Last Minute Bride

Ariana POV

He was handsome. I looked into his brown orbs. Indeed, he was stunning with long thick eyelashes, full lips, and higher cheekbones. His features have complimented his handsomeness.

I could even feel his intoxicating scent, and a blush crept to my cheeks that I tried to hide, but I know it wasn't of any use. He just offered me a marriage. Was he serious? I doubted.

“But I can’t marry you like this,” I mumbled to get surety of what he was about to because we just met. He saved me, I know, but marriage. Was I ready?

“If you want to call your parents, you can, but I have little time. Let’s go.” he looked in urgency.

“Where?” I was dumbstruck.

“To marry.” He replied, turning his face back to me.

“No, I mean this soon.” I didn't know what the problem was with me. Why was I blushing this much? What would he think about me? I lowered my head to hide it.

“We have to get married within an hour. I have little time. Let’s go.”

He pulled me by my hand and opened his car's passenger door for me. I sat inside as he hopped in the driver’s seat.

I didn't know where he was taking me and why I was going with him with no panic, but on the way, he said to me.

“Call your parents and inform them to come to Walter’s mansion.” He was serious.

“I don’t have anyone.” Tears formed in my eyes, and I turned my face towards the window. I recalled what was about to happen to me just because of my family. My heart ached, but I restrained myself from showing any sort of emotions to this stranger.

“Oh, it’s alright.”

For the rest of the journey, we didn’t talk.

On reaching his mansion, He took me to the bridal room. We went there from some back door, and no one saw us.

Everything happened so fast. He gave me the bridal dress. And I could see tears lingering in his eyes when he handed it to me, but he hid them.

“Wear this dress within five minutes. I’m waiting.”

“In front of you.” My eyes opened wide.

“No, look at your right. That is the dressing room. Go there and change your dress.” I turned around and found a dressing room.

“Go,” He commanded, and I ambled to the dressing room but stopped when Ryan asked.

“What is your name?”he asked my name.

“Ariana,” I replied.

“Full name,” he demanded. His voice had authority, like he's the prince of some state.

“Ariana Mason and your,” I asked, telling him my name, but he went outside, without even informing his name. Wow, I was going to marry someone I didn't even know his name yet. However, I ambled into the dressing room to change into the bridal dress he had given me .

In the dressing room,

I stared at the dress and the white lingerie. This moment is important for every girl in her life but for me, what was it? I didn't know. I couldn't comprehend.

I don’t know if marrying him was right or wrong when I don't even know his name, but he helped me today and saved my prestige. So I’m just returning his favor by helping him. I don’t know why I have to marry him to help. But marrying him will also help me. I also need shelter to hide from Aunt and that man. So, I'm doing this also for myself.

Saying this, I stepped into the white lingerie and wedding gown. I did a light makeover and styled my hair into a messy bun.

When I was ready, I moved out of the dressing room. I found women resting on the couch. She was indeed beautiful, and I could say that she was the mother of that stranger, my soon-to-be husband, because he got those brown orbs and handsomeness from her.

Knowing my presence, she stood and approached me.

“Thanks for helping us out.” She whispered with a beautiful smile and took me in a warm hug. I smiled back at her.

“You’re looking gorgeous.” She caressed my cheek.

“Let’s go. My son is waiting for you at the altar.” She took my hand, and we were about to go when a man in his 50s entered with a warm smile.

“Thank you.” He put his palm on my head in care and exclaimed. I think he was that stranger's father.

“I’ll take you to the altar as your father,” he spoke as tears formed in my eyes. He side-hugged me.

And we moved towards the altar. My face was covered with the veil and as I was taking steps towards the altar, my heartbeat was increasing.

Soon, I stood at the altar in front of my stranger, who was going to be my husband. I tried to see him to know his expressions, but I could only see his shoes under my veil.

The priest approached us and started our wedding ceremony.

He asked him to take his vow.

“Do you take Ariana Mason as your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you fall apart?” the priest asked.

“I do,” he replied curtly, looking at nothing in particular as his eyes were void of any emotion he felt because he was also emotionless. I didn't find any warmth in those two words.

The priest turned to me and asked,

“Do you take Ryan Walter as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you apart?” my heart skipped a beat before I responded in a crooked voice.

“I do,”

I felt like I had heard this name before, but where I didn’t know. I was in my thoughts when the priest exclaimed, “In the name of the Holy Spirit, I now solemnly declare you husband and wife. Let no one put asunder those that had joined today in the presence of almighty God. You may now kiss the bride,” the priest pronounced.

I closed my eyes with a beating heart.

My stranger husband moved to me slowly and lifted my white veil a little. He leaned his head on my right side, and I waited for his stiff lips on my, but a gush of air passed through my face.

I quivered and opened my eyes to know what was delaying him, but to my surprise, he left me alone at the altar, chastened.

I looked in the direction he went, but his back was mocking me.

Why did he leave me alone without kissing? I was his bride, and this was the ritual, but he left me alone. Why? Just because I have replaced it or something else. He asked me to marry him himself, then why did he leave me alone, embarrassed in front of many people. Tears formed in my eyes, but his mother came to me.

“Don’t mind him. Let’s go. I have to introduce you to some family friends.” I smiled before nodding my head. I followed her, and she introduced me to some family friends.

I greeted them politely with a smile on my face but soon I got tired and uncomfortable so I called his mother.

“I’m not comfortable here. Can I go back to the room?” She looked at me before a warm smile curved to her lips.

“Sorry for your inconvenience.” Then she called someone and a man nearly my age came.

“Damien, take her inside. She is not comfortable here.”

“Let’s go, Ariana.” He called me by my name, and I looked at him in disbelief that he knew my name.

“Don’t be so shocked. Everyone here knows your name because now you’re Ariana Ryan Walter.”

I faked a smile because my stranger's husband, who accepted me not so long, left me on the altar, and I didn’t know where he went. I nodded and followed him to the lounge.

“You can rest here because no one would come here. I'm also here with you. So, rest assured.” Saying this, he sat on the couch, and I also took a seat in front of him.

“You didn’t ask me my name.” He made a cute face before raising his brow.

“Um, what is your name?” I felt embarrassed. My ears turned red.

“Alright, I tell you. My name is Damien Devon, and I’m the best friend of your not-so-good husband.” He shrugged his shoulder before joining his palm.

I didn’t like his calling my husband not so good but who I’m to say anything.

“Well, we can also become friends.” I instantly looked at him.

“Normal friends, because you won’t have time to see anyone here besides me. That’s why you don’t have any other choice.” I liked him. He had a jocular and carefree personality.

We chatted for a while, and soon we became amiable, and I laughed at his jokes. I beamed with happiness and enjoyed his company, but the fear of a new start and the Aunt was still crawling in my spine. I didn’t know what I did was the right decision for me or not because my husband left me just after taking vows.

Ryan’s POV

I was waiting for her on the altar with mixed emotions. I felt rage and agony because of what Amaya did. She betrayed me and cheated on me for almost 14 years. How could she fake for such a long time?

Soon, my bride Ariana came with mom and dad. After leaving her in the bridal room, I told my parents and Damien about the situation. Amaya and her parents had flown away. I was enraged but Damien calmed me we would look into this matter later, so right now I was standing in the altar waiting for my bride that’s not Amaya but Ariana.

The wedding dress I brought for Amaya was looking gorgeous to her. She carried it. Maybe Amaya would look like her, or even more graceful.

Subsiding my thoughts, I diverted my attention to her when my dad gave me her hand. Now she stood in front of me, and I could feel her nervousness.

The priest asked us to take our vows, and we did.

My emotions were nothing more than a mixture of fury and rage. Today my expected bride was Amaya, but now the bride standing in front of me had replaced her.

Ariana was standing before me, taking her place, but in my heart, no one could take her spot because what she was for me, no one could become. Not especially after the betrayal I got from her.

When the priest told us to kiss, I moved towards her and lifted her veil. Her eyes were closed, and her lips were quivering. She looked tempting to me, but no, I can’t kiss her. She was my bride but replaced, a last-minute bride only to save our face in front of the world.

I leaned on her right side only to show that we kissed, but soon I left from there because seeing her standing in place of Amaya broke my heart.

I didn’t stop for a second in the mansion and ambled out without thinking about what people would say or my bride.

I drove off to the bar I owned to gulp down my sorrows or calm myself because right now; I was an injured lion who was ready to attack anyone.

I didn’t know how much I stayed there, but I was gulping down the scotch when Damien called me. I attended his call after a continuous ringing of five minutes.

“What the hell is with you? Stop irritating me.” I yelled at him.

“Don’t you know now you have a wife and today is your first night? It’s already 9 pm. Come home fast. She is waiting for you.”

“What the fuck? Why is she waiting?” I gulped another glass down my throat.

“Stop acting like a fool. Don’t you know why Ariana is waiting for you?”

“Whatever, I’m not coming.” I seethed.

“If someone sees you in the bar and posts your pictures, then you won’t be able to handle this scandal. What would people think? You had a love marriage but left your life on your first night. Why? Don’t give people a reason to speak.”

“Don’t tell me what to do?” I shouted at him and ended the call. However, Damien was right.

I didn’t want to face her, but I should go home. I married her just to save my face so I couldn’t give people a reason to gossip about me.

Thinking about this, I ambled towards my car and hopped into it to go home.

When I reached the mansion, it was already 10 pm. I ate nothing from yesterday, so my stomach was growling. I moved to the kitchen when my mom reached there.

“Where were you?” she demanded. Her voice was soft, but solemn.

I opened my mouth to say something, but before that she smelled alcohol on me.

“I know what you’re feeling right now, but it doesn’t mean you’ll ignore her. Who she is and how you made her agree to marry you, everything you have to explain tomorrow.”

I nodded and later she served me dinner, and I had it.

“I left her in your room, and I’m sure she is waiting for you. Behave yourself with her.” My mom instructed me that annoyed the hell out of me.

“Mom, I know what I have to do with her, and please stop this. I’m going to my room.” I said, leaving the table and making my way towards my room.

On the way, I had mixed emotions, but those feelings were because of Amaya, and what I had to do with the girl in my room. I knew very well.