The Secret Obsession of the CEO
Chapter 39: Vows And Confused Feelings

Chapter 39: Vows And Confused Feelings

Their wedding was arranged in the local church and the reception was arranged in the biggest party hall in the town. Everyone in the town was invited—all 543 of them. Her mother’s relatives from her homeland attended the wedding too, and Rory could see that they were not happy.

But she was happy! The spa treatments, the pampering, the gifts, the freedom, and treating her as an adult asking for her opinions...

It was her day—so she was told!

She felt special.

Her grandfather was laughing and chatting with everyone, Liam’s family members were all smiles, and even her grandmother’s perpetual stone face had a small smile probably to keep appearances.

Everything was fun and games for her that day—until her grandfather looked at her with tear-filled eyes and wished her happiness before walking her through the aisle...That’s when her fingers started to tremble as she realized the weight of her wedding day.

I am getting MARRIED!

The happy environment around her didn’t affect her anymore and the sweet scent of the spring flowers did nothing to lift her mood. Her grandfather assured her that everything will be fine thinking that she is nervous like any other woman on her wedding day.

But she was dying inside with guilt.

As she walked down the aisle, her heart pounded looking at Liam standing at the end. He was missing his usual smile and looked like he was sick. After taking a glance at her, he turned away to show her his back.

She started feeling sick too as the priest started to read the vows. Those were not mere words but promises. Those words are to be said to the person one had decided to spend the rest of their life with and should not be taken lightly. How can she, who plans on divorcing say those words in front of God and her kith and kin as if she means it?

Her mother was religious and she had attended church when she was young. She knew that one cannot lie in church as it is a holy place.

Leaving that aside, she was there to marry. She was around people with happy marriages including her parents. Everyone is here to wish for her happiness. And here she is... lying to them.

Her stomach churned as she realized how dishonest she is. Her parents would not be proud of her.

The Priest first asked Liam if he would vow to take Rory as his lawful wife, to have and to hold from that day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do them part.

Her eyes ended up on Liam. He paused. She bowed her head and she saw him clutching his hands together. As everyone was waiting for him to say ’I do’, she heard him mumble something else.

’Till death do us part..?’

She looked at him with her eyes wide. His eyes were on her and their eyes met. Looking at her face, his lips curved to an angelic smile.

’I can, I guess...’

He said, looking at her. She thought her heart would pop out of her chest cavity with how fast it was beating. Looking at those blue eyes and his soft smile... She still remembers that image of him. She thought that he meant what he said.

The Priest cleared his throat as that is not the answer he was expecting.

’I do!’

Liam said for all to hear. He poked her hand with his finger. She bowed her head as her face went red and she couldn’t contain her glee. At that moment, she thought...

Maybe it is not bad to be married to him forever!

And when she said her ’I do’, she meant it from her heart. She didn’t know if someone could accept a marriage this easily and start to have feelings this quickly, but she knew Liam for six years and she likes him. She thought she can fall in love with him and start a family with him in the future.

The wedding kiss was their first kiss. The entire day, he was so amazing.

She thought it would only get better but...

Rory closed the box biting her lips. Taking in a deep breath, she replaced the box safely. Her eyes clouded as she closed the closet door.

Maybe I guessed wrong... Maybe he didn’t mean it...

She remembered the talk they had a month before their wedding. They tried their best to stop their wedding but no one budged. One good thing about her engagement was that she didn’t have any curfew when she went out with Liam.

That night, both of them went inside the woods and were counting stars and brooding. She was lying on his lap and he was running his fingers through her hair. She never took liberties with him like this before. She pondered whether her status as his fiancée is making her lose her propriety with him. But his touches were so gentle. She didn’t want to get up.

She almost fell asleep but his voice awakened her.

She opened her eyes. The moon was shining but the light didn’t reach the entirety of his face as shadows of trees danced on his face. It might have been the mystical spring scent of the forest or she might have sniffed some ’shrooms, but she suddenly had a weird feeling in her stomach as his warm hand rested on her forehead.

She was confused.

’Let’s marry, for now, Rory." He sounded exasperated. "Our families won’t let us go otherwise. I told them that we will most probably get accepted to the same university. My family is promising to get us an apartment closer to our University. We won’t have to stay in the dorms and can be free... Rory...’ Liam held her hand as she was still silent.

She did think that those were nice perks. She didn’t want to make new friends. And having your own apartment is like a dream come true.

’We can always divorce...’ he said. She felt a squeeze in her heart when he said it. But his words made sense.

’After we get a job. Once we have our separate careers we don’t have to depend on them and no one can force us to do anything!’

Ah... that’s how we got married... With a secret promise between us that we will divorce later...

Maybe I was the only one who fell in love... Maybe he never did. The good moments we shared together... Maybe they were just...

Rory did think about it a lot. They were married and they didn’t hide it from others. In University, they were among the handful of married couples. Dating others was not an option for them.

And their apartment had only one bedroom and they were forced to share a bed before settling their feelings.

Maybe, he settled for me... I was his "wife" and he had no other option... He was young with raging hormones. So was I. I was...there...and he probably...

Was I even his type?

I mean... he never told me that he loves me, right?