Sidney spun the bottle, and it landed squarely on Maria.Uh-oh…Selena and Aveline exchanged amused glances, both with knowing smiles, anticipating what was to come.Maria, however, remained calm, her expression unfazed. "Dare," she said coolly.Sidney casually took the notepad, flipping through it until he found a task. With a smirk, he read aloud, "Share a glass of wine with one of the men here, arm-in-arm."Selena immediately wrapped her arm around Aaron. "Tonight's our wedding night—he’s only sharing a drink with me!" she declared with a playful grin.Aveline chimed in, "Lucas isn’t drinking tonight."Gernard, sensing something off in the atmosphere, added, "I’m allergic to alcohol."Gavin stayed silent, his aloof demeanor enough to keep anyone from approaching.Desmond, ever the joker, raised his hand quickly. "My tolerance is terrible. I'm saving myself for the punishment round. Maria, please show mercy!" Baron eagerly nodded along, agreeing with him.Braden hesitated for a mo
Sidney turned his head, his gaze landing on Aveline. The moonlight fell softly on her, casting a gentle, ethereal glow over her figure, especially her rounded belly. She looked radiant as if wrapped in a halo of quiet serenity. Her eyes, full of warmth and calm, met his.For some reason, the restless frustration Sidney had been carrying all evening seemed to ease. He let out a small, bitter smile. "Aveline, how have you been lately?"She nodded, offering a simple, "Pretty good."Sidney sighed. "I wish I could say the same. I’ve realized something important about myself, but things weren’t so clear in the beginning. Now I’m stuck—unsure how to move forward."Aveline took a moment to process his words, her expression thoughtful. "Then show your sincerity," she finally said. "It takes time, but others will see your true feelings if you're genuine. Be patient."Sidney nodded, appreciating her advice. "You’re right."He smiled again, though this time it held a bit more warmth. "Seeing you
As the guests trickled out of the beachfront villa, Selena glanced around the now-empty courtyard, her eyes widening slightly. "Hey, where did everyone go?"She was a little tipsy, her cheeks flushed with a soft pink hue, her gaze hazy and slightly unfocused, adding an extra layer of allure to her already beautiful features.Aaron gently took the wine glass from her hand, setting it aside before scooping her up in his arms. He started toward the upstairs bedroom, holding her close as her body relaxed into his."You haven’t even seen your new room yet. Let’s go take a look," he murmured.Selena’s limbs went limp, her arms draping lazily around his neck as she leaned into him, her voice soft and dreamy. "New room… what does it look like?"Aaron smiled, amused by her dazed innocence. "You’ll find out soon enough."Their master bedroom was on the second floor, the largest in the villa, with elegant double doors leading into the suite. Inside was a cozy sitting area, complete with a sofa, c
"Drink a little—it'll help," Sidney said softly, holding the water bottle closer to her.Maria looked at the water being offered, then took it from his hand, sipping it slowly. As she drank, Sidney's eyes never left her, studying her quietly.Neither of them spoke for the rest of the drive.When the car finally came to a stop, the driver announced, "We're here."Sidney turned to her. "I’ll walk you up."Maria didn’t object, and they stepped out into the cool night. The breeze was crisp, refreshing after the warmth of the villa, and they walked in silence. Maria moved at a leisurely pace ahead, while Sidney followed closely behind, his gaze fixed on her, growing more intense with each step.Suddenly, Maria stopped.Sidney halted too, watching her carefully, waiting for her next move. She turned to face him, a playful smile on her lips, her hands resting casually behind her back. "After going to Selena’s wedding today, I realized… maybe marriage isn’t so bad after all."Sidney’s heart b
Maria's entire body trembled, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar yet intoxicating sensations coursing through her. Her hands gripped the edge of the cabinet tightly, her toes curling involuntarily as Sidney's breath, hot and teasing, grazed her most sensitive spots. The stimulation was almost unbearable, pushing her to the edge.Outside, the wind picked up, causing the sheer curtains on the balcony to flutter in the breeze. The soft moonlight, once filtering gently through the window, was now obscured by drifting clouds, casting the room into a dim haze.A tear escaped the corner of Maria’s eye, her breathing rapid and uneven, her body quivering under Sidney's touch. After what felt like an eternity, her body finally surrendered, collapsing in his arms. Sidney stood and wrapped her in a protective embrace, his strong arms carrying her toward the bathroom."Did that feel good?" he whispered against her ear, his voice low and breathless, the heat of his words brushing against her skin.Mari
"I’m starving," Maria said as she pulled her hand away, breaking the tension that had built between them.Sidney nodded, his voice calm. "I’ve already made breakfast. Wash up, and it'll be ready.""Alright," she responded, tossing the covers aside and sliding out of bed.Her pale skin was adorned with faint traces of last night—bruises from his grip, tender marks where his lips had lingered. The sight told the story of their passion, but Maria didn’t seem to mind. She moved with ease, disappearing into the bathroom without a second thought.Sidney’s eyes followed her every movement, heat rising again in his chest. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay composed as the door shut behind her.Moments later, her voice called out, "Can you grab me a dress?"Sidney let out a breath, heading to her walk-in closet. As he stood in front of the endless rows of clothes, he paused. There were so many choices—elegant dresses, casual outfits. For a brief moment, he was lost in indecision.Fin
Since she had mentioned marriage, Sidney was determined to ask again. If she refused, he wouldn’t press further. Maria quietly observed him, then asked, "Sidney, are you really sure? I’m pretty unpredictable. One day, I might just get bored of you, and then we’ll have to get divorced."His eyes were full of sincerity as he responded, "I’ve thought it through. I want to marry you. I’ll do everything I can to make our marriage work and never let you feel tired of me. I want us to go the distance together."There was no denying the stir in her heart, especially when he was looking at her like that—like she was his entire world.Without thinking, Maria leaned in and kissed the corner of his lips. "You’re so sweet."Sidney’s hand found the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. When they finally pulled away, both of their breaths were a little uneven."Maria, marry me?""Okay," she replied without hesitation this time.The moment she said yes, she could practically see fireworks bursting i
Maria accepted the bouquet and took a sniff, the delicate fragrance lingering at the tip of her nose. Only then did Sidney pull out the marriage certificate, handing it to her."Doesn't it look better with the flowers? More ceremonial?" Hearing this, a deeper smile spread across Maria's lips. "You sure know a lot, huh?"Sidney replied, "I pay attention to you. I know you love taking pictures. If it were just the certificate, you'd find it too plain."Maria laughed and took the marriage certificate, adjusting the angle with the bouquet before starting to snap pictures.It didn’t take long before she was done. Handing the certificate back to Sidney, she got into the car without hesitation.Sidney carefully put the marriage certificate away, then got in the car and asked, "How about we grab a bite to celebrate?"Maria, still looking at her phone while selecting photos, said, "We just ate. I'm not hungry yet. Let’s go take wedding photos."Sidney chuckled at that. "Alright."By the time t