Three ex-husbands and a marriage

First wedding

The wedding preparation was made extremely fast with all the resources from both families. On the  third day, I stood in front of the copper mirror admiring my wedding dress and hair. I had mentally accepted this marriage.

Look, you can call me fickle but in all honesty the Hu person is very good looking and charming. He has given up so much to be with me and I'm like a fish on a chopping board. Unable to resist, so I might as well make the best of the situation. Even my parents had put aside their anger and accepted him as a son in law. We are all practical people and no one is blind to his efforts.

As he is marrying into the Bai family, the Hu family will come here themselves, Hu Xuan will meet me at the Bai residence's main hall where we will conduct the ceremony. There is less work for me to do, so I can could laze around.

"Miss! Second Young Master is back!" exclaimed Bao Mi.

"Second Brother is back? He made it!" I said happily and stood up to go find him.

As I rushed to leave my room I bumped head on to Second Brother's hard chest. The impact sent me sprawling backwards but a pair of strong arms held onto my waist and stopped me from hitting the ground.

"Second Brother! You are back! So wonderful!" I cried excitedly.

My voice was cut short when his fuming face and steely eyes met mine. His hair was in disarray and face and clothes covered in dust and dirt. I felt a icy chill down my spine as I took in the ferocious look on brother's face. I stepped backwards unconsciously shirking away from the terrifying aura.

"Mingling, are you scared of me?" he stated with gritted teeth.

"No, no! Second Brother, I am happy you made it back in time for my wedding. Why don't you get rested and changed? We can chat afterwards," I stuttered.

"I just made it? The groom is at the door and within a few minutes you will be bowing to the heavens and earth. Mingling, why didn't you wait for me to come back?" he snarled.

"Don't be angry please. It was the Emperor's decree and not our choice. Second Brother, go get changed and refreshed. I will tell you all about I tomorrow, alright?" I suggested, my heart thumping wildly filled with fear and an unnamed emotion.

He squeezed my wrist so tightly that it hurts. His eyes refused to lift from my face. The tension in the air was so thick that you could cut it with a knife.

"Mingling, I need one honest word from you. Do you love him?"

The tone, the words seemed so painful for him to spit out. I shook my head, tears of fear and frustration rolled down my cheeks. If I was honest, then no, I do not love Hu Xuan, but what does it matter?

"Say it!" he growled life a predator ready to attack.

"No."

"Good."

With that last word he let go of my wrist, wiped my tears with his mud stained hand and walked away.

"Miss, why is Second Young Master so scary? It's your happy day and he looks like he wants to kill people. Look your makeup is all ruined and will need to be reapplied!" complained Bao Mi unhappily.

"Second Brother...he is tired..." I mumbled. I slumped back down on the chair and let Bao Mi wipe clean my face. My heart was in turmoil, the previous calm and acceptance have been turned upside down and tossed around uselessly by the presence of Second Brother.

"Do I love him? No. Good." I recalled the conversation and the relief on Second Brother's face when he heard those words from my lips. The unsettling thing was that a weight seemed to have lifted from my heart as well.