His New Bride

CHAPTER THREE

His New Bride

Chloe stood in front of the mirror, her heart heavy with sadness and uncertainty. The wedding gown was a masterpiece of delicate lace and intricate beading, with a fitted bodice that hugged her curves and a full skirt that cascaded down to the floor. The dress had a sweetheart neckline and a long train that trailed behind her, making her look like a true princess.

Despite how stunning she looked, Chloe couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had been building up inside her ever since her stepmother had announced the arranged marriage. She didn't know who the man she was getting married to was, or what kind of person he was. She had no say in the matter, and the thought of spending the rest of her life with someone she didn't love filled her with a sense of hopelessness.

As she gazed at her reflection, Chloe's stepmother and stepsister walked into the room. They approached her, their faces stern and unyielding. Isabella, her stepmother, spoke first.

"Remember what we told you, Chloe," she said, her voice cold and commanding. "You are not to speak of your past to your husband. He must not know anything about what you did in the past."

Chloe's stepsister Sarah chimed in, her voice filled with malice. "If you don't keep your mouth shut, we'll make sure you regret it. We can take away everything you have, and you'll be left with nothing."

“And I’m sure you wouldn’t want to lose everything you have now, would you? This is your chance to have a better life, so don't mess it up,” Isabella said.

Chloe knew they were right. If she spoke up, she would lose everything she had worked for, including the little savings she had left. She felt trapped and helpless, and it was a feeling she was getting used to.

Chloe felt a lump form in her throat as she nodded, not daring to speak. She knew she had no choice but to go through with the wedding and keep her secrets buried deep inside her. As her stepmother and stepsister left the room, Chloe was left alone with her thoughts, unsure of what the future held for her.

Looking back at her reflection in the mirror, Chloe felt a sense of resignation wash over her. She knew that she had no choice but to go through with the wedding - for her own safety, and for the sake of her dad. Isabella could hurt him and she wouldn’t be able to deal with that. But even as she donned the façade of a happy bride-to-be, she couldn't shake the feeling that her future was bleak and uncertain.

“It is time for you to come in,” the lady who dressed her announced and Chloe held out a loud sigh.

Chloe wiped away the tears that threatened to ruin her makeup and took a deep breath. It was time. She stepped out of the room, her wedding dress trailing behind her, and the lady who had helped her get ready followed her, carefully holding up the long train of the dress.

As she emerged into the bright sunlight, Chloe gasped at the beauty of the outdoor setting. The ceremony was being held in a picturesque gazebo in the middle of a lush garden. The gazebo was decorated with white ribbons and flowers, and the chairs for the guests were arranged in neat rows around it.

Chloe's father was waiting for her at the entrance of the gazebo. He had been confined to a wheelchair for years, but his eyes still shone with pride and love for his daughter.

When Chloe got to him, she could see the emotions in his eyes, she could see him communicating to her with his eyes, her heart sank when it dawned to her that he would never say those words.

Chloe took his hand and he wheeled her down the aisle towards the altar. As they made their way towards the gazebo, Chloe looked around at the guests who had come to witness her marriage. She saw her stepmother and stepsister sitting in the front row, their faces lit up with excitement and anticipation.

At the altar was the man she was going to get married to, the man she has never met before. But the smile on his face gave her a weird calmness and she felt a little hope that everything was going to be fine.

Finally, they arrived at the altar. Chloe's father tried his best to stand out of the wheelchair and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek before he was pushed away by his friend.

Chloe turned to face the man she was about to marry.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and piercing blue eyes that seemed to look right through her. His hair was dark and neatly combed, and he was wearing a black tuxedo that made him look even more handsome. Chloe had never seen him before, but she couldn't help but feel a little bit of excitement as she looked at him.

Chloe felt a knot in her stomach as she faced the man she was forced to marry. His face was long and his smile had vanished as soon as she walked down the aisle. She wondered if he was also unhappy with this marriage, but she didn't dare to ask. She felt a lump in her throat as the marriage process began.

The priest then turned to Alex and Chloe, and began the ceremony. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join together this man and woman in holy matrimony. Alexander King and Chloe Parker have come before us to profess their love for each other and to make a lifelong commitment to one another."

Chloe looked up at Alex, and saw a flicker of sadness in his eyes. She wondered if he felt as trapped as she did. The priest continued, "Alexander, do you take Chloe Parker to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, as long as you both shall live?"

Alex looked at Chloe and spoke, "I do."

Chloe's heart sank even further. She felt like crying, but she held back the tears. The priest then turned to Chloe, "And Chloe, do you take Alexander King to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, as long as you both shall live?"

Chloe took a deep breath, looked at Alex, and spoke softly, "I do."

The priest then handed the rings to Alex and Chloe. Alex spoke his vows first, "Chloe Parker, I promise to love you, cherish you, and be faithful to you for the rest of my life. I vow to support you, stand by you, and be your partner in all things."

Chloe's heart softened a little as she heard Alex's words. She then spoke her vows, "Alexander King, I promise to love you, cherish you, and be faithful to you for the rest of my life. I vow to support you, stand by you, and be your partner in all things."

The priest then asked Alex to place the ring on Chloe's finger and repeat after him, "With this ring, I thee wed."

Alex took the ring and placed it on Chloe's finger. "With this ring, I thee wed," he repeated.

Chloe then took the ring and placed it on Alex's finger. "With this ring, I thee wed," she repeated.

The priest then turned to the audience and announced, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Chloe closed her eyes and leaned in, hoping to feel some connection with the man she was marrying, but all she felt was his breath on her face. She opened her eyes to see that he had covered the audience's view with his head, pretending to kiss her. Chloe's heart sank, and she knew that this marriage was nothing but a charade.

As the ceremony ended, they both walked down the aisle, greeting the guests on each side. Chloe forced a smile, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of fear and pain in her heart. She was scared of what the future held for her and this man. Would he be kind to her? Would he respect her wishes? Would he ever love her?

Chloe knew that she had to tread carefully, for her stepmother and stepsister had warned her not to reveal her past to her husband. They had threatened her, and Chloe knew that she had to keep her secrets hidden. But how could she build a life with someone she didn't even know? How could she love someone who didn't even bother to kiss her on their wedding day?

She had just married a man she barely knew and who didn't seem to care for her. As they walked down the aisle, she could feel the weight of her dress and her emotions pulling her down.

She tried to put on a smile and wave to the guests, but it was forced and unconvincing. She didn't even know most of the people there, they were all Alex's friends and colleagues. Chloe felt like an outsider in her own wedding.

As they made their way through the crowd, Chloe could hear people congratulating them and commenting on how beautiful the wedding was. But to her, it was just a show, a facade to mask the pain and loneliness that she was feeling.

She stole a glance at Alex, who was walking beside her, looking straight ahead. She wondered what he was thinking, if he was regretting the marriage as much as she was. But she didn't dare ask.

She wanted to cry, to scream, to run away, but she knew she couldn't. She was trapped in this marriage, a prisoner of her own circumstances. She felt like she had lost everything, her freedom, her identity, her future.

Chloe tried to compose herself and put on a brave face for the rest of the day, but it was a struggle. She felt like she was suffocating, like the walls were closing in on her. She couldn't wait for the day to end and for this nightmare to be over.

She began to realize that she would have to face a lifetime with a man she didn't even know, a man who didn't care for her, a man who would never love her.

Chloe couldn't help but feel conflicted as she walked to the car with her new husband. She was married, but at what cost? Would she ever be truly happy? Only time would tell.

“Dad!” Chloe heard a loud shout, and when she turned to see two kids running towards them.

Alex bent down and took them into his arms, “My princess,” he kissed their forehead.

For the first time since Chloe saw him few hours ago, she could see the genuine smile on his face and she wondered who these little girls were.

They called him dad, but she couldn’t believe that yet.

Until Alex got up and gave her the shock of her life. He cleared his throat, “Meet my kids, Kira and Kyra,” he introduced to Chloe whose mouth was widely open in surprise. Alex turned to his kids, “Kira and Kyra, this is your new mom.”

Chloe staggered back and tripped on the long train of her gown, she fell to the floor with her heart thumping in her chest. It wasn’t what she thought.

She was going to be his second wife, and a mother to his children, that was all he married her for.