Chapter 6 First Night

Jonathan was relieved that the wedding went off without a hitch. However, when Lizzy approached him and Eleanor at the altar, his heart ached. To some extent, a feeling of guilt must have always lingered in his heart whenever he saw Lizzy.

"I don't know whether to be happy or not about your marriage," Lizzy murmured, giving Eleanor a slight smile. "But I hope we can get along. I'll treat you well."

As usual, Lizzy remained calm in any situation. Throughout his marriage to her-no, even from the time he knew her since elementary school-Jonathan had never seen her angry. Lizzy was a woman who was always calm, big-hearted, and kind to everyone. When someone hurt her, openly or otherwise, Lizzy always responded with a faint smile. To Jonathan, she was truly an angel incarnate.

Her small, beautiful face and delicate, fragile body always made him want to protect her. Betraying her made Jonathan feel pain, but he had no other choice. Lizzy's body was too fragile; her womb couldn't sustain another life. After multiple miscarriages, she had to have one of her ovaries removed. Forcing her to get pregnant seemed crueler to Jonathan. But family demands were unavoidable.

"Thank you, Lizzy." Eleanor looked at Lizzy as if she were trying to read her. She hoped Eleanor wouldn't create problems with Lizzy. Even though she already knew what kind of person Lizzy was, Jonathan always had to be cautious.

Lizzy didn't respond further, only offering a small smile. But that reaction only made Jonathan feel more anxious. Slowly, he took Lizzy's delicate hand, pulling her into his chest. Jonathan embraced his first wife, silently apologizing.

Meanwhile, Eleanor watched in silence. She didn't feel jealous. After all, she had no right to. But still, it felt strange. Should they be hugging on the altar? It seemed to publicly display that their marriage was based on something other than love. Eleanor felt deeply pitiful.

Even after the event ended, Eleanor still felt uneasy. The hug seemed to remind her that she was nobody. She was just a stranger suddenly intruding into their marriage.

"Do you want to shower first?" Eleanor asked after they arrived at a hotel room specially booked by the Turner family.

The room was spacious, luxurious, and had complete amenities. Eleanor had expected they would stay in a fancy room, but this exceeded her expectations. The room was far better than she had ever imagined.

"Yes. If you don't mind, I'd like to shower first."

Eleanor shrugged. "Go ahead. I'll rest for a bit." She let the man who had just become her husband a short while ago use the bathroom first.

Soon after the bathroom door closed, the sound of running water could be heard. Jonathan must be cleaning himself. Eleanor swallowed hard. Amid her fatigue, she suddenly remembered that this was their wedding night. Would they do "that" tonight? My God, Eleanor felt hot and cold just thinking about it. She couldn't handle it.

Her intention to rest while waiting for Jonathan to shower failed. Instead, she felt restless, not realizing how time passed. Suddenly, Jonathan was done showering, and she was still lost in her thoughts.

"Your turn."

Eleanor jumped at Jonathan's voice. Her surprise was obvious to Jonathan, but he pretended to be indifferent, as if he hadn't seen anything. Taking a deep breath, Eleanor finally stood up. But unfortunately, she forgot she was still wearing her long, flowing wedding dress. As she took a step, Eleanor tripped and almost fell if Jonathan hadn't caught her by the shoulders.

For a moment, Eleanor froze. The scent of soap, dominated by floral and fruity fragrances mixed with Jonathan's masculine scent, created a distinctive aroma that gave her goosebumps. Her gaze then fell on Jonathan's exposed torso, revealing his warm skin and toned muscles.

"Oh my God!" Eleanor exclaimed unconsciously, her mind filled with many strange thoughts she had never entertained before.

Jonathan frowned at her loud exclamation and let her go. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Eleanor didn't answer. She felt embarrassed by her thoughts, which had begun to stray into strange, disgusting areas. "Nothing. Sorry. I'm sleepy, so I'm not focused," she lied.

Though still confused, Jonathan didn't press further and let Eleanor be. Before she entered the bathroom, Jonathan noticed something.

"Do you need help getting out of your dress?"

To Jonathan, his offer might have sounded considerate. But to Eleanor, who had never been close to a man before, it sounded like a flirtation that sent shivers down her spine.

"No. I can do it myself." She quickly answered, then shut the bathroom door hastily. She tried to control herself, feeling anxious and frantic.

Outside, Jonathan was increasingly puzzled. But he tried to be indifferent. For now, he just wanted to finish his business and then rest.

[]