Chapter 5

Sheena arrived at the church premises 25 minutes before the appointed time for the wedding.

Elena had called to tell her to come directly to the church as everything she would need for the wedding had been moved to the church. She had made the cab driver drive hastily towards St George's cathedral in no time.

‘Sheena! Where the hell have you been? And what the hell are you wearing?’ Her father questioned irritatedly as soon as she got out of the cab and paid the driver.

She didn't have the time to freshen up before hurriedly leaving the guest house earlier. She knew she looked like a hooker after a night's job, with her disheveled hair, extra short gown, and broken heels in hand.

‘I’m so sorry Dad. I slept over at a friend's place where Elena dropped me off last night before we parted ways. I woke up late cos I wasn't feeling too well.’ Sheena offered the fabricated story Elena had told her over the phone when their father questioned her about both their whereabouts last night.

Mr Woods looked at his daughter with irritation and worrisome surprise. This wasn't his beloved daughter Sheena. The one who was very particular with looking decent and smart at all times - one who never wore revealing clothes outdoors.

If it had been his eldest daughter, Elena, clad in this attire, he wouldn't have been surprised because she was the black sheep of the family who always fancied anything that exposed her curvy parts.

‘Can I get someplace to quickly freshen up, Dad?’ Sheena's voice filtered in through his thoughts.

He turned to look at the nun who had given them an upstairs room at the church where they had set up and kept everything the bride would need for the wedding.

'Is there a place she could freshen up, please?’ He asked, hopefully.

'Sure, there is. Come with me.’ The nun gestured at Sheena to follow her as she walked through the side of the cathedral towards a building that looked like a school dormitory.

'Do make sure to hurry up. The wedding starts in less than 20mins!’

Her father shouted after her as she walked behind the nun towards the dormitory-like building.

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Sheena sat absentmindedly in front of the dressing table as the makeup artist applied the last of the blush to her smooth cheeks. She looked absolutely beautiful and gorgeous in her white glamorous wedding gown with her head tied in a perfect bun atop her head.

She sat staring at her reflection, reflecting on the wild, life-altering event that was about to take place at the church hall downstairs, any moment from now.

She knew the part she was to play was incredibly huge and pivotal, but she still wondered if she should be playing that part. She wondered if she was doing the right thing by agreeing to marry Mr. Dominic Rollins, especially after last night's romantic adventurous, and exhilarating experience with her “lucky handsome bloke”.

She still remembered his name vividly; Jake Cross, her most gentle and charming lover.

A million thoughts ran through her mind as she considered the options available to her at the moment.

She wondered if she should try convincing her father against the entire thing one last time or just damn the consequences and refuse to go ahead with the nonsanctimonious wedding.

The sound of the singing orchestra bore through her thoughts and brought her back to the present as someone opened the door to the dressing room.

The intruder put his head through the door and muttered.

'Where is the bride, please? The wedding is about to start.’

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‘You look absolutely beautiful, my love.’ Sheena's father whispered as they both walked, arm in arm, down the aisle towards the altar where her husband-to-be stood, dressed in an exquisite and expensive white tuxedo, waiting impatiently for his bride to be presented to him.

Sheena didn't reply to her father's compliment as she wasn't particularly the vivacious bride who would have been elated to be walked by her father down the aisle, towards her young, handsome, and charming groom, standing confidently on the altar with a huge belated smile on his face.

While it didn't make the situation any better, Sheena was glad that the wedding was a very small one with only the couple's family, relatives, and very few friends, present in the hall.

Sheena's family and relatives were seated at the right-hand side of the church while the Rollins family and friends, sat on the pews by the left.

From under the veil, Sheena noticed Mr “Too Much Facial Hair" - the handsome blond from last night - standing beside Elena on the same pew where her grandma and other family members sat. He was dressed in a black suit with Jean trousers and Sheena wondered why and what he was doing here and much less with Elena, her sister.

She made a mental note to ask Elena later, but first, she had to get this whole charade of a wedding over and done with.

As they got closer to the altar, Sheena could see the Rollins family members seated at the first pew on the left, all dressed in the same cream-colored gown, except for the only man in their midst who was dressed in the same white colored tuxedo as Mr. Dominic her groom.

She wondered if he was the estranged bastard son whom everyone said was cold, eerie, and never liked associating with the family.

‘Hello, my love. I must say you look stunning. You're even more beautiful in person than in those pictures your father showed to me.’ Mr Dominic whispered in her ears as soon as he lifted the veil from her face after her father had offered her to him and went back to his seat with the family.

Sheena looked irritably at the old man from the corners of her eyes.

He had on well-trimmed grey hair and beard and looked like he was a very handsome man in his youth - one who chased after the young girls and broke so many innocent hearts along the way.

No wonder people claimed he had so many mistresses and married two wives, she thought solemnly.

The church priest soon started his short sermon on marriage and how it binds the two people involved forever.

Sheena shivered involuntarily at the word “forever." She shuddered at the thought of being forever bound to this man but later relaxed when she remembered her father's promise that the marriage would only be for 2 years. 2 long years, she thought solemnly.

The priest read the vows and requested they both answer affirmatively.

Dominic Rollins gave a quick and emphatic “Yes!" to his, while Sheena took a long moment to think and weigh her options before reluctantly saying “Yes."

'If anyone knows why this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony or if anyone does not want these two to be joined together as husband and wife, let him speak up now or forever hold his peace.’ The priest stated, looking at the small congregation who remained silent to his utterance.

He was about to carry on with the officiating and pronounce the couple husband and wife when just then, the huge cathedral doors were pushed open, letting in a handsome olive-skinned man who was dressed smartly in a navy blue Italian suit and black sleeve with no tie.

The whole congregation turned back in surprise to look at the intruder. They thought he had come in to stop the wedding in reply to the priest’s earlier statement, like how it happens in the movies.

Sheena and Dominic turned at the same time to look at the man who stood at the entrance of the church.

Sheena's eyes grew big like saucers as recognition and realization hit her like a wave of salty sea water on the beach.

This was Jake Cross, her “lucky handsome bloke” standing there at the door!

She wondered how he found her and what he was doing here.

Just as she was about to move towards him, she saw Mr Dominic Rollins smiling at her Jake Cross with what looked like pride in his eyes.

Almost immediately, she heard him mutter in a joyous hushed tone.

‘He came. My son came.’