Chapter 25: A Bad Liar

Chapter 25: A Bad Liar

Everyone quetied down and the hall fell into silence. The Master of Ceremony started giving his speech and very soon, the entertainers were called to perform.

They had invited her favorite singer, just as she had pleaded. However, amidst the singing and dancing, Lucy could only hear her own heartbeat. She suddenly fell sick from everything. Cedric still had her hand in his and all eyes were on them.

She didn’t know when the entertainment finished until another round of applause snapped her out of her thoughts.

The sickness in her stomach as well as her headache increased and soft music started playing in the hall.

Cedric stood up with her and when the MC mentioned something about exchanging rings, her heart kept to her throat and every negative emotion returned tensfold.

“Careful now.” Cedric held her as her legs were about to fail her. “It’s too late to try any sillyness. I won’t have you fainting here.”

He gestured to a waiter who came forward, then he grabbed a drink from her tray. The waiter walked away and he turned to her with the drink. “Drink this and get a grip of yourself,” he said with a grin and the crowd roared with claps and whistles. And she could hear the MC mentioning something about them being an affectionate couple.

After Cedric forced her to drink all the content of the glass, the waiter returned and he dropped the glass back on her tray. Then, they continued toward the center.

They walked inside the circle of flowers and two little girls, her nieces, came forward, each of them holding a satin pillow with a ring on it.

Without wasting time, Cedric took one ring after giving the little girls a gently pat on the head with a huge smile. He tugged at her hand as she was about to pull away, then inserted the ring on her finger.

The crowd started cheering again and Lucy glanced down at the ring. Her gaze strayed to her parents from where they stood together with the rest of her family. They were now on their feet and all beaming with smiles. She turned back to the ring then extended her hand slowly and picked it up with trembling fingers.

The claps did not cease but only kept increasing.

Turning back to the guy, he already had his hand extend and Lucy hesitated for a moment before putting the ring on his finger.

More cheers erupted and tiny particles of glitters burst from the huge chandelier above, showering down over them.

“Mine,” Cedric said in her ears amidst the claps. And Lucy felt weak in his arms. The ceiling rotated and her head buzzed. Her legs faltered again but Cedric held her with both hands and started swaying her to the music.

“Look, everyone is watching… No fainting,” he reminded and Lucy tried all she could to keep a clear head. Her gaze swept past the crowd once more and in her burry vision, a very familiar figure stood out. Was she hallucinating now that she was in desperate need of help?

People joined them on the dance floor and she had to keep her head on the devil’s chest to keep them from noticing the fluttering eyes.

“Good.” He chuckled but she didn’t have the energy to backaway. She didn’t also have the energy tomo cry nor linger on any thought. Her worst nightmare of the two strong hands holding her in a tight grip and giving her harsher instructions than her parents’ had come true. There was not going back.

The music and the dance continued. She could also hear chatters in her ears and people offering words of congratulations. But she didn’t look up. She couldn’t. Cedric continued buttering them up with his sweet words and she wished so much that her hears would be deaf to them.

Lucy decided to focus on her inner thoughts and shut everything out. Even when Cedric left her and someone else took his position, she didn’t falter. It must be her father or one of her brothers. She didn’t want them to see her sorrow. It was too late.

“I knew this would happen. Now, you can’t even look at me,” humourous voice said and she sighed. She didn’t want to squabble now.

“Tsk tsk tsk. I know you’re regretting that it should have been me.”

“Huh?” Her brows furrowed and she search her thoughts for that familiar thought.

“Look how pitiful you’ve become,” he continued and Lucy jerked her head up with a gasp.

Horror filled her heart at the sight in front of her and it took a while to find her voice. “W–What are you doing here?” She stuttered.

“Is this how you greet your old flame?” He chuckled.

Lucy’s eyes darted around in fright and her gaze land on Cedric who was dancing with another girl. Her parents had stopped dancing even the rest of the family. Her father and brothers had on dark expressions. Her mother watched with horror-filled eyes and her sisters-in-law watched with hands on their chests.

Gina was dancing with the other twin and she wondered if she was the one that invited them.

“Please don’t try anything crazy, Greg. I’m begging you,” she turned back to the guy and said.

“You didn’t press the button, I don’t see any reason why I should do anything,” He replied with a twinkle in his eyes. And Lucy dreaded whatever their reason was to come here. She had had enough for God’s sake.

“Even though you need saving,” he added.

“Who t–told you I need saving?”

“You are a bad liar.” Greg shook his head and after some seconds, said, “Princess, look around you… Everyone’s unhappy.”

Of course, he didn’t need to point it out. She already knew. Now she wished more than anything for the ground to open up.

“Were you happy moments ago?” He asked. “Answer me truthfully.” He stared into her eyes now serious.