Bed of Nails

Chapter 111

And just like that, we were engaged. 

He pulled me to his chest, and I heard claps of congratulations coming from all directions. Those echoes of claps didn't even give me time to recover from my heavy emotions. I had to muster up a fake smile on my trembling lips. All the people were looking at us with a beaming smile. Happy for the official beginning of our relationship. I somehow stretched my trembling lips with a big fake smile on my face. I gave everyone a fake big smile, but my eyes told a different story. They were sad and desperate to get free. To run away from all watching eyes. To hide somewhere where she could blur and the piled-up emotion could fall freely from it. I found myself swallowing hard. It was not easy for me. I lifted my eyes to look at him. His cold blue eyes were already on me. I am analysing every change in my face. I was shaking from inside. My vision was blurry, and I saw how his jaw clenched after looking at tears in my eyes. I took a deep breath and lowered my eyes before tears could fall from my eyes. I swallowed them, not wanting anyone to see how big of a mess I was from the inside. 

“I am so happy for you.” Grandma was the first person to come and hug us. Her arms engulfed us in her warm embrace. A tear slipped from the corner of my eyes, but I wiped it immediately before anyone could see. She broke the hug only to embrace me once again. I was surprised when she did that. 

“Everything will be alright," she whispered in my ear. She rubbed her hand on my back in a soothing circle. More tears formed in my eyes, making it difficult for me to drink them back. Nothing hides from her old, experienced eyes. I sniffed with a small nod after breaking the hug. She cupped my face and kissed me on the forehead. 

“My strong girl,” she said lovingly. Erick kept looking at us with his cold blue eyes, and I didn't dare look his way. I don't know what kind of look he had in his eyes. I was not ready to face it. After Grandma, Lilly took me in her warm embrace. One by one, everyone came to congratulate us. Now my face was hurting from smiling at everyone. I wanted to have a small break, but Erick wouldn't let me go away from him. His hand remained firm on my waist. I saw Sage and Isabella at the food counter. My stomach growled. I had just eaten anything because of nervousness. I tried to move a bit, and he once again pulled me to him. 

“We are done meeting everyone; now let go of me,” I said in a hushed tone while looking at him. He looked down at me with his cold blue eyes. 

"No,” he refused, looking straight into my eyes and making me gasp. I took a deep breath to keep myself calm. I didn't want to create a scene in front of all the guests with my loud voice. 

“Erick, I'm tired of smiling like a clown. I want to go and talk to my friends,” I said a little calmly this time, not wanting to waste my bit of remaining energy. 

“Then let's go and sit there,” he said, pointing at the couch, which was specially placed for us in the middle of the room. 

“I will call all your friends here so you can talk with them,'' he said as if the problem were solved. My face grimed. How should I tell him that I want a break from him? These are all my excuses to run away from his hold. 

“Erick–” I was about to talk when we felt someone standing in front of us. It made me look at them, and my eyes widened. I was not expecting to see him here. I didn't even know he was invited. His cold blue-green eyes looked at us keenly. It made me swallow hard, and Erick held me once again tight to my waist. 

"Congratulations, son,” Erick's father said in his stiff voice while standing in front of us. I looked up at Erick. His jaw was clenched. Erick just gave him a stiff, not refusing to say anything. His father's cold green eyes moved to me.