Light jumped off a shiny silver chain hung around Christian’s neck, blinding me.
“Shit, sorry.” He buttoned the top of his shirt, concealing it from me. Both of our chests pushed out with a breath at the same time.
Panic attack aside, my heart felt like it was going to explode.
Big hands cocooned my own as Christian brought both closer to himself. What was he…
He slipped a silver band onto my ring finger.
I gasped at the incandescent blue diamond that captivated my finger.
“It was the first ring I saw.”
And there he went, opening his mouth and ruining a good moment.
“It’s fine, it’s not like this marriage is real.” I whispered.
His jaw clenched.
“…I welcome Adelaide Mikael to the stage.”
My head snapped around.
Reporters flashed their cameras at me.
With adifficult swallow of clotted nothingness, I took one step before a thick strand of hair fell out of my bun.
My heart started peeling at the first layer of skin with its trenchant teeth. It choked like an explosive firework on a hot summer night. Excitement one minute, havoc the next.
With quick and shaky hands, I tore the clip off to fix my hair while more flashes tore into me, but a loud crack reverberated through my ears.
Don’t tell me…
Two halves of the clip separated from each other.
I didn’t have a backup on me. Ialwayshad a backup for everything.Ever since…Frantically shaking my head, it wasn’t the time to blame him when clearly this was my fault. I allowed my thoughts to think about him and this was the punishment.
Heaved chest.
Overlapped thoughts.
Sweltered hands.
Their whispers stumbled over to my feet and dug their nails into my skin.
It’s okay. I’m okay. Just go on stage with open hair. You’re fine.
Christian’s hand pulled me back against his chest.
“I got you.”
With a gentle swoop, he gathered my hair into his hands and with careful precision he tied it.
Thick cotton brushed against my fingers. Despite not knowing what it looked like, it swooped precisely into what felt like a bow.
“There,” goosebumps erupted on my arms. “Now you look like my wife.”
He didn’t…Did he?
