A Decade of Misplaced Devotion Chapter 05
Stella was pleasantly surprised, so much so that she didn’t clock the trashed paste.
“What gift are you giving me and Laurent?” she asked eagerly.
I flashed a cryptic grin. “You’ll find out on the wedding day. Oh, and you forgot again. I’m allergic to peanuts.”
The wedding day rolled around fast.
I wore the groomsman getup Laurent had picked out for me, hanging back quietly as he and Stella posed
sweetly for photos.
When the photographer suggested a kissing shot, Laurent played coy. “Hold up. I’m not the groom today.
The real one is over there.”
The photographer followed his finger to me, jaw dropping.
Stella waved it off. “It’s just a picture. Don’t be a stickler, Matteo.”
I shrugged indifferently and gestured for them to proceed. “Do what makes you happy. Don’t mind me.”
I even adjusted their poses to make them look more affectionate.
Stella stared, stunned, but I smiled faintly and strolled off, whistling an upbeat tune. My reaction somehow brought her a gnawing dread that she was losing me for good.
She instinctively wanted to follow me, but Laurent clutched her wrist. “Come on, Stella. The photographer’s waiting.”
His eager puppy-dog eyes won out; she shook off the urge and stayed put.
Half an hour later, the ceremony kicked off on schedule.
Stella glided down the aisle on Laurent’s arm, with me as their officiant. When I flipped open the speech Laurent had handed me pre-ceremony, I realized what his gift was.
It wasn’t a speech after all, but a five-week pregnancy report. The name on it was Stella Stafford.
Annoyed by my silence, she hissed under her breath, “Matteo, why aren’t you speaking? I knew you couldn’t be this generous, letting me and Laurent do the ceremony. I warn you, if you ruin this wedding,
you’ll regret it!”
I laughed, sharp and mocking. “As you wish.”
I grabbed the mic and announced, “Today, we’re not just toasting this happy couple. We’re also
celebrating their upcoming parenthood. Stella, congrats. You’ll be a mom in eight months!”
I passed her the report. She froze, panic flickering in her eyes.
But with all the guests watching, she played it cool and took it. “Yeah, I’m pregnant, but it was an accident. If you love me, you’ll accept everything about me, including the kid. Double celebration today, right? We…”
I cut her off. “Actually, it’s a triple celebration.”
She looked at me in confusion. “Triple?”
I smiled, glancing at the hall doors, which slowly opened. Another bride in white glided in and beamed at
