~ATHENA
As I stood before the mirror, my reflection stared back at me. I was a stranger in a white gown and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was staring at a lie. Reid's words still lingered, a bitter taste on my lips like the dusk of a cold winter's night, while my heart felt like a room with no windows, no doors, just a faint echo of what could have been.
Why can't this be real? Why do I have to be a means to an end, a tool to further someone else's ambitions? The thought sent a wave of numbness washing over me as I wondered if I would ever be more than just a pawn in someone else's game. While the world outside seemed to be moving forward, time was standing still for me, trapped in this moment, in this skin, in this life with a horrible fate.
I continued to stare at my reflection, The dress which Reid had picked out for me fit me like a glove, as if it was made for me alone. The off-the-shoulder design bared my skin to the gentle caress of the morning light, while the sweetheart neckline plunged into a respectable depth, showing some amount of my cleavage.
Even if everything was fake, at least the bodice was a work of art, boned and firm, hugging my waist in a gentle squeeze. The burst of tulle and silk beneath the bodice flared out, a cloud of white that made me feel like a princess, a fragile, breakable thing.
Reid's taste was impeccable, I'd give him that. He'd chosen a dress that made me look like a dream, a vision of ethereal beauty and I wondered if he'd chosen it to make me look beautiful for him, or to make a statement to the world.
I sat in the quiet of my temporary sanctuary, the soft hum of the air conditioner which was a gentle whisper in the stillness, as I fidgeted with the delicate lace of my dress, my mind wandering back to the whirlwind of introductions I'd had earlier. Leah, Enzo's.....situationship, that was how Leah had described the relationship she had with Enzo. She was a stunning woman, with eyes like doll and a warm smile that put me at ease, making me feel like I'd known her for years, not mere hours.
As we chatted, I'd laughed at her jokes and listened with genuine interest, her presence was like a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves, and I found myself relaxing in her company which was a rare feat for me, considering the circumstances. I couldn't help but to wonder what her story was, what had led her to Enzo's orbit, and what exactly a "situationship" meant, though I had a feeling I'd find out soon enough, because she had promised we would have a girls time after I was back from my 'honeymoon.'
A soft knock at the door jolted me back to the present, and I turned to see Enzo standing in the doorway, looking dashing in his beige tailored suit with his eyes crinkling at the corners, as he gave me a warm smile. "Are you ready, Athena?" He asked softly.
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat, as I realized that this was it, the moment I'd been drowning in for a week, and Enzo was here to guide me through it. "Yeah, I'm ready." I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I took a deep breath and stood, the dress rustling around me like a cloud.
Enzo's eyes widened as he took in the sight of me, his gaze lingering on the dress, and I felt a flutter in my chest, a nervous bird beating its wings against my ribcage. "You look... wow, Athena." He breathed, his voice full of genuine admiration, and I felt a warmth spread through me, a small comfort in the chaos.
He offered me his arm, his elbow crooked, and I took it, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over me as I realized that I wasn't alone, not entirely. "Thank you for doing this, Enzo." I appreciated in a small voice, before we began to walk, the soft rustle of my dress echoing through the silence of the hall.
Enzo's expression softened while he patted my hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "That's no problem." He started, his voice low and gentle. "You're family, Athena. You don't need a father to walk you down the aisle, not when you've got me." I chuckled at his genuine words.
Maybe today wouldn't be as bad as I had thought.
As I walked down the aisle, Reid's gaze met mine and a smile spread across his face like a mask slipping into place. I saw the faint tension around his eyes and the slight stiffness in his jaw which was a reminder that this marriage was a sham, a carefully crafted illusion he had built for the public.
I smiled back, a practiced smile, remembering his words, "Play lovey-dovey in public, but keep your distance in private."
Reid's eyes locked onto mine as he took my hand from Enzo's, his fingers brushed against mine which sent a shiver down my spine. I gave Enzo a thankful smile and turned to Reid, who was staring at me with an intense gaze, as if he was seeing me for the first time
His eyes roamed my face, drinking in the sight of me, and for a moment I felt like I was the only person in the room, the only one who mattered, the only one he saw. The world narrowed to the two of us with an air that was thick with an unspoken tension.
The priest's voice broke the spell and Reid's gaze snapped back into focus, his expression smoothing out. He raised an eyebrow which I understood as a silent command, and I responded with a widened smile which was both a reflex and a conditioned response.
As I stared at Reid, I couldn't help but to notice how immaculate he looked today, but it was more than that, something in his gaze, in the way he looked at me, made me feel.....seen. I felt a feeling of awareness as his fingers tightened around mine, it was a gentle squeeze which made me look up at him as my heart pounded haphazardly in my chest.
What was going on? Why do I feel like this towards him? Why does my body reacts to the smallest of touch or attention I got from him? Do I... like him? The thought of liking him made me grimace internally.
The priest's voice echoed through the chapel, a gentle l l l murmur in the stillness, as he instructed Reid and me to recite our vows. A wave of shyness washed over me as I couldn't look Reid in the eyes and so, I stared at his forehead instead.
He gently took my hands in his, his fingers intertwining with mine as the chapel faded into the background. The guests were a distant hum, and I finally stared into his eyes, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Reid," I began, my voice trembling, as I struggled to find the words, the vows feeling like a script, a rehearsed performance and yet, as I looked into his eyes, something shifted, like a crack in the ice, a fissure in the facade. "From the moment I met you, I knew you'd be my forever. Your kindness, your laughter, your heart - they captured me. I promise to stand by you, through wars and peace, through joy and tears. I'll be your partner, your friend, and your home. You make me feel seen and loved like no one else can. I vow to love you, to cherish you, and to adventure with you, forever and always." I finished, tears brimming at the corner of my eyes because I couldn't help the guilt feeling that was gnawing within me. Deep down, part of me wished our union was real, but I knew that was just another distant dream of mine.
As I finished reciting my vow, Reid's carefully composed expression cracked opened, and for a fleeting moment, I glimpsed the raw emotion he usually kept locked away. His eyes, those piercing grey orbs, softened to a gentle warmth. It was a look I'd never seen before, vulnerable, tender, and utterly, devastatingly sincere.
And then, just as quickly, the mask slipped back into place, but the memory of that look lingered, seared into my mind like a promise.
"Athena," He started, his voice low and husky. "You're my sunrise, my calm in storms, my everything. I promise to love you with every piece of me, to support your dreams, and to laugh with you every day. I'll hold your hand, kiss your lips, and be your safe haven. You're my person, now and forever. I vow to love you, to cherish you, and to build a life with you that's full of love, laughter, and adventure."
As he spoke, his thumbs caressed my hands, a gentle and soothing motion which made me feel a spark of connection that was both thrilling and terrifying. I looked up at him, my heart beating fast in my chest, and for a second, I saw a flicker of genuine emotion in his eyes before it was gone, leaving me wondering if I'd imagined it all.
The priest's voice was a gentle whisper, a soft echo, as he pronounced us husband and wife, his words hanging in the air, like a promise, a vow. "You may now kiss the bride."
The chapel erupted into a hushed murmur, a collective holding of breath as Reid's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze seared into mine with a quiet ferocity that made me feel like I was the only person in the room.
I had totally forgotten about the kiss. The thought of my first kiss being with someone I didn't love made my insides turn in an uncomfortable way but there was nothing I could do.
As I was still lost in my thoughts, I felt Reid's hand bring my waist closer, and pressed me firm into his hard chest, as he leaned in.....