Chapter 348: Wedding!
Maria.
I lay quietly on the bed, completely still, my eyes fixed on the plain white ceiling above me as if it held the answers to every problem I had. My fingers tapped lightly against the mattress in a slow, absent rhythm, the only sound breaking the silence of the room.
The stillness didn’t last for long.
The door to my room suddenly barged open with no warning, hitting the wall slightly as the ever-annoying and persistently confident Vincent stepped inside as though he owned the place.
He didn’t even bother to announce himself.
Instead, he walked in casually and leaned against the wall with so much ease, folding his arms across his chest like he had all the time in the world.
I immediately averted my gaze away from him, choosing to keep my attention locked firmly on the ceiling as though he wasn’t even worth acknowledging.
"What now, aren’t you at least going to say hi?" Vincent asked from where he stood, his tone carrying that usual irritating calmness.
I didn’t respond, nor did I even bother to give him a glance.
Instead, I simply rolled my eyes in silence and turned my body slightly to the side, deliberately avoiding even the sight of him. I made it obvious that I had no intention of entertaining his presence.
A few seconds of silence passed.
And then suddenly I heard footsteps. It was slow and deliberate.
And immediately, I knew exactly what he was doing—Vincent was moving closer.
Without even looking, I could feel the shift in space, the way his presence seemed to close in on me. Not wanting him to suddenly tower over me or invade my personal space completely, I quickly pushed myself up into a sitting position on the bed.
My movements were sharp, defensive.
"Relax, Maria. I am not harming you!" he declared immediately, raising both hands slightly as though to prove his innocence. "I actually brought good news for you!" he added, his tone shifting slightly with a hint of satisfaction.
That caught my attention despite myself.
Slowly, I raised my brows, curiosity instantly flickering in my expression. I hated how quickly it got my attention, but I still tried my best to mask it, keeping my face as neutral as possible.
I refused to give him the satisfaction of reacting too quickly.
"Aren’t you going to ask?" he repeated after a brief pause, his tone lighter this time, almost teasing, as if he was deliberately trying to provoke a reaction out of me.
Without waiting for an answer, Vincent shifted his weight and lowered himself fully onto the edge of the bed, sitting like he belonged there—completely at ease, completely unbothered, as though my silence meant nothing at all.
I remained silent, as not a single word escaped my lips and there was no reaction nor acknowledgment from me either.
Just a cold, deliberate refusal to engage with him.
The silence between us stretched for a moment longer than usual.
Vincent let out a low chuckle, breaking it, clearly amused by my stubborn refusal to respond.
"You really are something else," he murmured, shaking his head slightly as though he found my attitude entertaining rather than frustrating.
Then, with a softer voice that carried a teasing edge, he added, "How cute."
The words were spoken almost playfully, but I didn’t miss the way his expression shifted.
Slowly, almost deliberately, he lifted his hand toward my face.
His movements were unhurried and confident, like he had already assumed I would allow it.
His fingers moved closer to my cheek, inching forward as though he had every right in the world to touch me, as though my personal space was something he could simply ignore whenever he pleased.
That assumption alone ignited something sharp inside me.
I reacted instantly.
Without hesitation, I shifted my upper body sharply to the side, dodging his hand before it could make contact with my skin.
The movement was quick, defensive, and full of rejection.
In the same motion, I turned my head back toward him and shot him a deadly glare.
My eyes narrowed, carrying every ounce of warning I could possibly force into a single look.
It was not just anger, it also held a boundary—a clear line he had just crossed.
"Don’t you dare touch me," I said immediately, my voice firm and cold.
"Look, Vincent, if you have come here just to get on my nerves..." I said furiously, my voice rising with each word as frustration built steadily inside me. My brows were drawn tightly together, and I pointed an accusing finger straight at him, refusing to hide how irritated I was.
My chest tightened with irritation, the feeling pressing heavily against me as though his very presence was enough to suffocate my patience. I had already reached my limit, and it showed in the sharpness of my tone and the rigid tension in my posture.
"...then use the door," I snapped immediately, cutting the air between us like a blade. I sharply redirected my pointed finger away from his face and toward the door behind him, making the gesture deliberate, almost like I was physically pushing him out without laying a hand on him.
My expression stayed hard and unyielding, my glare fixed on him without even a hint of softness. I refused to blink away my annoyance. I refused to look away first.
Vincent, however, reacted in the complete opposite way I expected.
Instead of being offended or even slightly discouraged, he only looked more amused, as though my anger entertained him rather than pushed him away.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he tilted his head slightly, studying me with an irritating calmness.
"You are so beautiful, Maria," he said smoothly, his voice low and unbothered, as though my fury had no effect on him whatsoever. His tone carried an almost effortless confidence that only made my irritation deepen.
He paused briefly, as if savoring my reaction before continuing.
"Even in this angry state of yours," he added softly, his gaze fixed on me, "you are just so tempting."
The words landed heavily in the air between us, hanging there in a way that only made my anger burn hotter. My jaw tightened instinctively, and my grip on my own composure felt like it was beginning to slip under the weight of his irritating calmness.
He stood there like he had no idea how close he was pushing me to losing control completely.
And I lost it immediately.
Without thinking, I shot up from the bed in one swift motion, my movements filled with rage. My hands moved almost on instinct as I grabbed the nearest pillow.
Before he could react properly, I brought it down hard on his head.
The impact made a dull thud sound in the room.
Vincent staggered slightly but quickly recovered, raising his hands in mock surrender.
"You are too violent, Maria, calm down..." he said, though there was no real fear in his tone. Instead, he looked almost entertained.
He adjusted himself slightly, still sitting on the bed as if nothing had happened.
"Once we eventually get married, I am really going to suffer a lot from—"
He didn’t get to finish his sentence.
"We are never getting married!" I yelled immediately, cutting him off sharply.
My voice echoed through the room with finality.
But Vincent only smiled in response, completely unfazed.
"We are, Maria," he said calmly, as if it was already decided. "And they are here now... as my guests, especially for our wedding."
For a brief moment, I froze.
The words didn’t immediately register in my mind and my body stiffened while my mind repeated them slowly.
They are here.
Guests.
Wedding.
And then Vincent suddenly burst into laughter, clearly enjoying my reaction.
"Don’t be too surprised, my love," he added between his laughter. "It’s going to be the best wedding ever."
My fists clenched tightly at my sides.
My nails dug slightly into my palms.
So this... was his so-called good news?
This was what he had been so excited about?
But even as anger surged through me, something else began to surface—something sharper than irritation.
I wasn’t even focused on the wedding anymore.
My thoughts had already shifted.
Because there was one word that refused to leave my mind.
"They."
My brows slowly furrowed as I looked at him more seriously now.
Who exactly was "they"?
I knew for sure Noah was one of them!
What kind of guests was he talking about?
And why did it suddenly feel like something important was being hidden from me?
"Is Noah okay?" I asked suddenly, the question slipping out before I could stop it.
The moment the name left my lips, I noticed it immediately.
Vincent’s expression changed, his face paled slightly. It was just for a second but I saw it and that was enough.
"Why do you keep thinking about him?!" he suddenly yelled, his calmness finally breaking.
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