CHAPTER FOUR
1274 Words
Chapter FOUR
Sophia’s POV
After the wedding ceremony, we headed to the reception.
I was glad I had changed out of the heavy wedding gown. The white dinner gown I wore now was much more comfortable, though it was just as beautiful. It looked expensive and elegant, just like everything Frederick owned.
If today had been different, I would have admired it.
But I couldn’t.
The hall was filled with laughter, music, and people enjoying themselves. Everyone looked happy.
Everyone except me.
I felt exhausted already. My heart still felt heavy, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t force a smile.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the newlyweds’ first dance!”
The guests clapped excitedly.
My heart skipped a beat.
I wasn’t ready for this.
Frederick stood up and held out his hand.
I stared at it for a moment before slowly placing mine in his.
His hand was warm.
He led me to the middle of the dance floor as the music began to play.
One of his hands rested on my waist while I placed mine on his shoulder.
The moment he touched my waist, my whole body became stiff.
My heart was beating so fast that I thought he could hear it.
I couldn’t bring myself to look at him.
Instead, I looked around the hall, anywhere but at his face.
“Come on, wife,” he said in a low voice. “With that look on your face, everyone will think I forced you to marry me.”
His words made me look up.
Our eyes met.
For a second, I forgot we were dancing.
His blue eyes were fixed on mine, calm and impossible to read.
“Why?” I asked softly.
He looked at me without saying anything.
“Why did you choose to marry me?”
It was the first time I had spoken to him since the wedding started.
The question had been on my mind ever since he offered me that contract.
Out of all the women in the world…
Why me?
He didn’t look away.
“Because I wanted to, Mrs. Stones.”
His voice was calm.
“I wanted you to be mine.”
I blinked.
That was it?
Such a simple answer…
Yet it only made me more confused.
Who exactly had I married?
Before I could ask another question, the music came to an end.
The guests clapped loudly as we stepped away from each other.
I secretly let out the breath I had been holding.
“Wow, Sis!” Zoey said as she ran over to us. “You’re such a good dancer! You danced better than Brother-in-law.”
A small smile appeared on my face.
“You’re being biased, Zoey,” Jeni said with a laugh. “Mr. Frederick was obviously the better dancer.”
Jeni had been my bridesmaid today.
I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else standing beside me.
“No, she’s not being biased.”
We all turned.
A young boy, who looked about seventeen, walked over with a grin on his face.
“I’ve known my brother my whole life,” he said. “Trust me, he’s a terrible dancer.”
Everyone laughed.
Even I couldn’t stop myself from smiling.
It was the first real smile I’d had all day.
Frederick looked at his younger brother but said nothing.
Just then, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed immediately.
The calm look on his face disappeared, replaced by a serious one.
His brows pulled together slightly before his face returned to its usual cold expression.
It happened so quickly that I almost thought I had imagined it.
He stood up.
“I’ll be back,” he said before walking away to answer the call.
I watched him until he disappeared into the crowd.
A strange feeling settled in my chest.
Who could be calling him on our wedding day?
And why did that call seem so important?
Shortly after the wedding, we headed to the reception hall. Just as I expected, many important people were here to celebrate with us. Business partners, investors, family friends, and other influential people. A wedding like this was not just a celebration. It was also an event everyone wanted to be part of.
“And now, it’s time for the bride and groom to share their first dance!”
The guests applauded.
I turned to Sophia and stretched out my hand toward her. She looked at my hand for a moment, hesitation clear on her face. It was as if she were asking herself whether to take it or not.
After a few seconds, she finally placed her hand in mine. Her fingers felt slightly cold. And they were shaking a little. Was she really that nervous?
I held her gently and led her to the middle of the dance floor. The slow music began to echo through the hall. I placed one hand on her waist while she rested hers on my shoulder. I looked at her face. She was beautiful, but there was something different about her today. She looked lost. Her eyes moved around the room, avoiding mine as if she was afraid to look at me.
A small smile almost formed on my lips. “Come on, wife,” I murmured. “With this look on your face, everyone will think I am actually forcing you into this marriage.”
Immediately, she looked at me. Her eyes were filled with questions.
“Why?” she asked softly.
I raised my eyebrows slightly. “Why did you choose to marry me?”
That was the first time I heard her voice. It was softer than I expected. Her voice was low and slightly shaky, and I could see the confusion in her eyes.
I looked deeply into them, and she looked back at mine. The corner of my lips lifted slightly. It was gone before anyone could notice. She kept staring at me, waiting for me to explain. I didn’t.
“Because I wanted to, Mrs. Stones,” I replied calmly. “I wanted you to be mine.”
She continued staring at me, as if she was trying to understand my answer. But I gave her no further explanation. The music came to an end, and the guests applauded.
We returned to our seats.
“Wow, Sis!” Zoey said excitedly as she walked toward us. “You’re such a good dancer! You danced way more than Brother-in-law.”
A small smile appeared on Sophia’s face.
“You’re being partial, Zoey,” Jennifer said, joining us. “We both know the winner here is Mr. Frederick.”
Jennifer was Sophia’s bridesmaid today.
“No, Zoey isn’t being partial,” another voice interrupted.
We turned to see Adrian walking toward us with a teasing smile. “I have known my brother Frederick my whole life,” he said. “Trust me, he is a terrible dancer.”
Everyone laughed.
I looked at Sophia. For a second, I saw it. A real smile. It was small, but it was there. Then it disappeared quickly.
My phone rang. I took it out and looked at the screen. It was my private detective. My expression changed immediately. A call from him during my wedding reception could only mean one thing. It was important.
I stood up from my seat. “I’ll be back,” I said before walking away to answer the call. As I stepped away from the crowd, my mind was already wondering what information he had found. I just hoped it was the answer I had been waiting for.
- Writer
