Chapter 13: The Summer Banquet

After the ceremony.

Mrs. Whitaker smiled kindly, holding my hand, asking when I’d move into the wedding house.

I glanced at Harrison, he was looking at his phone, brows furrowed.

I thought a bit, smiled and refused. "After the wedding, I want to spend more time with grandma."

Mrs. Whitaker patted my hand, sighed. "Mariah, you’re a good kid, honey."

The evening banquet wasn’t big.

Mostly Whitaker family relatives.

I only had a few relatives,

And my two closest college roommates.

When Harrison led me to toast, we saw a familiar face.

A friend stood up with a wine glass, smiling. "Mariah, you’re too much."

"Not only hiding it from us, but not even telling Ethan?"

I was stunned, subconsciously looked at Harrison.

No change in his expression, still smiling gently. "Mariah is reserved, doesn’t like attention."

"But it’s a big event, why not say it."

The friend laughed, looking at us both.

"Honestly, Mariah, you and my Harrison look great together."

As he spoke, he took out his phone;

"Hey, don’t move, let me take a picture, send it to my mom abroad, she keeps asking about your wedding."

I stared at the camera, still with that stiff, polite smile.

Harrison also smiled, but it was like wearing a mask.

"Get closer, don’t be shy, Harrison, you take the initiative..."

The friend was a carefree third-generation.

He met Ethan in college, very close.

But never noticed anything between me and Ethan.

Harrison reached out, put his arm around my waist.

I forced another stiff smile.

My lips felt sticky, glued to my teeth, the smile was extremely forced.

But the friend thought it was great, very satisfied.

Harrison took me to keep toasting.

But before finishing, he took his phone and left in a hurry.

I felt a headache, put down my glass, went to the garden for air.

The summer night was clear, moon and stars bright.

Rare to have such a clean night like childhood.

I sat on the bench, dazed.

Suddenly heard a couple whispering nearby.

"Someone might see... don’t mess around."

"What are you afraid of? Let them see, I won’t ignore you."

"No, I don’t like being outside. Let’s go back, okay?"

"Baby, look at me now, can we go back?"

"Alright, but this is the last time. No more after this..."

The voices grew lower, the two hugged tightly, kissing passionately.

I thought of my last night with Ethan.

Suddenly shook my head and smiled.

Seeing the absurdity before me,

I realized how absurd I had been.

I let the laughter and whispers drift away, breathing in the cool air, letting it settle the ache in my chest.