d gracefully into the circle of light around Ivan. T

was finally face-to-face with Ivan, nothing else seemed to matter. H

motion. Queenie's blood ran cold a

her without truly seeing her. Queenie steadied herself. Her heart continued to hammer uneasily against her chest, but she did her best to ig

easy thoughts. "And now, it's time for the lo

at Ivan, her hopeful eyes bright with emotion. Ivan re

nd slid the ring ont

touch before this, and she had to remind herself that this was really happening. She was marrying the man

mistic about their future together. She trusted in her abi

rom an early age. Her parents would never arrange

ation. Even so, Queenie was shrewd enough to understand that her family stood to gain from the marriage as well. Her pare

n to Ivan was entirely sincere. She had been waiting to marry him for nearly twenty ye

her. There had been a brief moment of warmth from him when he held

site wedding ring glistening on her finger made Queenie's heart bloom wi

ng before her. She reached for his hand, and carefully slid th

to each other. They would love and help each other t

here was nothing in Ivan's eyes. His face remained blank, empty of all expression. The co

an made of i

to do. After a moment of awkward silence, she heard the emcee say, "Th

e to embrace his bride, and immediately jumped to the conclusion

blush on her face. The guests, oblivious to the tension on stage, began to whistle and cheer. Their demands

smell his pleasant scent drawing closer, close enough to envelope her, but he did not kiss her on the li

wasn't the wedding kiss she had been expecting. For a split second,

All she could think of was his scent. She closed her eyes as she breathed in

rt racing. She had never been in

id hammering in her chest. Queenie lowered her head shyly. But that was apparently

e bride a real kiss. The photographers and cameramen exchanged disappointed looks. The kiss was supposed to be the highlight of

reach his eyes. Queenie stared at him in helpless confusion. There wa

came to her rescue. He said, a little too loudly, "Now let's al

stled in response. Someone

all in waves as the guests began to toast each other. Queenie looked expectantly at Ivan. According to wedding custom, it was no

t a mask he had carefully chosen for the occasion. But before she could give it any more thought, Ivan opened his

he excitement in Queenie's eyes vanished, an

e knew she would be sharing her bed with Ivan tonight

as Ivan returned, they would walk around the hall together to rece

lves began to throb with the strain of keeping her balance in her 5-in

eyes as it slowly dawned upon her that she wa

h the guests. A few of the guests looked at her in confusion as the

pable young man, I'm sure he'll be invaluable to your family business. Yo

laughed h

stoppable. Don't forget to throw the rest of us a bone no

Mr. Han exchanged a look. This was their cue

o men exchanged another puzzled look

awkwardly dabbing at the sweat on her br