NOELLE

NOELLE

I paced around the room, unsure of what to do next.

The maids all stared at me as they waited for me to come up with something, to them I would be their savior.

I couldn't help but wonder how Emery had left with all her things the night before the wedding.

Or did she leave with them this morning? How come no one saw her?

Wasn't she in love with Malcolm?

They both agreed to get married, so why did she leave?

The more I thought about it, the more confused I got.

The door slammed open and I turned around immediately, Kira walked in.

“What is wrong? Why isn't Emery ready yet? Your mother is blowing my ears with complaints downstairs.”

For her to come over here, all the way from the hall meant things were about to get seriously fucked.

From the urgency in her tone, I knew that the guests were already getting impatient.

I immediately ran to her, holding her hands in mine.

If there was going to be anyone that held a solution, it was going to be her.

“Kira, Emery is missing,”

Her lips turned into a frown as she looked around, confusion written on her face.

“What do you mean that Emery is missing?”

“All her clothes are gone. She took it all and left. Now we don't know what to do and everyone is panicking,” I said in one breath.

Realizing the dilemma that we had found ourselves in, her face was filled with fear, and her eyes widened.

“We can't go out there and tell them we don't have a bride,” Kira whispered, shaking her head.

“What? What are we going to do then? Emery isn't going to magically come back!” I cried out.

We were running out of time and there weren't many options left.

“You,” she turned to me, holding my arm.

I stared at her confused, my head shaking slowly.

I hope she wasn't thinking about what I thought she was.

“You're going to have to take her place. To save your family from humiliation. And isn't that what you've always wanted? To get married to Malcolm?”

I glanced around to make sure nobody heard that. That would be more humiliating than not having a bride.

“No! No way would happen,”

I tried to fight against it but she seemed to have already made up her mind.

“Okay then, if you have a better option other than going out there to spare Malcolm the humiliation, I want to hear it.”

My tongue was tied as I stared at her.

I didn't have any other option, this was our best bet.

She asked the maids to dress me up in bridal attire, making sure that my face was properly covered with a veil.

Wouldn't Malcolm know that I'm not his bride?

I wondered as my grip on the gown tightened.

With each step forward I took, the fact that I was betraying Malcolm weighed down on me greatly.

What would he think when he finds out about this?

“Remember, don't speak or do anything to give yourself away until the wedding is complete,” Kira whispered to me, holding my arm lightly.

I swallowed thickly, nodding my head.

This wasn't how I wanted to get Malcolm, goddess forgive me.

My grip on the flower tightened as I walked down the aisle, keeping my eyes on Malcolm who was watching me with a bright smile.

Standing before him, I ignored my wild beating heart when he held my hands, raising my eyes to meet his.

“Now that the bride is here, let us begin,” The priest said and I zoned out of what he was saying.

My thoughts were spiraling out of control as I thought of what would happen to me if I was caught. Would Malcolm hate me for doing this? Or would he understand why I did it?

“-Until death do us part,” Malcolm squeezed my hand a little and I snapped back to the present.

“Are you alright?” He whispered to me and I nodded my head.

“You have to say your vows now,” Malcolm whispered once more and I realized why everyone was staring at us.

My cheeks tinged red as I struggled to think of a vow.

If I speak, wouldn't he recognize my voice? I just have to make my voice a bit hoarse and imitate Emery voice as well as I can.

“I, Emery Maverick, take you, Malcolm Ashwood, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death, us do part, according to the holy law. In the presence of the goddess, I make this vow. I promise to be your strength when you feel weak, I promise to be the reason you laugh and never for why you laugh. I promise to always hold your hand and never leave it no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in,”

I had tears streaming down my face as I said this vow, this wasn't how I wanted my wedding to be.

Not under pretense. I didn't want to deceive anyone. The guilt was too much to take in.

“Are you alright? You sound different and-” I could hear the worry in his voice and it broke my heart that I was going to disappoint him after this.

Shaking my head, I tried to convince him that I was alright.

“I bless this ring and I bless your union,”

I brought my left hand out for Malcolm to fix the ring in, and he immediately did the same.

My hands shook as I tried to put his ring on, my hands sweaty.

“Emery?” Malcolm asked and I finally slipped the ring.

I turned to see Kira staring at me with a stern gaze. I had to keep it together or we were going to get caught.

“I now pronounce you, man and wife. You may now kiss the bride,”

I closed my eyes as Malcolm reached for my veil, tears streaming down my face.

A loud gasp was heard in the crowd as my veil was pulled up and I opened my eyes.

Malcolm stared at me with hurt and betrayal.

“Noelle?” He called. I couldn't utter a word. “I don't understand… how…”

“Where is Emery?” He asked, shaking in anger.

“Malcolm-” I started reaching for him. My heart broke when he took a step back, stepping out of my reach.

“Malcolm I can explain,” I started but as expected he refused to listen to me.

“Where is Emery? Why are you here? Is this a joke? Do you think I would ever acknowledge you as my wife?” He thundered.

His words pierced through my heart like a dagger.

At this moment, there was nothing but hatred for me in his eyes, the usual love and adoration nowhere to be found.

He hated me. Malcolm hated me!