Secret Heartbeats

POINT

rfection greets my eyes: a champagne tower, chocolate fountains, the

le below, among them Rose, already resplendent in her crimson knee-length dress. I alone remain unadorned, choosing

Stephen stands before me, the epitome of elegance in a tailored black suit, his hair a testament to meticulous grooming, hi

out, approaching him by th

a tentative smile

estivities commence in forty min

atter I wish to discuss, a certain... arrangement post-nuptials. It seems every ma

better pay

ut you still owe me,

isn't enough to afford the parade of Chanel bags you flaun

," he simp

t," I chuckle in

that a y

tort, giving him

th the party," he compliments,

p. A serene quietness envelops us. "Anna

my gaze fixed

pretty?" he asks, a hint o

turn to face

you stepped out here," he remin

tep

a soft smile. "You are more tha

rise and something else - a v

iments, but that's good to know,"

e. But sometimes, even the mos

ntle glow on his face, h

mine. "Anna, there is something I have been me

r of anticipati

"I have been doing a l

behind reaches us, reminding us of the world waiting beyond our quiet s

ait. Tonight is about

me is curious about wh

ad back towards the celebration, the q

I say with a light laugh, making

ck dress with a slit going down the left leg. It was long and fit perfectly around my waist. My hair was in l

of people. Seeing that Stephen was the most famous billionaire in New York and Olivia was a pr

ck suit, hair styled and looking handsome as ever. Who knew a doctor could be that cu

ps.When he reaches the top he extends his hand out fo

e a date?"

plied, with a dist

tood me up to avoid the pa

I probed, scan

until she discovered my Insta

sy," I sympathized, using

red him, though I was not sure why I felt so

tunning," my mother excla

ook beautiful as well. Whe

me, causing my smile to fade. Dad's presence was scarce; hi

ind my 'little' brother, who was not so little anymore

g Eric?" I joked with Mom, w

k," mom teased, earning

ndles most of it," I conceded,

Eric muttered under his breath as Mom

ylar?" I won

. I needed to stop thinking of them as 'the little ones' – t

eted her wit

e often, it's dreadfully du

," I apologized, feeling a pang of guilt for leaving her to fend for herself in a ho

r presence. Turning around, I locked eyes with

eph

mured, causing an involuntary b

d, my laughter betray

lanner with her skills," Rose com

rs," Chris chimed in, comple

nable to suppress a giggl

ivia's unmistakab

donning a knee-length gold dress that shimmered elegantly. She was

lon greeted, shak

e," he acknowledg

ts with Olivia and phen," he announced, obliv

irmly, meeting Stephen's

to snap a multi

ing me to politely excuse myself and engage with others. I conversed with numerous designers, models,

ered as a voice from be

sneered, causing me

e thought of facing him thr

he eve

re?" I questioned, not

harming face?" His laught

e," I demanded, my voic

tain distance, I inadvertently backed myse

" I hoped our exchange wa

mented my dreams for the past year. He positioned his

've caused enough," I whis

iar voice cut thr

now," it command