded, trying to hide his concern. "Yes, sir, this is your room. You and Vanya are supposed to be staying together."

Nolan nodded, his expression satisfied. "Good, good. I wanna see my wife."

As James helped Nolan into bed, Vanya stirred, waking up to find her new husband lying beside her, a silly grin on his face.

She looked at him in shock, unsure of what to do. Nolan was drunk, and he was lying in her bed, looking at her with a goofy expression.

Vanya's first instinct was to push him away, to tell him to leave her alone. But as she looked into his eyes, she saw something there that gave her pause.

It was a glimmer of vulnerability, a hint of uncertainty. And for a moment, Vanya felt a pang of sympathy for her new husband.

Maybe, just maybe, this marriage wouldn't be so bad after all...nah.

As Vanya lay in bed, she couldn't help but stare at the man lying beside her. This was Nolan, her husband, and she was seeing him for the first time since their argument.

She remembered the way he had backed away from her with his wheelchair, his face hidden behind a mask of indifference. She remembered the way he had told her that he didn't love her, that he had never wanted to marry her.

Vanya's anger and hurt still simmered just below the surface as she looked at Nolan. But as she gazed into his grey eyes, she saw something there that gave her pause .

As Vanya lay in bed, she couldn't help but stare at the man lying beside her. This was Nolan, her husband, and she was seeing him for the first time.

She was shocked by how handsome he was. His long, brown hair was messy and unkempt, and his grey eyes were glassy and unfocused. But despite his disheveled appearance, there was something about him that drew her in.

Vanya felt a flutter in her chest as she gazed at Nolan. She had expected him to be older, more portly, but instead he was young and vibrant, with a strong jawline and a small scar above his left eyebrow.

As for Nolan, he was equally stunned by Vanya's flawless face. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back like a river of gold, and her blue eyes sparkled like sapphires in the dim light.

But Nolan's gaze was unfocused, his eyes blurry from the drink. He stared at Vanya, his expression slack and unresponsive.

"Wow," he slurred, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're...you're really beautiful."

Vanya felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she looked at Nolan. She was taken aback by his words, and by the way he was looking at her.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You're not so bad yourself," she said, her voice soft.

Nolan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm Nolan," he said, his voice slurring. "Your husband."

Vanya nodded, feeling a sense of wonder wash over her. "I'm Vanya," she said, her voice soft. "Your wife."

Nolan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I win," he slurred, his voice full of triumph.

Vanya raised an eyebrow, confused. "What do you mean?"

Nolan's smile grew wider. "I saw your face ..," he said, his voice full of pride.

Vanya's eyes narrowed, remembering her vow. "You cheated," she said, her voice stern.

Nolan shrugged, his expression unrepentant. "All's fair in love and war," he slurred, his eyes glinting with amusement.

As they lay there, staring at each other, Vanya felt a sense of uncertainty wash over her. What was she getting herself into, marrying a man who seemed to delight in pushing her buttons?