The-Wrong-Bride-Ares--Raven’s-story-(Maura,-Catharina)_bibis

your marriage. Spend time together, get to know each other on a different level. Soon, the entire world
will find out about you, and the pressure will add some additional strain to your marriage. Spend
some quality time together before all that weighs you down.”
Raven and I both nod, though neither of us does it with conviction. I can’t help but wonder what
she’s thinking. I have no idea what a marriage between us would look like, and I’m not sure what she
wants, what she expects. I don’t know where I stand with Hannah, either. Everything is a fucking
mess, and Raven is caught in the middle of it.
“Carry your bride in the way you should,” Grandma orders when the car stops in front of my
home.
I nod obediently and step out of the car, my eyes locking with Raven’s as I bend down and reach
for her. She looks reluctant and scared, and I hate that I’ve put that look in her eyes. I hate that she
was forced to do this at all.
I wrap one arm around her waist and the other underneath her knees as I lift her into my arms.
Raven gasps, her arms finding their way around my neck.
“Ares!” She looks at me, and the expression in her beautiful hazel eyes stops me in my tracks.
“You don’t have to do this.” She sounds hurt, broken. Today might be hard on me, but it’s just as hard
on her. We both lost a lot today.
“You heard Grandma,” I tell her, my voice soft. “Besides, the staff will all be watching us.”
As if on cue, Donna, my housekeeper, appears at the door. She keeps her gaze trained on the floor,
but her curiosity is palpable. Our household staff was all expecting Hannah. I know they won’t say a
word about it, but it still feels unsettling.
I carry Raven into the house, my heart aching as I walk toward the living room with her in my
arms. I can feel her gaze on me, but I can’t bear facing her. She has no idea how many times I’ve
imagined carrying in her sister this way… but if I want to do right by her, I need to ensure she’s never
reminded of that.