Bought For A Baby, Kept For A Lifetime-Chapter 133: Never Fall In Love

A few days later, Anne walked into the Black Thorn Manor. She met new maids in the manor and butler Jones welcomed her enthusiastically.

She was led into a beautiful room which seemed to have been remodelled recently as everything looked absolutely new. The design of the room had a feminine touch, exuding warmth and a quiet elegance.

Soft golden lights poured in from the floor to ceiling windows, adorned with flowing ivory curtains that billowed gently in the breeze.

The walls were painted a soft, soothing pale lavender.

A plush large bed stood as the room’s centerpiece, dressed in fine smooth feminine sheets and adorned in an array of inviting pillows in shades of blush pink and cream. A delicate hand-painted floral pattern danced across the headboard, adding a touch of whimsy and femininity. It was very evident a skilled interior designer had setup the room.

"This way please." One of the maids spoke in a soft voice as Anne had stopped to glance around, admiring the beautiful bedroom. She followed the maids into another large space connected to the bedroom, a spacious walk in closet with high cabinets and shelves that reached the ceilings.

Each row carried different colorful attires that filled the entire room to the brim. A stunning chandelier hung down from the ceilings, casting a warm glow over a glass shelve that sat in the center of the room inside which beautiful jewels glistened under the light.

A vase of fresh flowers sat on the side, colorful, fresh magnolias were arranged inside, leaving it’s fragrance lingering in the closet space.

Against a bare wall, a stunning white dress was hung. Crafted from delicate layers of silk, and tulle, the dress flowed like rivers of moonlight. It was evidently a wedding dress, the wedding dress she would be wearing today.

Today was her wedding day, but she knew not to have any illusions about it, this wasn’t real.

Anne inexplicably felt like a princess being cleaned and dressed up so delicately.

When she wore the dress, her own reflection was a vision of awe. Her hair was styled backwards in a graceful low bun, the makeup dabbed on her face very light, highlighting her natural features.

When they were done getting her ready, Jasmine happened to arrive right at that time panting like someone who’d run a marathon.

"This place is so much farther than I thought it would be..." Then she stopped short staring at Anne in awe, "Aren’t you the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen." She beamed playfully then ran over to give Anne a hug.

Anne walked into the study room, stepping on the plush emerald green carpets that felt like wool beneath her shoes. The large space housed only a few people who were present for the small wedding currently about to take place, realization dawned on her that she truly was getting marriage.

She’d once imagined how she would feel as a bride, she might feel really nervous, she might glimpse the future of her life with her spouse and that would spark excitement in her, she might have cold feet but then her groom’s eyes on hers would flush away any anxiety she was feeling.

Andrew turned upon her entrance and their gazes locked. The only person present other than the private marriage officiant was elder Sterling and Donald Sterling who stood solemnly at the side. Other than them, there was Jasmine who was walking lightly behind Anne.

Anne’s gaze locked with Andrew’s midair and she felt her breath almost seize, his gaze was unfathomable but fixated on her as she walked up to him.

If this was her ideal wedding, it would be a modestly beautiful church, her groom’s heart would swell with abundant love for her, and with every step she took to him her heart would skip a beat. She would feel like she were soaring on clouds and walking on ice at the same time, she would glimpse bliss in every moment they would spend together.

She would wake up in his arms, feel his warmth and bask in it, they would have every meal together living in harmony, they could argue sometimes, disagree on some things but they would always be there for each other. They would start a family, and their kids would be raised in a little family filled with love.

But that imaginary image shattered right before her eyes and the man she was marrying didn’t love her, it was just a marriage of convenience, a marriage that worked for both of them.

From agreeing to this marriage at least she’d gotten the rights to stay with her child.

"Is this to your liking Anne? You specifically requested for a secret, quiet marriage." Elder Sterling asked to make sure once Anne arrived.

"Yes... grandfather, I’m satisfied with this."

At the dinner a few days ago, Anne had requested the marriage be kept a secret, what use was a marriage flaunted and announced to the world if it would eventually come to an end.

She had also requested no changes to her normal life, like her job, and the fact that to the outside world she was still Anne Thompson. Though she couldn’t live at her own apartment anymore...

A strange chill went up her spine at the thought that she would have to live with Andrew Sterling from now on.

She finally raised her gaze to his and couldn’t help but find something strange about him today. He still exuded the same strong captivating presence he normally had, his sharp features still commanded unmatchable attention, but his eyes...

They seemed softer, warmer...and he held out his hand to her.

She craned her neck to gaze up at him, looking into his black as night orbs searchingly as if, if she searched those eyes enough, she would find something in them.

Moving a little too late she finally raised her hand and placed it in his own.

The privately hired marriage officiant was a dignified looking young man with a kind smile and gentle demeanor, he straightened himself before the couple in front of him taking on a professional air, adjusting his brooch he cleared his throat he began to speak, his voice a low soothing tone that filled the room with a sense of calm and serenity.

"Welcome, we are gathered here today in this beautiful manor to witness a beautiful union between a man and a woman. A union of love and adoration, a union of togetherness old as time, a beautiful bond of marriage..."

Anne tuned out the words, listening instead to the light ticking of a grandfather clock which she used to keep her mind occupied, to keep her mind busy enough that she wouldn’t allow herself to start believing that she were truly getting married.

"Miss Annelise Thompson, do you take this man to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward until eternity?"

Anne was lost in her own thoughts, she only recovered when she noticed silence all around her. Only then did she realize the officiant had said her name and asked her a question.

"I do."

"Mr Andrew Sterling, do you take this woman to be your wife, to have and to hold till eternity from this day forward?"

Anne didn’t expect him to hesitate as well.

Was he thinking the same thing she was?

Eternity, the word eternity didn’t match the transaction currently happening between them.

Eternity meant undying love that would never be broken by any challenges no matter what happened, eternity couldn’t exist between them because there was no love.

’You really do love him, don’t you?’

Jasmine’s question suddenly replayed in her mind.

"I do." The man’s low affirmation broke into Anne’s thoughts.

Anne’s heart began to race, it beat loud enough for her not to hear a thing anymore. Not the officiant’s words, or the soft ticks of the grandfather clock.

She could only hear her heart until she closed her eyes to try to calm it down, only then did she hear the subtle words,

"...may kiss the bride."

Her heart seemed to stop for a tiny moment before it resumed thumping again.

Andrew’s gaze was as hard as always as he gazed down at her, he began to lean downwards and she held her breath.

She dreaded the touch of his lips to her own because she knew it would become a reoccurring image in her mind over and over again, a reoccurring feeling on her lips over and over again, and everytime she’d think back to it, her heart would skip and she would never be able to forget it.

But beneath that dread was a feeling of anticipation she didn’t want to acknowledge.

A kiss from him would ruin her thoughts but somewhere inside she craved those wild emotions it awakened within her, somewhere inside she wanted to feel it again and if... just if she would give in to that tiny feeling of want, she would desire to feel his lips on hers more than she was supposed to.

Her own feelings weren’t foreign, her own feelings were something she’d sworn not to have.

When she’d first seen this man she just married, he had shown great disdain for love, when she signed the contract with him she had sworn she would never be like the woman she’d seen with him once, she would never fall in love with him...

Slowly she felt his warm breath coming closer and she shut her eyes tightly.

She would never fall in love with him.

His lips slowly pressed against her own and her thoughts halted.

She would never love...yet her heart had slowly begun to beat for him.

When did she let herself fall in love?