Page 16 of A Touch of Fate

“Give us some emotions,” the photographer encouraged. “Look deeply into each other’s eyes as if you’re sharing a secret.”

I met Samuel’s gaze, feeling awkward. How were we supposed to convey emotions that weren’t there?

I was attracted to Samuel and maybe even had a little crush on him, but I didn’t love him.

And he definitely didn’t have any feelings for me.

This was an arranged marriage, not blissful love.

Samuel’s features softened in a smile, but it was still a very restrained expression, and my own face felt very tense.

“More emotions,” the photographer said as she took several photos.

Samuel glared. “Do your job. This isn’t helping.”

She snapped her lips shut and continued taking photos.

Samuel looked down at my hands, which were still in his. “Your hands are icy. We should hurry to get you inside.” He looked up with concern in his eyes.

“It’s not very cold. It’s summer.” It was a cool day for May, but my cold hands were from nerves, not because I was freezing.

“That’s it!” the photographer said, and the click-click of more photos being taken sounded. “That’s a wrap on this set.”

Samuel raised an eyebrow and pushed to his feet, releasing my hands in the process.

My eyes registered Danilo. He stood a few steps to the side, watching us.

Sofia wasn’t with him. They had married recently, but it was pretty obvious they’d had a rough start.

Seeing them together today, I got the impression that things between them were improving.

Danilo didn’t share these things with me, and I wasn’t close enough to Sofia yet to ask her about it.

Not to mention that I’d feel awkward doing so as Danilo’s sister.

Danilo gave me a tight smile before his hard gaze settled on Samuel, who returned it with an unimpressed expression.

“The stairs next!” the photographer said, moving ahead.

Samuel pushed me toward the base of the stairs.

I arrested the brakes and pushed myself into a standing position.

I realized I was still in my heels and couldn’t keep my balance on them.

Danilo stepped forward as if to catch me, but Samuel grabbed my arm before he could and steadied me with a hand on my waist.

“I need to get out of my heels,” I explained, embarrassed.

I sank down and quickly slipped off my heels before I stood again.

Samuel helped me reach one of the upper stairs and positioned himself beside me.

Ines fanned out my wedding dress so it cascaded down the steps.

I was a bit nervous standing on the stairs as it allowed less room for stumbling.

Samuel gripped my hands. “I’ll catch you if you fall. ”

I couldn’t help but smile at his declaration. “That’s very romantic of you,” I teased.

Samuel chuckled. “I’m going to be honest. Being romantic isn’t my forte. At all.”

“You’re the ice prince.”

He scoffed. “That name has followed me for years.”

“It fits,” I said, my eyes tracing his blond hair, cold blue eyes, and cool expression.

If I had to pick someone to play a Nordic god, I would choose him.

“You look and act like one. I thought you liked it. From what I hear, girls do.” I hadn’t wanted to bring up other girls but couldn’t help the little jab. I knew the stories about his conquests.

“They like the illusion. They like thinking they could melt my cold heart. Because it would make them special.” He rolled his eyes.

“Don’t you want someone to melt your cold heart?” I asked in a mere whisper, not sure why I chose to pick this topic on our wedding day. It was bound to end in disaster.

Samuel slanted a look at the photographer, who lowered her camera and motioned for us to move on to the fountain. “No. I don’t.”

“Oh.”

“We’re running out of time!” Mom pointed at the gold watch around her wrist.

Samuel sighed and picked me up without warning. He carried me down the stairs and toward the fountain. Being pressed up to his body like that sent a nervous shiver down my back, and my cheeks flushed.

“Just like this!” The photographer lifted her camera. “Don’t move.”

She took several photos of me in Samuel’s arms. “I think this is enough,” Samuel said, putting me down in my wheelchair.

He didn’t wait for the photographer to agree.

Instead, he pushed me up the ramp that led into the ballroom of the hotel that we’d rented for the occasion.

The guests had gathered at their respective tables and were busy chatting and drinking champagne or wine. Our photo session had taken a while.

Immediately, everyone’s eyes moved to us.

I was used to being stared at and didn’t even mind today.

Most faces were friendly, and I simply ignored the occasional grudging expression.

I wanted to enjoy today. When Samuel and I arrived at our table, he noticed the origami cranes hanging from the ceiling above the center of every round table.

“I’ve never seen wedding decor like this.”

Nerves filled my belly. His thoughtful expression didn’t reveal if he liked them or not.

“Emma insisted on having them. She even folded them herself! As if we didn’t have the necessary funds to buy decorations,” Mom said in a scandalous whisper.

I stifled my annoyance. We’d still spent a five-figure sum on decorations from flowers to balloons.

Samuel glanced at me. “You did these?”

“Yes, I’ve been doing origami for six years.”

He looked impressed. Hope bloomed in me. “I like it.”

“The cranes symbolize happiness and eternal youth. They are luck bringers.”

“Do you think we need additional luck for our wedding?” he asked, mildly amused.

I shrugged. “Who doesn’t?”

Mom pursed her lips, then her eyes registered on a server who stood off to the side with a tray. “Why’s she taking a break?” She went off to give someone else a piece of her mind.

Danilo and Sofia joined us at that moment. Danilo watched Mother’s departure with a frown, then raised his eyebrow. “What happened?”

“She was displeased that Samuel didn’t hate my origami decoration like she does.”

Danilo shook his head with a look of displeasure. Sofia stood beside him, but they didn’t touch. Not that Samuel and I were holding hands or the like.

“I would have hidden my dislike in front of your mother even if I’d felt it. A husband should have his wife’s back,” Samuel said simply.

I narrowed my eyes. “So you lied?”

“No, I really like them. But I would lie to others to have your back.”

I bit my lip, secretly pleased. “As long as you don’t lie to me.”

“I can be very honest.”

Danilo made a face as if he doubted that. I gave him a curious look, but he simply smiled tightly.

“I think they are spectacular and gorgeous. If I’d known you could do these, I would have asked you to craft them for our wedding.” Sofia pursed her lips. “Though, they probably take forever to fold, right?”

“It took me a while, but I would have done it for you and Danilo.”

I positioned my wheelchair closer to the table as Mom signaled for us to sit down for dinner.

Sofia sat beside me, and Danilo was beside her.

I insisted she sat beside me because I didn’t want to bear Mom’s admonishments all evening.

Samuel sat down on my other side, and soon, his parents and my mother took the remaining seats.

Samuel’s father rose to his feet when all the guests found their seats. As Underboss and the father of the groom, he’d give a little speech first before Samuel would open the dinner.

The attention shifted to Samuel and me as he mentioned how happy he and Ines were about our bond.

“We can’t wait to become grandparents and hopefully have a grandson who will continue the Mione legacy.”

Samuel’s lips tightened, and I noticed how Ines nudged her husband under the table and sent him a warning look. His confused expression told me he wasn’t sure what he’d done wrong.

To be honest, it was a pretty standard thing to say for a patriarch at his son’s wedding. I’ve heard a similar phrase at countless weddings. But with the continued rumors about my infertility, a comment like that only added fuel to the gossip fire.

At many tables, people exchanged looks or even whispered, but Samuel shoved to his feet and clanged his knife against his wineglass with a bit more force than necessary.

“Let the feast begin. I’m sure we all need a drink and good food.”

He sank back down and gave me a tight smile.

When the service crew streamed in with the appetizers—deviled quail eggs with caviar and more champagne to go with it—Sofia leaned over to me. “I’m sorry for what Dad said. The men in my family can be horribly insensitive.”

I gave her a small smile. “The men in my family as well.”

She followed my gaze toward Danilo, who regarded the tiny appetizer with disdain. “I hope the portion sizes increase.”

Mom gave him an indignant look. “We have six more courses. I didn’t raise you to be a barbarian.”

I stifled my laughter.

Samuel wasn’t as restrained. He let out a dry chuckle. “I guess you haven’t seen Danilo’s barbaric side very often then.”

“No talk about business at the table,” Ines said firmly. “This isn’t wedding talk.”

Sofia and I exchanged a look, both trying to stop ourselves from grinning. I had to admit I was sad that Sofia wouldn’t be in Minneapolis. She and I would have bonded even more over time.

I worried about making friends, especially as good and loyal as my bestie Giorgia. I searched the ballroom until my eyes settled on her beside her brother. She met my gaze and raised her eyebrows comically as she took a delicate bite of the tiny egg.

God, I’d miss her.