Unbroken by Secrets

Chapter Six- Unspoken Vows, Unseen Wounds

The wedding ceremony had concluded and they both returned home—to their matrimonial home—. The matrimonial bedroom, which should have been a private sanctuary, was instead festooned with rose petals, candles, and silk linens, courtesy of Xavier’s well-meaning friends. Skylar, standing in the doorway, felt a wave of irritation swell in her chest. The romantic setting clashed violently with her exhaustion and frustration from the day’s events.

She had no energy left for any of this. The pressure of the wedding, the expectations that weighed on her shoulders, and now this—all too much. Without a word, she began stripping the bed of its floral decorations. Each movement was methodical, almost mechanical, as if cleaning the room might also cleanse her emotions. She tossed the petals into a wastebasket, took a quick shower, and changed into her most comfortable pajamas.

By the time Xavier came upstairs, the room had returned to its plain, unadorned state. His footsteps faltered at the threshold as he took in the scene.

“What happened?” he asked, unbuckling his watch and placing it on the nightstand.

Skylar didn’t look up from her phone. “What do you mean, ‘What happened?’”

“The petals, the decorations—they’re gone.”

“I cleaned it up,” she replied flatly, her voice edged with irritation.

Xavier frowned slightly, trying to keep his tone neutral. “You could’ve told them to skip the decorations if you didn’t want them.”

Skylar set her phone down and sighed, finally looking at him. “I didn’t think I’d need to give explicit instructions for something so trivial. But it doesn’t matter now.”

Xavier sat on the edge of the bed, massaging the back of his neck. “It was a stressful day, but worth it. At least we finally got what we wanted, right?”

He leaned closer, reaching for her, the unspoken tension between them making his movements cautious. His hand brushed against her arm, and he leaned in to kiss her, hoping to bridge the gap forming between them. But Skylar pulled away, her expression firm.

“Xavier, stop,” she said, her voice low but resolute.

He froze, caught off guard. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m exhausted,” she replied, pulling the covers up to her chest as if shielding herself from him. “And I’m in pain. We can do this another time.”

Xavier’s hand fell back to his side, his disappointment palpable. “I understand, but—” he began, his frustration leaking into his voice.

“I know what you’re going to say,” Skylar interrupted, her eyes narrowing. “And I know it’s your ‘right’ as my husband, but I can’t tonight. I just can’t.”

He exhaled sharply, standing up and pacing the room. “Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll be downstairs with the guys.”

“Turn off the bedside lamp when you’re ready to sleep,” Skylar called after him, her tone clipped. She turned over in bed, pulling the covers tightly around her, and within minutes, she was fast asleep, leaving Xavier standing there, torn between frustration and understanding.

---

Downstairs, the atmosphere was completely different. Xavier’s friends were lounging around the living room, laughing loudly, their voices mingling with the clink of glasses and the low hum of background music. Xavier approached them, his expression tense as he poured himself a drink.

“You’re back already?” Vermon asked with a knowing grin, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I thought you’d be busy upstairs for a while longer.”

“Skylar’s gone to bed,” Xavier replied tersely, taking a long sip of his drink. “I didn’t want to wake her.”

Vermon snorted. “Is that the real reason, or is she avoiding you?”

“Come on, man. Give him a break,” Nigel chimed in, though his smirk said otherwise.

“I thought we settled this,” Xavier said, his voice hardening. “Skylar is my wife. You need to respect that.”

“We’re not disrespecting her, Xavier,” Madock said, his tone playful but with an edge of mockery. “But seriously—why wouldn’t she want to be intimate on your wedding night?”

Xavier’s jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with irritation. “Were you listening in on us?”

“We didn’t have to,” Vermon replied with a casual shrug. “It’s written all over your face.”

Xavier shook his head, downing the rest of his drink. “You’re all drunk.”

“Maybe,” Vermon said with a lazy grin, “but we’re not wrong. You know, I had a feeling this marriage was going to be... complicated.”

“I’m done with this conversation,” Xavier snapped, slamming his glass down on the table. “We’re leaving tomorrow. I’m going to bed.”

As he walked away, the laughter behind him only seemed to grow louder, their teasing jabs following him up the stairs.

---

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains as Xavier stirred awake. Skylar was already up, and the sound of clattering dishes drifted from the kitchen. He sighed, rubbing his temples to soothe the dull ache behind his eyes. After a quick shower, he made his way downstairs, finding Skylar at the stove, her back turned to him as she worked.

“Morning,” he greeted, trying to sound more cheerful than he felt.

“Good morning,” she replied, glancing over her shoulder with a small smile. “How was your night?”

“Fine, though I woke up with a bit of a headache.”

Skylar set down the spatula and approached him, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. “I can give you a head massage if you want.”

“No, it’s fine,” he said, though the offer was tempting. “It always happens after a stressful day.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly, her fingers brushing against his arm.

“It’s nothing,” Xavier replied, pulling her into a gentle hug. Her scent—fresh, clean, and comforting—eased some of the tension from his body. “You smell amazing.”

“Thanks,” she said with a chuckle. “New cologne.”

Xavier kissed her forehead, his arms tightening around her for a moment before pulling away. “What’s cooking?”

“Just sandwiches,” Skylar replied, turning back to the stove.

“Should I call the guys?”

“Sure,” she said, though there was a noticeable coolness in her tone.

As they sat down to breakfast, the tension between them was palpable, an invisible wall that neither could quite breach. Skylar served the food, her movements precise and controlled, while Xavier did his best to engage in light conversation. But the previous night’s unresolved issues loomed over them like a dark cloud.

“So, how’s the food?” Skylar asked, her voice a little too bright as she sought some form of validation.

Vermon, ever the instigator, leaned back in his chair and took a bite. He chewed slowly, drawing out the moment before offering his judgment.

“What can I say?” he said with a lazy shrug. “Sandwiches are basic. Bread, butter, bacon, and eggs—nothing special.”

The words were like a slap to Skylar, her smile faltering as she set down her fork. She had tried—tried to make something of this marriage, tried to be the accommodating wife, tried to fit into this new life with Xavier’s friends constantly watching, constantly judging.

Her patience snapped.

“I’ve had enough of you and your constant negativity!” she yelled, her fist slamming down on the table with a loud thud. “You’ve done nothing but criticize me from the moment we met. I’ve bent over backward to show you that I’m not the villain you think I am, but you refuse to see anything other than what you want to see!”

Vermon leaned back in his chair, unperturbed by her outburst. “Oh, so you think you’re a good wife?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“I know I am,” Skylar retorted, her voice shaking with barely controlled anger. “And don’t you dare mock me.”

“A good wife wouldn’t deny her husband on their wedding night,” Vermon said coldly, his words cutting through the air like a blade.

The silence that followed was deafening. All eyes turned to Xavier, waiting for his reaction. Skylar’s face had gone pale, her lips trembling as she stared at her husband.

“Is that what you think too?” she asked quietly, her voice barely a whisper.

Xavier couldn’t meet her gaze. His silence spoke louder than any words could.

Without another word, Skylar stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor as she stormed out of the room, her heart pounding in her chest. She fled to the bedroom, the one place that still felt like hers, where she could escape the suffocating judgment of Xavier’s friends.

---

“What the hell, Vermon?” Nigel said, breaking the silence as soon as Skylar was out of earshot. “That was completely out of line.”

“I didn’t say anything wrong,” Vermon replied, his tone casual, as though his words had carried no weight. He picked up his sandwich again, taking another bite without a second thought. "I was just being honest."

"That's your problem," Nigel snapped. "You always think you're just being honest when you're actually being a complete jerk."

Xavier, still standing at the end of the table, glared at Vermon, his patience now entirely spent. "You’ve crossed the line too many times," he said, his voice low and menacing. His fists clenched at his sides, every fiber of his being fighting the urge to lash out. "Pack your things and leave. Now."

The room went dead silent. The tension that had been simmering finally reached a boiling point. Vermon, taken aback by the sudden intensity in Xavier’s voice, met his friend’s gaze, but Xavier’s expression left no room for argument.

“Xavier—" Madock began, but Xavier held up a hand to silence him.

“No. I’m serious. This has gone too far. You’ve disrespected my wife for the last time, and I won’t have it anymore. I don’t care how long we’ve been friends. If you can’t respect Skylar, then you can’t stay here.”

Vermon stood up slowly, his eyes narrowing. “You’re really kicking me out over this?”

“I am,” Xavier said, his voice firm and resolute. “This marriage is between Skylar and me. Not you. Not any of you. If you can’t accept that, you’re not welcome in my home.”

Vermon scoffed, tossing his napkin onto the table. “Fine. If that’s how it’s going to be.” He walked out of the room without another word, heading upstairs to gather his belongings. The others sat in stunned silence, unsure of what to say.

After a moment, Nigel cleared his throat. “Xavier, we didn’t mean for things to get this bad. I’m sorry for what happened.”

Xavier, still visibly upset, shook his head. “I should’ve drawn the line sooner. This has been building up for too long. I won’t let anyone come between Skylar and me—not even my closest friends.”

Madock and Nigel exchanged glances, sensing the gravity of Xavier’s words. They knew the bond of friendship wasn’t something Xavier took lightly, but his loyalty to Skylar had now taken precedence.

“I think we should give you two some space,” Madock said, standing up from the table. “We’ll get going once Vermon’s ready.”

“Thanks,” Xavier muttered, rubbing his temples. “I need to fix this.”

---

Xavier took a deep breath as he made his way back upstairs, mentally preparing himself for the difficult conversation that awaited him. He found Skylar by the window, her arms wrapped around herself as she gazed out into the morning sunlight. She didn’t turn around when he entered the room, but the tension in her posture told him everything he needed to know.

“Sky,” he began, his voice soft but laced with regret.

Skylar didn’t move. Her voice, when she spoke, was thick with emotion. “A marriage is supposed to be between two people, Xavier. Not you, me, and your friends. Not a public spectacle for them to sit and judge.”

Xavier moved closer, feeling the weight of her words press heavily on him. “I know,” he said quietly. “And I swear I didn’t tell them anything. They were eavesdropping—pathetic, I know—but I would never share something so private.”

Skylar turned to face him then, her eyes red from unshed tears. “It’s not just about what they overheard. It’s about the fact that you let them disrespect me, over and over again. And you just stood by.”

“I didn’t realize—”

“Yes, you did,” Skylar interrupted, her voice rising. “You knew how they felt about me, and you didn’t stop them. You let them sit there, making snide comments, pushing me to my limit, and now you expect me to just move past it because you didn’t say the words yourself?”

Xavier took a deep breath, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “I know I’ve messed up, Sky. I should’ve stopped them the moment it started, but I was trying to keep the peace. I thought they would come around eventually.”

“Well, they haven’t,” Skylar said, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. “And I’m tired of trying to prove myself to people who have already made up their minds about me.”

Xavier stepped forward, his expression pained. “I’m not asking you to prove anything. I know you’ve been through a lot—trying to fit into a world that wasn’t exactly welcoming. But I’m asking you to give me a chance to make it right. Please.”

Skylar’s eyes searched his face, her anger slowly giving way to the vulnerability beneath. “And what are you going to do, Xavier? Keep making excuses for them? Keep letting them invade our life until there’s nothing left of us?”

“No,” Xavier said firmly. “I’ve already told them to leave. Vermon’s packing his things now. I made it clear that if they can’t respect you, they’re not welcome here. I should’ve said it sooner, but I’m saying it now. You’re my wife, Skylar, and that’s what matters to me.”

Skylar studied him for a long moment, her guard still up, but the sincerity in his voice was undeniable. “You really mean that?”

“I do,” he said, reaching for her hand. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness after everything that’s happened, but I’m asking for it anyway. I want this marriage to work, Sky. I need it to.”

Skylar sighed, her fingers tightening around his. “You’re lucky I can’t stay mad at you forever.”

Xavier smiled, pulling her into a hug. “Thank you. I don’t deserve you.”

Skylar leaned her head against his chest, her anger finally beginning to dissipate. “They need to go, Xavier. All of them. I don’t want them here anymore.”

“They’re leaving,” Xavier promised, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I’ll walk them out.”

Skylar nodded, pulling back slightly. “I’ll come with you. Just to make sure it’s really happening.”

Xavier chuckled, relieved to see a hint of her usual strength returning. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

---

When they went downstairs, Xavier’s friends were standing by the car, their bags packed and expressions subdued. Vermon’s face was a mixture of defiance and regret, while Nigel and Madock avoided Skylar’s gaze altogether.

“Ready to go?” Xavier asked, breaking the silence.

“Yeah,” Nigel replied, clearing his throat. “We should head out.”

Skylar stood beside Xavier, her arms crossed, her expression cold. She had no intention of pretending things were okay. These men had pushed her too far, and she was done playing nice.

“Will you be back anytime soon?” she asked, her tone neutral but edged with finality.

“Not for a while,” Nigel answered awkwardly.

“Good,” Skylar muttered under her breath.

Vermon, who had been watching her closely, stepped forward. “Skylar,” he called her name softly.

“Yes?” she replied, her eyes narrowing slightly as she braced herself for whatever nonsense he was about to say.

“I owe you an apology,” Vermon said, his voice unexpectedly sincere. “I crossed the line today. I’ve been judging you, and I had no right to do that. I’m sorry.”

Skylar looked at him, surprised by the apology. She studied his face, searching for any sign of insincerity but found none. After a long pause, she nodded. “It’s fine. I’ve already forgiven you,” she said, her voice calm but firm.

She stepped forward, much to the surprise of everyone, and leaned in to hug Vermon briefly. “Now, get going before you miss your flight.”

Vermon, still taken aback, nodded stiffly, muttering a quiet “thanks” before pulling away.

Xavier kissed Skylar’s cheek softly before turning to his friends. “Take care, guys,” he said, watching as they loaded into the car.

As the car pulled away from the house, Xavier wrapped his arm around Skylar’s shoulders. The tension that had filled the air for days finally began to lift, replaced by a sense of quiet relief. The battle wasn’t over, but it felt like they had taken a step forward.

“I’m proud of you,” Xavier said softly, squeezing her gently.

Skylar leaned into him, her heart a little lighter. “I’m proud of us.”