Chapter 9
I heard the music start to play for my entrance. My heart pounded as I grasped my mother and Ander’s arms, standing at the door. Two attendants dressed in gray suits pulled them open, and my nerves went into overdrive at the sight of the packed room. It was standing room only.
Oliver stood at the end of the aisle; his mouth slightly open as he stared at me. He looked so handsome in his black tux and white shirt, a powder blue boutonniere on his lapel.
He recovered quickly, smiling widely and revealing his perfect, straight white teeth. I felt tears coming and tried to force them back, but it was no use. By the time Oliver took my hand, my eyes were brimming. He reached into his pocket and handed me a powder blue handkerchief so I could wipe them.
“You look gorgeous,” he said loud enough for some of the audience to hear. They clapped their hands, and my face reddened with embarrassment.
“So do you,” I whispered, feeling a mix of nerves and overwhelming love. I wanted to touch Oliver, to let him know how much I loved him, but I kept my hands to myself until the reverend told us to exchange rings. Oliver slipped a diamond-encrusted wedding band on my finger. His own ring had four diamonds across the front of the platinum band.
When he kissed me, it was soft and chaste, but I could feel the passion simmering underneath. I knew he wanted to pull me closer, to deepen the kiss, but he restrained himself. He held my hand as we walked down the aisle. I caught a glimpse of Lara Harvin’s sour face as we passed by, but I didn’t care. Today was our day.
While our guests enjoyed the cocktail hour, we took pictures at the waterfront of the Hudson River. Vlad, Brenda, Trevor, and Raquel were ever present, trying to blend into the background, but I knew they were there. It was hard to ignore the fact that this wasn’t just a normal wedding. I was married to one of the richest men in the world. I was now Mrs. Ryleigh Fox.
Cocktail hour was winding down by the time we arrived, and food was brought into a private room reserved for the wedding party. Despite the delicious spread, I remained a bundle of nerves, picking at my food and only sipping half a glass of champagne. I peeked out the door at the beautifully decorated room.
The stained glass ceiling shimmered with soft lights, casting a warm glow over everything. The room was adorned in my chosen wedding colors of powder blue and sapphire. Table linens, plates, glasses, candles, and drapes all reflected these hues.
Large centerpieces with sapphire glass vases held delicate powder blue roses and baby’s breath, adding an elegant touch to the ambiance. Lost in admiration, I was pulled from my reverie by Oliver's voice.
“Sweetheart aren’t you hungry?” he asked, concern etching his features.
“No, I ate a lot for breakfast. I’m fine,” I replied, forcing a smile. It was a lie, but Oliver didn’t need to know that I hadn’t eaten much earlier.
He lounged on a couch, his tuxedo coat unbuttoned, looking relaxed while I felt like I might burst with nerves. Our wedding party bustled in and out of the room, mingling and enjoying the festivities. My parents stopped by briefly before heading out again.
Oliver picked at my father’s gold watch from my wrist, examining it thoughtfully. “This is unusual. It doesn’t fit you.”
“It’s my father’s. I wanted him with me today,” I explained softly.
“You should’ve told me. I would’ve had my jeweler fix the band for you, so it fit better,” he offered, concern evident in his voice.
“I wanted it just the way it is. Just the way he wore it,” I insisted, holding onto the sentimental value.
“Come here,” Oliver said, beckoning me closer.
I moved beside him, and he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close for a kiss. It wasn’t the brief, public kiss we had shared earlier; this one was filled with passion.
I tangled my fingers in his hair as his kiss deepened, forgetting the world around us. When we finally broke apart, the room was empty, and I couldn’t help but smile at the private moment we had stolen amidst the chaos of our wedding day.
"I'd love to take you home right now," Oliver whispered, his voice laced with desire.
I smirked, teasing him, "I bet you would. Only a few more hours, and you'll have me all to yourself."
"I can't wait," he murmured, his eyes darkening with anticipation.
Sadie entered the room, interrupting our moment. "The DJ is about to announce your entrance," she said, a bright smile on her face.
Oliver had insisted on having both a DJ and a band for our reception, wanting to ensure the music would be perfect. We waited by the door, and when our names were called, we stepped into the room to a chorus of cheers from our guests.
Oliver smiled warmly, but I could see the excitement bubbling beneath his composed exterior. I waved to familiar faces, my gaze inevitably finding Lara Harvin. Her expression, once sour, had transformed into one of pain. I couldn't blame her entirely; losing Oliver to someone else would be devastating.
But he had never been hers. She was a fleeting distraction, not someone he ever considered for a future. As we walked further into the room, I noticed Tyler, his face stoic as his mother clung to his arm. His dark gray eyes bore into mine as we passed.
For our first dance, Oliver held me close, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, "I love you so much." Despite the celebration, all I wanted was for the night to end so we could be alone together.
Midway through the evening, between the salads and the main course, I excused myself to the bathroom. The bathrooms at The SW were luxurious, with white floors, black marble vanities, gold accents around the antique mirrors, and thick wooden doors for each stall.
I was touching up my makeup when I came face to face with Lara. She was dressed in a long, body-hugging black sheath dress that showed far too much cleavage. Her bluish-green eyes sparkled as she smirked at me.
"Well, well, if it isn't Mrs. Oliver Fox," she sneered.
"Mrs. Ryleigh Fox," I corrected, meeting her gaze without flinching.
"Whatever. He'll tire of you the way he did me," she said, her tone dripping with bitterness.
I narrowed my eyes. "You never had Oliver for him to tire of you. You were just a fling."
Her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She leaned in, her voice low and menacing. "He would have been mine. We shared a connection that you don’t have."
"I don’t know what kind of connection you think you had with my husband, but it's long over. It's broken," I replied, keeping my voice steady.
"The connection we have is our past. Ask him. I'll be waiting for when he lets you go. We'll be together again," she insisted, a crazed glint in her eyes.
"You're delusional. I didn’t want you here, but I let you come because my husband said you were friends. Don't make me regret my decision," I warned, stepping closer to her.
She was about to reply, but the door opened, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw it was Laura and Sadie. Lara hurried out of the bathroom before I could say anything further.
"Are you all right?" Laura asked, concern etched on her face. "Oliver sent us in to make sure you didn't pass out."
"I was just fixing my makeup," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Who was that woman?" Sadie asked, her eyes narrowing.
"One of Oliver's friends," I replied, keeping my tone neutral.
"Seems like a bitch," Sadie muttered, her voice dripping with disdain.
You don’t know the half of it.
After I finished my makeup, I went into the stall, grateful that Sadie stayed to help hold up my dress. It was such a pain to pee, even with the train removed. As I went through the motions, my mind kept returning to Lara. There was something off about her, something I couldn't shake.
I decided then that I would broach the subject with Oliver during our honeymoon when he would be relaxed. I had a feeling he was keeping something from me regarding Lara Harvin, and I needed to know what it was.
"Ready to head back out?" Laura asked as I emerged from the stall, looking more composed.
I went to the sink to wash my hands. "Yeah, let's do this," I said, giving her a determined smile.
As we walked back to the reception, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Lara's words echoed in my head, but I pushed them aside. Tonight was about Oliver and me, our love, and our future. Whatever secrets lurked in the shadows; we would face them together. For now, I was determined to enjoy every moment of our special day.