Chapter 3

I sat upright on the bed, my fingers tightly interlaced, a nervous knot twisting in my stomach. Linda shot me a teasing glance. "Well, well... I never thought I'd see the unshakable Ms. Helen Wyatt looking so shy in front of her groom." I gave her a strained smile and dropped my gaze. But it wasn't shyness that had me on edge—it was fear. I feared that Felix would see right through me. "Helen, wasn't this gown made by Lilian Tomlinson, the world-famous designer? I heard she's nearly impossible to book. Looks like Mr. Affleck really pulled out all the stops." Linda's eyes moved over my wedding dress, her admiration evident in her expression. I looked down at my gown. The Affleck family had it delivered just two days ago. I could still remember the moment Helen unwrapped the package. Though I'd never fantasized about a wedding, I found myself momentarily spellbound. The dress was elegantly simple, its delicate, handcrafted lace patterns flowing smoothly into the long, sweeping mermaid train. The curve-hugging silhouette molded to my figure, accentuating my graceful curves and stunning shape. Honestly, I was taken aback when I slipped into the dress. Despite Helen and me being identical twins, there were still subtle differences in our figures. Yet, the dress fit me perfectly—like it had been made just for me. But that couldn't be the case. It must've been a lucky coincidence, a result of the handmade variations. The noise outside grew louder, and I could sense Felix standing just beyond the door. My heart raced, and my fingers began to tremble. The bridesmaids eventually let Felix through the bedroom door. It was Felix, after all. Who could really stand in his way? The moment his eyes locked onto mine, something in his gaze deepened. I was taken aback. It was no wonder his gaze always seemed so intense. Now, seeing him up close, I realized his vision was perfectly fine. Still in shock, I heard a bridesmaid gasp behind me. "Mr. Affleck—your eyes!" Felix shot her a sharp glance. She instantly fell silent, fear tightening her lips. The others exchanged nervous looks, but no one dared to say a word. Undeterred by the stunned faces around him, Felix kept his eyes locked on mine. I instinctively held my breath, terrified he might expose me right there. After a brief pause, his lips curled into the faintest smile. "Why are you staring at me like that? Don't you recognize me?" Flustered, I quickly lowered my head, avoiding his gaze. Noticing the tension, Luke jumped in with a grin, trying to ease the mood. "Damn, Helen, only you could get Felix to smile. He's been in a foul mood all day until now." I relaxed a little at Luke's words. He and Felix had been high school classmates, so I knew him fairly well. Back when Felix used to get me in trouble, Luke would always try to speak up for me. He never managed to change anything, but I appreciated his attempts. Aside from Luke, no one else dared to joke around with Felix. The others merely offered awkward smiles. "It looks like no one's saying anything in protest. Guess we'll just take the bride, then," Luke said playfully. It was only then that the bridesmaids snapped out of their daze. They grabbed the props they had prepared and started setting up the pre-wedding games they had arranged. Sensing the groomsmen's competitive energy, a smile tugged at my lips. But just as I lifted my eyes, I accidentally locked gazes with Felix again. My smile instantly vanished, and I quickly turned away. Once the games were over, Felix swept me into his arms and carried me out the door. As we made our way down the stairs, Felix leaned in close and whispered, "We're approaching the stairs. Hold on tight." "Okay," I replied a little belatedly, wrapping my arms around him. At the bottom, my parents were waiting. They, too, seemed taken aback to see that Felix's eyesight was perfectly fine. Despite the surprise he felt deep down, Dad's face remained impassive, having faced countless challenges in his life. Mom, however, couldn't conceal her shock. She stared at Felix intently until Dad gently nudged her, pulling her back to reality. She reached for her handkerchief, dabbing at the imaginary tears in the corners of her eyes. In a soft voice, she reminded me to respect the Affleck family's rules once I became a part of their household. I knew exactly what she meant. It was her subtle way of warning me not to let anything slip. I nodded, reassuring her that I understood. Once we got into the car, my nerves only grew tighter. My palms were damp with sweat. Felix pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped my hands. "Don't be nervous. I'll be right here by your side," he whispered. What he didn't know was that I was only this nervous because he was right beside me. Mom lightly tapped on the car window, and the driver rolled it down. Expecting her to say something more, I leaned in closer. "My precious daughter, I can't believe you're about to get married. I'm really going to miss you," she said. A wave of warmth washed over me. Just as I was about to respond, she suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace and whispered in my ear, "Make sure you keep up the act. If anyone finds out, I won't hesitate to take action." My smile froze instantly. Mom maintained her loving facade, gently stroking my hair as she signaled for the driver to start moving. The rest of the ride was quiet, a silence born from my fear of saying the wrong thing and getting caught, but mostly from the cold dread that Mom's warning had planted in me. Doubts swirled in my mind. Perhaps I could fool Felix, who didn't know Helen well. But what about Yelena, who knew her better than anyone? Even if I managed to deceive the entire Affleck family, how could I possibly live with myself? Lost in my thoughts, I stole a quick glance at Felix. He might not be able to consummate the marriage for now, but the mere thought of sharing a bed with him tonight left me feeling uneasy. "Why are you so nervous?" Felix teased, making my heart race even faster. "N-No, I'm not," I stammered. He let out a soft chuckle and gently took my cold hand, threading his fingers through mine. I instinctively tried to pull away, but caught myself just in time. When we reached our destination, Felix stepped out of the car and held his hand out to me. I took a deep breath and placed my hand in his, following him down. Outside, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. There were countless eyes watching, all eager to catch a glimpse of Mrs. Affleck. The weight of their stares made my nerves tighten even further. "Don't be afraid. I'll hold your hand the whole way," Felix said. His words worked like a calming spell, easing my anxiety little by little. During the ceremony, I kept a serene smile on my face, receiving praise from every direction. "As expected of Ms. Helen Wyatt, her every movement radiates grace. She's the epitome of an ideal woman. Any man would be lucky to marry someone like her." "What a stunning pair. They're truly made for each other. By the way, has anyone seen Ms. Amber?" "I heard from Mrs. Wyatt that she went off somewhere to have fun. How could she do that on a day like this? It's so inappropriate." Somehow, the conversation shifted to me, and before I knew it, everyone began comparing me to Helen. I had heard it all before, but it still stung each time. "Are you hungry?" Felix's voice cut through the chatter, his lips curving into a gentle smile. "Let's get something to eat." Truthfully, I hadn't eaten anything since last night, aside from a bit of half-cooked pasta. As a result, I was starving. "But all the guests are still here. Wouldn't it be rude to slip away?" Felix chuckled softly, taking my hand in his. "Why should we care about what they think?" Without waiting for a response, he led me to a quiet corner and asked me to wait there. I stood rooted to the spot, feeling completely bored. What seemed like an eternity passed, and he still hadn't come back. At this point, I wasn't just hungry—I was drained. I wasn't used to wearing high heels, and these new shoes were especially painful, digging into my feet with every step. I glanced around. Seeing no one nearby, I slipped off my shoes and stepped barefoot on the floor. I tossed the heels aside, ready to sit and give my aching feet a much-needed break. Just then, Felix appeared, carrying a tray of pastries. As his gaze fell on the discarded heels, he raised an eyebrow. I quickly shot to my feet. "You're back!" Internally, I groaned. Could the timing be any worse? Felix chuckled softly as he walked over. I tried to hide my feet beneath my dress, silently hoping he hadn't noticed. But he reached down and gently lifted my foot. I wanted to pull away, but his grip was firm and unyielding. He carefully applied a band-aid to my foot before retrieving a pair of soft slippers. "Let's see if these fit." It turned out that he hadn't just gone to grab food after all. A wave of embarrassment washed over me, and my cheeks turned bright red. Felix picked up my heels and neatly set them aside. He gave my forehead a light tap and said, "If something's bothering you, you should tell me right away." Before I could say a word, he held a pastry up to my lips and gently fed it to me. I murmured a soft "thank you," but he simply shook his head. "There's no need for that between us." I took a bite of the warm, fragrant pastry, my heart stirring with questions. What had gotten into Felix? He used to be so cold and distant, keeping everyone at arm's length. But now… he was thoughtful. Even his voice had a gentleness I'd never heard before. Perhaps marriage truly could change someone. If this was the man he was becoming, then maybe being married to him wouldn't be so bad after all. Once we'd finished eating, Felix led me back outside. Wearing the slippers he'd brought, the pain in my feet eased, and for the first time all day, my smile came naturally. At last, after a long and tiring day, the wedding came to a close. Yelena shared warm smiles with Felix's father, Harry Affleck, as they saw us off. Without wasting a moment, Felix and I headed back to his villa.