The invitation
929 Words
Three days passed quietly.
Maple had begun adjusting to the strange rhythm of Devon’s mansion.
She woke early, had breakfast whenever she wanted, spent most of her time in her room or the library, and occasionally took walks around the enormous garden.
She was slowly getting used to the silence.
Devon, on the other hand, remained largely absent.
He left early every morning and returned at different hours each night. Some days, Maple barely saw him at all.
Their conversations rarely lasted more than a few minutes.
Oddly enough, she preferred it that way.
There was comfort in knowing she wasn’t expected to perform the role of a loving wife.
There were no forced smiles, no pretending, and no pressure to act like they had been happily married for years.
They were simply two people living under the same roof.
Maple was sitting on the edge of the bed one afternoon, going through some of her mother’s old letters, when there was a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and one of the maids walked in holding a cream-colored envelope.
“Ma’am, Mr. Kingston asked me to give you this.”
Maple looked at the envelope.
“What’s in it?”
“I don’t know, ma’am.”
The maid handed it to her before quietly leaving the room.
Maple stared at it.
Her husband’s name was boldly written across the front.
Mr. Devon Kingston.
She frowned.
What could it be?
She turned the envelope over and carefully opened it.
Her eyes moved across the card inside.
An invitation.
The Kingston Family Charity Gala.
Maple blinked.
A charity gala?
She had never attended anything like that before.
She was still staring at the invitation when the bedroom door opened again.
Devon walked in.
His coat was in one hand, his tie was slightly loosened, and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up.
He looked exhausted.
Maple looked up.
“You’re back.”
“Yes.”
He placed his coat over a nearby chair.
Maple held up the invitation.
“What is this?”
Devon glanced at it.
“An invitation.”
“To?”
“The Kingston Family Charity Gala.”
“And?”
He looked at her.
“You’re invited.”
Maple stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because you’re my wife.”
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Is that the only reason?”
Devon raised an eyebrow.
“Is there supposed to be another?”
Maple opened her mouth but quickly closed it.
She didn’t know how to answer that.
She looked back down at the invitation.
“So I have to go?”
“You don’t have to do anything.”
“Then why are you telling me?”
“Because you’re expected to be there.”
Maple sighed.
Of course.
There was always something.
She looked at the invitation again.
“I’ve never been to this kind of event before.”
Devon walked over and sat across from her.
“It’s not complicated.”
“Easy for you to say.”
He looked at her for a moment.
“You’ll be fine.”
“When?”
“Friday.”
Maple’s eyes widened.
“That’s in two days.”
“Yes.”
She sighed again and rubbed her forehead.
She could already feel a headache coming.
She didn’t know what she was supposed to wear, how she was supposed to behave, or who she was supposed to talk to.
And knowing that she would be introduced as Devon Kingston’s wife somehow made everything worse.
“Do I have to talk to people?”
“You’ll probably have to.”
Maple groaned.
“Great.”
Devon almost smiled.
“Wear something nice.”
Maple looked at him.
“I always dress nice.”
“I know.”
She gave a cold snort.
“Then why did you say it?”
“Just making sure.”
She rolled her eyes.
Devon stood up and walked toward the closet.
Maple watched him disappear inside.
She looked down at the invitation again.
The Kingston name was printed elegantly across the card.
She had a feeling this wasn’t going to be as simple as Devon made it sound.
She placed the invitation on the bedside table and pulled the covers over herself.
A few minutes later, Devon walked out of the closet wearing his pajamas.
He glanced at her before walking toward the bed.
The mattress sank slightly as he climbed in.
Maple remained on her side, staring at the ceiling.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Will you be there?”
Devon turned his head toward her.
“Yes.”
A small smile appeared on Maple’s lips.
At least she wasn’t going alone.
She quickly turned away before he could see the smile properly.
For some reason, knowing Devon would be there made the whole thing feel a little less intimidating.
She wasn’t sure why.
Maybe because she knew absolutely no one at the gala.
Maybe because she didn’t know how to behave around wealthy people.
Or maybe because, despite everything, having her husband beside her made her feel a little safer.
Maple pulled the blanket closer.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
The room fell silent.
But unlike the previous nights, Maple couldn’t sleep immediately.
Her mind was already filled with questions.
What would she wear?
Who would she meet?
What would people say when they saw her?
And most importantly…
What would they think when they realized Devon Kingston had a wife?
Maple sighed.
Friday suddenly felt very close.
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