Chapter 48
Charlotte's POV
I sat at the table that was designated to me and a few other guests to the wedding and looked around for what felt like the billionth time already. There was chairs and many other wedding related things scattered around the venue we had so careful selected after having seen way too many to count.
The wedding was pratically over, the groom and the bride had already left and were on their way to the airport for their honeymoon. Many of the guests had also already left and still I had hoped that somehow he would show up.
It was stupid to do so and I knew that very well but that knowledge didn't help much. I smiled sadly at the few couples including Andrew and Stella still on the dance floor slow dancing to a song I hadn't heard before. My heart warmed up as I saw the genuine smiles on their faces while they stared into each other's eyes.
I sighed, picking up the glass of champagne in front of me and swallowing the whole content in one gulp. I didn't know why I expected Darcy to come to the wedding, he had made sure I knew that he didn't want to see me or have anything to do with me, and being at Rose's wedding would have resulted in him and I to be in the same place.
To be honest, it wasn't as if William and Darcy were friends. William had hoped to get into a business with Darcy but that was pretty much where their relationship ended.
Thinking about it, I found myself being embarrassed at the fact that I had pretty much spent most of my time staring at the door of the venue where the wedding reception was taking place in hope that I would catch Darcy walk in.
I kept reminding myself that the only reason why I had so eagerly wanted to see him was simply to thank him. In no particular way was I remotely missing him. Nope not at all. I had wanted to say thank you and that was that.
My shoulders slumped in defeat at the realization that I was pretty much wasting my time waiting. What was happening to me? I had done so well for the past five months but now all of the sudden I was missing him?
No. Absolutely not. I promised I wasn't going to go down that route. I wasn't going to do this to myself. It was done and over with. That part of my life was history that I carefully locked away in a dungeon that should never be revisited.
Then why was I feeling this way? Why did I feel like shedding a few tears to appease my heart.
Not wanting anyone to see what a mess I was, I looked down at my hands while I played with the flower design on my maid of honor dressed that I had personally picked out for the wedding. I shook my head laughing at how pathetic I was.
"May I have this dance with the maid of honor?" I heard from Andrew who was approaching me from the dance floor. I smiled at him...or at least tried as he stood in front of me. I looked around him for a second to see where Stella had gone. Catching my unspoken question he answered with a smile. "She's the one who sent me here."
I nodded, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with him staring down at me from where he was standing. I didn't want his pity, instead I had rather just wanted to sit there and wallow in my own self-pity until everyone had left.
"Come on, let's dance." Andrew was saying as he grabbed my arm and pulled me up and I unwillingly followed him, dragging my feet the whole time like a reluctant teenager.
"Ugh," I groaned. "I don't feel like dancing." My feet were killing me in those heels I hadn't break before wearing today. Lesson learned.
Andrew laughed. "Well too bad cause we are doing it." He retorted, his left hand landed on my back as we started moving to the slow music playing in the background. I sighed and placed my head on his shoulder before closing my eyes.
We fell into a silent that neither of us wanted to break, preferring to just stay in this very moment where nothing had to be said, words swallowed down as it was sure to hang heavy above us the second they came out.
"Darcy?" Annnndddd that was that. At least it was nice while it lasted. I nodded, my head moving on his shoulder as kept my eyes closed. Andrew sighed. "You know he doesn't deserve you right?"
I kept silent and listened to his smooth voice while he spoke directly into my ear. "You deserve way more than what he's offering and I am not talking about money, I'm talking about here." He pulled away for a second so that he could point a finger at my chest.
I could feel my eyes watering and decided that it would be best if I didn't look at him. "Charlotte look at me," with a finger under my chin, he raised my head so that our eyes could meet. He smiled.
"You are going to be ok. You understand? Sooner or later, you'll realize that all that you've been through was meant to help you become the person you are meant to be."
I laughed as I shook my head. He still had his finger underneath my chin to stop me from looking anywhere other than at him. "It doesn't feel that way." My voice broke. We had stopped dancing and were just standing in the middle of the dance floor while the few other people still present moved around us as if we weren't even there.
"I know it doesn't but rest assured that a few months from now, you'll look back at all of this and see that it makes sense." He replied. I finally nodded and gave him a reassuring smile that said, I believe you.
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( Darcy's POV )
From my place in the backseat of the SUV, I watched through the darkly tainted window as Charlotte stood by herself with a smile on her face and waved goodbye to the last people who were finally leaving the wedding venue.
"Sir, should I drive up?" The driver asked, pulling me out of my trance. I took a second as I debated on the subject. I really was tempted to say yes, after all what was the harm in that? But that couldn't possibly happen.
"No, it is quite alright. Stay here for a bit." I answered the gentleman currently occupying the driver seat of the vehicle and then went back to staring at Charlotte's silhouette into the night, Illuminated only by the very few dim lights outside. With both hands resting on her hips, she waited until the last vehicle had left before turning around and making her way back inside.
I had yet to determine the reason of my presence there since I had sworn that I would not set foot anywhere she was present yet there I was. Would that be categorize as spying?
I had an urge, I had to admit. An urge to step out of this vehicle and go after her. But then what? What would I do next? What would happen when she'd turn to face me? Would the rage that had consumed me for the past few month resurface, or would I be taken back to the reason why I had fallen in love it her in the first place?
"Ah, bloody hell." I cussed under my breath as I squeezed my eyes shut before addressing the driver. "Let's get out of here." I told him, pinching my nose as the irritation that was the situation started to build up in me.
I looked towards the venue one last time as we pulled into traffic, Charlotte already long gone inside.
Those were very conflicting times for me as I found myself missing Charlotte terribly, but the second my mind wandered back to what she had done, all my feeling suddenly shifted.
It was best if she and I stayed away from one another as I didn't think I would be able to forgive her for what she had done. She betrayed me, the only person I had let close to my heart. The only woman I had only truly cared for.
I was weak enough to let her in, to open myself up to her and that unfortunately was my mistake.
Would I ever be able to forgive her? Well at this very moment, that was very unlikely to happen but who knew, maybe only time would tell. Maybe when the time came, I would be able to forgive and even forget. To let go and put it past me. But now, now really wasn't that time.
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