ZOE

CHAPTER 9

Time flowed like water, and Zoe’s wedding day drew inexorably near. She and her mother scarcely stopped for breath. The week before the ceremony was chaos — endless arrangements, fittings, and forgotten meals. Both women had long neglected Zoe’s classes, too exhausted to care. They met only briefly at lunch, and even that was hurried.

Finally, a week before the wedding, everything was prepared — everything except the dress.

That evening, utterly spent, Zoe slipped into a bathtub filled with warm water. The heat embraced her like a balm. It had been so long since she had truly rested. When she climbed out and put on her nightgown, her hunger reminded her how long she’d ignored herself. She reheated her lunch and sat alone at the table, eating slowly, remembering.

Her birthday. The party. Her father. Kristla. Adam. Mark. And that one fateful decision.

She recalled the day after the party — everyone rising late, the household already descending into chaos. Lunch had been quiet. Then Kristla, Adam, Mark, and her father left. She had hated saying goodbye, though they would all meet again soon — at the wedding.

Tonight, strangely, she wasn’t tired. The stillness pressed on her chest, urging her out. She needed air — or escape. She changed into her leather pants and shirt, slipped quietly into the stable, and saddled Darko. Not wanting to leave Kiara lonely, she took her along too.

Zoe didn’t think about where she was going. She let Darko lead her through the dark forest. When he finally stopped, she recognized the place immediately — her lake.

Her eyes brightened with childlike excitement.

“Thank you, Darko,” she whispered.

Without hesitation, she undressed and slipped into the water. The cool lake wrapped around her skin, washing away the noise of the world. She floated quietly for a while, her mind almost blank. Then, as she was about to climb out, the sound of twigs snapping made her freeze.

She turned — and saw Mark.

“What are you doing here?” she stammered, startled, rushing toward the shore.

“Just walking,” he said calmly, his voice smooth as ever. “These night walks help me clear my head.”

Zoe, still shaken from their last confusing encounter, frowned. “And why here of all places?”

“This place draws me in,” he said softly, his tone deliberate. “Especially since I first saw you here, Miss.”

“Really?” she asked, her voice dripping sarcasm. “And you’re sure you’re not here to poach?”

He smirked. “If I were a poacher, Miss, I’d be checking my traps, not admiring the lake.”

Zoe didn’t expect that answer. It threw her off balance. Turning away, she reached for her clothes on the shore — only to realize she couldn’t find them. The sudden awareness that Mark knew she was naked made her skin tingle with both fear and curiosity. She didn’t want him to see her… yet she didn’t entirely want to hide either.

She hesitated, then turned to check if he was still there — and gasped.

Mark was undressing.

Before she could react, he had already waded into the water. “Miss, you didn’t even say goodbye to me last time,” he teased, waiting for her reaction.

“There was no time for goodbyes,” she managed, though her voice trembled as he came closer.

Mark smiled faintly, sensing her unease. He moved closer still, until their faces nearly touched. His eyes caught hers — green, luminous, uncertain. He studied her features slowly: the full lips, the long lashes glistening with water, the wet strands of red hair falling across her face.

He tucked a lock of her hair gently behind her ear — and then, unable to hold back, kissed her.

Zoe stiffened in shock, but the warmth of his mouth, the insistence of his hands, melted her resistance. She kissed him back. What began as a timid touch deepened quickly, tongues meeting, breaths mingling, hearts racing.

She was dizzy.

“We can’t do this,” she whispered breathlessly. “I’m getting married in a week.”

“That’s still a long time,” he murmured against her lips, kissing her again.

At that moment, Zoe forgot everything — her mother, her father, Adam, her fiancé Alexander. There was only Mark, the water, and the wild rush of her heartbeat.

They lost track of time. When they climbed onto the shore, neither of them cared about modesty. The world had shrunk to just the two of them. Mark kissed down her neck, his touch slow and deliberate. When he looked into her eyes again, she nodded — and their bodies joined.

Zoe gasped softly, a quick stab of pain giving way to something deeper, more consuming. They made love again and again until the night was still and their breaths slowed.

Exhausted, she dressed, whistled for the horses, and gave Mark one last kiss before riding off into the dawn.

Back home, she slipped on her nightgown and lay in bed. Sleep refused to come. She stared into the darkness, her mind a whirlwind. For weeks she had lived only for her mother’s plans — never for herself. She had just done something reckless, maybe even unforgivable.

Her birthday. Her promise to Adam — that she wouldn’t be faithful to Alexander. She had kept that promise now.

But what did it mean?

Did she love Mark? Or was it just madness? And Adam — what about him? He had broken his engagement to Kristla for her sake, while she had accepted another man and betrayed him both.

Her eyes burned. She drifted into uneasy sleep just before morning.

When she woke, the sun was already high. At lunch, her mother said gently, “You needed a good night’s sleep after all those demanding weeks.” Ellen had no idea what her daughter had really done that night.

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The Wedding Day

The house was in chaos from dawn. Maids rushed about, nearly tripping over themselves in panic. The kitchen was a storm of clattering dishes and shouted orders. In a few hours, everything would move to the Farmer estate, where the real celebration would begin.

Across town, the Farmer household was no calmer — it too buzzed with preparations for the arrival of its new mistress.

Zoe woke with swollen eyes, red from another sleepless night. So this is it, she thought bitterly. My big day. The day I become Mrs. Farmer.

Alice soon entered, balancing a tray. “Good morning, Zoe!” she greeted brightly.

“Good morning, Alice,” Zoe sighed, eyeing the breakfast. “Thank you.” She ate quickly, realizing how hungry she was.

“Have you been crying again?” Alice asked softly.

“Do I look that bad?”

“To be honest… yes,” Alice admitted, smiling a little. “Don’t worry, I’ll fix your makeup. Your husband will think you cried from joy.”

Despite herself, Zoe laughed. Alice had that gift — she could make her smile even when everything felt unbearable.

A knock at the door interrupted them. A maid entered, breathless. “Mrs. Ellen asked me to bring this,” she said, laying down a box. Zoe immediately recognized her mother’s favorite servant — the one trusted with delicate tasks.

“Thank you, you can go,” Zoe said politely.

Inside the box lay her wedding dress, veil, gloves, jewelry, and shoes. They were beautiful — too beautiful — but not what Zoe would have chosen for herself.

The gown was modern and expensive: strapless, champagne-colored, with a white embroidered rose stitched in golden thread across the bodice. Layers of sheer fabric and soft champagne silk cascaded down like sunlight on water. The veil was delicately edged, the gloves white and finely embroidered, and the pearl jewelry shimmered faintly in the light.

Alice helped her dress and then stepped back, whistling softly. “You look stunning.”

“Thanks, Alice,” Zoe replied without enthusiasm.

“Now, hair and makeup,” Alice declared, diving into the task. Zoe’s unruly red hair, however, fought every attempt.

“Oh my God, what do you even have on your head?” Alice groaned, exasperated.

“Calm down,” Zoe teased.

Alice glared playfully and kept working until she finally tamed the fiery strands into a graceful bun. A few curls escaped, but they framed Zoe’s face beautifully. A headband and light makeup finished the look — elegant, understated, but full of quiet power.

Right then, Ellen entered, her timing perfect. “I didn’t expect you to be ready,” she said, surprise mixed with mild disappointment. “Your veil,” she added, fastening it carefully. “There. Now we can go — they’re waiting for us at the church. Alice, you’ll come too.”

Zoe studied her mother’s outfit — a beige suit with a long skirt and a matching handbag patterned with brown and white leaves. As always, Ellen looked impeccable, perfectly composed, untouchable.

They rode in silence to the church.

Outside, her father, Kristla, and Adam were already waiting. Tadeo’s eyes softened when he saw her. “You look beautiful,” he said warmly.

“I have to say, it really suits you,” Zoe said to Kristla, smiling faintly. Adam said nothing — only watched her, his eyes shadowed.

“Come on,” Ellen snapped impatiently. “The ceremony’s about to begin.”

The bridesmaids went first, then the witnesses, and finally Zoe walked arm in arm with her father down the long aisle. The world blurred around her. She barely heard the priest until he called her name.

“Do you take Alexander Farmer to be your husband?”

She wanted to say no — but the word stuck in her throat. So she tried another approach. “If it has to be,” she said flippantly.

Whispers rippled through the church. Her mother’s glare could have cut glass.

“Miss, I need a clear answer,” the priest urged.

“I’d like to say no,” Zoe replied calmly, “but my dear mother would probably kill me.”

The murmurs grew louder.

“And I also think,” she added boldly, “you forgot the part about objections.”

The priest hesitated, clearly flustered. “Does anyone here have any objections?”

Silence — for a heartbeat. Then four voices rose.

Tadeo. Mark. Kristla. Alice.

The crowd gasped.

“I object,” her father said firmly. “Because I know my daughter would be miserable in this marriage. She isn’t marrying of her own free will.”

Ellen’s eyes blazed.

Then Kristla stepped forward. “Zoe’s not meant for a man like him,” she said bluntly. “That life would break her.”

Alice followed. “You should’ve seen her this morning — the circles under her eyes weren’t from joy. I haven’t known her long, but I know this would destroy her.”

Then Mark spoke. His voice was steady. “Zoe, I love you.”

That was all — but it was enough.

Zoe’s heart clenched. Tears filled her eyes. She broke free from everyone’s shocked silence, ran to him, and fell into his arms.

“I love you too,” she whispered. “I only realized it now… but I’ll never love anyone the way I love you.”

Their lips met. Applause and gasps filled the church — half the crowd cheering, the other half appalled.

“You can’t do this to me!” Ellen shouted. “You’re my daughter! You’ll do as I say whether you want to or not!”

“I won’t jump when you whistle, Mother,” Zoe said softly but firmly.

The priest, sensing it was over, sighed. “This wedding will not proceed. I believe we’ve heard enough.”

Zoe smiled gratefully and turned to her father, to Mark, to the people who truly loved her.

Later that day, they decided she and Mark would marry in early autumn — quietly, freely, and for love.

Everyone knew that the wedding would be nothing like the one that almost was.