Julian furrowed his brows.
"Did I say that?", he asked.
"No, but you implied it. I mean why else wouldn't you want your friends and colleagues to come?"
Pissed, Alex made to break away but Julian pulled her back.
"Even if you came to such a conclusion, won't you at least let me defend myself?"
"What could you possibly have to say?", she said.
"I am not embarrassed by you. In fact, all I want to do is show you off. But there are some reasons why I can't do that yet".
"Reasons huh? Tell me".
"Why?".
"Why?", she smirked, "Because I am your wife".
Julian chuckled. "So now you know that I'm your husband right?".
She rolled her eyes. "Don't even dream about it Blackwood. Not in this life".
Julian lowered his lips to her ear.
"Maybe I'll take my chances in the next life too. It doesn't matter how many lives, I'll keep choosing you".
Alex shivered, but she tried to mask it with a look of disgust and showing that his statement wanted to make her faint.
"Oh please. Save the BS for someone who needs it. I don't".
"Really? Then why are you so curious?", he asked.
Honestly, Alex didn't know why she even asked. She wasn't really interested but she was curious. She hid her curiosity under indifference.
"Are you going to tell me or not? If you won't, there's no problem. It doesn't really matter".
"Alright then. I'll tell you later", he said.
"Do you guys intend to keep dancing throughout the party?", said Elizabeth.
Julian and Alex had been so lost in their world that they hadn't noticed that the music had changed and that they were the only ones left on the dancefloor. Alex couldn't get away from him fast enough. She smiled politely at Elizabeth and went in search of Zara.
"You done already?", asked her mischievous friend.
"You could have at least told me that the dance was over. It was your fault I was there in the first place".
"Well, I accept responsibility for the dance but it seemed both of you were enjoying it. Who am I to ruin the fun?"
Alex glared at her f friend who raised her hands in surrender.
"Alright. I'm sorry".
Alex rolled her eyes and moved toward the bar, eager to escape the crowd.
"Double martini over ice, please," she ordered.
Zara's gasp was dramatic. "What?! Alex, this is your wedding party. How can you drink that?"
Alex sighed, fighting the urge to snap. "Fine. Dirty martini with pineapple juice."
"That's better. Make it two."
They clinked glasses, sipping as the low hum of chatter filled the room. Behind them, chandeliers glittered, catching in every glass and jewel. The air was thick with perfume and whispers, the kind that made Alex feel like every pair of eyes was silently judging.
"How were you even able to make it?" Alex asked, grateful for the distraction. "Didn't you have an exam today?"
"I did," Zara smirked. "I just informed them it was a life-or-death situation."
Alex grinned. "You're a terrible influence on me."
"Please," Zara grinned back, "I believe it's the other way around."
They laughed, lifting their glasses again.
"This doesn't even feel like a real wedding," Alex muttered. Her gaze drifted across the ballroom. Too many stiff tuxedos, too many polite smiles. Nothing about it was warm.
"Yeah," Zara agreed. "The crowd looks too formal. I thought there'd be introductions, mingling… something."
Alex shrugged. "Apparently not. He said most of them are his parents' business partners. No actual friends."
Zara arched a brow. "Did you ask him why?"
"I did." Alex twirled her glass. "He said he'd tell me later."
"Later as in…" Zara's eyes glinted mischievously.
Alex laughed, shaking her head. "You're crazy. That will never happen."
"Never say never, sweetheart."
"Not in this case." Alex tossed back the rest of her drink and signaled for a refill.
Zara leaned on the counter, eyes narrowing. "So, any plans on how to torture your husband yet?"
"Of course." Alex's lips curved into a sly smile. "Plenty. Just waiting to drop the charade once this party is over."
Zara's brows shot up. "Wait—you're going to his place tonight?"
"Yes, why not? The sooner the wickeder." There was a wicked glint in Alex's eyes now, one that made Zara laugh.
"No wonder you've been playing goody-goody all evening. I thought you were sick or something."
"Not that I wanted to be," Alex muttered, pouring herself more. "Mum begged me to behave—for his mum's sake."
"His mum?" Zara frowned. "How does she even factor in?"
Alex shrugged. "No idea. I just… like the woman. And I don't want to embarrass my mum. She's had enough embarrassment from her only child."
Zara froze mid-sip, turning to her with sharp eyes. "Embarrassment? What are you talking about?"
Alex shifted uncomfortably. This wasn't how she'd planned to bring it up. She'd hidden it from Zara longer than she should have. But here, in the middle of this glittering nightmare, with her best friend staring her down, there was no escape.
She lowered her voice. "I dropped out."
Zara blinked. "Dropped out? Like… from the wedding?"
"No, silly. From college."
The confusion drained from Zara's face, replaced by shock. Her glass clinked back onto the counter too hard. "What?! You dropped out of college?"
Heads turned. A few curious glances slid their way.
"Hush!" Alex hissed, leaning closer. "Do you want everyone to hear you?"
Zara lowered her voice, but her frown deepened. "When? Why? And why didn't you tell me?"
"You were busy, and I didn't want to disturb you," Alex said quickly, already knowing the excuse was weak.
Zara rolled her eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn't stick.
"It was last semester, okay?" Alex added, biting her lip.
"What?" Zara nearly shouted again, then forced herself quiet. "Alex, how could you not tell me? Why?"
Alex looked away, suddenly fascinated with the swirling liquid in her glass. "Forget the why. That's… that's the reason I got married so suddenly."
The realization dawned in Zara's eyes. She leaned back, stunned. "Oh, shit. I thought your mum was joking about that stuff."
"So did I," Alex muttered bitterly. "Guess I was wrong."
"Very wrong." Zara's laugh was humorless. "I was curious about the sudden wedding, but I thought it was just some rich-people-family-arrangement. Not this."
Alex gave a crooked smile. "Well, seems like Mum decided it alone. Without asking me first." She tipped her glass back and drained it.
Before she could order another, a warm voice cut in.
"That's enough for one night, dear."
Julian.
Alex stiffened. His presence at her back felt like gravity.
"I want to introduce you to some people."
She bit back the sharp response on her tongue, swallowing it with the last traces of pineapple martini. When she looked back at Zara, begging for backup, her best friend only looked away—clearly still furious at being left in the dark.
With no choice, Alex slipped her arm into Julian's, and let him lead her away.