Chapter 3

During the ceremony, I felt like an idiot, unable to tear my eyes away from my groom. Damn it! For the first time, I wanted to hug Astrid! If it weren't for her impulsive decision to bail on the wedding, I wouldn't have ended up with such a fine-looking gentleman whose eyes tantalized the deepest part of my soul.

When the priest declared us husband and wife, he raised the veil that covered my head, and it was the first time he would see my face. Suddenly, nerves flooded my system. What if he didn't like what he saw?

"I'm not pre-" I tried to explain, but he suddenly silenced me with a kiss, and my knees wobbled in response. It was just a short kiss, but it sent my heart racing, worried it might skip a beat.

The man chuckled and said, "You are."

"W-what?" I stammered.

"You are pretty," he clarified.

"But not as pretty as you," I replied childishly.

"We're not in a beauty contest, my darling wife," he assured me.

I nodded, overw