Chapter 94

The sky glowed with a soft orange light as the sun sank slowly toward the horizon. Warm gold spilled across the clouds, then drifted down to the indigo sea, leaving the water shimmering with ripples of light that looked almost like golden scales.

Dorothea had spent the whole morning catching up on sleep. In the afternoon, Latham came to wake her, nudging her into getting ready. She hadn’t realized until then that the photographer was already on board the yacht. Latham told her they’d be taking some wedding photos out on the deck first.

She slipped into an ivory satin wedding dress that trailed behind her, then stepped out onto the deck. The sea breeze played with her veil, making the tiny crystals sewn into it dance in the wind.

Latham stood beside her, dressed in a sharp black suit. He looked so tall and straight, almost like the mast of the yacht itself. The sunset cast a glow on his face, and his eyes lingered on her with a quiet intensity.

The photographer sized them up, noticing how awkward they seemed together, and started giving directions. “Groom, put your hand around the bride’s lower back p>

Latham did what he was told.

As soon as his hand touched her, Dorothea felt a spark of warmth spread from his fingertips. She straightened her back and tried not to react, but she couldn’t help it.

Latham noticed, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth tilted up just slightly.

“Alright, now turn your back to me,” the photographer said.

At that moment, a flock of seagulls swept across the pink sky. The photographer’s camera clicked again and again, capturing every moment.

“Good, now change positions. Bride, keep facing away. Groom, turn sideways toward the bride,” the photographer called out, still snapping away.

Latham’s eyes reflected Dorothea’s silhouette, delicate and perfect. The seagulls framed them in the background.

For a second, he forgot about the camera, forgot about the world. His gaze drifted down to Dorothea’s lips, soft and pink. Without thinking, he leaned in and pressed the gentlest kiss to the corner of her mouth.

It wasn’t passionate, but it was full of quiet tenderness.

The evening breeze picked up, catching her veil and making the crystals and sequins sparkle along with the sunlight on the waves. The photographer kept clicking. “That’s it. Perfect p>

He could tell the couple was finally loosening up.

They didn’t stop until the sun had disappeared beneath the horizon, and only then did the photographer reluctantly call it a day.

“Alright, that’s a wrap for today p>

Dorothea turned around with a bright smile. “Can I see the photos? I want to pick one for Twitter p>

Latham’s eyebrows shot up, surprise flickering in his dark eyes. Was she really going to announce their relationship?

But her excitement faded almost instantly. She scrolled through the photos and picked one of herself standing with the seagulls.

He wasn’t even in the picture.

Latham watched her zoom in on her phone, treating the photo like it was some rare treasure. He couldn’t help himself. “Do you like it p>

“It’s really nice,” she said, grinning.

He smirked. “You like taking wedding photos alone p>

Dorothea went quiet, not saying a word.

He leaned in, teasing, “Dorothea, if you post that, my dad will be heartbroken p>

In the end, Latham looked so put out that Dorothea agreed to post a photo of the two of them together. Even then, though, the only part of him in the picture was his back.

Latham and Dorothea spent the next few days shooting in three different locations, from snowy mountains to the seaside Every photo made the photographer feel like he’d strack gold. It had been ages since he’d taken such beautiful wedding pictures. Of course, it helped that these two looked amazing together.

Not everyone was having such a great time, though.

“Albert, why is there a typhoon now? The weather was perfect yesterday!” Carola grumbled.

Albert and Carola were stuck in their

Ine

hotel room. He just smiled and shrugged. “Don’t worry. Think of it as a break. The forecast says will clear a up the day after tomorrow.

But the worst part was that the storm knocked out the hotel’s power for half the day it was supposed to be a seven star hotel, but ever that didn’t save them from a blackout. Just their luck.

Albert checked his phone, which was almost out of battery. Carmen had forwarded a post on Twitter. He tapped on the picture to get a closer look and his expression turned cold.

Dorothea was there in her wedding dress, beaming at the camera. Next to her stood a man, his back turned.