Chapter 5
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The wedding was held in grand style at a fully reserved hall. Every guest present was either a relative or a business associate of the Watson family.
Yvette wore a beautiful gown that day-a sapphire-blue dress adorned with delicate butterfly decorations along its edges.
She looked stunning.
But her gaze was filled with sorrow.
Her eyes were fixed on Aaron and Belinda, who now stood at the altar, exchanging their sacred vows.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
She quickly looked away.
"Hold it in, Yvette. Be a good girl. This is only temporary... after this, Aaron will be entirely yours," she whispered softly.
The guests filled the hall, all eyes focused on the bride and groom.
"This all feels so sudden," Lucian Watson murmured to his wife, Lily.
"Well, it was bound to happen eventually," Lily replied, her gaze briefly drifting toward Yvette in the distance.
The young girl sat alone at a corner seat, far from them.
Lily couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness seeing her adopted daughter trying so hard to stay strong.
"You may now kiss the bride," the officiant announced.
Yvette lifted her gaze toward the altar.
She watched as Aaron kissed Belinda in front of everyone.
Once again, she lowered her head.
Forcing herself to smile.
Her hands clenched tightly together, searching for strength.
Even if only for a moment.
Letting go of someone who had always been there for her-her protector-only to see him belong to someone else...
It hurt.
"Hang in there," a voice said softly, a hand resting gently on her shoulder.
A man stood beside her.
He looked even more handsome in a black tuxedo.
"Kevin!" Yvette exclaimed.
"I thought you said you couldn't come."
"For my best friend? Of course I would. Besides, if I wasn't here, who would you cry on?" Kevin teased.
Thump!
Yvette lightly hit his arm.
Kevin was her closest friend.
They had known each other since elementary school.
"So... need a shoulder now?" he teased again.
"Kevin..." Yvette whined.
"Hehehe..."
Kevin glanced briefly toward the altar, where Aaron and Belinda were now greeting guests.
"What if we get married too?"
Yvette shot him an annoyed look.
"Stop being nice to me like that."
"Hehehe..."
They fell silent for a moment.
"Are you really sure about your plan?" Kevin asked.
"Of course. I'll make Aaron mine again," Yvette said firmly.
"Aren't you afraid of God?"
Yvette paused.
"God knows... I'm only taking back what's mine."
Kevin smiled faintly. "Alright, Madam," he said, surrendering to her absurd plan.
"Where's your girlfriend?" Yvette asked, noticing he was alone.
"You're my girlfriend," he teased again.
Yvette glared at him.
"Shut up!"
"Hahaha... She had a sudden group assignment at campus. She couldn't come."
Yvette nodded.
"How's your grandmother?"
"She's doing better. She might be discharged in a couple of days."
"If you need anything, just tell me."
"Of course. Even if I'm hungry, I'll let you know," Kevin joked.
Yvette smirked.
"Go on, take pictures with Aaron. Make his wife jealous today," Kevin said.
"Alright," Yvette replied, standing up.
She walked toward Aaron and Belinda.
"Aaron~" she called sweetly.
Aaron smiled warmly.
"Let's take a picture together," he said.
Yvette smiled.
She stood between them, linking her arm with Aaron's intimately, not giving Belinda any space.
The cameraman snapped a photo.
Then, Yvette positioned herself in front of Aaron, pulling his hands to wrap around her waist from behind.
It looked incredibly intimate.
As if they were the newlyweds.
Whispers spread among the guests.
"Who is that girl in blue?"
"I heard she's the Watson family's adopted daughter."
"Why are they so close? I feel bad for the bride."
Aaron began to feel uneasy.
Yvette was acting far too intimate.
Now she even draped her arms around his neck.
"Yvette, that's enough photos."
"I don't want to stop," she replied.
Aaron glanced at Belinda, who stood quietly in the corner.
"That's enough. Belinda and I need to greet the other guests," he said gently.
"Aww... but today is the only day I can act like this," Yvette said with a sad expression.
Aaron hesitated.
Eventually, he gave in.
It's just photos... maybe this will help her and Belinda get along, he thought.
Yvette, however, smiled to herself as she caught sight of Belinda's barely concealed jealousy.
Good. Hurry up and divorce him, she thought.
"Yvette!" a sharp voice called out.
An elderly woman approached.
Rose Watson.
Aaron's grandmother.
Her face was flushed with anger as she glared at Yvette.
"Get down! Do you think he's your husband?!" she snapped.
"Grandma, please lower your voice. There are guests here," Aaron whispered.
"You've spoiled her too much. Look at her behavior!"
Yvette rolled her eyes.
Ever since she joined the Watson family, Rose had never liked her.
She despised girls like Yvette-poor and overly dependent.
"Look at that-your wife is standing there all alone!"
Belinda walked over.
"I'm fine, Grandma," she said politely.
Hah! Trying to win favor with that old witch, Yvette thought.
She turned and walked away, muttering under her breath.
Rose grew even more irritated.
"See?! Look at her attitude!"
"Grandma!" Aaron said, clearly uncomfortable as guests began to stare.
He quickly guided his grandmother away to the balcony.
"What's wrong with you?!" she snapped.
"Please don't cause a scene."
"I'm not the one causing trouble-that adopted girl is! And I don't understand why you're still being nice to her."
"She's my sister, Grandma. Of course I-"
"Enough. I don't want to argue. At least I'm grateful you didn't marry her. I don't like that girl at all."
"Yvette isn't a bad girl. If you got to know her, you'd see how kind she really is," Aaron said firmly.
"Heh... keep praising her. You'll see her true nature one day," Rose scoffed before walking away.
"These kids nowadays... so hard to advise. But thank God Aaron doesn't like her. I thought he might actually marry Yvette," she muttered.
-----
The wedding reception had ended.
Now, Mr. and Mrs. Watson stood in the hotel lobby, preparing to leave.
"Take care, everyone," Belinda said politely.
Yvette rolled her eyes, arms crossed.
No one noticed.
"Don't stay up too late, Yvette. You have a test tomorrow," Aaron reminded gently.
Yvette immediately put on a sweet expression.
"You're not coming home?"
Lily nudged her lightly.
"Of course they're not. They're newlyweds."
Yvette froze slightly.
She knew what that meant.
But her heart refused to accept it.
"Can I stay at the hotel tonight?" she asked.
"Why would you stay here?" Lucian asked, confused.
"I'm not used to sleeping without Aaron nearby, Dad."
The couple exchanged glances.
"Yvette, dear... Aaron is married now. He can't always be by your side," Lily said gently.
"But I have a test tomorrow... my first one since starting college," Yvette pleaded.
"You're an adult now, Yvette," Lucian added.
Her expression darkened.
She lowered her head, her hair falling over her face.
"This is my last day with Aaron... after this, he might move out. I'll be lonely at home."
Aaron sighed.
His parents looked at him.
"Aaron..." they warned.
"It's fine, Mom, Dad. Let her stay with us tonight," Aaron said.
"Is that okay, Belinda?" he asked.
Belinda paused, then nodded.
"Of course, dear."
'Dear'? Ugh... disgusting, Yvette thought.
Aaron gently lifted Yvette's chin.
"You can stay with us tonight."
"In the same room?" she asked.
"Yvette, don't push it!" Lily scolded.
"Of course she can. I won't let her stay alone in another room-it's not safe," Aaron replied firmly.
"Alright, Lily. Let her stay. Aaron knows what he's doing," Lucian said, getting into the car.
Lily sighed.
"Don't do anything inappropriate," she warned.
"Yes, Mom," Yvette replied.
"I wasn't talking to you-but to both of you," Lily said, glaring at Aaron.
Belinda blushed.
"We wouldn't do anything like that in front of Yvette," Aaron protested.
Lily finally left.
"Let's go inside, Aaron!" Yvette said, clinging to his arm.
She left Belinda behind.
Everything is going according to plan, Yvette thought.
To be continued...
