Chapter 109
Chapter 109
-APOLLO-
A low murmur cascades through the crowd, a tense blend of shock and intrigue as guests exchange baffled glances, trying to understand my mate’s unexpected entrance during the middle of the ceremony.
I never imagined that Lana, who usually shies away from the spotlight and avoids the gaze of large gatherings, would step forward in such a bold
manner.
This was entirely uncharacteristic of her–a sudden surge of determination that makes my chest hurt.
I didn’t want to be the reason for this change in her.
I’d spent the entire day thinking of ways to back out of this engagement and somehow spend the rest of my life with Lana. However, there was nothing that I could think of.
“What on earth are you doing here?” my mother hisses, her voice barely rising above the whispers within the ballroom as everyone continued to watch as everything unfolded.
My mother was still desperate to maintain her calm,for the sake of our guests despite how upset she clearly was about Lana’s interruption. Once again, her reputation and what others think about her are more important than anything else.
“Have you completely lost your mind?” Jada interjects, her usual fake, radiant smile now strained as she attempts to strike a balance between maintaining her composure for the people around her and trying to insult my mate. She reminds me a lot of my mother, maybe that was why she seemed to like her so much. She was seeing a reflection of herself.
I take a quick glance around the room, scanning the crowd.
The gathering is composed mainly of people who are unfamiliar with my step–sister, filtering in from either my mother’s family and friends or Jada’s family and friends. Lana only knew a select few who were present.
This means that many among the audience were undoubtedly curious, glancing sideways and whispering questions about who she is and what could possibly bring her to stand in front of us during such an important moment.
Yet, amidst the whirlwind of puzzled gazes and whispers, Lana seems oblivious to everyone except me. Her eyes are locked onto mine with an intensity that feels almost magnetic, and I find myself mesmerized, unable to break free from her gaze.
In that instant, despite the chaos around us, a warmth surges through me. It is an enlivening feeling–the most alive I’ve been in days–torched solely by her presence, radiating with an unspoken spark that threatens to explode any second now.
“Somebody please get this girl off the stage!” my mother cries out, her voice strained as she struggled to maintain her composure. Her voice gets louder as she adds, “Immediately! She’s stopping the ceremony from finishing! And I will not simply sit back and let that happen!”
As one of the security guards approached to escort her away, I instinctively stepped in front of him, my hand raised in an attempt for him to halt. There was no way I would allow anyone to touch my mate. If she chose to remain here, on stage with me, then I would stand by her side for as long as she needed. I didn’t care how that would make me look to the guests. They were not important to me at all.
“Lana,” I murmur, my voice unrecognizable, thick with anxiety and concern. “Is everything okay?”
Deep down, I already had the answer to my question. The sight of her beautiful face, streaked with tears that sparkled like jewels in the light, made it painfully obvious that everything was far from okay.
I felt like a fool for even asking, my heart aching as I watched the sadness spill forth from her beautiful eyes.
A heavy weight presses on my chest, making it feel like my heart is being squeezed by a large hand.
I can feel the tension building inside me, and I know I won’t be able to maintain this pretense for much longer.
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Chapter 109
My outburst towards her last night was already a mistake that left me feeling utterly drained, to the point where I couldn’t even muster the strength to get out of bed for hours today.
The anxiety of possibly hurting her again today, especially in front of all these onlookers, makes my stomach twist in knots. If I let my feelings slip in this crowded room, it would feel like plunging a blade deep into my own chest, each stab a reminder of the pain I placed upon my innocent mate. I can’t imagine how I would ever recover from something like that.
“Apollo.” My mother snaps. “Here is not the place to ask her such a question. Instead ask her why she is ruining your big day! Look at how crazy she is behaving. She is embarrassing the entire family!”
Lignore my mother as I wait for Lana to say something. I didn’t care how long I had to wait, I would give my step–sister her chance to speak.
However, I am not prepared for what happened next. I stay completely still as she throws her arms around my neck, a shockwave of warmth coursing through me. I can hardly breathe with her small frame pressing against my chest as her sobs erupted with a raw intensity.
I could feel her emotions through each sob and it snapped something inside of me.
“What does she think she’s doing?” Jada exclaims, her voice laced with disbelief and anger. “This is highly inappropriate for a step–sister to be doing! Someone get her off my fiancé!”
“Apollo!” My mother interjects sharply, her tone full of alarm. “You need to get that girl off you, or I will do it myself!” Her eyes blazed with determination, but her harsh words felt like a distant echo in my mind. They could shout at me all they wanted to but I was not letting go of Lana. Not while she was like
this.
“I will move her myself Apollo. You have a few seconds to do it first!“.
My mother’s threat ignited a fierce protectiveness within me. I didn’t care how it looked from the outside; all that mattered was my mate in my arms. If she needed me if she found comfort in my embrace–then I was going to stay right where I was.
As my mother advanced, her expression turning fierce, I instinctively pushed my hands outward, creating a barrier between her and Lana. “You need to let her go.” My mother repeats, her voice now tinged with frustration as she steps closer.
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