Chapter 38: Chapter 38

“What are you doing?” She asked as she felt him grabbing her hand tightly. Her heart was beating so fast at the mere touch. She tried to pull away her had only for him to clutch it tighter.

She was so surprised at the way her heart was reacting. His hand felt so strong and firm yet his skin had such a soft texture to it that it did not feel strange at all. She felt butterflies in her stomach despite her being angered at his action. She had her upper body turned towards him and glaring at him while he stared blankly at her without giving away what he was thinking.

“Thomas, will you tell me what is this all about?” She asked a bit irritatingly this time. Her fingers were intertwined with his. She took a brief look at their joined hands and found out that her hand looked small in his. Her heart skipped a beat.

“We are almost there. We have to look intimate like a couple as there will be reporters.” He reasoned with the same blank expression, but he did give her hand a little squeeze.

She looked at him with confusion and took a look out of the window. There was no sight of any reporter. The car was still being driven. She doubted if they were ‘almost there’ as he had put it.

He did not seem like he was playing games with her though, so she kept quiet. It still felt weird but in a good way to hold hands with him. She never wanted to admit that it indeed felt good. She was even surprised herself to why she was thinking that way.

Was it because of the fact that he was looking dashing at that moment? She was quite impressed at the way he could rock a simple night-suit and a designer tux. With the weird somersaults that her heart was doing, they finally reached the banquet. She thanked God.

Being in a closed space was making it hard to breathe. She could not understand her condition.

True like what he had said, there were reporters—a lot of them. Damn Thomas seemed like a celebrity. They would not have paid any heed if he was not. Sana had told her how he was one of the most sought-out bachelors in the state. There was no doubt about that. A young billionaire with such great looks? Everyone would want to marry him.

Not her though. Marriage was the last of her priorities in life. But look whom had played her games with?

The car stopped in front of the building that looked like straight out of a royal movie. She had never seen such an exterior. The walls were painted with gold color and everything seemed so exquisite. Her nervousness increased ten folds looking at the swarm of reporters who were already flashing their camera lights at their car.

“Relax. Don’t answer their questions. Just smile and walk passed by them.” Thomas reassured her squeezing her hand again. She gave him a nervous look. She had never ever seen so much attention on herself. She used to think that working as a stripper was the flashiest highlight of her life, but it seemed to surpass even that.

“Let’s go.” She gave him a nod after taking a deep breath. Unconsciously, she was squeezing his hand as if her life depended on it as they exited the car.

He felt it. He felt how nervous she was. He also felt how great it felt to hold her hand.

He was being funny. He would have cursed at himself if he could at how desperate he was reacting with her. It had not even been that long since he met her, but she was already making him feel and think crazy things. He never thought he would have such emotions for a stripper. But he had come to know that she was way more than a stripper.

She was different. Others would have thrown themselves at him if they were in her place. But she did not want anything. She was just in it for her mom and that was all. How could someone be that selfless? It was beyond him.

He left her hand and put her hand on the small of her back once they were out of the car. She jumped a little visibly and looked at him with surprise. He was being very touchy that day. She was not used to it.

He just smirked at her and led her through the reporters and paparazzi. Her mind was numb and she had her head down. What if someone from her work came to know about her marriage? What if people who watched her dance on the stage came to know about it? What if Joe came to know about it?

It was not as if she was afraid of the consequences for her supposed marriage. She cared to death about her mom. She could not give her any worry or shock. She was sure she would be shocked to hear about the truth. The truth would ruin her.

She was hyperventilating as they finally left the flash lights and the shouts as the reporters asked their curious questions to whom Thomas responded a little. She was not aware of what the hell was happening. There was enough of a hectic battle inside of her.

They entered the hall with Thomas still leading her while she was almost leaning on him for support. There were people in the hallway as they greeted the bride and the groom.

She kept smiling as directed by him, but she was feeling so lost.

“Are you okay?” He heard his soft voice. She raised her head a little and nodded that was almost lying on his shoulder.

There was so much concern in his voice that she could not help but keep staring for a few seconds. Was the concern for her? But why would he feel concerned for her?

She was staring in his eyes when he raised his hand and tucked a piece of her hair gently behind her ear. She came out of the daze and quickly put some distance between them. He realized his mistake.

“Let’s link arms and enter.” He cleared his throat and directed her as the organizer came to inform them that they should enter on count of three.

He offered his arm which she took hesitantly. She linked her arm with his and they entered as directed.

They had a spotlight over them as they walked inside where people were already gathered. She, once again, grabbed his arm a little too tightly. She could not see anyone because of how bright the light was and the way it hit her eyes. She tried to smile as they walked side by side. Thomas was her support even if she did not want to admit it.

They walked with the soft and romantic music playing in the background. In the midst of everything, she heard a voice that sounded so familiar. She would have recognized it like the back of her hand.

“My baby.” Her mom cooed with sheer joy as she saw her daughter walk with her lover side by side. She looked at her left side and smiled tearfully at her mom. She could make out her silhouette. Aunt Mary was hugging her mom as she shed a few happy tears.

Her mom was so happy. Wasn’t that what she wanted the most? It made her even more determined to give her best to the marriage while it would last. She would not give a reason for it to be ruined before time. She would make sure not to do anything that would trouble her mom.

Her mom would get her surgery. She would make her happy and healthy again. She thought with a smile. Just the thought of seeing her mom healthy again was enough to boost a new wave of joy within her.

She mouthed "I love you" to Amelia which amde her mom smile.

With a new sense of determination, she smiled a full smile. Thomas felt her relax suddenly. He was wondering what happed for her to get her serene posture back.

He was glancing at her the whole time they were walking in between the rows of the guests. He was worried about her. She seemed so anxious earlier when they were surrounded by the reporters. But thank God, she was okay now.

He did not want to bombard her by asking again and again if she was okay, but that was exactly what he wanted to do. He was restless seeing her that way. It was because he knew that the situation she was in was because of him. It was a world she was probably not used to. But she had to put up with all of that because she was in a contract with him.

There was nothing he could do either. His grandfather was the most stubborn person ever. If he said he wanted to arrange a reception for them, there was not a force in the world that would have been able to stop him. It included him as well.

He was glad she got over her nerves. He smiled as he saw her return back to normal.