Chapter 33
The decorationin Manille”s reception hall is absolutely sublime. I had already glimpsed it before joining Corentin at the ceremony, but the last details added make all the difference. The lounge open to the garden is adorned with hanging lanterns, their warm colors creating a visual harmony with the rest of the landscape. Bouquets of white flowers adorned with large and elegant green leaves sit majestically in the center of silk and lace tablecloths, adding a touch of elegance and luxury to the round tables.
A waiter approaches us with a tray loaded with champagne glasses. I politely decline, preferring not to drink while I”m back on duty. But it”s the opposite for Manille, who intends to enjoy the moment before her return to Paris in less than an hour. She still has to manage the decoration for another wedding tomorrow.
Like a guide, all the guests lost in this vast garden of several hectares come to me as soon as they encounter any problem, even to find the toilets inside the estate. I suppose it”s part of my job, and at least it keeps me busy.
“I finally found you,” a loud and masculine voice says behind me.
I jump and turn sharply to Corentin, whose gaze shows a hint of amusement at my surprise.
“Thanks for the scare. Why were you looking for me? Do you also want to know where the bathrooms are?” I mischievously joke.
“No. I need company. Turns out I lost my partner along the way. Would you mind helping me find her?”
His hand glides along my skin before gently resting on my neck.
“I can”t entertain, I”m working,” I announce, approaching an elderly woman to retrieve her cane.
Grateful, she smiles at me and thanks me before continuing on her way. I watch her walk away before checking the time on my watch. My eyes widen as I realize it”s time. Grabbing Corentin”s palm, I drag him toward the rest of the family in the garden for a photo session under the setting sun, the beach distinctly standing in the background. The setting is simply paradise, and I intend to miss nothing of this scene.
As I”m about to join the photographer for a better overview, Corentin”s hand stops me.
“Where are you going?” he asks, surprised.
“To my place. I”m going to help Eugène supervise this family session.”
“No. I want you to stay with me.”
As Edward”s gaze shifts to us, a hint of concern creases his brow, and his lips press into a thin line. Jackie”s usual easygoing demeanor fades, replaced by a subtle tension in his expression. Despite the slight apprehension in the air, I can”t help but feel a sense of unease about moving forward.
“I would love to, but it”s a session reserved only for the family. For friends, it will be later,” I try to convince him.
I expect him to give up, but his response leaves me speechless.
“Florence, you are my family. If you don”t have a place in these photos, then I have no reason to be there either.”
His words touch and reassure me. Clara and Naisha nod with tenderness, signaling my welcome. So, I stand by his side, blushing. His hand finds its way to my waist, and his lips gently touch my temple. I wonder how we arrived at this point.
Three months ago, arranging a wedding and participating in romantic gestures with Corentin would have been beyond my imagination. If someone had informed me we would reach this point, I would have found it hard to believe, as it still appears surreal.
As Corentin guides my face toward his, our lips brush for a second, and my heart races with a feeling both terrifying and exhilarating. Despite this moment of sweetness, I wonder what lies behind all these displays of affection and where all this will lead us.
Am I in a dream? If so, I”m uncertain if I can bounce back from it. This reality holds such beauty, detaching myself from it seems challenging. While held in his arms, I feel a sense of belonging and fulfillment entirely new to me. After the session, we head back inside the massive structure. Unfortunately, I don”t get the chance to enjoy a brief moment of closeness with the lawyer, interrupted by a group from his family whom Corentin quickly introduces me to.
“It”s good to see you again, Corentin. It”s been a while.” his uncle says after taking a sip of champagne.
“Yeah, I”ve been busy with work.”
The surprise in their eyes leaves me perplexed, as if he could have a job without them being informed is impossible for them to conceive.
“And what do you do?” one of them asks.
When was the last time he saw them or even spoke to them? The fact they are unaware of his profession speaks volumes. I know Corentin isn”t openly communicative, but it”s still his family.
“I”m a lawyer.”
“A lawyer?” she exclaims.
I scrutinize her, the wrinkles on her face standing out to me, and decide to assert myself. Her name seems to be Melanie.
“Yes, he”s a lawyer. What is the problem here?”
Discomfort settles among them. They suddenly seem embarrassed. The look I give them prompts them to respond.
“No, everything”s fine. I didn”t expect you to finally be reasonable and listen to your father. You did well, Corentin,” Mélanie continues, her voice filled with disdain.
Corentin”s eyebrows furrow, but before I can intervene, he steps closer to me.
“Can we go outside? I”m suffocating here,” he murmurs to me.
I scrutinize him warily, finding a polite way to end the conversation. When alone with the redhead, I scan the room, searching for any clues explaining this sudden change in behavior.
“Stop thinking and have fun,” he says.
I widen my eyes, shocked by this injunction. “It’s the pot calling the kettle black. You have looked like you”re attending a funeral since we arrived. At least I make an effort to smile and be polite,” I say to him gently.
I take Corentin”s hand, and we head to the garden, crowded with people. A cool, but pleasant, breeze immediately envelops us.
“Being surrounded by people isn”t my thing. You know I prefer things to be more limited and intimate.”
I take a moment to think. I had not paid much attention to this before. I thought it was me holding him back, preventing him from going out, having fun, socializing because of my homebody side. Yet, it”s true he is reserved and solitary. He speaks little, avoids crowds, and doesn”t connect with anyone except the girls and me. I can”t explain why I didn”t notice this earlier. We are both similar and completely opposite. We complement each other, each bringing strength to move forward and surpass ourselves despite the trials life imposes on us.
“I understand you, but they”re your family. Try talking to them a bit.”
He shrugs indifferently. “I have nothing to say to them,” he says with bitterness.
His words are calm, but his voice is icy and decisive. I stop, turn to him, and slide my palms along his forearms, then up to his neck, massaging it in gentle circular motions. I would like to understand what”s happening, why everyone looks at him as if he were a ghost, but he doesn”t seem ready to discuss it for now. I then slide my fingers into his hair and pull lightly, making him groan softly.
“You seem to enjoy playing with my hair.”
“And you seem to enjoy it too,” I murmur with a smile. “I”ve longed to touch your curls since the first time I met you. They are beautiful, so silky. I love running my fingers through them, and now, having the chance, I certainly won”t restrain myself.”
His hands rest on my hips with a certain possession, and he pulls me closer, burying his face in the hollow of my neck, triggering a multitude of shivers.
“I, on the other hand, love your scent. It”s so intoxicating. Your skin is so soft. Everything about you drives me crazy, Florence.”
I cherish this moment we share intensely, but despite that, a part of me can”t help but imagine the worst.
It”s so beautiful, it can”t be true.
“Corentin, what is happening to us? What are we doing?”
He slowly detaches himself from me, takes my face in his hands to look me straight in the eyes.
“Do you want us to stop?” he asks me with a slightly trembling voice.
“No, I—I”m scared, Corentin. How are we going back to normal after all this?”
He places his lips on the top of my head, my nose, my cheeks, and then presses harder on my mouth. My body shivers and craves more, but it”s neither the time nor the place. He pulls back slightly, looks at me again, then rests his forehead against mine with a sigh.
“And what if this is normal?” he whispers seriously.
With the tips of his fingers, he gently strokes my nape, and a shiver runs through me. When he leans in to kiss me, I close my eyes. There”s nothing around us, only the blaze burning within me. Alone in the world, I could stay in his arms for eternity, the setting sun as a witness to our passionate exchange.
When we part, a strange sensation overwhelms me. It spreads through every fiber at a speed threatening to make me lose my footing. This emotion grows, touching my soul, my heart, and my mind. It ravages everything in its path. I take deep breaths to keep feeding my brain, which, like the rest of my body, has been influenced by this unknown emotion.
What is happening to me?
A gentle breeze brings me back to reality, and Corentin”s soft and suave voice reaches me.
“What if we escape to my room? I don”t think our absence would be noticed.”
“And what would we do in the room?” I ask, teasing.
The mischievous intensity in his eyes makes my heart skip a beat.
“I could explore and kiss each inch of your skin, or we could do karaoke?”
A burst of laughter escapes me. Seeing him joke is so rare, it does me good, even if he doesn”t smile.
“I would love to, but it”s time for dinner, and I happen to be starving!”
We enter the reception hall, located in the spacious dining room, with sliding glass doors letting in the light. I hear people murmuring as we pass, and I notice some curious glances turning toward us. Before I can ask Corentin what”s going on, we reach the long head table, on Clara”s family”s side.
I am the only unknown here, and they all stare at me as if I were an alien.
Is it so surprising to see me sitting next to Corentin? Jackie intervenes to spare me this suffocating situation by asking a question, bringing a smile to my lips.
“How did you two come together, Corentin and you?”
Our eyes meet naturally.
“It happened in the elevator of our building. It got stuck, and I turned into a walking ball of panic. The day had been a disaster, and Corentin took the time to reassure me, despite my likely status as the most exasperating person on the planet. I don”t know how I would have managed without him.”
The stunned expressions on Jackie, Clara, and Naisha”s faces amuse me greatly. Our friendship began in a moment of vulnerability, and I think that”s what I appreciate the most. He saw me at my lowest, and yet he stayed, and I am deeply grateful to him. Our friendship is worth its weight in gold.
“That”s so beautiful! Even in moments of misfortune, there”s a glimmer of happiness,” Jackie exclaims, placing her hand on her heart. “That”s how the most beautiful stories begin! And you, Corentin, what did you think of this meeting?”
In a peculiar manner, I”m eager to hear what he will say, despite our prior discussion on the matter.
“I thought, ‘What did I do to deserve this?’ Then, I wondered who this incredible woman covered in wedding cake was. And I had to see her again because she haunted my thoughts.”
All the women at the table exchange complicit glances, while I try to recover. Corentin acts as if we were discussing the weather, eating quietly under my still astonished gaze. His hand rests on my thigh as he turns his face toward me, and a simple glance is enough to set my heart and body on fire.
The conversation resumes. The brides joyfully share how I helped them choose and book their honeymoon. Naisha”s mother congratulates me on my work, calling it perfect. I thank her with a smile and enjoy the warm atmosphere. I chat, listen, and genuinely have fun until I hear, for the thousandth time, a remark from a family member.
“I”m glad you”re among us, Corentin. It”s been a while, we missed you.”
He grabs some bread and cuts it, taking a moment to think.
“Yeah, I”ve been pretty busy with work, couldn”t free up earlier.”
Edward makes a small disdainful sound. Corentin tenses, as does Naisha. Clara and Jackie give him a black look. On my part, I”m so disturbed by his lie, I don”t immediately realize the sharp dig the patriarch threw.
It”s true his work demands a lot of time and energy, but he could have clearly visited them if he wanted. He sees his father only when he”s obligated to. Corentin told me there were some conflicts in his family, but I didn”t imagine it was to this extent.
The rest of the meal unfolds in a tense atmosphere. As an outsider, I don”t understand much. When the servers finally start clearing the tables, it”s time for me to slip away and have some fun. The brides naturally open the dance with an enchanting and perfectly executed waltz. When the guests join the newlyweds, I turn to Corentin, excited.
“Shall we dance?”
I know he doesn”t like it, but he surprises me by getting up and taking my hand. We join the dance floor, and his palms instinctively rest on my hips as I wrap my arms around his neck.
“How are you feeling?” I ask with concern.
He shrugs, his features tense. “It”s okay. It wasn”t as horrible as I feared.”
“Because it could have been worse?”
“Much worse,” he admits. “Luckily, you”re here. Without you, it would have been a real ordeal.”
I stroke his cheek and look at him with infinite tenderness.
“Now it”s over, can you tell me what”s going on? I find it strange we”re being stared at like this,” I ask as tactfully as possible.
He sighs and takes refuge in the hollow of my neck to place a kiss.
“They”re surprised to see me here, especially in good company, and happy. The last time I saw them, it didn”t end well.”
“When was that?”
“Ten years ago.”
My eyes widen at this revelation. The fact he hasn”t seen some members of his family for so long leaves me stunned.
“Do you want to talk about it? I won”t blame you if you refuse. I”m trying to understand.”
He”s about to respond, but he pauses and tilts his head to the side. “What”s going on with you?” he asks as I fidget in all directions, unable to follow his dance moves.
“I need to go to the bathroom, but I”d rather listen to what you have to say first.”
“Go to the bathroom, we”ll talk after.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Really?”
He nods, and a sly smile stretches my lips.
“Okay, I”ll tell you everything in detail, I promise. Now, hurry.”
I smile at him and move away, while throwing one last glance in his direction. I climb the stairs, and to my great joy, the bathroom is free. After finishing, as I”m about to descend the stairs, voices stop me in my tracks.
“It”s crazy Corentin is here, and with company on top of it.”
“Yeah, I didn”t expect to see him. Especially not with the girl who organized the wedding, right? Do you think he”s doing it on purpose to make Jolie jealous?”
Jolie? I remember her; I crossed paths with her during Clara”s wedding dress fitting. I didn”t talk to her, but I know she is Clara”s maid of honor and best friend.
What does she have to do with this? Why would Corentin want to make Jolie jealous?
“Probably. Those two love playing this game. After all, they were together for four years. The new one doesn”t stand a chance.”
They burst into laughter.
“I sympathize with the girl; she seems nice.”
“Yeah, but no one can compete with Jolie.”
I step out of my hiding place and catch the two young women who fall silent when they see me. Without a word, I descend the stairs. I try to stay calm, to contain the rising anxiety, but their words have touched me. Is why people look at me like this because they pity me, knowing Corentin and Jolie had a tumultuous relationship in the past?
But where do I fit into all this? Am I a pawn in this story, or worse, the butt of the joke? She stayed with Corentin for four years, knows him inside out, while I barely know his family.
Could Corentin have dared to play me, using me to provoke Jolie”s jealousy?
Panic tightens my throat, and I clutch my stomach to contain the growing pain. Even my heart is suffering; it”s bleeding profusely, taking my breath away. I need to calm down, but what I discover around the corner of the corridor only increases my anxiety.
What are Corentin and Jolie doing together, secluded in a corner where no one can see or interrupt them? They are in a deep conversation, and I inwardly pray for them to quickly move away from each other. But the opposite happens.
Corentin places his hands on Jolie”s face, then kisses her forehead. But what finally breaks me is this tender embrace he usually only shares with me. My heart shatters, tears flow, and I barely hold onto the wall to keep from collapsing.
I need some fresh air.