Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 478: That’s Marriage

Mari turned towards Candace and held out the microphone.

“Our final married queen.”

“At long last!” Candace said as she accepted the mic.

Everyone chuckled.

“The pressure is real to sound as wise as everyone else,” Candace said, making them laugh harder.

Candace looked at Genevieve.

“I will start by saying congratulations. Because unlike me, you’re the first one getting married in your circle. That means you won’t have to worry about being the last to give speeches,” she said, and they all hollered with laughter.

“Candy, you’re supposed to be advising the bride, not cracking us up,” Sonia said, giggling.

“I can’t help that I have to resort to comedy because you’ve all said what I want to say,” she said, and the laughter increased.

“Anyway,” she said, looking at Genevieve thoughtfully. “I’ll simply tell you something Matt taught me.”

The room quietened.

Genevieve looked at her and smiled gently, trying her best to focus on what was being said.

“Marriage isn’t made up of grand romantic moments every single day. Most days are ordinary. Some mornings one of you will wake up tired and needing space. Some days you’ll both be busy. Some weeks life won’t be exciting. But every day you wake up, choose each other again.”

Genevieve listened quietly.

“Don’t wait until you feel deeply in love before showing love. Sometimes the feeling comes because you chose to love first. And don’t keep score. If you’re always counting who apologised last, who sacrificed more, or who gave more, it does no good for your relationship. It only builds resentment.”

Several of the married women nodded.

Genevieve tilted her head slightly.

Candace smiled. “You both might not be able to give equal energy to your relationship all the time. But you can both help each other make up for it. There will be days you’ll carry Stefan. And there will be days he’ll carry you. That’s marriage.”

“You captured it all so perfectly,” Jade said as the room filled with applause.

“So much for not knowing what to say,” Sonia teased, and Candace laughed softly as she handed the microphone back to Mari.

Mari clapped her hands excitedly.

“Now…” She pointed dramatically towards the beautifully decorated gift table.

“My favourite part.”

Cheers erupted around the room.

Emily and Dawn carried the wrapped presents to the centre table before stepping back.

Mari grinned. “Every single gift is anonymous.”

Genevieve blinked. “No names?”

“No names,” Mari confirmed.

“You have to guess who bought each gift when you see the content.”

Genevieve laughed. “And if I’m wrong?”

Mari folded her arms. “We retrieve the gift and keep it for the next bride.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Genevieve shook her head. “I walked right into that.”

Knowing that she wouldn’t enjoy this session until she satisfied her curiosity, she smiled apologetically.

“I’m sorry. Can I use the restroom for a minute before we proceed?”

Mari gave an exaggerated nod.

“Our bride has requested a short intermission.”

“I’ll be right back,” Genevieve said as she picked up her phone before quietly slipping out of the drawing room.

The moment she entered the guest bathroom, she locked the door behind her, then reached into her handbag and quickly pulled out her phone.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened the Flo app.

Then her calendar appeared.

Genevieve stared at the screen.

Her heart skipped.

Period overdue: 18 days.

Her hand flew to her mouth.

“Oh…”

She quickly scrolled backwards to see when her period had been due.

She had been supposed to start her period while she was in West End.

Memory after memory came rushing back.

She remembered packing her tampons before leaving Ludus with Ryan’s ashes.

She remembered feeling bloated that morning of the explosion and thinking her period was about to start because of the cramps.

That had been the reason she went to the hotel gym hoping the exercise would help.

From then on, Stefan had arrived and it had been a roller coaster of emotions.

Everything had happened so quickly that she had completely forgotten.

Tears gathered in her eyes. “Oh, my God! I’m pregnant.”

A knock suddenly sounded on the door.

Genevieve jumped.

“Genny?”

It was Dawn.

“Are you alright? You seemed distracted earlier. Is something wrong?”

Genevieve quickly wiped her eyes before unlocking the door.

Dawn stepped inside.

The moment she saw Genevieve’s face, concern filled her eyes.

“What happened?”

Genevieve looked at her for a long moment.

Then she whispered, “I think…” Her voice shook. “I think I might be pregnant.”

For a heartbeat, Dawn simply stared.

Then the biggest smile spread across her face. “I thought as much.”

Genevieve blinked. “You did?”

Dawn nodded and smiled knowingly. “The moment Sonia joked about it, you completely zoned out. And you quietly pushed your wine away.”

Genevieve laughed through her tears. “How are you so observant?”

“I have to look out for you and make sure you’re okay,” Dawn said, then stepped forward and wrapped her in a tight hug.

“Oh, Genny…”

Genevieve hugged her back tightly. “I’m not sure yet.”

She pulled back and held up her phone.

“I only came in here to check my Flo app.” She swallowed. “I’ve missed my period by over two weeks.”

Dawn’s eyes dropped to Genevieve’s phone. “Oh…”

“Yeah. I still need to take a pregnancy test.”

“Of course.” Dawn nodded immediately. “We’ll stop and buy a test strip on our way home.”

Genevieve smiled nervously. “What if I’m wrong?”

Dawn smiled warmly. “And what if you’re right?”

Genevieve let out a shaky laugh. “I don’t even know how to feel.”

“I do.”

Dawn squeezed both her hands. “I’m excited enough for both of us. And I’m sure Stefan will be excited enough for the whole world.”

Genevieve laughed again. “You can’t tell anyone.”

Dawn nodded without hesitation.

“Not a soul. I want to be sure first. Then I’ll tell Stefan, and maybe we can tell everyone after our honeymoon.”

Dawn clasped both hands over her heart. “I wish I could be a fly on the wall when you tell him.”

Genevieve laughed happily. “He’s probably going to cry.”

The two women laughed and hugged once more before finally pulling apart.

Dawn grinned. “Come on. We have to get back there before everyone comes to find out why the bride disappeared.”

Genevieve laughed softly, took one last deep breath, and nodded.

“We have to act normal.”

“Normal,” Dawn repeated, and they both giggled as they left the bathroom together and headed back towards the laughter waiting for them in the drawing room.