Chapter 1653
Jamie had no other answer but to agree.
Ben slipped the silver ring onto her finger, its snug fit making it feel as though it was meant to be there, encircling her finger securely. She then took his matching ring and placed it on his finger.
It was only then that Jamie noticed a subtle difference between their rings. The letters engraved on hers were raised, smooth to the touch. But on Ben’s, the letters were etched into the inner band, pressing against the skin. It wouldn’t cause pain, but it was surely uncomfortable.
Jamie paused briefly, staring at the ring with a trace of astonishment.
Ben noticed and extended his hand for her to pull him up. The gesture served as a gentle nudge to snap her out of her thoughts.
“Sorry, I zoned out for a moment,” Jamie whispered apologetically as she leaned closer to him.
Ben, his arm now linked with hers, led her toward their guests to make toasts. “I noticed,” he murmured quietly. It was why he’d reminded her.
Luckily, the brief moment of distraction went unnoticed by most of the guests except for one.
Winnie sat alone at a table tucked in a corner by the window, well-hidden from view. Her positioning allowed her to observe without being noticed, even by the bride and groom. She had been the only one to catch the flicker of astonishment in Jamie’s expression, even from a distance. Winnie knew her sister too well not to recognize that look of disbelief. But there was no need for her to guess what Jamie had seen. She already knew about the special detail in Ben’s ring. She had discovered it long before the wedding began. “Jamie, you really are lucky,” Winnie muttered under her breath, her eyes darkening slightly as she watched her sister. Her voice was soft, barely audible even to herself. Yet there was no jealousy, only a trace of wistful admiration. Raising her glass subtly in Jamie’s direction, she made a small toast of her own, though no one else noticed.
*
After finishing a toast at Nina and
her husband’s table, Jamie paused, sensing something. She glanced around the room as if searching for someone.
Ben noticed her unease and leaned in, lowering his voice. “What’s wrong?”
Jamie looked around for a moment longer but couldn’t pinpoint the source of the feeling. With a touch of disappointment, she lowered her gaze. “I’m not sure. I’ve had this gaze.m strange feeling since earlier, like someone’s been watching us.”
Her words would have sounded like something out of a thriller if not for the festive setting. Who would be watching a newlywed couple like that?
But for some reason, Jamie felt that whoever it was had no ill intent toward her.
Ben straightened, thoughtful. He had an idea who it might be.
Jamie suddenly looked up, her expression sharp with realization. “Do you think it’s Winnie? She said she’d be here.”
Before Ben could respond, Jamie was already making a move to look for her sister.
Ben gently stopped her, his voice low but firm. “There are still so many guests here. Don’t rush off.”
Jamie furrowed her brows, annoyed at herself for forgetting.
“Don’t worry,” Ben reassured her. “I’ll let security know to keep an eye out. They’ll make sure you two can meet.” Relief softened Jamie’s expression.
As long as she could see her sister, nothing else mattered. Her biggest worry was that Winnie might have shown-up, taken one look, and
slipped away without saying a word.
IMS
Knowing that Winnie was at the venue didn’t leave Jamie unaffected. If anything, it brought her an unexpected sense of relief.
Even so, standing beside Ben and hosting so many guests still made her anxious. She felt like a tightly wound spring, ready to snap at any moment.