Chapter 16

Sybil smiled warmly as she settled into the chair, her eyes studying Lune carefully. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her voice gentle but filled with purpose.

“Lune, there’s something important I need to tell you about our family traditions,” she began. Lune looked at her, curious. “You see, the wedding you had, the one with your family, was only the first part of our customs. In our family, we always have two wedding ceremonies—one for each side. The first was for your family, a way to honor where you came from, but the second… well, that one is for Arlo’s family, and it’s much more public.”

Lune blinked, taking in her words. “Another wedding ceremony?” she repeated, surprised.

Sybil nodded. “Yes, dear. It’s our way of fully uniting two families, ensuring that both are respected. The first ceremony is more private, but the second… it’s where the world will know. It’s an extravagant affair, filled with guests from all corners, and it’s Arlo’s way of introducing you to the world as his wife.”

Lune’s stomach fluttered at the thought. She had barely adjusted to the first ceremony, and now another, even grander one, loomed on the horizon. The idea of standing in front of all of Arlo’s family and friends, being displayed as his bride for the world to see, filled her with nervousness. But she could see in Sybil’s eyes that this wasn’t something she could avoid—it was a tradition, an expectation.

“I see,” Lune murmured, trying to process it all. “When will this second ceremony be?”

“We haven’t set the exact date yet, but it will be soon,” Sybil replied, her tone reassuring. “And don’t worry, you won’t be alone in the preparations. I’ll be here to help you every step of the way. It’s quite the event, but I promise, it’s also a celebration—a chance for you to be welcomed into our world, our way of life.”

Lune nodded, her thoughts swirling. She had known that marrying Arlo would change her life, but she hadn’t realized just how many layers there were to this union. It wasn’t just about the marriage itself; it was about becoming a part of his world, with all of its traditions and expectations. And now, with this second ceremony on the horizon, she felt the weight of what that truly meant.

Sybil reached out and gently squeezed Lune’s hand. “I know it’s a lot, but you’re strong, Lune. You’ve already come this far, and I can tell you’re going to handle the next step beautifully.”

Lune gave her a small, appreciative smile. “Thank you. It’s… it’s just a lot to take in.”

Sybil nodded, understanding. “Of course it is. But remember, you’re not alone in this. You have Arlo, and you have me. We’ll make sure everything goes smoothly. And by the end of it, you’ll be fully a part of our family.”

The words were meant to be comforting, but Lune couldn’t help but feel the weight of what was ahead. Another wedding, this time in the full view of the world, would cement her place in Arlo’s life—and in the life she hadn’t entirely chosen. Still, a part of her was beginning to understand that this was her new reality, and as much as it scared her, she would have to face it.

As the door closed behind Sybil, Lune sat on the edge of the bed, her thoughts spiraling. The news of a second wedding ceremony, especially one that would be far more public and extravagant, weighed heavily on her. She had barely gotten through the first one, her nerves raw and her heart conflicted. Now, the idea of standing in front of hundreds—maybe thousands—of people, all eyes on her as Arlo’s bride, made her stomach twist.

She had known marrying Arlo would come with responsibilities and expectations, but this? It was overwhelming. A part of her felt trapped, like she was losing more of herself with each new revelation. She was supposed to be finding her footing in this new life, but instead, it felt like the ground kept shifting beneath her.

What stung the most, though, was the realization that Arlo hadn’t told her. He hadn’t mentioned a second ceremony, hadn’t given her time to prepare for the idea that her life would be on display, not just to his family but to the entire world. How could he keep something so important from her?

A wave of disappointment washed over her. She had started to think Arlo wasn’t as bad as she initially believed. He had asked about her likes and dislikes, seemed to care about making her comfortable. But this—keeping something so crucial hidden—made her question everything again. How could he claim to care when he hadn’t even given her the chance to understand what her future would really look like?

Lune clenched her hands together in her lap, her frustration bubbling up. She had trusted him, at least a little. She had started to believe that maybe they could find common ground, that maybe they could build something more than just an arrangement. But now, the trust she had begun to place in him felt shaky, fragile.

Had he thought she wouldn’t care? Or worse, had he simply assumed she would go along with it because she had no other choice? The latter thought made her chest tighten, filling her with anger and helplessness.

She had wanted to see Arlo as more than the man who had orchestrated this union, but this felt like another reminder of how little control she had over her own life now. He was still the one pulling the strings, making decisions without her, assuming she would accept them because, after all, what else could she do?

Lune stood and walked to the window, looking out over the sprawling grounds of Arlo’s estate. The sunlight was beginning to fade, casting a golden hue over everything. She wanted to feel something—hope, excitement, anything other than the frustration and betrayal that clung to her.

But all she could think about was how once again, she was being led into something she hadn’t chosen, something she wasn’t even given the courtesy to know about in advance. She felt like a pawn, moving through a game that everyone but her seemed to understand the rules to.

Her hands rested on the windowsill as she took a deep breath. Maybe it was time to confront Arlo, to ask him why he hadn’t told her. She needed to understand where his mind was—whether he saw her as an equal in this, or just someone to be paraded around for tradition’s sake.

As the evening descended, the warm glow of the setting sun faded, casting the room in a soft twilight. Lune sat on the edge of her bed, still lost in thought, when there was a knock on the door. Before she could respond, the door opened, and a stream of staff members entered, each carrying beautifully wrapped packages, luxurious shopping bags, and delicate boxes.

They moved silently, placing the items on the table, the bed, and even by the windowsill. The room quickly filled with expensive gifts—silk dresses, sparkling jewelry, perfumes, shoes, and other extravagant items she hadn’t even imagined owning. The final item placed carefully on the table caught her attention: a sleek, high-end cellphone, its design elegant and cutting-edge.

Lune stood there, motionless, watching as the staff quietly exited the room, leaving her alone with the overwhelming display of wealth. The sight of the cellphone made her heart sink a little. It wasn’t just a gift—it felt like something more, as if Arlo was trying to buy her comfort, or maybe even her silence, after learning how she disliked feeling trapped.

She slowly approached the table, her fingers brushing over the smooth screen of the phone. It was a thoughtful gesture in one sense—Arlo had noticed that she didn’t have one—but at the same time, it felt hollow. All the gifts were stunning, the kind of things most people would dream of, but they didn’t ease the discomfort she felt about the second wedding, or the fact that Arlo hadn’t told her sooner.

Lune opened one of the boxes, revealing an intricately designed necklace, its diamonds catching the dim light of the room. It was beautiful, undeniably so, but as she held it in her hands, it felt heavy—not just physically, but emotionally. These gifts were meant to make her feel appreciated, but they only served as a reminder of the imbalance in her relationship with Arlo. He could give her anything she wanted, yet he hadn’t given her the one thing she needed most: honesty and control over her own life.

She sighed, placing the necklace back in its box. The gifts didn’t feel like comfort. They felt like distractions—ways to gloss over the real issues, the unspoken tensions between them. As luxurious and generous as the gesture was, it didn’t change the fact that she felt out of place, lost in a world that didn’t feel like hers.

Lune picked up the cellphone, turning it over in her hands. She could finally reach out, talk to Valerie, or anyone else she had been cut off from since the wedding. But even that small freedom felt bittersweet, like a consolation prize instead of a genuine attempt to understand her.

Standing alone in the quiet, opulent room, Lune couldn’t shake the feeling that no matter how many expensive gifts Arlo showered her with, they wouldn’t fix what really lay between them. She wanted more than things—she wanted trust, respect, and the ability to make her own choices.