Free Web NovelChapter 167: Chapter 167 Perhaps We Should Have a Wedding
Christina’s POV
I glanced at him. "My what?"
"Wedding," Hudson said.
"We’re already married," I replied without thinking.
"Contractually speaking," he lowered his voice. "That’s not quite what I meant."
Ysolde stood up. "Excuse me, I need to visit the ladies’ room."
"Want me to come with you?" I asked.
"No." She smiled at Hudson. "You’ve got company."
I watched her go.
She didn’t seem upset, but she deliberately took a wide detour to avoid passing Cassian’s table.
"You’re quiet," Hudson said.
"I’m witnessing the aftermath of a terrible hasty decision."
"Yours or hers?"
I turned to face him directly.
His tie was still perfect. He hadn’t even loosened it. He sat the same way he had when we first sat down—back straight, hands resting on the table, impossible to read. The only thing that moved was his thumb, slowly running along his wine glass.
"Why are you asking about weddings?" I asked.
"We’re here, aren’t it? This setting naturally brings up the topic. Asking what you’d prefer seems reasonable."
I blinked at him. "Are you envisioning a wedding with me?"
He tilted his head slightly, as if I were the dumb one. "What if I am?"
"You can’t be serious."
"I rarely joke."
"You’re asking if I want a real wedding. With you."
"I’m asking what kind of wedding would be acceptable to you, should circumstances change." frёewebηovel.cѳm
"As in... we stop pretending?"
"Something like that."
My mood soured instantly. Was he drunk?
"Christina!" The bride appeared beside me, arm linked with her new husband. "I had to come thank you! This necklace..." She touched her neck. "It’s absolutely stunning."
"Glad you like it." I raised my glass in a toast.
The groom attempted small talk with Hudson, and by the time the newlyweds moved on, my conversation with Hudson had effectively ended.
I felt the topic was too sensitive. Weddings like this naturally put romantic ideas in people’s heads. But I hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol and was completely sober.
I checked the time. The cake had been cut. People were starting to leave.
Several children ran across the dance floor, dragging a ribbon like a dog leash.
Ysolde’s seat remained empty. Ten more minutes passed. Still no Ysolde.
I leaned toward Hudson. "I’m going to find Ysolde. She’s been gone too long." freewēbnoveℓ.com
He didn’t stop me.
The hallway behind the ballroom smelled of lavender soap and floor wax. A server carrying a stack of plates passed me.
I scanned the prep room, then peeked into the bridal suite. Empty.
Rachel stepped out from the changing room, holding high heels in one hand and an energy bar in the other. Her updo had collapsed.
"Ysolde was here earlier," she said, chewing. "She didn’t stay long."
I called Ysolde.
Straight to voicemail. I turned and went back to the ballroom. She wasn’t at our table.
I continued checking other areas of the house until I found myself back at the balcony where I’d encountered Niall.
Somehow, this seemed to be the hot spot for private conversations.
Or in this case, a private confrontation.
I rounded the corner and saw them both—Ysolde rigid as steel, Alexis blocking her path like a smug security guard.
It took me two seconds to understand what was happening.
I walked straight over, stopping beside Ysolde.
My heel scraped the edge of Alexis’s dress, purely accidental, but I felt no remorse.
"Let’s go," I said to my friend.
"I wasn’t finished speaking with Miss Carlisle," Alexis said.
"Speaking?" I sniffed the air, catching the scent of hostility. "Or threatening?"
Alexis looked me up and down dismissively. "Fine. Call it a warning, then. I hope Ysolde is smart enough not to interfere with someone else’s relationship. She surely doesn’t want to be called a home-wrecker, right?"
"Are you married to Cassian?"
"Not yet, but it’s as good as done."
"Does Cassian know you’re doing this?"
She smirked. "No, he wouldn’t approve. And I don’t plan to tell him. Unless you two want to run and tattle?"
"So you came behind his back, hoping we’d keep quiet?" I tilted my head. "You think we’d be that polite?"
Alexis just smiled. "Ysolde is from the Carlisle Pack. I’d expect someone from such a distinguished lineage to know better than to act sneakily."
Ysolde let out a cold laugh. "That’s rich coming from you. You crawled over here like a rat in the shadows to start a fight you can’t possibly finish. Who’s being sneaky?"
Alexis shrugged. Girls like her were the hardest to deal with—too perfect to be broken, too narcissistic to care about anything.
I glanced toward the far corner of the balcony and raised my voice to carry.
"I bet Cassian never intended to marry you. You and your precious family just won’t let go. You’re insecure. That’s why you’re here warning Ysolde off."
The smile on Alexis’s face began to peel away. But she didn’t lose her temper.
"Cassian is better off with me. Do you really think he would choose Ysolde Carlisle?" she said calmly. "We’re announcing our engagement next week."
Footsteps sounded behind her. Cassian appeared in view.
His gaze swept over the three of us like he’d walked into a crime scene.
"What’s going on here?"
Before Alexis could twist the situation into another lie, I cut in, "Miss Rivera cornered Ysolde here to warn her to stay away from you."
Ysolde folded her arms, glaring at her ex. "I’d love to know what makes Miss Rivera think I’ve been chasing after you. Perhaps it’s time to clear things up?"
Cassian turned to Alexis, frowning. "Is this true?"
For a moment, she looked flustered. But then she recovered, her expression softening like butter under light.
"I never said such things. We were just chatting. I might have said something inappropriate, but nothing serious. You know how words can be misinterpreted. You believe me, right?"
He hesitated. Then he nodded. "I believe you."
After hearing that, I felt like my brain had short-circuited. I decided that after all this was over, I needed to take Ysolde to get her eyes checked. What the hell had she ever seen in this jerk?
Alexis blinked sweetly, as if that settled it. "I meant no harm. They must have misunderstood."
She stepped forward, placing her arm on his shoulder. "Let’s go."
"Not so fast." I stopped her.
