Chapter 50 - Wedding Thoughts (2/2)

The one thing that struck me about that day was how happy Aunt Bella looked as she gazed up at her husband and vice versa. No one could doubt their love for each other. That was how brides were supposed to be. Me? I hadn't wanted to be a bride in the first place.

Despite my lack of dates, I always assumed I would fall in love and get married someday. We would buy a house somewhere near Abby's and our kids would grow up playing together.

My husband and I would have backyard barbecues, read books together, travel. All the things I had seen my parents do before we lost them to that storm. We would have a happy family, just like my first one.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I'd be forced to marry someone I didn't love inside a fictional world.

Tears pricked my eyes as I sat with my arms around my knees in a tight ball underneath a blanket by the dying fire. I had shooed all the maids out, wanting to be alone with my mangled thoughts.

This might be the last time I was able to be alone for a very long time. Who knew whether or not Plan B would work and I would be able to get away? I might be stuck a prisoner of this palace for the rest of my life!

”Katie?”

I whipped my head around, startled, and saw Al in a pair of plain black pants and a loose white shirt quietly shut the door behind him.

Hastily wiping the tears off my face, I asked him what he was doing here. It had to be after midnight. Why was he still awake?

”I just wanted to see how you were doing. Can I sit?” I nodded and he joined me on the other side of the couch.

Firelight reflected the depths of his eyes as he looked at me seriously.

”I know this isn't what you wanted…and that it was unfair of me to drag you into my problems. But since I had to marry someone, I'm glad it's you. I promise I'll be the best husband possible so you won't have to regret it.”

I buried my head in my arms, not knowing how to respond to him. I regretted it already. I regretted every decision I ever made that brought me to this point. Al was my friend but I didn't want to marry him.

After an uncomfortable silence he asked, ”Do you not believe me?”

”I believe you,” I mumbled into my knees. ”You've been very nice to me since I've been here. I just…didn't think my life would turn out this way.”

”Because you were planning to run away and live as a commoner?”