4.

Four weeks were over in the blink of an eye and Iris sat in front of the vanity with dead eyes staring back at her as people rushed around the mansion trying to get her ready for the wedding she would rather not attend.

Today was her wedding but she would rather be anywhere else than here. She knew that a lot of people would kill to be in her position but she would pay a hefty sum to have those girls take her place in a heartbeat if she could. She might be getting married to the most eligible bachelor in the country but to her, it was just a move from one prison to another.

Iris had to pinch herself countless times to make sure she wasn’t in a dream where she was going to get married to Luca Rutherford. The same man she had not set eyes on since their meeting in the drawing room a month ago.

His mother, however, checked in on her constantly and that was the reason Helen and her mother were unable to do anything to her because Evelyn questioned every new mark she saw on her body. Because of that, Stephen had forbidden them from touching or coming close to her. He would not spoil his last chance of getting the Rutherfords to invest in his media house.

“You would look so beautiful in this dress” One of the stylists responsible for getting Iris dressed beamed.

Iris studied the custom-made wedding dress that was sewn just for her by the best wedding dress designer in the country. Helen should have been wearing that dress. Helen should be the one getting pampered and not her.

“Are you still thinking about how you don’t deserve this?” Her friend, Alanna asked, making her turn her attention from the dress to the girl sitting giddily by her side.

“I know I don’t. It’s all meant for Helen. I’m just sitting here hoping Madam Evelyn would come and say the wedding will continue as planned with Helen as the bride”

Alanna stared at Iris with an annoyed expression. “You deserve it, okay. They may have spent years treating you like shit but you are a Taylor”

“An illegitimate one”

“But one nonetheless. This is the heavens rewarding you for all the sufferings you had to go through. Take this second chance to start over”

“I don’t think it’s a chance to start over. Helen cheated on him. He would see me as the same. To him, I’m just another gold digger and cheater. He believes I was aiding Helen in cheating on him”

“But you weren’t and you need to convince him that you didn’t know she was cheating on him”

“Even if I tell him countless times that I didn’t know, it would never change how he sees me as a greedy person”

“Then show him you aren’t one. You are the most amazing, caring and loving person I’ve ever met and I doubt your husband would think otherwise after getting to know you”

“If he gives me a chance”

Alanna smiled and took Iris's hand and gave him a small tug. “He has to. Make him give you a chance.”

For a single moment, Iris allowed herself to dream of what it would be like if Luca really loved her. She bet she would be the opposite of how she felt now. She would be nervous and excited at the same time to get to the altar, eager to tie the knot and escape from this prison she had been trapped in since she was a child.

A knock on the door made her sit up straight and she told the person to come in. The door opened and the two people she doesn’t want to see walked in. They had avoided her throughout the month and she was hoping she didn’t have to see them until it was time for the wedding.

“Excuse us, we will like to have a word with the bride in private” Vera snapped.

Iris’s eyes flew to Alanna in panic but there was nothing she could do. Alanna squeezed her shoulders gently before leaving the room with the others.

Iris felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach as she stared wide-eyed at Vera and Helen. She squirmed under their gaze as they examined her from head to toe with disgust apparent on their face.

“How do you feel about wearing the dress that was supposed to be mine? Do you feel victorious?” Helen hissed before walking over to the dress hanging on the wall and running her hands on it. There was envy heavy on her face but she quickly covered it with a snarl.

“I’m not happy to be doing this” Iris mumbled and she cussed her treacherous eyes for stinging.

“You better watch out, Iris. Don’t think I will let you take Luca from me. I promise you that I will make him throw you out before you even have a chance to enjoy your honeymoon” She spat and Iris's eyes widened in fear.

“What do you mean?” she stuttered in fear. She knew there was no way those two would sit back and let her get away with this.

“It means I am going to get him back no matter what it costs me. I am the only one fit to be a Rutherford and not you” She spat.

“Your mother took my husband and I will never let you take my daughter’s too” Vera vowed and the both of them stormed out of the room, leaving a trembling Iris alone.

Alanna rushed into the room first and caught Iris before she could slump to the floor.

“Don’t listen to anything they say. They are just bitter that you got to marry someone as powerful as Luca. It isn’t your fault that she couldn’t keep her legs closed and slept with his cousin.”

“She said she was going to make him throw me out” Iris said shakily.

“That slut.” Alanna hissed.  “She can’t do anything. She is all bark and no bite. Come on, let’s get you into your dress. The ceremony will be starting soon”

Iris stood there like a statue as they helped her with her wedding dress and made the finishing touches on her. It was happening and nothing had changed. She was really going to be getting married.

Iris was ushered outside the mansion alongside a bridal train filled with girls she had never seen in her entire life. The only person she knew was Alanna, her chief bridesmaid. Iris didn’t dare to ask where they had gotten ten girls to pretend like they were her friends.

Iris gasped when she saw a limousine sitting majestically at the house’s entrance. She had never been in one before since she was born. The car was so sleek and expensive, she was reluctant to enter but Alanna had nudged her forward and she sat in the most comfortable seats she had ever seen in her life.

 “You can’t keep that stricken look on your face once we arrive at the chapel” Alanna warned. “There are going to be media stations from all over the world to broadcast the wedding and the last thing you show them is that you are being forced to do this”

“But I am being forced against my will. I don’t want to do this” Iris whispered harshly even though it was just her and Alanna in the car. The rest bridesmaid was in another vehicle behind them.

“Iris” Alanna sighed. “I know you are scared but don’t you prefer getting married than staying here as a slave for the rest of your life? This is your golden ticket to escape the clutches of Vera and Helen. You don’t know how Luca would treat you but I can guarantee that it will be much better than this place. In the worst-case scenario, you would be ignored and he may cheat but isn’t that better than insults, shoves and constant humiliation?”

“None is better. Being cheated on and hated by your husband is just the same as what I’m facing”

Alanna groaned in frustration. “You are like a wall that I can’t get through to. There is a fifty per cent possibility that everything will be fine. Stop being so negative”

Iris didn’t say anything in return and instead turned her head so she was looking out the window. She was only allowed out of the house a selected number of times so watching the city pass by in a blur, she felt like a stranger in her own city.

Soon they arrived at the chapel and Alanna helped Iris exit the car with two other bridesmaids. They escorted her to the entrance where her father, Stephen was waiting with a grim expression.

Stephen had never acknowledged her as his daughter and she wasn’t even allowed to use his last name but last week, they had gone to family affairs and officially changed her name to a Taylor and also registered her under the family much to the annoyance of Vera and Helen.

The bridesmaid marched into the hall and soon, the MC was announcing the entrance of the bride. Iris's stomach tightened into knots and she shakily took the hand her father unwillingly held out.

The doors opened and they began the short but long trek down the aisle. Iris kept her gaze on the floor, admiring the rose petals that had been used to decorate her way by the flower girls. She was unable to meet the eyes of anyone, afraid of the viciousness she might see.

“Raise your head” Stephen gritted out quietly and she looked up. She saw Evelyn beaming and returned the smile shakily. Helen had a snarl on her face as well so she quickly turned away and faced the altar where he husband to be stood with the same stoic expression he had that day.

Never in a million years did Iris think she would be walking down the aisle in a wedding dress that cost more than her entire life spendings, getting married to one of the richest men alive who may or may not hate her.

Luca looked good and it forced a sense of pride in Iris. With his custom suit that screamed money, he was a sight to behold.

Stephen placed her hands into Luca’s waiting hand before stepping back and going to his seat. Iris was shaking and Luca felt it. He glared at her before turning to the priest to begin the ceremony.

The priest asked them to exchange rings and Iris froze. With shaky hands, she placed the ring on Luca and watched as he did the same. The priest didn’t bother to ask if anyone was against the union and Iris suspected it was the work of Evelyn or her father.

“You may now kiss the bride” The official said and Iris froze like a deer caught by headlights.

Luca took a step towards her and cupped her face, gently, which surprised her. Iris believed it was going to be a chaste kiss, meant to please the crowd but she was so wrong.

Luca yanked her to his chest and crashed his lips on her. He kissed her fiercely and she couldn’t stop the moans that escaped her mouth.

Luca pulled away from his breathless wife with a smirk when he saw her breathing hard and her lipstick smudged. He reached out to wipe the smudge away and she flinched back from his touch.

“May I present to you, Mr and Mrs Rutherford” The priest announced and they turned to face the crowd.

Evelyn Rutherford had a smile of satisfaction, same with Stephen because now he could get the money promised to him. Vera and Helen had fumes coming out from their ears as they glared at the couple with such hostility.

Luca grabbed Iris’s hand and pulled her towards the awaiting audience.

“Come on, the quicker we get the formalities over with, the quicker I can get out of here”

Iris mood dampened because his words were a cold reminder that he didn’t want her as his wife but she agreed with him. She wanted to also leave this place and go far away from the angry gazes of the people in the crowd.

Maybe Luca’s torture would be better than the one she was used to.