Whisper Destiny

Chapter 31

~ Natasha ~

The wedding reception was held in an opulent marquee, bathed in the soft glow of candles and torchlight. The flickering flames cast a warm, inviting light, and the full moon added a touch of ethereal beauty to the evening. Guests were treated to breathtaking views of Lough Corrib on one side, its waters shimmering under the moonlight, while a majestic castle loomed on the other, adding a sense of grandeur and timeless elegance.

The entire venue had been transformed into a secret garden, with cascading avalanche roses lending their delicate fragrance to the night air. It was a scene straight out of a fairytale, and those who attended would undoubtedly consider it the wedding of the year.

Before the reception began, Catherine and I were given a private moment together. Most newlyweds might use this time for a bit of intimacy or a stolen kiss. But, I took the opportunity to gather my thoughts and muster the energy needed for the remainder of the night. The atmosphere between us was awkward, but Catherine intuitively gave me the space I needed, for which I was silently grateful. She sat there quietly, perhaps lost in her own thoughts.

A few moments later, Louisa entered the room to usher us to the venue. I noticed her lean in to whisper something to Catherine, her voice a soft murmur that I couldn't quite decipher. Catherine's response was a quick, dismissive gesture. I just ignore it, cause not that it mattered to me. I took a deep breath and made a mental note: just get through this, and it'll be over soon.

As I stand up to go to the marquee, Catherine stopped me.

"Natasha, it's cold outside." She came close and draped a jacket over my shoulders. The familiar scent of her perfume enveloped me. I realized that this small gesture had become a thing between us—her giving me her jacket—but I didn't comment further and continued walking towards our destination. From the corner of my eye, I saw Louisa observing our interaction.

The dinner went smoothly, with everyone enjoying themselves—chatting, drinking, and dancing to the live music. Despite my growing hunger, I didn't have much of an appetite. I watched Catherine hoping tables with my parents, greeting guests, like another business event. But I had no intention of doing the same.

"Missing your wife already, pumpkin-pie?" Chase's voice startled me when my focus still on Catherine silhouette. I hadn't noticed him slip in beside me.

I rolled my eyes, "Not at all. In fact, I'm missing the warmth of my bed right now. Can't wait to tear off this dress," I muttered.

"Wow, feisty! Eager for some alone time with your wife already, huh?" Chase teased, winking.

"Chase, come on. You know what I mean," I groaned, rolling my eyes.

"Alright, alright, sorry, pumpkin-pie. But honestly, you two look great together. I know you don't like hearing it, but I'm really happy for you, Nat. And that kiss at the altar? Looked pretty convincing to me," he said, grinning.

"Chase...!" I sighed heavily, clearly frustrated, suddenly remembering Cathrine soft and warm lips against mine but I brush it off. He just gave me his signature smirk, eyes twinkling with mischief.

"And hey, at least I know Catherine will take a good care of you," Chase added, giving me a sincere smile.

I couldn't fathom why everyone, from her parents to Chase, kept insisting Catherine would take care of me. But tonight wasn't the night to argue about it.

"For the record, if you two ever fight, I'm siding with Catherine," Chase said, ducking as I aimed a playful slap at his head.

"And don't worry, I'll take your side, Nat," came Louisa's voice, interrupting us and making Chase laugh. "Can I at least call you Nat?" she asked.

"Sure," I replied simply.

As the three of us chatted, I found myself surprisingly at ease. Louisa's easygoing nature reminded me of Chase, making our conversation flow effortlessly.

"What did I miss?" Catherine appeared suddenly, her presence instantly drawing the attention of everyone at the surrounding tables. She was the true definition of gravity, I concluded.

"Nothing much, just that your wife here is missing you already and can't wait to tear off her dress for you tonight," Chase answered with a mischievous grin.

My eyes widened, and a rush of heat flooded my face at Chase's bold comment. "Oh my gosh, Chase Rowe! Don't twist my words, you asshole," I exclaimed, while Louisa burst into laughter.

Catherine simply smiled at the banter between me and Chase as she took a seat beside me, a little too close for my comfort.

After the cake-cutting ceremony, my father led me to the dance floor for the 'father-daughter dance.' In that moment, I felt like I was still his little girl. He spoke softly, telling me how proud he was of me for overcoming my fears and moving on from Nicholas—a name I had erased permanently from my life. Now, I could confidently say I had moved on entirely from him and close that chapter of my life. From the side, I caught my mother's proud gaze. A wave of sentimentality washed over me as I nestled into my father's warm embrace, his small talk and his hope that he had made the right decisions for me ringing in my ear.

When the song ended, my father led me to Catherine. He gently placed my hand in hers and said, "Please take good care of my little girl, Cate. Please take care of each other. I want you to know that I love you both so much." Then, he pulled us into a warm, heartfelt hug, sealing the moment with his blessing.

Then, there was an announcement for the first dance, where the brides were expected to share their first dance together. I saw everyone's attention on us, and I believe Catherine was aware as well.

She asked, "May I have this dance with you, please?"

Not that I had an option, right?

I took her hand, and she led me to the center of the dance floor. As the slow guitar strings started, one of her hands held mine while the other rested on my waist. My free hand found her shoulder. We started dancing in sync with the song in the background, the spotlight on us. My eyes wandered around, avoiding direct contact with hers.

Suddenly, she spoke softly, almost whispering in my ear, her hold on my waist tightening and bringing our bodies closer together. "You know... my offer still stands."

I didn't understand what she was trying to say. I turned to look at her, which was a big mistake because it made our faces only inches apart. I could even smell her breath, a combination of wine and mint, which I found quite pleasant and alluring. Her eyes were so blue and clear that I could see my reflection in them. It was captivating. We both got lost in each other's eyes, which to the outsider, they would consider what we share was our intimate moment together.

She cleared her throat, snapping me back to reality. In my shocked state, I tried to move away from her, and my sudden movement almost made me fall. Catherine, acting on impulse, held my waist with both hands to steady me, but it only made the gap between us nonexistent.

"Are you okay?" she asked with concern, her hands caressing my back gently, sending goosebumps up my spine.

"Yes! What do you mean earlier?" I asked, trying to change the subject and put some distance between us, but it was still too close.

"I said, my offer still stands. You know, what Chase was saying just now. You can just ask me, nicely," she replied, a playful glint in her eyes.

My face turned crimson at her comment. "Oh gosh, don't make it even weirder. I never said that to him," I retorted in an embarrassed tone.

That got a small laugh out of Catherine. "I know, I just wanted to ease the tension. But yeah, it became weird. So, just forget about it," she said. I was quite surprised to see Catherine joking like this. I had always thought she was the serious type.

"You look beautiful today," Catherine said, looking at me with the eyes that I can't explain.

"Thanks, I guess." I didn't realize the song had ended until everyone started applauding.

"Let's get something to eat. I'm starving," she said. It dawned on me that I hadn't seen her eat anything, not even during dinner;  she had been busy mingling around. As I followed her, a sudden hunger of my own made itself known.