Chapter 33: She didn’t want the kiss.

Nerissa’s POV

The church erupts into applause. People stand from their seats, smiling, clapping, whispering congratulations to one another as though we’ve just witnessed the most beautiful love story in the world.

I almost laugh.

Beautiful my foot....There is nothing beautiful about two families who have spent years killing each other suddenly deciding that putting rings on their children’s fingers will make all the blood disappear.

But apparently, that’s how this works.

I keep my eyes on Olivia. She’s standing beside Lysander, her veil pushed back now, her wedding ring shining on her finger.

She looks beautiful....Absolutely beautiful.

But I know her, I know the difference between Olivia’s real smile and the one she wears when she doesn’t want anyone to worry about her.

This one is the second.

My eyes move to Lysander, his expression is unreadable.

Of course it is.

The man could probably stand in the middle of a burning building and look like he’s waiting for his coffee.

My jaw tightens.

I don’t care if he’s her husband now, i don’t care if half the people in this church think I’m supposed to respect him because of some stupid tradition.

If he hurts my sister, I’ll make him regret it.

I wait until the priest finally steps aside before I move toward them.

Olivia sees me coming and her smile becomes genuine for the first time.

"Rissa."

I take her hands.

"You okay?" I know I’ve asked her that a thousand times now but given the circumstances it’s only right.

She nods.

"I’m fine."

I stare at her.

She knows exactly what I’m asking, her fingers squeeze mine.

"I’m okay."

I search her eyes. There’s fear there but there’s something else too.

Acceptance.

And somehow, that hurts me more.

"You’re sure?"

She nods again.

"I promise."

I glance at Lysander.

His eyes meet mine, there’s something calm about his expression.

Almost challenging.

I don’t like it.

"You know she didn’t want that kiss."

Olivia’s eyes widen.

"Rissa."

But I don’t look away from him....Lysander doesn’t even blink.

"She pulled away."

"I noticed."

His answer is so calm it irritates me.

"Then why did you grab her?"

His jaw tightens slightly.

"She was nervous, the kiss needed to happen."

"Nervous people don’t need to be held in place."

"That’s enough."

Olivia’s voice is soft, but firm.

I turn toward her and she gives me the look.

Not necessarily angry.....Just pleading.

Don’t.

I swallow whatever else I was about to say.

Lysander looks at Olivia then back at me.

"I wasn’t trying to hurt her."

I cross my arms.

"You’d better not."

He gives me a small nod.

"I won’t."

For some reason, that answer catches me off guard. I expected arrogance, a threat, Something that would give me a reason to hate him even more.

Instead, he just stands there all Calm and controlled like he doesn’t need to prove anything.

I hate men like that.

Before I can say anything else, someone approaches us.

"Congratulations, brother."

I recognize that stupid voice.

Is it Zack? Ron?.

Anyways he comes to stand beside Lysander, looking far too pleased with himself.

When his eyes land on me his mouth curves into a smirk.

"Congratulations to us, sister-in-law."

I glare at him.

"Don’t call me that."

His eyebrows lift.

"Why?"

"Because I’m not your sister-in-law."

He looks toward Olivia.

"Your sister just married my brother."

"So?."

"So technically..."

"Don’t."

He laughs and Lysander gives him a warning look.

"Jerry."

Ahhhhhh his name is Jerry.

"What?"

"Go."

Jerry looks between us.

Then he grins.

"Yes, Don."

He turns to leave but pauses beside me.

"Try not to kill anyone before the reception."

I give him a sweet smile.

"No promises."

He laughs and walks away.

I watch him go cursing him and his entire family in my head.

"That man is annoying."

A photographer approaches before we can continue.

"Sir, ma’am, could we get a few photographs?"

I step away automatically.

"No."

The photographer blinks and I point toward the newlyweds.

"They’re the ones you want."

Olivia laughs.

"Rissa."

"What?"

"You’re supposed to be in some of them."

"Why?

"Because you’re my sister."

"Fine."

I reluctantly step beside her as the photographer directs us around.

One with Olivia and Lysander, one with Lorenzo, one with the Sanchez family, one with the Luciano family.

Then one with all of us, I smile for every single one.

Not because I feel like smiling. Because this family has spent years teaching me how to pretend.

Eventually, the photographs end and everyone starts moving toward the reception hall.

Music fills the space as Servers move around with trays of champagne and food.

People are laughing, dancing, making speeches.

The atmosphere is almost cheerful.

I stand beside Olivia while she receives congratulations from people I’ve never seen before. Every few minutes, someone tells her how beautiful she looks, how lucky she is and how wonderful the alliance will be, how proud her father must be.

I want to scream.

Because nobody asks if she’s happy, nobody asks if she wanted this.

I look at her again, she catches me staring.

"Stop worrying."

"I’m not."

"You are."

"I always worry."

She smiles.

"I know."

She reaches for my hand and I squeeze it.

Then someone calls her name, she turns.

Lysander is standing several feet away.

He’s talking to one of his men, but his eyes are already on her. When their eyes meet, he gives her a small nod.

Olivia hesitates then looks at me.

"I have to go."

I know.

I don’t want to let go of her hand but I do.

"Okay."

She walks toward him and I watch carefully.

Lysander doesn’t grab her, he waits for her to approach, then he offers his hand.

Olivia looks at it for a moment and finally, she places hers in his. Something about the sight makes my stomach twist.

Because this is real....She’s really leaving.

My sister is going to walk out of this place with a Sanchez, She’s going to live in their house, sleep under their roof, eat at their table, wake up every morning as Lysander Sanchez’s wife and there won’t be anything I can do about it.

The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.