Chapter 52/A Vow of Silence

Chapter 52: 52/A Vow of Silence

Chapter 52

Alexander’s Point of View

Everyone left, leaving us alone. A heavy silence descended, broken only by the sound of Stephanie’s rapid breathing. I looked at her in that white dress; she looked like an angel descended from heaven.

The harshness in my features faded as I contemplated the purity of her appearance, which stood in stark contrast to the darkness of the situation. I approached her with steady steps and said in a voice I had lowered against my will: "You look stunning, Steph."

She didn’t raise her eyes to me, but continued to stare into the void with a coldness that froze the blood in my veins. "I can’t say the same about you," she said in a dry tone.

I felt a pang in my chest; her facial features spoke of misery. "Why are you sad?" I asked, trying to read what lay behind her eyes.

She finally turned to me, her gaze as sharp as a blade. "Why indeed? Are you asking me?" she said with bitter irony.

I took an extra step toward her until I caught the scent of her perfume a scent that reminded me of everything I had lost and everything I was trying to reclaim. "Steph, I know our marriage isn’t a normal one like other people’s, but... don’t you love me?"

She remained silent for a moment. I saw her chest heaving rapidly under the pressure of the corset. "You cannot ask me that question," she said in a voice trembling with suppressed rage. "You fucked my sister even though you knew she was my sister."

I clenched my fist until my knuckles turned white, feeling tension radiating through my shoulders. "You didn’t let me explain, yet you continue to hurl accusations at me," I said in frustration.

"Exactly... Now, let’s go, Alexander," she replied harshly, adjusting her veil with trembling hands.

I bent my arm. She hesitated for a moment before sliding her cold hand into the crook of my elbow. Even though she was angry with me and didn’t want this marriage, the feeling of her hand against my suit fabric was enough for me at that moment; it was enough that she would officially become "mine" in a matter of minutes.

We left the room and descended the wide marble staircase with measured steps. The grand hall was magnificent, containing only the two families: Stephanie’s, mine, and the family of Isabella, Cedric’s fiancée. As we walked, my eyes fell on no one but Cedric. He was standing in the corner, gripping his glass so hard it looked as if he were trying to crush it.

His broken eyes followed our steps in shock and devastation, as if he were watching his own funeral, not his brother’s wedding.

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Stephanie’s Point of View

I walked with staggering steps behind my heavy robes, praying silently that my knees wouldn’t betray me and that I wouldn’t fall in front of everyone. I sat at the marriage contract table, feeling the roughness of the velvet chair beneath my trembling body. I caught a glimpse of Cedric out of the corner of my eye; he was sitting in the back rows, gulping down whiskey as if trying to drown his pain, his fiancée Isabella clinging to his arm with an irritating obviousness.

I quickly looked away, closing my eyes for a second while repeating to myself bitterly: Stephanie, you will tear Cedric and Alexander from your head... you will live here for your children only.

The rope of my thoughts was cut by the registrar’s resonant voice as he asked: "Mr. Alexander Volkov, do you accept Miss Stephanie Miller as your wife?"

"I do," Alexander replied in a confident, calm voice that shook the corners of the hall.

Faint applause broke out from the guests, except for Cedric, who remained staring at his glass, and Valentina, who sat with a rigid back and eyes burning with hatred. Then the registrar turned to me and asked: "Miss Stephanie Miller, do you accept Mr. Alexander Volkov as your husband?"

My breath hitched for a moment.

I looked at Alexander at the man with whom I would share a bed and a name for the rest of my life. I swallowed hard, and the word came out of my throat dry: "I do."

Applause erupted again, and we signed the official papers with hands that felt foreign to me. Then the registrar said with a smile: "You may kiss your bride."

My body stiffened completely.

I screamed internally: No... he won’t kiss me! I caught Cedric’s gaze toward us; his anger was palpable, his body tense as if he were on the verge of standing up. Alexander slowly lifted the veil from my face. He looked deep into my eyes with a mysterious gaze of possession, then leaned in and approached me... but he didn’t kiss my lips. Instead, he pressed a warm, long kiss onto my forehead. I felt its heat coursing through my cold veins.

Mr. Victor approached us with his usual imposing presence. "Congratulations to you both," he said in a booming voice.

"Thank you, sir," I said weakly.

"Call me Grandfather," he interrupted with a sternness mixed with a sudden warmth.

My eyes widened in shock. "What?"

"You are like my granddaughter now," he said, placing his hand on my shoulder. "Call me Grandfather."

I nodded with difficulty. "Alright... Grandfather."

My father also came and embraced us stiffly, offering his congratulations while classical music began to play throughout the hall. Alexander stood up and extended his hand to me, saying in a tone that brooked no refusal: "Come... let’s have our first dance."

[I hope you like the plot. I wrote 10 Chapters today and struggled a lot to write them in just 5 hours, so I hope you enjoy it. May is the month in which I will enter Win win Therefore, I hope you will accompany me for the next three months and be a reason for the success of this story. Don’t forget, I love you. ]