“Aren’t you supposed to know who you’re marrying? Why are you still asking?” Aleandra teased.
Issac fell silent. Her words sounded firm, despite the slight tremor in her voice. Aleandra did her best to appear calm, though it was difficult with Issac constantly pressing her until, without realizing it, his actions eroded the distance between them.
Aleandra even glared sharply at Issac, but he could clearly see that the eyes staring at him were trembling.
The man snorted, one corner of his mouth lifting into a smirk.
“I’m only asking. You just have to answer. Don’t beat around the bush,” he said. “Are you that girl? Aleandra?”
For a few moments, silence filled the room. No answer came from Aleandra’s lips. Issac remained waiting too, though the trembling in his chest made him impatient. Finally, Issac loosened his grip slightly because he knew the woman before him was holding back her fear.
“Yes, I am the woman you mean.”
The words slipped from Aleandra’s lips just like that, leaving the atmosphere silent.
The man before her seemed to lose the ability to breathe. His eyes widened perfectly as he stared at the woman in clear shock.
“What?”
The woman swallowed. This time, her voice was quieter, but firm.
“I … I’m Aleandra.”
Issac remained silent. His gaze moved over the woman’s face, as if making sure he hadn’t heard wrong. All this time, he had been certain that the woman before him was her twin sister. This wedding was supposed to be something entirely different.
But now, the woman herself had admitted it.
Without warning, the man released his grip and reached for the back of Aleandra’s head. His lips immediately met hers in a kiss overflowing with emotion.
Aleandra flinched.
Her eyes widened in shock. Her hands instinctively gripped the front of the man’s clothes, not because she wanted to kiss him back, but because her body hadn’t had time to process what had just happened.
After all, the man was now her husband.
But even so, his sudden action made her heart race wildly.
A few moments later, the man broke the kiss. They both fell silent, breathing heavily.
The man stared intently at her face. But this time, there was no longer any suspicion in his gaze.
His hand rose. His fingers gently touched the woman’s cheek. The touch left her stunned once again.
It was completely different from moments ago, when the man had gripped her arm hard as though demanding an answer.
Now, his touch was exceptionally careful. As if the woman before him were something incredibly precious.
“Finally,” he whispered.
Aleandra frowned.
“Finally what?”
The man smiled faintly. Deep relief showed on his face.
“Finally, I have the woman I’ve wanted all this time.”
Aleandra grew even more confused.
“The woman I’ve wanted all this time, the one I could only watch from a distance.”
Aleandra fell silent, her chest tight with confusion.
All this time, she had thought the man would be furious if he learned the truth. She thought he wanted her twin sister. She had even prepared herself for the worst possible outcome when her identity was exposed.
But Issac’s reaction was the exact opposite of everything she had imagined.
“You.” The woman stared at him in disbelief. “What exactly are you talking about?”
The man stroked her cheek once more.
“You think I didn’t recognize you?”
Aleandra froze. The man moved a little closer, then said in a low voice,
“For years, I’ve watched you. From a distance. Never daring to approach.”
“Why?”
“Because even then, I knew I couldn’t simply have someone like you.”