NAOMI'S POINT OF VIEW
The silence inside the limousine was almost unbearable.Outside, the city buzzed with its usual afternoon traffic. Cars honked impatiently. People hurried along the sidewalks, completely unaware that somewhere inside a black luxury limousine, a woman in a wedding dress was trying to figure out how to explain to her mother that she'd married a billionaire she'd met barely two hours ago.
I stared down at the diamond ring on my finger.It sparkled every time sunlight streamed through the tinted window.
It looked beautiful and expensive.Completely out of place on my hand.
Just this morning, I'd been an event assistant worrying about seating cards and flower arrangements.Now......I was Mrs. Kingsley.The thought still didn't feel real.
"You've been staring at that ring for five minutes."Xavier's voice broke the silence and I looked up.
"I was wondering if I'm dreaming."
"And?"
"I haven't decided yet."A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"I assure you, this is real."
"I was hoping you'd say it wasn't."His smile grew just a little before disappearing again.
The driver turned into the hospital driveway.
"We're here, sir."I suddenly froze.
My heart pounded against my ribs.
"What if she gets angry?"Xavier looked at me.
"She has every right to."
"I know."
"What matters is that she hears it from you."
I swallowed.....Easy for him to say.
He wasn't about to tell his mother that he'd married a complete stranger.The driver opened my door and I stepped out, carefully gathering the skirt of my wedding dress.
The moment my heels touched the pavement, people stopped walking and every head turned.A bride.....At a hospital?
"You should have listened to me when I told you to change"Xavier muttered and immediately Whispers followed.
"Isn't that a wedding dress?"
"Did she come straight from her ceremony?"
"Who's the groom?"I lowered my head and walked faster.Please......Not today.
The automatic doors slid open and Cool air greeted us as we entered the hospital lobby.
The receptionist looked up and immediately she saw me her eyes widened.
"Naomi?"I forced a smile.
"Hi, Mrs. Grace."
"My goodness..."She stood.
"You got married?"
"I..."Before I could answer, Xavier stepped inside behind me.His tailored tuxedo drew even more attention.The receptionist blinked repeatedly then her eyes darted between us.
"...Congratulations."
"Thank you," Xavier replied politely and istared at him.He thanked her as if this entire situation were perfectly normal.
The elevator doors opened and neither of us spoke during the ride to the fourth floor.
My stomach twisted tighter with every passing second.When the doors opened again, I spotted Nurse Angela arranging medication on a trolley.She looked up and recognition immediately crossed her face.
"Naomi!"She hurried toward me before stopping abruptly.
"Oh..."Her gaze moved to my dress then to Xavier,then back to me.
"You got..."I nodded awkwardly.
"It's... complicated."
"I'd imagine."She smiled gently.
"Your mother has been asking for you."My chest tightened.
"Is she awake?"
"She is."Nurse Angela glanced toward Xavier.
"You can both go in."Both.....The word felt strange and I looked at Xavier.
"You don't have to come."
"I know."
"But I will."I hesitated then nodded.
Room 417.I stopped outside the door.
Suddenly........I couldn't move.
"What if she hates me?"Xavier looked at the door before looking back at me.
"From everything I've seen today..."
"I don't think your mother could ever hate you."His words settled something inside me and I took a deep breath.....Then knocked softly.
"Come in."Mom's familiar voice nearly broke me.I pushed the door open.She was sitting up in bed, reading one of the old romance novels I'd borrowed from the public library weeks ago.The moment she looked up......She smiled.
"There you are."She said but then she noticed the dress and her smile faded.
"Naomi?"She set the book aside.
"What happened?"I tried to speak but nothing came out and she frowned.
"Sweetheart..."
"Why are you wearing a wedding dress?"Tears burned behind my eyes.
"I..."She looked genuinely confused.
"Weren't you working today?"
"I was."
"Then whose wedding..."Her voice slowly trailed off.She looked behind me then Xavier stepped into the room.
Her eyes became as wide as saucers.
"...Naomi."I lowered my head.
"It was mine."Silence....Complete silence.
Even the beeping heart monitor seemed louder than before.
"My..."She blinked several times.
"...your wedding?"I nodded.
"I'm sorry."She looked completely stunned.
"You..."
"When?"
"This afternoon."
"This afternoon?"I nodded again.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before."
"You..."She looked at Xavier again.
"You got married today?"
"Yes, ma'am," Xavier answered respectfully.
She stared at him then back at me....then back at him.Finally.......She laughed.Not because it was funny but ecause she genuinely thought we were joking.
"Very funny."Neither of us laughed and her smile slowly disappeared again.
"Oh..."
"You two are serious."I walked over and sat beside her bed.
"I know this sounds crazy."
"It does."
"I know."She reached for my hand.
"Naomi..."
"What happened?"That question shattered every bit of strength I'd been holding onto.
Tears spilled down my cheeks.
"I didn't know what else to do."Her expression softened immediately.
"My surgery..."I nodded.
"They called today."
"They need the payment."I looked down at our joined hands.
"I couldn't lose you."
"I couldn't."
"So when he offered..."My voice broke.
"I said yes."Mom closed her eyes.A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Oh, sweetheart..."
"You should never have had to make that choice."
"I would've done anything."
"I know."She gently wiped my tears.
"You've always carried burdens that were never meant for your shoulders."
"I just want you to get better."She smiled through her own tears.
"I know."For several moments...No one spoke.Finally, Mom looked toward Xavier.
"You must think my daughter is reckless."Before I could panic......Xavier answered.
"I think she's brave."I looked at him in surprise as he continued quietly.
"Most people would've run from this situation."
"She stayed."
"She chose someone else over herself."His gaze met mine.
"I respect that."My heart skipped and Mom smiled faintly.
"Take care of her."
"I intend to."Neither of them seemed to realize how those words affected me.A knock interrupted the moment and anurse stepped inside.
"Excuse me..."She smiled politely.
"Miss Bennett?"
"Yes?"
"I just wanted to let you know..."She glanced toward me.
"...your outstanding balance has been cleared."I frowned.
"What?"
"The surgery has been fully paid."I stood so quickly my chair nearly tipped over.
"There must be a mistake."The nurse checked the file.
"No mistake."
"It was settled about ten minutes ago."She said and I immediately looked at Xavier.He calmly adjusted the cuff of his sleeve.
"You..."He met my eyes.
"You paid?"
"It needed to be done."
"Xavier..."
"You shouldn't have......"
"I told you I'd take care of it."His voice was so matter-of-fact that it almost made me cry harder.Mom looked between us silently.
For the first time since this unbelievable day had begun...I saw something in her eyes.......
Hope.
*******
As we left the room an hour later, I turned back one last time.Mom smiled and waved.
"Go on."
"I'll be fine."
"Don't worry about me."I smiled through my tears.
"I'll come back tomorrow."
"I'll be waiting."I stepped into the hallway.
The door clicked softly behind me.
Before I could say a word, Xavier spoke.
"Ready to go home?"I looked at him.
Then at the ring on my finger.Home.....For the first time in my life...I had no idea where that was anymore.
**
**
**
The hospital doors slid shut behind us.For a few seconds, neither Xavier nor I spoke.
The evening air was cooler now, carrying the scent of rain. The sky had begun to darken, painting the city in shades of orange and deep blue. Hospital visitors walked past us, some carrying flowers, others holding the hands of loved ones.
Everything around me looked so... normal.Yet nothing about my life was normal anymore.Just hours ago, I'd been setting up tables at someone else's wedding.Now.......I had left the hospital wearing a wedding ring that belonged to me.
The black limousine waited at the curb.The driver hurried to open the rear door.
"Mr. Kingsley."Xavier nodded politely before looking at me.
"Ready?"I looked back at the hospital building.Mom was still up there.
She had smiled and told me not to worry, but I knew her too well.She would spend the rest of the night wondering if I'd sacrificed my own happiness for hers.
Maybe......She wouldn't be wrong.I climbed into the limousine without another word.
Xavier sat beside me, leaving enough space between us that our shoulders didn't touch.The driver closed the door, shutting out the noise of the city.
A moment later, the car pulled away.Neither of us spoke,The silence wasn't awkward.It was... unfamiliar.
How were two strangers supposed to act after getting married?Should we talkPretend to know each other?Ignore everything that had happened today?....I had no idea.
I rested my head against the cool glass window and watched the city blur past.
My phone vibrated.....A message from Nurse Angela.
*Your mother's surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning. She asked me to tell you she's smiling*My chest tightened.I smiled through tears.
At least something good had come from today.
"I'm glad."The words slipped out before I realized I'd spoken.Xavier turned slightly.
"Your mother?"I nodded.
"The surgery is tomorrow."
"That's good."
"It is."I looked down at my phone.
"I've spent three years trying to save enough money."
"I worked two jobs while studying."
"My mother kept telling me to stop."A soft laugh escaped me.
"She said she didn't raise me to carry the world on my shoulders."Xavier listened quietly.
"I never stopped."
"I couldn't."Silence settled again then he asked softly,
"Sorry if I'm intruding but Your father?"The smile faded from my face.
"He died when I was twelve."
"I'm sorry."
"When he died..."
"...everything changed."I hadn't meant to tell him so much.Maybe today had simply been too overwhelming.
"I'm sorry."I quickly wiped my eyes.
"I don't usually cry this much."
"I wasn't counting."A tiny laugh escaped me.
"I must look ridiculous."
"No."His answer came so quickly that I looked at him.
"You look exhausted."For some reason......That felt kinder than being told I looked beautiful because it was honest.
"So do you."He leaned back against the leather seat.
"I am."
"You've had a terrible wedding day."
"I've had better."Another silence followed.
This one felt... lighter.As though we'd both silently agreed to stop pretending everything was fine.
After several minutes, Xavier reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a cream-colored envelope.
"This is for you."I frowned.
"What is it?"
"Open it."I hesitated before accepting it.Inside was a black card with elegant silver lettering.
It wasn't a bank card.It was a keycard and I looked at him, confused.
"Kingsley Manor."
"It's your access card."
"Oh."
"You'll need it."Need it.....The word hit me.
I really was moving into his home....My stomach twisted.
"I never packed anything."
"I noticed."
"I only have the clothes I wore to work this morning."
"We'll take care of that tomorrow."
"I don't need expensive things."
"I know."
"I just..."I looked down at my simple uniform folded neatly inside the garment bag beside me.
"...I've never lived anywhere except our apartment."Xavier was quiet for a moment.
"I haven't either."I blinked.
"What?"
"I grew up in Kingsley Manor."He looked out of the opposite window.
"It has never felt like home."His answer surprised me.I had expected stories about luxury.Instead...There was something lonely in his voice.
Before I could ask another question, his phone rang,the screen lit up......Grandfather.Xavier answered immediately.
"Yes."I could hear the deep voice echoed faintly through the speaker.
"Have you left the hospital?"
"We're on our way."
"Good."A brief pause.
"The board has been informed that the wedding went ahead."
"I expected that."
"The merger will continue as planned."I glanced away, pretending not to listen.He continued.
"But don't mistake today's success for safety."
"I won't."
"From this moment onward, every move you make will be watched."Xavier's expression didn't change.
"I understand."
"You and your wife will attend the family dinner tomorrow evening."
"I'll be there."
"You both will."The line went dead.Xavier lowered the phone and I looked at him.
"Family dinner?"He sighed.
"Unfortunately."I couldn't help smiling.
"You don't sound excited."
"I'm not."
"What happens there?"
"My relatives pretend to like each other......You should totally avoid them"I laughed.
"You're joking."
"I wish I were."For the first time all day......He smiled.A real smile,It transformed his face completely.
I suddenly understood why magazines called him one of the country's most eligible bachelors.He was even more attractive when he smiled.
I quickly looked away before he noticed me staring.
"So..."I cleared my throat.
"About this marriage."His expression became serious again.
"Yes."
"I think we should establish some rules."
"I was hoping you'd say that."He reached into the side compartment and removed another folder.I stared at him.
"You already made rules?"
"I had lawyers prepare the contract."
"I thought this might help."I laughed despite myself.
"You really do plan everything."
"I try."I opened the folder.At the top, written in neat handwriting, were the words:
House Rules.I looked at him in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding".
"I'm afraid not."
