Define Shock!

Bella

A cold demeanor had engulfed him, and his eyes grew red in anger.

“The wedding must be held!” He shouted.

“Calm down, honey. I'll talk to her, okay?”

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My mouth just wouldn't close as I looked at both of them one after the other.

“Baby, we need this marriage. We are going bankrupt, and this is the only way,” mom explained in a gentle manner.

“What? That's all it was for you? A business venture? This is my life for fuck's sake!” I said it sharply. My chest fell and rose as my sadness quickly turned into anger.

"Look, young lady,” Dad blurted. “You better not ruin this for me. Don't be so selfish! This is not all about you.”

“Selfish? Dad, if there's anyone who's being selfish, it's you!”

My dad seethed, and he opened his mouth to say something, but my mother interrupted him.

“Darling, what about the company? We will be destroyed, and you don't even have a job yet because you're still in college. Your sister isn't making a lot. How will we survive?” Mum said it in her usual emotionally blackmailing manner.

“We'll be fine, mom!” I shouted.

“You had better count it a privilege to save your family from penury,” Dad said.

I felt disdain start to brew the more he spoke.

“You're evil. All of you! If that's all you care about, why don't you tell Beth to get married to him?”

“We have no choice,” Mr. Johnson retorted. “Take off the dress!” He ordered.

My brows raised abruptly, and they closed in.

“Are you fucking serious?”

“Watch your mouth, you...” he stopped himself. “Cassie, order a new dress. Beth will get married to Hardin.”

My face contorted with rage, my eyes hardened, and they narrowed into slits as I watched my parents walk out of the room.

I heard her place a call to the designer who had provided my dress, and he promised to deliver another in five minutes.

My heart was thudding, and I felt like it would jump out of my already dry mouth. I was…confused.

I went to the bedroom bar and picked the strongest alcoholic wine I could find, my dad's personal favorite—Hennessy Beauté du Siècle Cognac.

Since I was light-brained, it didn't take long before I became drunk, but not completely out of my mind.

As I searched around the room for answers, I heard the door open.

My eyes locked with the stranger's, and my messy mind couldn't help but notice the man that stood right in front of me.

His brown hair was freshly cut, and it was perfectly complemented by the perfect pair of green eyes. He was wearing a blue shirt, and it accented his skin color. He didn't button his shirt all the way, leaving only a part of his well-built chest to imagination.

He was by far the sexiest man alive—his appearance would knock out any woman—or man.

I always thought there was no one like Hardin and that he was the most handsome man I had ever met, but this stranger put him in tenth place.

“Was he a guest at the wedding? What was he doing here, in this room?”

I didn't care anymore. I stood up and walked towards him.

I stared at him like I had seen a ghost, and he raised an eyebrow.

“Hello?” He asked in a deep, sexy voice as I tried to touch him.

“Uhmm, are you doing anything right now?” I said it without shame because of the alcohol.

It was obvious that he was wondering what the fuck was wrong with me because he opened his eyes so wide that they could pop out.

“Do you know me?” He asked, calling me back as I drifted in thought.

I had never seen him before today, and I wondered why. I had met all of Hardin's friends and family.

“Would you like some wine?” I offered, stretching the bottle towards his face.

“No thanks,” He pushed the wine away with a finger.

“Please?” I insisted, smiling stupidly.

He collected the wine from me as soon as my smile turned into a frown, and I was about to start crying like a baby.

“Fine, fine. I'll take it.”

“God, he's so sexy!”

He took a big gulp of the wine, and I watched his Adam's apple go up and down. It turned me on.

I smiled, and he looked at me.

He had just taken another sip when I asked, “Want to have sex?”

My question seemed to have choked him, as he quickly swallowed the wine to prevent spitting it out. He cleared his throat a little.

“Aren't you the bride?” He asked, and blood rushed to my cheeks in embarrassment.

How did he know? Then I looked down and realized that I was still in my wedding dress.

“If you're a guest at this wedding, you'll know that I'm not the bride anymore.”

I saw him smirk a little.

I knew there was no way in hell that this man was single. Maybe he brought a date.

“Do you have someone? Did you come alone?” I asked.

“I don't do women.”

My eyes crinkled, and I exhaled noisily through my pursed lips.

He saw my disappointment and quickly responded.

“Not like that,” he said, smiling a little.

For some reason, I heaved a sigh of relief.

“So what then? Am I not pretty enough for you?” I said in a soft voice, opening my arms for him to see me clearly, my breasts peeping out of the sides of my sleeveless dress.

“Was that a fucking joke?” I said to myself almost immediately. I knew very well that, even though I was pretty, I was a huge mess right now.

This man must think I'm desperate, but he still kept a straight face as he looked at me. He's probably disgusted.

“It's alright, leave! Get out!” I shouted, walking back to the couch to sit down.

A big, strong hand grabbed me and pulled me back, supporting me with his body.

“Let's do it.”