***
Isabella Montague.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU TWO ARE GETTING MARRIED?!”
I winced, my eyes flicking shut as my hand went to my ear, as if to block out the piercing scream that came from the lady, intent on damaging our ear drums by the looks of it else why would one scream like that? I have dealt with a lot of screaming women before, I genuinely do not want to deal with another, it brings back bad memories.
Christian must have noticed my discomfort, before he placed his hand over mine, giving it a small squeeze and his warning voice came, “Grace,” He warned his sister, not needing to say a word more. Simply calling her name in that serious tone of his seemed to have done the trick.
“Babe, calm down.” Louis took over, placing a hand on his wife’s arm and urging her to settle down, his tone calm and soft as he added. “You are scaring her.”
He is not wrong about that entirely, but I am more of startled by the sudden scream than scared…though I am scared still, at the possibility of her scream being she is against this union as a whole. I will not be surprised if that is the case. Nice as she may have seemed, it may have just been an act. I am still waiting for that not so surprising twist where I will be pulled away and warned to stay away from Christian.
But, instead of any of those pessimistic thoughts running through my mind, Gloria Kingston’s scolding voice came as well, as she rebuked her daughter’s action, no doubt sharing the same thought with her son-in-law, or maybe she is scolding her for exposing herself too early. “Grace!” She scolded, her eyes narrowed into a slight glare. “You startled her. You are twenty-seven, act like it for crying out loud.”
A small, cute little voice came, mimicking that rebuking tone as well. “Not cool, Mommy. Not cool.” Allie shook her small head, pretending to scold her mother as if she has done something truly wrong deserving of it-I doubt the six-year-old even understands the entire situation. “You are scaring Uncle Chrissy’s wife.”
“You tell her, my Allie.” Christian patted the head of the little girl that has been glued his arms since we arrived and even settled down, introducing myself fully until we decided to break the news of our marriage, and Grace’s reaction was the first and only one so far.
The said woman threw a slight glare at her brother, as if to rebuke him for instigating and promoting her daughter’s acts before she met my face, her face turning apologetic as she settled down. “I am sorry, Isabella. I did not mean to scare you. I was just surprised and caught by it as well.” She said genuinely, seeming to mean her words, and I felt bad for believing she is a bad person and seeing the worst in her-an attitude I reminded myself to try and get rid of, even if I have not had anyone that has made me believe good people truly exists in this life.
I offered her a small smile, the best I could muster. “It is okay.” I do not know whether the words sounds as though as I mean them or not, but they did not comment on that which I am grateful for.
Grace still looked as though she is apologetic, before she added. “I really am. I am just surprised someone wants to marry this block,” She gestured to her brother, before her voice dropped in a whisper kind of way, despite she saying it loud enough for everyone to hear. “He is kind of a loner when it comes to these things. I never thought he will eventually find someone that will like him this way.”
I could only release a small, uneasy chuckle, hoping she could not see past my façade of lies. She believes I have feelings for him that is why I am marrying him-it is only natural she does because normal people marry out of love, and not contracts like I am doing. I did not feel bad about it before, but I suddenly do, ashamed to sit in front of Christian’s family like this when I know it is fake, but we are making it believe it is real, I am making it seem so.
Thankfully, Christian’s voice came, breaking my train of guilt by his words, or so I believed until I heard his words. “What? Does it surprise you to hear I am marrying the love of my life?”
Grace scoffed, narrowing her eyes at him, as she joined what seems to be the usual sibling banter of theirs. “No, I am surprised how someone as good as her will decide to marry a block like you.” She bites back, before meeting my gaze and offering me a wide smile. “It is not too late to run away. I will introduce you to a better man, I promise. This one is a clown, run for your life now. Hmm?” There were no ill thoughts lacing her tone, or any sort of malice that will have me guessing whether she has a secret meaning to it.
No, she sounds to simply be in the sibling banter, the usual I hate my brother and I will do anything to annoy him type of banter-nothing like what I and my siblings share, which is an actual hatred that runs deep.
I admire what Christian and Grace seem to share, and I could not help but find myself smiling genuinely at her words, and his sharp reply that came almost instantly.
“Grace, I swear if you do not stop, I will–“
“You will what?” She dared, not backing down. “You are all bark and no bite, Chrissy.”
Christian glared at her, seemingly seconds away from throwing another response leading to a never-ending banter. However, Gloria’s voice came, putting an instant halt to them both, steering us all back to the original discussion at hand.
“Enough, you two.” She scolded, throwing a warning, motherly glare at both of them. When they stood down, she met my gaze with an apologetic smile. “I am sorry, they are always bickering like kids, never seeming to understand they are adults now.” I could only offer her a smile in response, not knowing what to say–or how to say that I admire even their banters because it is something I never realized I have missed out on or yearn even until now.
So, this is what having real siblings is like? Suddenly, I wished I had siblings to bicker with as well, because at the end of the day, they all know that it is all jokes and nothing more. I am certain when one of them needs the other, they will show up regardless. Because that is what being siblings mean, truly caring and being there for each other. It is beautiful, the concept is.
“You two plan on getting married?” Grace asked, her voice snapping me back to the present, and out of my momentarily yearning trance.
I blinked, my gaze zoning on the elder of the Kingston family present as Christian’s father is said to be on a business trip, so it is just us with her acting as the head of the family. Her question had me feeling nervous all over again, the seriousness behind it being all too real.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.