Moonlit Mountain (Caleb and Sarah)

(Finding Forever After the Betrayal) Chapter 23

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The delicate lace of the wedding gown whispered against my skin, a tangible reminder of the life I was building, a world away from the tumultuous emotions that had once held me captive. I adjusted the skirt, a nervous flutter in my stomach, when a series of insistent pings shattered the quiet intimacy of the bridal suite.

"Charles," I murmured, too preoccupied with the drape of the silk tulle to glance at my phone. "Could you check that for me?"

He stood by the window, a silhouette of understated elegance in a tailored black suit. "Of course." He crossed the room with an easy grace, his hand brushing mine as he picked up my phone. A ghost of warmth lingered on my skin long after his touch had gone.

The lock screen shimmered to life, his fingers moving with practiced ease as he entered my initials and birthday - a small gesture, but one that sparked a warmth in my chest.

"It's from Aunt Sarah," he said, his voice a soothing counterpoint to the

nervous hum of my thoughts. A beat of silence, then he read the message aloud,

each word imbued with a strange weight.

"Violet, Aiden and Ethan have asked if they could attend your wedding. I

told them I would ask you. Let me know your thoughts."

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His gaze met mine in the mirror, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions- understanding, protectiveness, and a flicker of something...sharper. Jealousy?

"Well, Violet?" he asked softly, his voice laced with a playful hint of challenge." What should we tell them? Should they be graced with an invitation to my wedding?"

He stepped closer, his presence a comforting weight behind me. With a gentle hand, he dismissed the hovering seamstress and took over the task of adjusting the train, his fingers brushing against the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. I was acutely aware of his warmth, the scent of his cologne - a subtle mix of sandalwood and something undeniably masculine - filling my senses.

"Charles..." I began, my voice catching in my throat. His closeness, the feel of his breath against my hair, was doing strange things to my composure. "Maybe... maybe it's best they don't come."

A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. One hand settled on the small of my back, drawing me closer until my back was flush against his chest. His other hand reached up, his fingers gently twirling a strand of my hair."Trust me, Violet," he murmured, his voice a low caress against my ear.

"Trust your husband. Even if they attend our wedding, they won't cause any

ripples."

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His words, imbued with a quiet confidence, wrapped around me like a warm embrace, I stared at our reflection, mesmerized by the way our images blended, his strength a stark counterpoint to my sudden fragility. A wave of heat crept up my neck, staining my cheeks a delicate pink. I hadn't even noticed how his words, his closeness, had chipped away at my defenses, leaving me vulnerable to a completely different kind of chaos,

What exactly Charles said next, I couldn't recall. His voice, rich and deep, washed over me, each syllable a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. I simply nodded, my heart a hummingbird trapped in my chest. "Yes...okay..."

Charles seemed to sense my sudden discomfort, a knowing smile curving his lips. "You look beautiful, you know," he teased, his gaze holding mine in the mirror.

My cheeks burned, my entire body thrumming with an unfamiliar heat.

This....this wasn't how I reacted around Aiden and Ethan. The realization struck

me with the force of a lightning bolt.

My gaze darted around the room, settling on anything but the man holding

me captive in the warmth of his gaze. I didn't even register my phone being

returned to my hand, only the feeling of his fingers closing over mine, guiding them across the screen. The single word "Okay" appeared in the message thread, a digital seal on a decision I wasn't sure I understood.

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<(Finding Forever After...

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By the time I gathered my wits, Charles had already stepped back, his touch a phantom limb. The warmth lingered, a stark contrast to the sudden chill that settled over me.

He had been jealous. The realization hit me with the force of a revelation. Charles...jealous? Because of them?

A wave of giddiness, as foreign and intoxicating as the finest champagne,

bubbled up inside me. Could it be? Was it possible, in the short time we'd known

each other, that... that he'd developed feelings for me?

I shook my head, trying to quell the ridiculous notion. It was absurd,

impossible. We were newlyweds, our relationship a tapestry woven from convenience and mutual respect. Surely, any hint of jealousy stemmed from a

sense of possessiveness, a natural reaction to a perceived threat. Determined to regain my equilibrium, I focused on the task at hand. The

wedding dress, a symbol of the future I was building, became my sole focus. Every tuck, every adjustment, was a deliberate effort to reassert control, to tame

the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me.

Charles watched me, his gaze steady and reassuring, as I went through the

motions. He didn't intrude, didn't press for explanations or false reassurances. He simply adjusted the lighting, ensuring it cast me in the most flattering light, before quietly excusing himself.

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I stood there for a moment, the weight of his gaze still lingering, a silent

promise hanging in the air between us. And for the first time since fleeing Los

Angeles, I felt a flicker of something akin to hope.

<(Finding Forever After...