Twice a Bride

An Unexpected Invitation

The morning light filtered through the heavy curtains, casting soft patterns across the floor of Amelia’s room. She had woken up early, despite the long night of restless sleep. Her mind had been racing all night, filled with thoughts of the life she had entered into. The wedding day felt like a dream now, one that was quickly losing its clarity and becoming a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.

Amelia had decided to start the day by unpacking a few more of her belongings. As she moved through the mansion, she tried to settle into the space that was now hers. She opened drawers, arranged her clothes neatly in the wardrobe, and tried to make herself feel at least a little more comfortable. The cold walls around her seemed to push back every attempt at finding peace, but she was trying.

The quiet hum of the mansion was broken by footsteps. She paused for a moment, her head turning toward the hallway. There was a slight rustling sound—someone moving about. She recognized the footsteps immediately. It was Ethan.

She peered around the corner of the hallway, watching him as he moved through the grand living area. What struck her was how confidently he walked, his cane absent from his side. Ethan, the blind man, was navigating his way through the house with ease, moving through the corridors as if he could see every inch of his home. He must have been here for a long time, Amelia thought, watching him closely. He’s familiar with everything in this house.

She continued to observe, but something in his movements caught her attention. Ethan had misstepped and was heading straight toward a low table near the entrance—a piece of furniture with sharp corners that could easily hurt him if he didn’t correct his direction.

Amelia's heart quickened. She didn’t want him to get hurt, so without thinking, she quickly stepped forward, walking toward him. "Ethan, wait! You’re about to—"

Before she could finish, Ethan sharply turned his head toward her, his voice sharp and irritated. "I don’t need your help," he snapped, his face hardening. "Stay away from me."

Amelia froze, her stomach sinking. She had only tried to help. It was instinctive. She didn’t want him to hurt himself. But instead of gratitude, all she received was rejection.

"Do not come near me like that again," Ethan continued, his voice cold as ice. "I don’t need you, or anyone else, to show me how to walk."

Amelia stood there, stunned, her mind struggling to process his harsh response. She had meant no harm. She had simply wanted to help. But instead, Ethan had pushed her away, almost as if her presence was a burden to him.

Darius, who had been moving quietly behind them, stepped forward at Ethan’s call. "Mr. Prescott," he said with a slight bow, "I’ll take care of everything."

Ethan turned his head sharply toward Darius, his expression unchanged. "Yes, take me to my study," he ordered, his tone still cutting.

Amelia stood back, unable to hide the disappointment on her face. She had tried to do something kind, and he had rejected her outright. A bitter feeling spread through her chest. She had no illusions about their relationship, but being dismissed so coldly, without even the slightest acknowledgement, hurt more than she had anticipated.

As Darius led Ethan away, Amelia couldn’t help but feel a wave of self-doubt. What kind of marriage is this? She had hoped for something, anything, that could give her a sense of purpose in this new life, but Ethan was making it clear that she was nothing more than a stranger to him.

It was a few hours later when Darius returned, this time holding a small, embossed envelope in his hand. Amelia was sitting by the window, staring out at the expansive grounds of the estate, her mind still lost in the frustration of her earlier encounter with Ethan. She hadn’t expected to see him again so soon. The emptiness of her own thoughts weighed on her, but she forced herself to look up as Darius approached.

"Mrs. Prescott," Darius said, offering the envelope to her. "This arrived for you."

Amelia blinked in surprise. "For me?" she repeated, confused. She hadn’t expected anyone to send her anything. She took the envelope, noting the high-quality paper and the elegant handwriting on the front.

"From whom?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It’s from the Prescott Empire," Darius replied with a slight hesitation, as though he was unsure of how to explain further. "Mr. Prescott asked me to deliver it to you. It’s an invitation to a private event they’re hosting later this evening. He expects you to attend with him."

Amelia’s eyebrows furrowed as she read the name on the envelope. "The Prescott Empire?" she murmured, scanning the contents. The invitation was for a formal event, with a gala-style dinner and speeches from prominent figures. She couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed. This is Ethan’s world, she thought, biting her lip. I’m supposed to go to an event with strangers, all his business partners and friends.

The notion that Ethan couldn’t be bothered to give her the invitation himself stung. She had expected some small gesture from him, something that showed he was aware of her feelings, but all he had done was send Darius to do his work. Even after their wedding, he had barely acknowledged her presence, leaving her to figure out everything on her own.

Amelia nodded, trying to hide the bitterness in her voice. "I’ll go," she said, even though she didn’t feel like it. "But it would have been nice if Ethan could have given it to me himself."

Darius hesitated, a flicker of something like sympathy crossing his face. "Mr. Prescott is... how should I put it... focused on business. He doesn’t always consider personal matters in the same light as he does his professional ones. But you’ll find that the Prescott event will be important, both for your relationship with Mr. Prescott and your position here."

Amelia’s fingers tightened around the invitation, her heart sinking a little further. She didn’t want to go. Not because she didn’t want to meet people or experience new things, but because the event was a reminder that she was nothing more than a tool in Ethan’s world—something to be displayed but not truly known.