Mrs Something

The Unexpected Union

I blinked rapidly, trying to steady myself after the unexpected collision. A strange set of strong arms caught me before I could stumble.

Just what I needed, falling on my wedding day

I pulled back, looking up into the striking blue eyes of the man I was about to marry.

It’s always the blue eyes, damn it!

"Are you alright?" he asked, his deep and calm voice sent shivers to my spine.

My heart pounded in my chest, my mind racing.

This man was supposed to be my husband? The Declan Kennedy?

I couldn't reconcile the image of the social media celebrity with the man standing before me.

"I'm fine," I replied tersely. My tongue almost failed me there. "You’re late."

Declan smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "I apologize for that. Traffic was worse than expected."

That’s it? How rude.

I wanted to retort, to unleash the frustration that had built up over the past few days, but the ceremony was about to begin, and once again, my tongue failed me. Taking a deep breath, I tried to compose myself and walked with him to the altar.

The ceremony proceeded with an air of surrealism for me. As I exchanged vows with Declan, I felt like I was floating above the scene, watching someone else' life unfold. His touch was gentle, but the disconnect between us was palpable.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the officiant announced, and those were the only words I heard after I said my vows. They jerked me back to reality.

Am I really going to kiss him?

Declan leaned in, his lips brushing against mine with a tenderness that caught me off guard. For a brief moment, I forgot about Andrew, I forgot about the mystery surrounding him, the pressure from my family, and the fear of the unknown, or the most recent fact that he was rude to me, two seconds ago. Then, reality came crashing back as the applause erupted around us.

The reception was a whirlwind of introductions and congratulations. I plastered a smile on her face, playing the part of the happy bride, just as I’ve been taught by my mother. Declan stayed close, his arm around my waist, guiding me through the sea of guests.

"So, how did you two meet?" a curious guest asked.

I hesitated, unsure of what story to tell. Declan smoothly intervened. "It was love at first sight," he said with a charming smile. "I knew she was the one the moment I saw her."

Hm. Indeed.

I forced a laugh. Inside, my mind was spinning. I have to get answers.

I glanced at Sophie, who was watching from the sidelines, her expression a mix of worry, curiousity, and anger.

As the evening wore on, I found a moment alone with Declan. "Why me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you choose me?"

Declan looked at me, his expression unreadable. “Oh don’t get too excited” he answered with a smirk. "Let's just say I saw something special in you."

His somewhat rude answer only fueled my frustration. I wanted to demand more, but the guests were watching, and I know I had to maintain appearances.

Later, I managed to slip away from the crowd. I needed a moment to myself to process everything that had happened. I found a quiet corner in the garden, the cool night air soothing my nerves.

"Karen?" a familiar voice called out. I turned to see Sophie approaching.

"Are you okay?" Sophie asked, concern etched on her face.

Aw. She knows me too well.

"I don't know," I admitted. "This is all so overwhelming. I’m really sorry about all these. How is Rachael holding up?"

“You just worry about yourself first. Rachael is a big girl. I’m sure she can handle one or two break-ups.” Sophie hugged me tightly. "You’ll get through this. Just take it one step at a time."

I found some comfort in Sophie’s words. But as I glanced back at the reception, where Declan was mingling with the guests, I couldn't shake the feeling that her life had just taken a turn into uncharted territory.

I wonder what kind of ship I just got myself into.

As the night drew to a close, I noticed Declan speaking quietly with an older man who looked vaguely familiar. Their conversation seemed intense, and I caught snippets of phrases that sent a chill down my spine.

"...we have to be careful...can't let her know... too much at stake..."

Suddenly, my curiosity was piqued, but before I could eavesdrop further, Declan returned to my side, his expression carefully neutral.

Son of a…

"Ready to go?" he asked.

I did not respond, feeling a sense of foreboding. As we left the reception, I couldn't help but wonder what secrets Declan was hiding and how they would affect my new life.

Who was the old man I saw?

The answers lay hidden in the shadows of his past, waiting to unravel the delicate fabric of their new life together.