Page 48 of Sweet Wicked Vows
Fucking hell, I hated events. I hated everything about them.
Everyone was fake. The smiles they plastered on their faces and the way they pretended to care about each other when the realitywas they were simply waiting for each other’s failures.
Their fake sweet pretense left a sickening taste in my mouth.
If it weren’t for Evelyn at my side, I don’t believe I would have lasted as long as I did. Usually, my temper got the better of me in those situations. Evelyn, on the other hand, was a complete pro at talking to the guests, offering them the perfect close-lipped smile, nodding along as they spoke their horseshit, and turning a blind eye to those trying to see if there was a hidden baby bump under her dress.
She stood by my side, her arm intertwined with my arm, while she flourished before me.
If she noticed my disdain or lack of comfort she kept it to herself, opting to speak for us both and cleverly steering away any conversation that might require my input. A strange spark of warmth attempted to set ablaze in my chest as she acted like a barrier, my blockade from the constant questioning.
These people were like frenzied sharks, chomping at the bit to find out every detail about our hidden love affair, and why we married in secret.
It was public knowledge that I never wanted a marriage.
I never wanted a wife.
Yet here I was, standing beside the red-haired siren wearing my last name.
I found a perfect hiding spot, close to a painting that was a wash of black, white, and oozing red in the middle. The entire gallery was decorated with black backdrops, glistening floating lights to resemble consolations, and night star-filled skies projected on the ceilings.
Music flowed from the live musicians in a corner of the room, mixing with the general buzz of conversation—an assault to my senses. It’s amazing how easy it was to take silence for granted, but right now, I longed for it.
Hell, I’d take sitting in the house listening to that gray fluff-ballpurr all day over all this.
A server dressed in all silver walked past with a tray of champagne and bourbon. Greedily, I snatched two bourbons and downed one without it touching the sides of my mouth.
I found little solace whenever my youngest brother found my hiding spot with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face.
“Hell must have finally frozen over.” Olivier clapped my shoulder. “Jax finally found a woman who can tolerate his constant scowls and broodiness long enough to convince her to marry him. How did you pull that one off?”
“Fuck off.”
“It’s good to see that stick Freddie wedged firmly up your ass is still there.” He nudged my shoulder. I was one second away from ripping my own limb off and bludgeoning him with it.
“Why are you here? I thought you were still traveling?”
“You really thought I’d give up my chance at getting my hands on free food and drink?” Olivier grinned. “I got back last week, wanted to make sure I got enrolled in my final year on time. Plus, it’s not like your big brother goes behind his family’s back and marries a woman none of us have met before every day of the week.”
I knocked back my other glass.
Of my three brothers, Olivier was the one I tolerated the most. He was the youngest, a mere baby when ourmamandied. Frederic was too consumed by his anger, and Elliott was busy being independent as always, so I felt it was my responsibility to take care of Olivier.
“Why didn’t I get an invite to the actual wedding?” Olivier grabbed another two glasses from a server. “I swear to god, if you tell me that Freddie was there and not me, I am going to lose my freaking mind.”
Another glass down the hatch. “He wasn’t there. No one was.”
His brow creased. “I get we aren’t the tightest of families, Jax,but you seriously went and got married without a single one of your brothers? Without even telling me? I had to find out through an invite your wife sent.” He pressed his lips flat. “I’m not going to lie, it stung.”
If we brothers were the seasons, Olivier was summer. He shone the brightest. His bubbly nature and positive attitude contrasted against the rest of us.
In my opinion, he was the best of us.
Seeing him upset was a blunt dagger between the ribs.
“It was an in-the-moment decision,” I lied. I spent my whole life shielding Olivier from our family’s ugliness and harsh truths. I wasn’t about to stop that now. “We were too wrapped up in ourselves to think about anyone else.”
Olivier hummed, lightness creeping back into his face. “Love will do that to you.” Running a hand across his hairless jaw, he nodded. “I’m happy for you, brother. You deserve to be happy. I was always worried spending all your time with Freddie was going to morph you into a massive douchebag like him.”