Cakes and Blades

Chapter 2: Claire

This is it. The day I get married. I squealed in delight as I stood in front of the mirror. The veil was not on me yet. Deciding to defer it for a few more minutes, I admired myself. A tear suddenly fell from my eye. I wish mom had been here to see me in a wedding dress. “You're crying already? You haven’t walked down the aisle yet.” my brother suddenly popped himself in the reflection of the mirror.

“Emmy!” I turned around and couldn’t help myself to give him a hug. He chuckled as I gripped him tight as if I could choke him. “You're going to ruin your make-up, C. ” he then swipes my tear away.

“Isn’t the bridesmaid or the maid of honour supposed to say that?” I smirked and fixed his tie.

“You neither have one.” he popped my nose. “This isn’t a typical wedding.” I sighed. It wasn’t. I was told that I would get married in two days. I was about to decline because there were so many preparations that needed to be made. South didn't show up at any of the meetings we had set up, so I didn't know what he wanted. How do you prepare a wedding when you only have your own likes and wants? Good thing, Papa made sure that the places, the caterers, everything were taken care of, leaving the cake to be decided by me.

I wanted something to have that was mine. It was my wedding and I wanted to feel that there was a piece of me in this life-changing event.

“Are you sure South agreed to this?” Asking with worry, I knew this was an arranged marriage but shouldn’t we at least agree to it?

“South? Absolutely,” Emerson answered. I've only seen South on the news, on the internet, but it has been years since I last saw him in person.

The way my heart does these weird things every time I see him in the photos. His tattooed skin, his fierce gaze and his eyes. How I love his gray eyes. I’ve always just admired him from afar and that was enough for me.

Having little involvement with the mafia, had only consisted of coming with Emerson and Papa to parties for appearances or if Emerson needed someone to stand beside him. I was not sure where the Ali clan stands nor did I want to find out. I’ve heard that life is brutal and dangerous. As much as I didn't want to be part of it, there was only so much I could avoid. Choosing not to have friends or being emotionally attached to anyone were the consequences. Losing them because of the danger would hurt me too much. I can’t risk it. I could not bear the pain.

“Are you ready C?” Emerson was holding my veil waiting for my answer. I looked in the mirror one last time.I slowly nodded. Emerson, with the help of the assistants, fixed my veil. After that, he held out his arm and I curled my hand around his bicep.

“As ready as I'll ever be.”

…

I slowly entered the room with my Papa and Emerson on each of my side. Everyone was silent and only let the music play. Oh how wonderful it is. My eyes landed on South and how beautiful he looked standing there at the end of the aisle, wearing his tux, his necktie properly done and his hands in front of him. When our eyes met, the butterflies inside me lit up. Yes! He finally looked at me.I smiled sweetly at him. South didn't move but blinked a couple of times before looking away.

It was my turn to look down, suddenly feeling conscious of people staring. “C, keep your head up high. This is your day. That means you're the most beautiful woman here right now.” letting out a shaky breath

“You are always sweet Emmy.” I muttered so low, it was close to a whisper.

Papa quietly cleared his throat beside me. “Do not forget darling, our arrangement. Do not disappoint me and hold your end of the bargain. Be a good wife.” Despite him saying it softly, there was something in his tone that I didn't like.

By the time we reached the end of the aisle, South didn't look me in the eye again and kept his gaze right above my head. Shrugging off the heavy feeling, maybe he was feeling nervous as am I.

Everyone started to sit down and the minister began. “We are gathered here today…”

I stopped listening to the man in front of me and subtly focused on the beautiful creature beside me. I noticed his fist was clenched and his fingers were rubbing each other in the same motion. Instincts made me softly put my hand on top of his agitated one. He stilled. None of us looked down with our joined hands, but I started rubbing circles around the back of his palm to calm him. I am here.Trying to silently convey the message, hoping he would get it.

He didn’t try to shake my hand nor did I make any move on mine. A small smile slowly crept along my lips as we held hands throughout the ceremony.

When the priest said "You may now kiss the bride,"My heart did more somersaults. I was finally going to kiss South. He slowly lifted up my veil. I smiled, showing all of my teeth couldn't contain my happiness. Despite this being only our first encounter after ten years. I felt like we had been together for a very long time. When I finally got to see him clearly, without the veil hindering him from my sight. South stopped for a moment and just stared at me. Staring at my soul. It felt like he was trying to go in depth of what I truly felt, it was captivating. I cleared my throat and it broke him from wherever he was and stood up taller.

He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on my lips.

I am now Mrs. Griffin.

…

There were so many people attending the wedding, but not one I knew except for the family, and then there were South’s brothers and his uncle. We were riding in a limo towards the airport where we would go to our honeymoon destination. I had changed from my wedding dress to a simple white flowy dress that ended just a few inches above my knee.

South did not utter a word after the ceremony, not even in the reception I knew he wasn’t a talker. But I was and I could talk enough for both of us. Pride swelled in my chest when I saw how South ate more than a slice of our wedding cake.

He didn't say that he liked it. He didn't need to because I already knew.

“The wedding was definitely tiring.” I tried breaking the silence but only greeted with more silence. South sat calmly beside me just looking out the window with a glass in his hand.

“I saw you dancing a lot today. There were a lot of women who wanted to dance with you.” Only hearing a grunt from him before taking a sip from his glass. Tough crowd.

“You must’ve known a lot of women in your life.” Knowing he had his fair share of women didn’t bother me as long as I wasn't sharing him now. Emerson did mention that no one was waiting for him. So there wasn’t a woman in his life, just one-night stands. With that, South drank some more, finishing his drink in one go.

I placed a hand on his arm that was holding the bottle that was about to pour some more into his glass.“I saw you drank a lot during the reception. I think that’s enou-”

“f**k what you think.” South spoke coldly. He looked at the hand that was placed on his arm and then back to me. I think it was a sign that I needed to remove it but I didn’t.

“I don’t want you nursing a really bad hangover tomorrow.” Smiling, despite the uneasiness floating in the car. He looked with those eyes that I could not decipher, forcing a gulp from me. Now I understood why so many feared him. Just his gaze can feel like you were undressed and naked down to the very core.

“Please.” I had nothing to fear, he is my husband after all.

“Get your hand off of me,” South commanded. Blinking a few times before lifting it and placing it back in mine. I looked forward but my peripheral vision saw that he was closing the bottle and putting the glass back on the side. Win.

The rest of the ride was quiet. Understanding how both of us were tired and did so much talking, well maybe I did too much talking. I yawned, adding a little noise in the car. Even his breathing was quiet. Sighing in defeat, I would no longer attempt to talk to him anymore.

As our ride ended, South got out of the car and I patiently waited for him to open my door. I smiled as I heard him walk around the trunk, but then my smile faltered as he started walking towards the stairs that led to the front door without me.

“Mrs. Griffin.” Our driver opened the car door for me. I shook the sadness away and smiled at him. “Thank you so much, George.” He looked old enough as Papa but in truth he was way older than him.

“The men will bring your things. Please go ahead inside." I looked towards my husband who was halfway up the stairs. I tried to catch up as much as I could with my small legs compared to him.

It would be okay if South didn’t carry me to the villa bridal style, because that is so cliche. I chuckled to myself. By the time I caught up with him, we were in front of the villa. When he entered, he looked at my surroundings and I stood beside him, catching my breath.

“South!” I said breathlessly and held on to his arm. “Being a giant like you has its advantages,” I joked. I noticed the villa and muttered an “oh wow”. When South didn't mutter anything, I took a step back and looked at his huge figure.

“Have I done something to make you mad? You haven't been talking, and you avoid me as if you don't trust me” Clasping my hands together, afraid of what he might say.

"Because I don't." When he turned around, he took my breath away. I couldn't move again, couldn't speak. "I don't know what made you choose me but I could smell something funny from this arrangement. It's not common for the second born to get married at this time."

Raising my eyebrows, bewildered at reason all along. "It's the modern century, Hubby. Anything can happen now."

"Not to us. Not in our clan. Not while the forefathers are breathing and kicking. If you wanted to get married so badly. You could've chosen anyone. I'm not for you, sunshine."

My heart stopped. He remembered. South used the nickname he gave me ten years ago.

I only let out a grin. “Why wouldn’t I? I will always choose you, South.”

South didn’t respond. He only clenched both of his fists on his sides, took a step back and continued his way toward our room. How would we sleep together if he didn't trust me? I was about to chase after him and would do anything just for us to have our first peaceful night together when I saw him holding on to an extra blanket and a pillow.

"Where are you going?"

"You take the bed. I take the couch."

"That's silly. We can share the bed. It's big enough for both of us."

"I have no time and energy to argue. I still have work to do. Go to bed or not, that's up to you." with that, he searched for his laptop and continued to scroll down his emails.

“Goodnight, my love.” I spoke quietly and made my way towards the room where I would sleep alone and with sadness.