Jonathan grabbed my hand and started dragging me out while people stared at me with pity I still didn't understand. I stopped suddenly, making Jonathan glance down at me through his eyelashes.
"What is it?" He growled.
"My shoes." I whispered embarrassed. I'd just remembered I'd removed it because it hurt, and now he was dragging me out with my bare feet.
He sighed loudly, not bothering to hide his annoyance, and dragged me back to where Lillian was still there, staring at me shell shocked as she spoke with someone on the phone.
He picked up the shoe and bent to put it on me but apparently changing his mind, he gave me the shoes.
I turned red and bent to put it on myself, wondering why I'd thought he would do that, and gasped as I felt myself being lifted. He was carrying me.
"What are you doing?" I asked wide-eyed, ignoring the gasps that were rolling round the hall, and he smirked.
"Cooperate Mrs. Carter. Remember our agreement."
I kept staring at him as he carried me towards the door of the hall. Obviously, the reception was over.
Jonathan reached the door when a commotion that was quickly getting louder behind us made me turn back, curiosity overtaking my good sense to ignore the mess the reception has become, and I gasped, suddenly grateful I'd turned back and immediately started tapping Jonathan incessantly, and he glanced at me.
"What is it?" He asked, this time in a softer tone.
I wasn't able to answer him as someone pulled him from the back, making him stumble, and I let out a squeal as I felt myself falling. Just when I thought no other day would be able to rival today as my most embarrassing, Jonathan's hands steadied me. He looked down at me and strangely the lack of emotion in his face helped me calm down. He put me down and we both turned to the group and the owner of the wandering hands.
"Where do you think you're going?" Lucas asked glaring.
I looked at him and looked at Julia by his side, the scorn and joy in her eyes evident that whatever was brewing now was because of her. I glanced at the other people with them, people that had just celebrated us, even if it had been fake, were glaring at us now. Or specifically, my husband.
I was preparing my heart to hear what she'd schemed up, so I got surprised when a woman dragged me from where I was.
Without missing a beat, Jonathan dragged me back and placed his hand on my waist. What the heck?
Julia smiled at me, a smile I knew others would miss, and she rushed to the side of the woman that had tried to grab me, taking her hands.
"What if she doesn't know what's going on? She said gently, and I scoffed, seeing every other person eating up her words. Since she was talking about me, I knew there was no way it was going to be true. She was once again spewing lies like she had done at the company, making my day uncomfortable, but that was the least of my focus right now.
"She's young, and you know how those girls that are desperate to be loved act, right? I'm sure she's not in her right minds." She finished, and I glanced up at Jonathan, shivering at the coldness in his eyes. What was he thinking and why wasn't he coming to my aid when I was being insulted. It was part of the terms of our contract, to have each other's backs and this counted, I think.
"What exactly are you talking about?" I asked, tired of the silly suspense.
The same earlier woman moved back, but she must have seen something in Jonathan's face that made her take a step back and clear her throat. "Sweetheart. It's possible you've been deceived, This man you're marrying, what exactly do you know about him." She hesitated, then took a deep breath. "Does he do anything against your will? Did you consent to the marriage?"
I burst into laughter. Seeing the incredulous expressions in their faces only made me laugh harder. "I'm so sorry. It's just so funny."
She shook her head. "I don't think you understand. We're on your side and trying to protect you."
I shook my head. If only they knew the person they had to be wary of wasn't my husband but me. I glanced at him, wondering why he really had stayed. It wasn't like any of them could challenge him. They were all people that would eventually demand things from him because of what he had and how greedy people could be. "Thanks for your concern, but it's not needed."
The woman started speaking, but I raised my hand for silence. "No, listen to me. I got into the wedding on my own volition. I'm in love with Jonathan and nothing else happened. I don't really know what you've heard or any rumour anybody spread, but this is my wedding day, a day meant for joy for my husband and I and all you're doing is ruining it."
I smiled at the group who were staring at me with hate now. "I really don't care what you guys want to believe, but if you're doing this for me…." I gestured towards them and the people that had blocked our path. "I really appreciate it, but it's not necessary."
Lucas moved a step forward, and I noticed Lillian trying to pull him back. "So you mean he's not abusing you?"
I stared at him in shock and then looked at the faces of the people gathered. So that's what Julia had said. No wonder Jonathan had been so furious.
"No. He's not abusing me." I moved closer to Jonathan, taking his hands. I could see how fast this could spread, especially in a circle like his, and that would mean everything he had worked for would come crumbling down like a pack of cards. I couldn't allow that to happen."
"I'm in love with him, which is why I married him. We met a long time ago, and then meeting again stirred up all the feelings we tried to hide. I guess you could say fate brought us together again." I looked at the crowd earnestly, avoiding Lucas' face. How could he believe whatever nonsense Julia had said? Didn't he know me, and hadn't his obsession about telling me I was making a huge mistake gone?
Lucas took a step closer to me again, and I felt Jonathan tense and drag me closer, the first reaction he'd given after pulling me to himself.
"What do you think you're doing? My wife has already spoken. What else do you need to confirm?"
Lucas laughed. "Your wife. We'll see how long that lasts."
I looked in confusion to Lillian, hoping she could explain the puzzle, only to find her glaring at me. Now, what exactly had I done wrong?
Lucas didn't give me the time to ask as he moved forward again and grabbed Jonathan by his collar and punched him, and all hell let loose. Gasps of shock rippled through the hall, and I glanced at Julia, who was smiling triumphantly. She had to have been the one? What had she told him to make him react like this?
A loud yell broke the fight, and I turned to see Jonathan's parents and my fake mum standing at the door. She was leaning against a young man I could guess was a hotel employee, and he was grimacing. What the heck had happened. They had gone to prepare the car, or at least that's what I had been told.
Jonathan dropped Lucas on the floor and I shook my head. They had both broken each other's noses and blood was dripping. I removed my handkerchief from my purse and gave it to Jonathan. He looked at it, I couldn't blame it, it was pink, collected it and placed it on his nose. Lillian glared at me, linked arms with Lucas and pushed out the door. Seeing that the fun was over, people also began to scatter, at least until Jonathan opened his mouth.
"If I hear any rumour or any false information about either my wife or I, I'm going to make sure I find the person, and I'll personally make life very miserable for you. You don't want to test me on this."
He grabbed my arm and I quickly picked up my shoes as he dragged me outside, where his parents were already waiting.
"What was that?" His father asked, disapproval shining in his eyes he had levelled towards me, and I felt the odd need to apologize even though whatever had happened had absolutely nothing to do with me.
"Don't talk to her like that." He regarded his father and turned to me. " I'm done with this farce." I paled. Was he calling it off and coming out with the truth? In front of his parents?
My mother, there was nothing else to call her, suddenly started gagging, and before I could get to her where she had been leaning against the car, she threw up all over the curb. How perfect could the day be.
JULIA'S POV
I watched as the man left, being led by the woman that had been by his side. What a great performance I'd given? All I'd done was notice his sour demeanour and then mention the fact that Jonathan might have groomed his new wife, and everything I'd needed to know had been confirmed. He was in love with that bitch and hated Jonathan with that same intensity. This was going to be fun. I'd obviously not succeeded in making Jonathan mine, but I was going to make him regret it. He should have listened to me the first time, I thought grimly. I'd just found the perfect way to complete my mission. I smiled and lifted the glass of champagne to my lips. Cheers to your downfall, my love.