Silence Reveals Hidden Answers’ by Michael Anderson novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Jennifer Marie.

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The wedding is set at the most insane beach I’ve ever seen. Like, movie-perfect. White sand so clean it glitters, water so blue it looks fake. There’s a whole runway from the main venue to the ceremony spot, lined with reporters and flashing cameras, held back by a wall of serious-looking security. I’m hanging back, waiting for my cue to go find my seat once Nisha starts her walk.

Baxter’s already at the altar, looking… weirdly calm? Like he’s just waiting for a bus, not to get married. I haven’t seen Harvey yet, and just as I think it, he walks in.

My breath catches a little. No, a lot.

The camera flashes go crazy for a second, lighting him up like a celebrity. And he looks… so freaking handsome. I did his hair, pulling it back from his face into a bun like I suggested, though a few dark curls have escaped already (probably from when he pulled me into his lap earlier and I completely lost focus).

I put him in a lilac shirt to match his stupidly dark eyes, kept the fit lean and rugged because that’s his vibe. He’s even got a tiny flower in his pocket and these dark sunglasses on.

I’m so busy staring I don’t realize he’s right in front of me until he takes the glasses off.

“I know I’m handsome. Shall we?” he does that slow smirk making my stomach flip.

I scoff, trying to play it cool. “No, you go in first….oh wait!” Alexa gives me the sharp nod that says Nisha’s train is starting its journey. “Yes, we shall.”

I take his hand, but instead of walking, he makes me do a little twirl first, his eyes doing a slow sweep of my dress.

It’s nothing special. Just a simple ivory silk gown with a cross neckline and skinny heels. My hair was in a neat bun, but it’s come loose into something messier. Harvey’s looking at me like he’s never seen me before, and my cheeks get warm.

We walk down the aisle together, hands linked. I see Beatrice smile warmly from her seat, and then I see Winny roll her eyes in her fussy red dress. Typical. We slide into our seats, and a second later, Jenna and her brother Reign take the seats right next to us.

Jenna gives me a sweet smile. I note her dress….blue with black fur trim. Rich kids wear fur to beach weddings? I guess so.

The whole crowd is like a who’s who of global fancy people. Baxter’s just standing there, staring into the distance like a statue. You’d think he was an actual eager groom, but there’s zero nervous energy.

The priest takes his place later on. Reign, who is sitting way too close to me, checks his watch like he’s bored

out of his mind.

This morning, Harvey texted me to make sure my bags were packed for New York because, according to him, we’re leaving immediately after the ceremony. And get this…I actually saw a private jet land on the far lawn near the groom’s side this morning. Just parked there waitin

12:41 Wed, Feb 4 M…

Chapter 38

“You wanna see something funny?” Reign murmurs to me.

I glance at him. “What?”

“You’ll see.” he says.

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Immediately Harvey hear him speak, his hand covers mine on my own lap, then he lifts it and places it firmly on his thigh, holding it there.

The music swells and that signals Nisha’s entrance. Her dress is a masterpiece, of course. Everyone online is already losing their minds over De Claire’s design…well, my design as stylist. I pull out my phone to take a video and it’s easier to focus on the dress, not the woman in it.

Her father hands her off to Baxter, and the ceremony rolls into the vows. I glance at Harvey. He looks profoundly bored, and I’m not gonna lie…he looks really pretty when he’s bored. My mind’s been spinning all morning. Thinking about just me and him on that private jet.

I like his idea of a date, really, but a private jet is… it’s crazy. The things we could do with that kind of privacy…

I clear my throat, forcing my eyes back to the altar. Can you stop thinking such dirty things, Jennifer? He’s probably planning the most romantic date, and I’m over here staining it with my imagination.

Nisha says her vows into the mic and pretends that her voice is trembling a little. Baxter follows. The priest starts the final pronouncements, and that’s when there is a sudden flutter up in the sky, then a rush. Hundreds of pieces of paper come raining down from the sky, swirling in the sea breeze, littering the pristine white sand and landing on guests. One flutters right to my feet.

I look at everyone first who has decided to pick it up before I do myself. It’s some kind of… contract.

As soon as my eyes scan the first few lines, a collective gasp passes through the crowd. More papers land near the altar. Nisha bends to pick one up and her face pales! Baxter stares at his feet.

I read faster and figure that it’s a cold, legal agreement. A contract for a marriage of convenience. Nisha is to be married to Baxter for a term to be decided by him. Upon divorce decided by Baxter, she receives a specified sum. No questions asked.

The gasps turn into murmurs, then shouts. People are on their feet, pointing, talking over each other.

“Now it’s funny.” I hear Reign say quietly beside me, a smirk in his voice. I shoot him a glare.

I look at Harvey. His bored expression is gone. Baxter is looking around wildly, like a trapped animal, unsure who did this or why.

He doesn’t have time to figure it out. Francis Prescott is already storming down the aisle with the face a thundercloud. He grabs Baxter by the front of his white suit and hauls him close. I can’t hear the words over the din, but the fury is plain. Winny staggers to her feet, a hand clapped over her mouth and her eyes are actually wider than I’ve ever seen.

Emily rushes over to us. “Their relationship was fake?” she asks Harvey. “That’s what the paper says…”

Both families are converging opinions in anger and humiliation.

12:41 Wed, Feb 4 M.

Chapter 38

“Are you insane!?”

“Dad-”

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“The press is outside! I have guests from all over the world for a sham!?” Spittle flies from his mouth.

“Dad, please!” Baxter pleads, but Winny is there now, tugging at Francis’s arm, trying to whisper. She’s trying to contain the scandal that’s already exploded.

“Why did you do this!? You’ve always been a good boy!” Winny hisses.

Francis shoves a hand through his hair and looks around to the bewildered priest, the crying bride, the messed-up area and whatever else. His gaze sweeps over it all, and when it lands back on Baxter, it’s hard.

He looks at the priest. “Continue the ceremony.”

“You want to get married, don’t you?” Francis says to Baxter. “Then get married. And if you divorce, you won’t get a penny from me for the rest of your life. So walk out of here now and know that, or marry her for that damned inheritance you did all this for. But you won’t be divorcing. Ever. You understand me?”

Colliding whispers crashes over the guests. Wait, what?

“Five minutes. You have five minutes to make a decision. Both of you.”

Francis Prescott returns to his seat. Baxter’s mother flutters around him to snap him out of it but her son looks gutted. The entire beach has everyone holding their breath, watching to see what broken piece of this wedding will happen next.

And in the middle of it all, I see Harvey. He’s calmly making a phone call, his back slightly turned, as if the scandal exploding around him is just background noise.

While I’m trying to process the chaos, Reign gets up and steps directly into my line of sight.

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