Chapter CHAPTER XCIV
HAVE YOU EVER attended your own husband's wedding, especially when it was a crime for a man to marry more than one woman in your country?
That was the situation Sophia was in, except that her own was much more hurting because no one knew of her two weeks old wedding to Chase. It stung because she was even seated on the first row beside Valerie while Lucas stood beside Chase at the altar.
Bile rose in her throat as the song for the bride's arrival played, and Saige, dressed in a white beautiful wedding dress while covering her face with the veil, walked down the aisle towards Chase, her arm linked with her father's while she held a bouquet of flowers in her other hand.
That was what Sophia always wished for. She always wished for a wedding like that. A wedding where her dad would hold her like that and walk her down the aisle towards her Prince Charming.
It was just so unfortunate that her dad wasn't there two weeks ago to hold her like that and walk her down the aisle towards Chase when she was getting married. Her own wedding was a secret one which no one knew about.
She was being envious of Saige; Sophia was well aware of that but she had no choice. Why wouldn't she be envious when Saige had a father who was always there for her? Why wouldn't she be envious when Saige was getting married to the man she herself was secretly married to? And publicly at that.
Saige had everything Sophia wanted.
Tears welled up in Sophia's eyes as Chase held both of Saige's hands in his while they stood, facing each other at the altar, staring into each other's eyes as if the world was non-existent to them. Saige looked obviously in love but Chase? He was unpredictable. No one could even guess if he loved his bride or not.
Sophia was jerked out of her thoughts when the priest announced in the hall if there was anyone who objected to the wedding. She clutched her dress in her fists, resisting the urge to yell and tell everyone she was Chase's wife. She wanted to. Her heart screamed at her to do it but her mind told her not to. Her mind told her that listening to all Chase's demands was like winning his heart and if she really wanted him to love her, she would have to be patient with him.
And like a helpless teenager in love, Sophia said nothing, hoping that little action of understanding would help her win Chase.
She stared at Chase, a part of her hoping he himself would object to the marriage and say he had a wife already. But she was disappointed. He just stood there without moving or blinking his eyes away from Saige and for a split second, Sophia felt the woman in front of him was beautiful that he couldn't even take his eyes off her to look at her who was hurt.
One look from him would have been able to assure her that he was still hers. That look would have helped relief her but he didn't turn to do so. Courage radiated off him as if he knew she wouldn't dare say the truth. He knew he had drilled it in her head that she couldn't tell the truth to anyone no matter what.
The tear she had silently tried to blink away finally rolled down her cheek, and her chin wobbled as she watched Chase lock lips with Saige after exchanging their vows.
That was when she stood up to leave, and Chase pulled away from Saige, turning to face her direction. From the corner of her eye as she walked away, ignoring Valerie's call, Sophia saw Chase trying to come after her but Saige held his arm and whispered something to him.
Sophia sniffed back her tears and approached Luciano, who was in the driveway because he didn't want to attend the wedding ceremony. "Sweet -"
She cut him off. "Please take me back home,"
"But the main party hasn't started yet. Why do you -"
She cut him off again. "Please just take me home. I don't want to be here. I don't feel okay,"
Luciano's eyes instantly filled with worry, and he moved closer to her. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head, thinking of a lie. "Nothing serious. Just a mild headache,"
"I can take you to a hospital nearby," He replied politely.
"No, it's really okay," She faked a smile she hoped he would believe. "I think I've been stressed out because of school and other stuffs. I just need to take a nap,"
Luciano stared at her for a while. Sophia was a terrible liar, and it was obvious she was lying.
If she didn't want him to know what was really wrong with her, it was okay. He would wait for her to open up herself.
"Okay," He helped her open the front passenger seat. When she was settled in, he closed the door and jogged to the driver's seat before settling in. The engine roared to life and he drove out of the building, stealing short glances at her. "If you need someone to talk to, I'll always be here, sweet cheeks,"
Sophia looked at him with a small smile, gracing her lips. "Thanks,"
He stretched his hand out and placed it on hers before giving it a gentle squeeze.