ONE

"You're just gonna throw all we shared all because of some stupid deal your father made" jenny yelled as soon as she got into my room.

"I'm sorry" I mumbled.

That was the only thing I could say.

"Your wedding is tomorrow".

"Why don't we elope together?" Jenny said, suddenly gripping my hand.

"I can't do that, I'll lose my inheritance to Leo" I replied, almost letting out a scoff and Jenny turned her back to me.

"Why don't we break up then, I can't watch another woman steal my man," she said sobbing.

"Jenny I'm not breaking up with you, I love you not her," I said turning her around.

"But I'm gonna be a mistress while she will be your wife" jenny protested.

"All I need to do is get you pregnant and then we'll get married" I muttered pulling her closer and she nodded.

"Just make sure our relationship is kept in the dark, if my parents find out about us now, I don't know what they'll do" I added and Jenny sniffed.

Jenny and her parents are our family friends.

We've known each other since I was eighteen and I fell in love with her.

As I said, our relationship has been kept a secret for a long now.

Only the guards, maids, and other workers knew about us and no one would dare spill it out.

I'd have let my parents know about Jenny much earlier, maybe they wouldn't have chosen a bride for me.

I'm gonna make sure I make the life of my bride miserable till she leaves and then I'd get married to the love of my life.

#Next_morning

I sat with my wedding gown as the hairstylist did my hair.

A teardrop fell from my eye and I quickly cleaned it up.

Here I was getting ready for my wedding today while Jeremy was dead.

After I blacked out, I found myself in my room and when I tried escaping again, I was drugged till this morning.

I had to resign to fate, there was nothing I could do but to make sure I kept my promise to Jeremy.

I was part of the reason he died, if I had married Nicholas peacefully he would have been alive.

"Wow!!  you look so beautiful" mom cooed as she entered my room.

"Mom!! please just call off this deal, I don't want to get married to Nicholas" I begged and mom scoffed.

"Geez!!, do you have to spoil your makeup with your tears?"

"I wish you can be like your younger sister, she's way smarter than you," mom said with a snarl.

"You should be happy you were chosen to get married to Mr popular" mom said again.

"Well, why don't you let Beverly get married to Mr. Popular?" I half yelled.

"I'm sorry honey but you were chosen, don't try doing anything stupid okay," mom said and giggled like a maniac.

"Hey!! come fix her face, she ruined the first makeup" mom said and walked out.

***

I walked down the aisle with dad holding my hands.

"You're so beautiful honey" dad whispered leading me to where my groom was standing.

As soon as we got to where my groom was standing, he took over from my dad gripping my hand tightly.

We walked together to the altar and stood facing each other while I wriggled my hand from his grip.

For a moment, I stole a glance at him and he was quite handsome even though he wasn't smiling or wasn't happy about the wedding as much as I was.

It was written all over me.

I took my face to the ground when my groom glared at me.

"Do you Nicholas Chadwick take Elina Garcia as your lawfully wedded wife?" asked the priest.

"Yes I do" Nicholas replied and I watched him clench and unclench his fist.

*Do you, Elina Garcia, take Nicholas Chadwick as your lawfully wedded husband?* the priest asked, turning his gaze in my direction.

"No..." I replied……. In my head actually.

Of course, I couldn't say that out loud.

"Yes," I replied to the priest.

"You may kiss the bride" the priest announced.

Slowly, Nicholas took off my veil and brought his face close to mine.

I shrieked when our faces were closed and I folded my lips.

Nicholas pecked my cheek in a way that everyone thought he had kissed me and a loud ovation followed.

#Few_minutes_later

We arrived at the mansion, my new home.

As soon as I stepped down from the car, Nicholas' mom ran towards me.

"You're so pretty honey, I have no regret over my husband's decision to choose you for my son" she giggled and I forced a smile.

"Come on honey, let's go in," she said, pulling me with her.

As soon as we stepped into the mansion, a large number of maids were by the door.

They bowed as soon as they saw us.

"I'll introduce you to all the maids and tell you their work in the house," Nicholas's mom said.

"This is pinky, blossom, jade, and Markie, they are the kitchen maids," she said pointing to four maids"

"This is layla, …….."

"Ma'am!!...." I called cutting her short.

"Seriously!! Do you have to call me that? you should call me mom from now on" she said, turning her attention to me.

"Sorry" I apologized and she smiled.

"Can I go take a rest? I kinda feel tired" I said.

"Awww, there are so many things I wanted to show you," she said, making a sad face.

"Linda!! take her to Nicholas's bedroom" she instructed and a maid emerged from a large number of maids.

She kissed my cheeks before letting me go with the maid.

I walked closely behind the maid till we got to a door and she stopped.

She opened the door paving the way for me to go in first and I did.

"Do you need anything else?" Linda asked and I shook my head.

"I'm okay for now," I replied.

She bowed slightly before taking her to leave.

I wish I could ask her to stay with me.

I felt kinda scared and nervous being alone here.

What if my husband walked in?, how was I supposed to act?.

I glanced down at the chain on my wrist which Jeremy had given to me and I felt guilty.

Just as a teardrop rolled down my face, the door opened.

I wiped off my tears quickly and acted like I was fine.

It was Nicholas!!!

He glanced at me for some time and dropped his wristwatch on the dressing table.

"I guess you might be happy cos we're married but I'm not" Nicholas stated with his gaze somewhere else.

"I want you to know something, I'm in love with you so don't think I'm not one bit attracted to your ugly ass," he said and I bit my lips to stop a scoff.

"I'm not one bit in love with you too '' I found myself saying and Nicholas let out a scoff.

"You shouldn't talk back till I'm done," he said and I rolled my eyes when he wasn't watching.

"You remain a stranger to me so don't feel too special cos I'm your husband," he said again walking out of the room.

How was I going to survive all this?

God!! I wish I could run somewhere far.

I wish I could even leave this planet.