Chapter 4: Solo Wedding

~ADELE~

After enduring so much in my life, I didn’t know what more I needed to see in this lifetime when my family didn’t want me, and the person who sent me the marriage contract didn’t bother to show himself. How can I sleep when strange thoughts are brewing in my mind?

Oh! I wish I could close my eyes and vanish into thin air.

But no, the pain in my heart made me realize it’s all an illusion.

Get up and face these challenging balls life throws at me.

I touched my lips, which were swollen from yesterday's action.

I got up, did my morning business, and came down to where I saw Mr. Vincent waiting for me.

Honestly, I wanted to throw him out of this house, but I knew this man brought a piece of news for me dressed as an angel. In reality, he was a demon sent by the devil himself to capture my soul in hell.

“Hello, Adele,” he extended his hand. Mom is looking at me with expectation. She thought I called this gentleman to bring sufficient money to save my brother’s ass.

“Hello, Mr. Vincent,” I ignored his gesture.

“Here are your documents. Your farm and your shop are officially yours.” I felt healed for a fraction of a second, but then I realized what cost I had paid for these papers. He extended an exquisite pen toward me to sign those papers.

“Here,” I summoned a sad smile.

He smiled and gestured his hand towards the front door. A girl came up with something covered in her hand. “What’s this?”

“Your wedding gown. Lea will help you get dressed, makeup and all.” Mr. Vincent smiled.

“But I didn’t ask for this. And I don’t need help,” I snarled.

“Miss Adele Romero, my boss, wanted to see you in this dress when you come for the courthouse wedding. I hope you understand his terms well as you signed the papers and accepted the deal.” He affirmed.

I clenched my jaw with anger. I had to listen to whatever he said. Otherwise, the consequences will be I have to give up everything, or I might end up in jail.

“Fine,” Lea gave me a strange look. I know she must think, why the hell her boss wants me to wear this expensive gown? I mean, look at me, just an ordinary girl.

Mom vaulted in front of me. “Adele, what’s this? Are you getting married, you haven’t told us? Your brother is fighting for his life, and those thugs will come anytime to kill my son. What the hell are you doing for your family?” Mother blasted at me. I smiled in vain.

“Mom, I saved your son. Nobody is going to bother you two.”

Tears filled my eyes when she snapped at me and went to Mike’s room. Lea followed me and helped me with this wedding drama.

After a long time of trying to fix my face, she told me to look at myself in the mirror. I turned and saw myself in the mirror.

She made a perfect wedding bun for my long hair. My laced gown was more like my second skin. It came perfectly on my body as it enhances every curve perfectly. I had never tried mermaid gowns, but this looks beautiful. The off-shoulder sleeves intensify my collarbone with my flawless skin.

“You look beautiful,” Lea purred with a smile. I gave her a genuine smile, knowing these were just an attraction. In real that devil is going to slaughter me for his pleasure.

How strange I felt. I was about to marry a person I had never seen. I hope today I see him in the courtroom. Tears filled my eyes; I looked beautiful before he was going to ruin my body. It could be the last time for me to look like this. I came down, where Mike and Mom gave me a disgusted look.

“Where is she going?” Mike rolled his eyes at me.

“Getting married... I don’t know. I want you to send money for Mike,” mom shrieked from the back.

Well, the wrong time of my life started. I am getting married, and my family doesn’t come with me. I opened the door and saw Blaise and Elijah.

“Adele...” Blaise was shocked, looking at me.

“Blaise... please take care of everything,” she cupped my face.

“I am sorry; I signed the contract to save everything.” “Adele... I am sorry.” She cried.

I looked at Elijah, who was still in shock. Wrong time, I guess. He stood mummed, but his eyes told me everything. It hurt him. “I am sorry, Elijah.”

His arms surrounded my body and made me feel secure. “I am sorry for...,” I couldn’t say the words, but he understood.

“I understand, Adele, that’s why I love you,” he whispered softly in my ears. I hugged them and walked towards the Lamborghini parked in front of my house, leaving Blaise crying over her brother’s shoulder.

How unfortunate I felt. I had a man in love with me, and now I am going to a man who is about to ruin my existence. Passing my last goodbyes, I raised my hand but didn’t have the courage to wave it.

The driver was quiet, and Lea was arranging her things.

“Lea, do you know Mr. Vincent’s boss?” I asked.

I felt a sharp gaze through the rear mirror. The driver gave me a strange look. “No, Mam. I have never seen him,” Lea answered as she scrolled her phone. Shifted my sight out as my neighborhood suddenly became a strange place for me. I didn’t know whether I would come back here.

We reached the courtroom, where Mr. Vincent took me inside. “You look great, Adele.”

They made me sit in front of the judge, displaying her Colgate smile towards me. “Are you Miss Adele Romero?”

“Yes,” I nodded. She asked for my birthdate and other information to confirm my identity. I looked around, but there was no one except the three.

Judge, Mr. Vincent, and I.

She extended a few papers towards me as I signed them quietly. The next moment, Mr. Vincent opened a ring box for me. I furrowed my brows at him; I didn’t know when the man who was dying to marry me would come or not.

“This is your wedding ring. Wear it,” Mr. Vincent said.

I looked at the judge with confusion; she had the same expression throughout the time.

“Where is your boss? Where is the man who wants to marry me?” I didn’t get any answer from them. Last, I snuggled the wedding ring on my ring finger.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The judge declared her final words on my face.

Astonished, I looked at them. “What?”

“What the hell? He is not even here, and you pronounce us a husband and wife?” I blasted.

Confused, I looked here and there. How could a judge announce our wedding when he was not physically present here? Mr. Vincent walked toward me.

“Adele, you are officially married now.”

“How? where is he? Where is your boss?”

I checked the paper; he had already signed those papers and didn’t bother to show up. Is it even legal? I mean, did he bribe the judge? To whom should I fight for my right? The judge is corrupt.

“Why? Why does he want to marry me when he doesn’t want to show up?” I questioned Mr. Vincent with teary eyes. Honestly, I was more scared than ever. I am officially a married woman, but I didn’t see his face or know his name. “Mr. Vincent, at least tell me his name,” I begged.

He looked at me with no expression.

“Mam, we need to head home. There you need to attend your wedding party,” he declared.

What? Is he mad or what?

“Wedding party with him? A ghost?” I snapped at him.

He didn’t listen to me and walked out, knowing he was just a pawn who was listening to his master.

I didn’t know where I was going; what the heck was that person?

And where do I get myself stuck?

*********

“Congratulations, Mrs. Costello,” a man in his late forties shook Adele’s hand.

His touch made her feel disgusted.

At least she knew her last name had changed from Romero to Costello. Sitting alone under a decorated flower staging, her eyes looked for the man she was eagerly waiting to meet.

The party was insignificant; only a few people enjoyed this awkward moment. The server served the drinks, and the dancers came to entertain those rich old perverts.

Strangely, nobody bothered to know why she was sitting alone.

Everyone came to her with a broad smile, giving her expensive gifts, pretending everything was normal.

Looking at the crowd, she wondered, what if her husband was a sixty-year-old man? What if he was none other than Mr. Vincent himself?

The suffocated soul and creepy thoughts made her eyes glossy. She excused herself and walked to the corner.

Holding her chest and trying hard not to cry in front of these people, she called her dad, missing him.

She blew her cheeks out, looking towards the open sky. She heard something.

“Mam,”

She turned and saw the Gardner looking at her. Finally, someone was there; she knew.

“You,” she mustered a smile, trying to hide her big tears.

“Is everything ok?”

He brought a water bottle for her.

“Drink this,”

“Thank you,” she smiled.

“The party is nice, right?” He smiled.

“Yeah,”

“Mam, would you like to eat something?”

“Please call me Adele. What’s your name?” she extended her hand.

He smiled and took a step away from her.

“We may not talk to the masters of this house. But I saw you standing here alone. I couldn’t stop myself,”

Adele looked down.

“My name is Angelo,” he smiled.

“Nice to meet you, Angelo.”

“So, how long did you work here in this mansion?” Adele asked.

“Oh, my dad used to work here and wanted me to serve the master.” He seems distracted.

“So you don’t want to work here?” Adele questioned.

“I... I. even if I wanted to leave, I can’t. I have some debt to pay,” he sighed.

Adele felt about him; she could understand his situation very well. “I understand, Angelo. I hope you set yourself free from here and live your life,” she wished.

He gave her a thin smile.

“It’s difficult, Adele... I am sorry, Mam,”

They could understand each other’s pain. Adele didn’t want to trouble him anymore.

“Could you tell me where is the master of this house?” Adele thought, to ask him.

He looked around as his eyes rested on the crowd, but

Mr. Vincent caught them talking.

“He must be here... and I should go,” Angelo lowered his gaze from Adele’s face and looked towards Mr. Vincent.

Mr. Vincent entered and glared at Angelo.

“Mrs. Costello, let’s get back to the party.”

he took her inside.

Adele followed him with an upset heart, watching Angelo leave the place and go outside.