Catherine’s P.O.V
It was around two in the morning when the guests finally started to leave, one after the other, their heels clicking slower, their voices lower, and I felt my body protesting with every step I took. I smiled anyway. I always smiled.
“Thank you for coming,” I said, again and again, my lips aching from holding the expression for so long. Xavier stayed beside me the entire time, his presence steady, grounding, and every now and then he leaned closer and whispered. “You holding up?” and I answered automatically, “I’m fine,” even though my vision swam and my head felt unbearably heavy.
I genuinely felt like I might collapse where I stood. I leaned into Xavier as another couple approached us, pasting on a smile that felt frozen onto my face.
“Thank you so much for coming.
