Wedding Night Tears: A Pregnant Bride Marrying into High Society

Chapter 5: She was the first woman who graced the halls of his villa

At a festive wedding reception, Maximus's friend, Sebastian Palmer, almost choked on his bubbly, "Puff— cough, cough, cough..."

A frown decorated Maximus's brow, "Speak forthrightly!"Sebastian managed a few more coughs before managing an incredulous query, "B-Big brother, you're not genuinely considering betrothing a woman of Scarlett's ilk, are you?"

Maximus's aristocratic features frosted over, "Scarlett's ilk? And just what ilk would that be? Clarify!"Sebastian found himself tongue-tied, "B-Big brother, were you deaf to all the clatter about Scarlett at the wedding?

She leads a life marred by scandal. You, choosing to wed her, appears to be a voluntary invitation to public mockery. Frankly speaking, you should have opted for Celeste—her reputation splendidly eclipses Scarlett's!"Maximus retorted without an ounce of hesitation, "She's far removed from their scandalous whispers.

"On the offensive, Sebastian probed, "And how can you be so certain?"Maximus: "It was evident in our kiss."

Sebastian: "..." Quite uncharacteristically, he found himself at a loss for words."If you truly desire to consummate your marriage, it's not an impossibility. As long as you're gentle. It's advisable to practice restraint in the initial and final trimesters. As for the rest, it's contingent on your judgement."

Maximus responded with an aloof hum, pausing momentarily as if recalling something crucial, he added, "About the precautions to be taken during her gravidity, make sure you list them down for me."Sebastian: "Whoa, bro, can’t you conduct an online search?!"Maximus: "Online information can often be misleadingly diverse in its accuracy. Given your medical expertise, you surpass the reliability of any online source.""But I'm but a general surgeon - not an obstetrician and gynecologist!"

"Does being a surgeon negate your medical prowess? Ensuring the precautions are listed by tonight, else, consider your medical licensure forfeit.""Darn, that's cold even for you, bro!"

However, before Sebastian Palmer could finish his rant, Maximus ended the call abruptly.Having taken an invigorating shower, Maximus emerged from the bathroom, clad in a luxurious black bathrobe.

He glanced towards the expansive bed and discovered his petite wife already lost in slumber.She laid nestled against the cushion, cocooned in a blanket, her form curled protectively.As she slumbered, a troubled frown marred her brows, and her delicate lashes flickered - akin to a disillusioned butterfly fluttering its wings in a silent plea for a hopeless oblivion.

A pang of unknown emotion twinged Maximus's heart as he found himself gravitating towards the bed. Just as he was about to reach out, the woman on the bed startled him with a sudden outburst, "No, don't harm my child, please..."Pausing at the edge of the bed, Maximus's lips pressed into a thin line. After a moment's contemplation, he decided to soothe his terrified wife and laid down.

Yet before he could extend his arm, Scarlett tightly clung onto his waist, her voice tinged with teary elation, "My baby, my child... I feel like I'm finally holding onto you..."Maximus: "..."If not for her closed eyes, he would have assumed this to be a part of her playful charade.Suddenly, Scarlett, still with her eyes closed, bent down to plant a tender kiss on his forehead.

The velvety contact, paired with her soft breathy exhale, was irresistibly enchanting."Baby, I love you..."Maximus's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily as he held a fixated stare at her delicate face and her enticing petite lips, his eyes an unfathomable abyss...

There in the seclusion of the bridal suite, the newlyweds were immersed in slumber, the excited clamor of the banquet hall beyond their consciousness.

After all, with the bride being switched in such a nonchalantly cavalier fashion, no one could remain undisturbed.

In particular, the Harrisons and Mitchells - they wore expressions of profound bewilderment, the entire proceedings leaving them flummoxed. Coupled with quizzical glances darting from the guests, it was as though their dignity was dangling by a thread, any semblance of respect seemingly distant.

Celeste Mitchell, unable to digest the unnerving reality of being abandoned, had resorted to a disheartened sobbing seated collapse.

Wishing to delve into the chaotic happenings, Ronald and Patricia Mitchell chose to withhold their inquiries, the sight of Celeste's debilitating sobs prompting their reluctant silence. Their questions, shrouded within the recesses of their hearts, grew heavier.

Presently, their eldest daughter, in a state of expectancy, was whisked away into the matrimonial suite by the young Harrison heir - their comprehension of the situation sagged in looming shadows.

Of prime importance, they dared not partake in traditional bridal chamber pranks, for fear of uncovering a sequence quite against norms— a slight mishap was trivial, but the potential scandal searing tomorrow's headlines engendered their unease.

Once the assembly of guests dispersed, leaving the Harrisons and Mitchells locked in awkward silence, they exchanged perplexed glances.

Moira Harrison narrowed her eyes in veiled frustration, "What was the agenda of this spectacle? Unless we receive a satisfactory explanation from the Mitchells today, consider this alliance reneged!"

Entangled in a web of confusion themselves, Ronald and the other Mitchells instinctively turned their hopes towards the seemingly enlightened Celeste.

"I, I..."

Every gaze sharply tunneled towards Celeste. The escalating pressure churned a whirlwind within her disordered cognition, she was thrust into stuttering for a plausible alibi. Ultimately, she found solace in feigning unconsciousness, conveniently collapsing into Patricia Mitchell's waiting embrace.

"Celeste!" Patricia Mitchell reacted swiftly, wrapping her arms around Celeste. Then turning towards Moira Harrison and expressing her guilt sense, "I apologize profoundly, Mrs. Harrison. The incident today is undeniably a fault on the Mitchell family's side. Now that my daughter has fainted, I must rush her to the hospital. Once she's conscious, we'll visit the Harrison's to provide a proper explanation."

Ronald Mitchell affirmed with a nod, "Next time, we will most certainly render a personal apology."

Watching the unconscious Celeste, Moira Harrison's furrowed eyebrows echoed her worry. But with no other words required, she gestured them on, "Do proceed."

Swiftly, Ronald Mitchell, along with Patricia Mitchell, escorted Celeste out of the marital hall towards the hospital. And thus, the wedding, bordering on the absurd, culminated.

Celeste woke up relatively quickly once she was taken to the hospital by Ronald and Patricia Mitchell. Captured by a homebound desire, she dismissed check-ups insisting fervently on returning home.

She was aware there was nothing pernicious ailing her, and an examination would serve no real diagnostic purpose.

Patricia Mitchell, her expression gravity-stricken, inquired with firm resolve, "Celeste, explain to your mother, what exactly transpired in your alliance with Maximus today?"

Ronald Mitchell, his forehead creased in a frown, interrogated her further, "And didn’t you assert earlier that the illegitimate child your sister is carrying is the result of a dalliance with an unknown man from the club? How in the world has it come to be harvested by Maximus?"

Casting her eyes upon her dubious-looking parents—Ronald and Patricia Mitchell, Celeste's heart fluttered an anxious beat.

Quick to recover, she bowed her head. Her tears rained down incessantly as she whispered, "I... I have no knowledge... I was merely echoing the gossip that reached my ears..."

Ronald Mitchell didn’t relent, "But why was it that Maximus desired to marry you initially and not your sister?"

Her response came slowly, "I don’t know... Perhaps, Maximus mistook me for my sister owing to our striking resemblance."

An undeniable resemblance—around 50-60% similarity—existed between Celeste Mitchell and Scarlett Mitchell. This resemblance was the initial impetus that prompted the Mitchell family to adopt Celeste in Scarlett's stead.

Upon hearing Celeste's side of the story, Patricia and Ronald Mitchell couldn't suppress a certain level of incredulity. However, deep down, they couldn't find it in their hearts to question their ever-obedient and exceptional Celeste—the girl they had raised since her early childhood.

In contrast, Scarlett, after her unexpected return, had precipitated a series of disappointments—one prominent instance was her abrupt pregnancy. This unexpected turn of events had inflicted irrevocable damage on their hearts, extinguishing any lingering trust in her.

Even though they were now aware that the unborn child Scarlett was carrying did belong to Maximus, the inflicted harm was irreversible and it remained challenging for them to view Scarlett with the earlier affection.

Sensing that her parents, Patricia and Ronald Mitchell, were almost convinced, Celeste maintained a contemplative silence for a spell, before eruptions of sorrow pervaded her.

"Mum, Dad, I'm devoured by profound sadness. Why did Scarlett confess, at my wedding to Maximus, that her unborn child was his? Why couldn't she have disclosed this distressing truth a bit sooner? Now that everyone knows that Maximus abandoned me at our wedding, how am I to salvage my dignity and face everyone?"