Chapter 2: Where's the Real Bride?

The huge event hall, which was priorly quiet, was now in chaos. Why wouldn't they be? The one they waited to see was the face of Lianna Smith, the Smith's illegitimate child, not the face of the prominent A-list fashion model, Eridessa Joseph.

“E-eridessa? W-what? What are you doing here? No….”

“Why are you here?”

On the other hand, shock consumes Natalia Kilmer when she realizes the persona behind the veil. She couldn't comprehend whether she'd be delighted to see Eridessa with her son, or to be enraged by the sudden humiliation unfolding in her eyes.

“Hi, babe! We’re finally married!” Eridessa smiles sweetly, shocking everyone more. 

“Oh father…Are you forgetting something?” 

“H-huh?”

“Duh! The kiss! Aren’t you supposed to announce “You may now kiss the bride” at this very moment?”

“Come on! Don’t ruin my day!”

Every one present at the wedding was flabbergasted by Eridessa’s remarks. Much to the point that even the officiating priest was stoned to his post, eyes wide and lips half open.

“Ugh! Fine! I’ll do it myself.” Eridessa rolls her eyes before facing the still-shaken Rupert. “Now, my beloved groom…You may now kiss your bride!”

“You may now kiss me, babe.” Not wanting to delay things any further, Eridessa takes matters into her own hands, leaning towards Rupert, in an attempt to kiss him. 

When their lips were inches away, Rupert regains his senses, moving his face away from Eridessa.

“Rupert? What’s wrong?” Eridessa dismisses his refusal and continues her advances. However, Rupert, whose emotions finally sink in, was now shaking in anger and in embarrassment, quickly pulling himself away from Eridessa. 

"Rupert? Why aren't you kissing me? We're married now" Eridessa, contrasting the chaotic discourse happening behind them, asked in a mellow tone.

Although wearing a gorgeous gown, her stare was dreamy. Her gray orbs looked like they were stuck in a hypnotic trance. 

"Married? We are not married!”

“What nonsense are you on, huh? Didn’t you hear the priest declare it earlier?”

“This.is.not.a.game Eridessa…”

“And I’m not playing games with you, babe.” Eridessa turns to the still-frozen priest beside them. “Hey father! Announce it again!”

“Announce what exactly?”

“Goddamn it. Do I have to explain everything in detail?” Frustration was starting to build inside her chest as she brushed her hair. 

“Announce it again! The part where you declared the both of us as husband and wife! Make it louder this time for every guest present to hear!” Another round of gasps echoed inside the wedding hall with every word Eridessa utters.

With the scandal ensuing in their eyes, the media who was invited to capture the supposed-to-be memorable day, was now intent on capturing the shocking scene at the elevated altar. Gossips and murmurs were echoing nonstop in this enclosed space, adding to Rupert’s embarrassment and anxiety, on top of his anger.

“Shut the fuck up!”

“Is that how you treat your wife, Rue?” Rupert’s eyes darken as he hears his nickname. 

“Don’t.you.dare.call.me.that!” 

Rue was the nickname given to him by Lianna, and was exclusively set only for her to call. 

“I’m now your wife so I’m gonna call you anything I want. Besides, it's your nickname. So what’s the problem of me calling you that?”

“The problem?” Rupert’s temper was nearly at its limits, immediately grabbing Eridessa on the shoulders tightly, eyes sharply darted to the woman. “IT’S YOU!”

“You didn’t answer my question. WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE?!” Though feeling the pain from his tight grip, Eridessa's adamant nature didn’t waiver.

“To marry you, what else?!”

“Marriage? YOU’RE NOT MY FIANCE! YOU’RE NOT LIA!”

“DON’T YOU DARE SAY HER NAME! IT DISGUSTS ME!”

“IT’S LIANNA THAT I’M SUPPOSED TO BE MARRIED TO RIGHT NOW! NOT YOU! JUST WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE, ERIESSA?!" His voice could no longer hide the rising tone that made the latter flinch in fear. 

Rupert tries to find Lacey Mitchell, Lianna’s best friend and the maid of honor of the wedding, however, she is nowhere to be found. In fact, it was only now that he realized that Lacey never appeared at the event since it started.

"Pennel! Where's my wife?! Aren't you the one who arranged the car for her?" Rupert exclaims to his assistant, Pennel Lloyd, who was taken aback by the surprise.

"S-sir. I did! I just confirmed with the front desk. They said it was positive that Ms. Smith boarded the limo we arranged for her"

"If that's the case, THEN WHERE IS SHE?!" Pennel, having no clue as to what happened, only responded in a stutter in silence, afraid to further trigger his already-agitated boss.

“The fuck? NO ONE'S GONNA ANSWER ME?!”

“S-sir…W-we’ll f-find her.”

“THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING!”

"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, JUST FIND HER!" Rupert orders his men in a loud growl, causing them to flee the venue in a flash, hoping to find the real bride.

Natalia, regaining composure, walks towards Rupert to express her complaints.

“See?! I told you this marriage is a mistake!”

“Mom…not.now”

“This is because you didn’t listen to me. Look. The guests are now gossiping about this scandal! It’s humiliating!”

“Mom..I said, not now…” Rupert heaves heavy breaths as he tries to calm himself, massaging his temple. “Lianna… she’s still nowhere to be found…”

“Does it matter where she is right now?! Because of her, we’ve become the laughing stock in all of high society!”

“That damned bitch! Yeah, you better find her. That wretched girl needs to be severely punished for this!”

“She’s gonna pay for this humiliation–”

“I TOLD YOU TO SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Natalia froze in place when Rupert yells at her, shutting her up. She couldn’t believe that her own son disrespected her, to her surprise.

Minutes after waiting for news, Pennel steps forward with a phone in hand.

“S-sir. We have news…”

"Spit it out"

Pennel gulps before continuing his news. "Sir. We just found out that Ms. Smith boarded a white limousine"

"So?"

"Sir. The one we arranged for her was a black one." Rupert's expression quickly darkens with the sudden news. A mix of worry and anxiety looms on his chest while thinking about Lianna's current situation.

"Have you located the white limo's whereabouts?"

"Yes, sir. Our men just sent me the coordinates"

"Rupert? Why are you finding her? Your bride is literally right here. Right in front of you." Eridessa interrupts while pulling Rupert's sleeves. Occupied on finding his real bride, Rupert forcefully pulls away, causing Eridessa to stumble on her feet.

“Hands off of me!”

“W-what the?! How dare you treat me this way?!”

“Dare?...How dare I?” Rupert leans towards Eridessa with sharp-darted eyes, causing Eridessa to shiver in fear. “How dare YOU ruin MY WEDDING?”

“Lia was meant to wear that dress. Her, alone. “ Rupert slowly speaks each word with spite and anger, determined to deliver his frustrations to Eridessa. “Not just anyone. And definitely, NOT YOU.”

“So do me a favor, Eridessa. Get out. Get yourself OUT OF MY WAY before I do something irrevocable to you that I might regret.” Rupert warns Eridessa in a deep tone that sends shivers to her skin. When his message was delivered, he quickly turned to Pennel, preparing to leave.

“W-where are y-you going? You’re not just gonna leave me here?!” Eridessa screams as she attempts to get hold of Rupert. In spite of her advances, Rupert is dead set on finding Lianna, causing Pennel to be on his toes.

“Pennel! Lead me to Lianna! Now!" Rupert exclaims as he storms out of the hall.

“Yes, sir!”

***

At a majestic private chapel standing on the edges of the cityscapes, a beautiful bride akin to that of a fairytale princess walked down the red carpet. Similar to that of Crimson Crescent Hotel, the chapel was also covered with varied ornaments and exquisite finishes that speaks none other than luxury. The grandiose event has sparked the curiosity of high society, sheltering a significant number of elites, wishing to witness the marriage of a certain renowned bachelor.

Afterall, despite the announcements and the reputation of the man, no one knew exactly who his bride was. Not until the big day.

With a thick veil hovering on most of her upper torso, the figure of a woman in white graced the aisle, intriguing everyone of her identity. 

Seeing his bride walk towards him, the groom standing patiently on the altar moved towards, surprising everyone present. With neither a father nor a mother to accompany her, the groom initiates to meet her halfway. Even though no one could see her reaction, she was indeed taken aback by his sudden act. However, the man offers his arm, implying that he will walk with her towards the altar. 

Leaving no other choice, the beautiful woman drapes her arm on his, not wanting to leave him hanging. As they took their steady steps, a smile unconsciously left her lips.

The ceremony started but still, the priest was careful enough not to drop the bride’s name all throughout the ceremony, earning several friendly complaints from the crowd. When the exchange of vows came, the priest removed the mic, leaving the two of them privately exchanging their vows and rings.

“Now then, from this day forth, I now pronounce you, husband and wife!” the priest concluded and cheers filled the room as finally, the big reveal they all been waiting for had come.

The identity of the bride is to be announced.

Just as before the groom could lift the veil, the giant, wooden doors were opened widely by force, diverting the attention of the crowd to the entrance. There, a disheveled Rupert appeared before their eyes.

“Where is she?!”

“Excuse me sir, but who are you referring to?” One of the guards in the entrance immediately cuts him off as he attempts to enter.

“MY WIFE!” Confusion was all over the guests’ face by his sudden outbursts, questioning that his wedding started earlier than theirs. However, their reasons fell into deaf ears as Rupert scanned the whole place, looking for his bride. When his sight landed on the two people standing on the altar, he felt something different.

“Mr. Kilmer, what a pleasant surprise. May I ask why are you looking for your wife here? I believe you already got married just a while ago, so shouldn’t she be with you and not here?” Rupert’s eyes squinted when the groom just meters away from him finally spoke in a nonchalant manner.

“Jasper Wayne…are you the owner of the white limousine that is currently parked outside?” Rupert sharply queries the bachelor, who is none other than Jasper Wayne, the CEO of JW Pharmaceuticals. 

Since they first met at a club party, he felt the presence of the man irritating. No matter what he did, he felt something off about him, and it triggered his insecurities unconsciously.

“Oh that? Yes, I do own it. In fact, it is what my bride rode earlier upon coming here”

“What?” Rupert thought he heard wrong, but the expression of Jasper as he uttered it felt like the truth.

“His bride…rode it? But…how? What’s going-’” His mind went blank for a moment as he tried to process things, but when the woman in white beside Jasper Wayne slowly unraveled her veil, Rupert finally had his answer.

“Lia?”

“Wha-what’s…what’s the meaning of this?” Words felt heavy to be properly constructed as he gazed on the familiar face behind the white veil.

“Hi Rue…Isn’t it obvious? It’s my wedding day”

*****