The reception followed immediately after.
Now and then he would pinch of nudge at me signaling me to smile.
At that moment, I felt like grabbing a nearby glass and breaking it on his head.
His whole demeanour irritated me to my core.
The fact that I had to breathe the same air as him had me feeling sick to my stomach.
Such a needless extravagant display of wealth and status was not necessary for this sham of a marriage but then, only Don Pedro Lorenzo could pull such moves.
My eyes ached at the sight of tables adorned with gold-trimmed dinnerware, I preferred silver. The set-up, as grandiose as the foolish man I married intended it to be, still looked tacky.
They should at least use silver. I said unknowingly.
But Not loud to hide my obvious disgust
"Sorry?" he asked "Did you say something?"
"No, I did not "
Thank goodness, Regina stayed close, her presence a small comfort. "You should eat something," she suggested, offering to make me a plate.
I shook my head. "I'm not hungry."
Her lips pressed together as if she wanted to say more, but she let it go.
Pedro was the centre of attention, speaking to his associates, and shaking hands, I wished he could develop a stroke and just die on the spot.
God forgive me for all the evil thoughts I have nursed but your child is frustrated.
His eyes kept coming back to me as if he was hoping that I don't run away.
As if I even could.
I excused myself and found a balcony that overlooked the estate gardens. I could see one of his guards had followed me.
"I can't have a moment all to myself," I said out loudly to his hearing.
"We are under strict instructions to watch over you," he said, firmly.
The cool evening air wrapped around me in ways that had me wondering how what should have been another day at the office turned into a wedding I didn't prepare for, and My Aunt? I had still not seen her, this infuriated me more. I closed my eyes, allowing myself just a moment to breathe and soothe my internal walls.
"Trying to escape by air?"
I stiffened at the sound of Pedro's voice. He dismissed the guard. Slowly, I turned to face him.
"I needed some air," I said, devoid of any emotion.
Pedro took a step closer, resting one hand on the railing. "You should be inside. People are waiting to congratulate you."
Devil you lie, your mission is to trigger me till I lose my cool and act like a crazy woman, but I won't.
"Congratulate me for what?" I asked painfully. "For forcing me against my will to repeat words that meant nothing to me?"
"Careful, Tessa. Walls have ears." He said. As if he cared.
"Or what?" I challenged, crossing my arms. "You'll take more from me than you already have?"
"You'll find, my lovely wife, that there are worse things than being married to me."
Pedro stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You will learn, Tessa. You will learn."
I held his attention for a few minutes, refusing to look away. "And what if I don't?"
His smile didn't break. "Then I will teach you."
A shiver ran down my spine, but I lifted my chin, refusing to let him see how terrified I was.
I turned away abruptly. We stood in silence for a while, I could see how fixated his attention on me was and it made me uncomfortable, then reached into his pocket, pulling out a small navy blue box. He opened it, revealing a diamond bracelet with my name on it.
"A wedding gift," he said, holding it out.
I stared at it, then back at him. "I don't want it."
The smile on his face disappeared. "It wasn't a request."
Before I could react or even say anything else, he took my wrist and fastened the bracelet around it.
"Now," Pedro murmured, "shall we return to our guests?"
I hesitated, but I knew there was no choice as the people around were watching even while walking around and I wondered why I even cared.
"What about my Aunt?" I asked, stopping in my tracks.
He extended his arm. After a brief pause, I took it.
"She is resting, you will get to speak with her after you are done here"
As we re-entered the wedding hall, I managed to force a smile on my face when two ladies walked up to me to say they loved my dress and clear skin. A couple followed afterwards. They were friends of Don Pedro.
I need to run away from here, slip out of these clothes and soak myself in hot water.
Pedro squeezed my hand slightly as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.
And the worst part?
He was enjoying every second of it.