Jack was already awake, sitting at the edge of the bed, his back to her, shoulders hunched slightly as if he carried the weight of the world. His hands were clasped together, elbows resting on his knees. He stared at the floor as though searching for answers in the intricate patterns of the carpet. Neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, tension crackling like static electricity. The night before felt like a chasm, something had shifted, something irreversible. Elsa had tried to bury it, to pretend it hadn't happened, but she could feel it in every inch of her.
Jack, too, felt the change. He clenched his fists briefly, inhaling deeply to steady himself. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions, memories, and desires he didn't dare put into words. He turned his gaze toward the sliver of light seeping through the curtains, his heart aching in a way he hadn't thought possible. How had he gotten here? To this place where every second spent with her felt like both a gift and a curse? He felt like he was walking on a tightrope, balancing between hope and despair, between love and the inevitability of her slipping away.
"Please," he whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. He wasn't sure who he was pleading with...God, the universe, fate, or himself. "Please let me have this. Let me have her, even if it's just for now. I'll take whatever you give me. Just…don't let her leave me. Change her mind and let me live. Have some mercy, I beg you!"
The rawness of his own voice startled him. He hadn't prayed in years, hadn't believed in anything other than the cold, harsh realities of life. But for her, for Elsa, he would believe in anything. He would give anything. His chest tightened, and he swallowed hard, his throat dry. The thought of losing her, whether to her own fears, to the weight of her family's expectations, or to something else entirely...was unbearable. She was his lifeline, his anchor in a world that had always felt too cold, too distant.
He stood slowly, his movements deliberate, as though the effort of holding himself together required every ounce of strength he had. Walking toward the window, he pulled the curtain aside slightly, staring out at the gray morning sky. The faint light reflected off the frost-covered grass, painting the world in muted shades of silver and white. It was beautiful, but it felt empty. Everything did.
Jack's fingers tightened around the curtain, his jaw clenching. "God, if you're listening, if you even care...don't let me mess this up. Don't let me lose her. I'll do anything. Just let me stay close to her. Let me love her the way she deserves, even if she never loves me back."
Soon, Elsa woke to the faint light streaming through the curtains, her chest tight with the weight of the day ahead. The muted glow was a stark contrast to the storm raging inside her. She could feel it, like a tempest brewing on the horizon, just waiting for the right moment to unleash. The wedding, the family, the expectations, all of it loomed in the distance, pressing down on her. And Jack. Jack. His presence, his silence, was like a constant hum in the back of her mind, ever-present yet maddeningly out of reach.
She slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake him, though she knew he was already awake. The soft rustle of the sheets was the only sound, a minor disturbance in the otherwise heavy silence. She glanced at him briefly, but his face was unreadable, like a closed book. There had been a time when she could read him easily, could sense his thoughts with just a glance. But now? Now he felt like a stranger, someone just out of reach.
She retreated to the bathroom, her footsteps almost inaudible on the floor. The coldness of the tile beneath her feet felt sharp against the heat in her chest, the tightness in her throat. She washed her face, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were tired, the weight of the day already sinking in, pulling her down. She didn't know how to fix this, didn't know how to fix what had been broken between them. And she didn't want to.
As Elsa dried her face, she knew she couldn't avoid the inevitable. She picked up the dress laid out on the vanity. The soft fabric of the emerald gown felt like a reminder of what they were supposed to be. The gown fit her like it was made for her, every curve, every detail perfect. The deep green complemented her pale skin and platinum hair, accentuating the delicate yet powerful elegance she always carried. The soft silk swirled around her legs as she stepped into it, and for a moment, it almost made her feel like everything was okay. But it didn't last long.
She carefully slipped on the diamond earrings Jack had given her. The heavy, cool stones felt like a weight against her neck, a reminder of the life they were pretending to live. Their dazzling light glinted in the bathroom mirror, catching her reflection. The earrings were beautiful, stunning even, but they felt wrong. They symbolized something slipping through her fingers, something lost in the undercurrent of emotions swirling inside her.
She adjusted the fine gold bracelet around her wrist, her fingers lingering on the matching necklace Jack had chosen for her. The delicate diamond pendant rested just above her collarbone. The gold caught the light as she moved, and for a second, she closed her eyes, imagining a simpler time, before everything had become so complicated. Before things had gotten so heavy.
The realization hit her hard. With a quick exhale, she finished preparing herself, smoothing the fabric of the gown as she walked back into the bedroom. Jack was already dressed.
He looked impeccable in his tailored navy tuxedo. The jacket fit him like it was made for him, the sharp lines accentuating his lean frame. His black dress shirt gleamed beneath the suit, the satin collar catching the morning light. His tie, a deep midnight blue, was a nod to his usual understated elegance. The platinum cufflinks at his wrists gleamed, silent witnesses to the carefully crafted persona he wore.
But it wasn't just the clothing that caught Elsa's attention, it was the way he wore it. The smooth, confident way he adjusted his cufflinks, the gleam of his black dress shoes, the casual flick of his hair into place. Jack had always exuded effortless grace, as if he belonged in this world of luxury and sophistication.
Still, there was a coldness about him now. The mask was in place, but beneath it, there was something fragile, something hidden deep within.
He looked at her briefly, his gaze lingering just a little too long, as though he were searching for something he couldn't quite find. Elsa caught her breath, feeling the weight of his stare on her skin, but she couldn't allow herself to feel anything beyond the distance between them.
"You look stunning," Jack said softly, his voice low and sincere. It was a compliment, but it was more than that...it was an apology wrapped in something else, something he didn't know how to express.
Elsa blinked, caught off guard. Her breath hitched, her heart racing despite herself. She wasn't prepared for this...for his words, his voice, the way he still seemed to see her, even through the wall she had built between them. She swallowed hard, pushing the feelings aside. "Thank you," she replied, her voice soft, betraying none of the turmoil inside.
Jack offered his arm. She hesitated for a moment, unsure, but then she took it. Her fingers grazed his, and a jolt of warmth shot through her. It was unwelcome, yet undeniable. She stepped forward, trying to ignore the emotions stirring in her stomach.
As they stepped into the hallway, Elsa couldn't help but notice how his tuxedo complemented her gown. His dark suit contrasted with the soft shimmer of her emerald dress. They made the perfect pair, an image of sophistication. But it didn't matter anymore.
As they settled into the backseat of the Rolls-Royce, the tension was palpable. Elsa stared out the window, her mind racing, while Jack sat rigid beside her, his hands resting on his knees.
Sebastian, ever the observant chauffeur, adjusted the rearview mirror to glance at them. The corners of his mouth twitched into a grin. "Well, don't you two look like royalty this morning," he quipped, his deep voice cutting through the silence.
Neither Elsa nor Jack responded, their minds too preoccupied to engage.
Unbothered, Sebastian pressed on, his tone light and conversational. "You know, one time Allie and I went to her cousin's wedding. We'd had a bit of a spat the night before, over something ridiculous, of course. I think it was about whether this actor was hot or not. Can you believe that?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "Anyway, there we were, sitting in silence and wouldn't you know it, we ended up being the stars of the dance floor that night. Allie's got these moves, you see. Makes me look like a fool, but I don't mind. Anything to see her smile."
Jack glanced out of the corner of his eye at Elsa, who remained silent, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery.
Sebastian, undeterred, continued. "Speaking of weddings, you two ever hear the story of how I proposed to Allie? Now that's a tale. I planned this whole elaborate picnic by our favorite lake. But wouldn't you know it, a flock of geese decided to crash the party. Scared the living daylights out of her when they started honking and flapping everywhere. She still said yes, though. Bless her heart."
Jack's lips twitched faintly, but he quickly suppressed the smile.
Sebastian sighed dramatically. "Ah, young love. It's a beautiful thing, isn't it? Makes all the chaos worthwhile."
Jack finally broke the silence, his voice dry but tinged with affection. "Just drive, Loki."
Sebastian let out a hearty laugh, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright."
Jack shook his head, leaning back in his seat. His hand brushed against Elsa's, and though she didn't move away, she didn't respond either. He wanted to reach for her, to hold her, to tell her everything he'd whispered to the morning sky. But instead, he stayed quiet, his heart pounding with words he wasn't ready to say.
The minutes ticked by in the car, each one heavier than the last. Elsa's heart raced as she stared out of the window, watching the world blur by, lost in her own thoughts. Every time she felt Jack's gaze on her, her chest tightened. It wasn't the usual warmth of affection; it was something colder, more distant, like a silent plea for her to say something...anything. But she couldn't bring herself to speak. She couldn't break the silence without risking everything.
Finally, she turned her head, catching his eyes for just a brief moment. The way he was looking at her, so intense, yet so unreadable, stirred something deep inside her. A part of her wanted to reach out to him, to pull him close and ease the tension that hung between them. But another part, the part that had learned to guard herself, pulled back. She swallowed hard, her mind twisting into knots. She wanted to leave, to protect him from the pain her presence might cause. But her heart clung desperately to him, terrified of what leaving would mean.
"Jack," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine. "What happens when we get there?"
He didn't answer immediately. His jaw tightened, his fingers resting stiffly on the armrest. He could feel the weight of her question in his chest, pressing down on him. The truth was, he didn't know. He didn't know what would happen when they arrived.
"We'll do what we have to do," he said finally, his voice flat, his eyes still locked on her profile. There was an edge to his words, a coldness that wasn't there before. It wasn't that he didn't care, he did, more than anything. But the hurt, the betrayal that was simmering beneath the surface, was becoming too much to ignore.
Elsa glanced at him, her heart aching at the stoic expression he wore. His face was like stone, unreadable, as though the man she had come to know so well had vanished beneath the weight of unspoken emotions. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, wanted to break through the wall he'd built around himself. Even when she knew. She was afraid of the answer. Afraid of what might happen if she pushed him too far.
"I don't know if I can do this," she admitted softly, almost to herself. Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her dress, her nails digging into the delicate silk. "I don't know how to face them. How to face all of this. Once again. It's too much."
Jack's gaze shifted toward her, and for a moment, his eyes softened, but it was short. He didn't know how to help her, how to make it better. He wanted to hold her, to tell her everything would be fine, but the words felt like lies. Nothing felt fine anymore. Not with the storm inside her. Not with the weight of everything they were pretending.
"You don't have to do it alone," he said quietly, his voice strained, but still there, still offering his support. His fingers twitched, as if he wanted to reach out to her, but he kept them firmly planted at his sides. "I'm here. I always will be."
Elsa wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust that he would be there for her, but there was a growing doubt in the pit of her stomach. What if he couldn't be? What if she was asking too much from him?
The man she trusted with her everything. And now he seemed like a stranger.
She glanced out the window again, the blur of the scenery offering no comfort. She knew the truth, they were both trapped in this tangled web of lies, pretending to be something they weren't. And as much as she wanted to believe in the fairytale ending, the harsh reality of the situation was closing in on them. The storm was coming, and no matter how much they tried to outrun it, it would catch up with them.
"Jack," she said after a long pause, her voice barely above a whisper, "Do you ever think…everything...what I said...this life was a mistake?" What the hell did that question even mean, she thought.
The question hung in the air like a delicate thread, ready to snap at any moment. Jack's heart skipped a beat at her words, but his face remained stoic. He couldn't let her see how much her question hurt. He couldn't let her see how much he was struggling to hold everything together.
"No...I don't know anymore," he replied softly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
The truth in his words hit her harder than she expected. She wanted to leave to protect him, to save him from the hurt her presence might bring. But at the same time, an unbearable ache in her chest screamed for her to stay. Her mind twisted itself into knots, trying to convince her that leaving was the only way, while her heart clung desperately to every fleeting moment with him. Each second spent resisting the pull to touch him felt like another crack splintering through her already fragile heart, shattering it into pieces she feared could never be mended.
The silence between them grew heavier, suffocating them both. Elsa couldn't escape the feeling that the storm was about to break, either inside him or between them. And she didn't know if she was strong enough to weather it.
She wasn't.
As the car continued down the road, the weight of the day pressing down on them, Elsa felt the first stirrings of panic rise within her. And no matter what she did, she couldn't stop it.
But Jack remained silent, his face unreadable, his emotions hidden behind the walls he had built. He was hurting, but he wouldn't let her see it. He wouldn't let her know just how much he longed for the life they could never have.
The rest of the drive passed in relative silence, save for the soft hum of the engine and the occasional cheerful hum from Sebastian up front. But the tension in the backseat remained, an unspoken promise lingering in the space between them.
Elsa felt the tears welling in her eyes, a hot prickle that she tried desperately to blink away. She turned her face back to the window, willing herself to be strong, to push the feelings down like she always had. But the thought of enduring the day ahead...the wedding, the family, the questions, the judgment, felt like an impossible mountain to climb. And with Jack sitting so close yet feeling so distant, the loneliness threatened to consume her.
Jack noticed the way her shoulders tightened, the way she pressed her fingers into her lap as though grounding herself from an internal collapse. He hated seeing her like this, so vulnerable, so burdened by the expectations of everyone around her. His heart ached to take that weight from her, but the walls she had built between them felt higher than ever.
"Oh, Elsa," he murmured, under his breath.
The car came to a slow stop, the crunch of gravel beneath the wheels signaling their arrival. The towering spires of the church loomed ahead, grand and imposing against the soft, golden light of the morning. The facade was an intricate blend of marble and stone, the stained glass windows glinting with an almost otherworldly glow. The sound of distant music drifted on the air, blending with the soft murmur of voices from inside the church.
Here they were.
As a fake husband, Jackson Overland was here.