The priest, standing under a canopy of flowers, began the ceremony with solemnity as Andrea and Niklas reached and stood opposite, facing each other in front of him. His voice echoed through the hall, reciting the traditional vows. The flower girls and boys performed their roles flawlessly as if they had been trained before hand, adding to the picture-perfect scene that felt hollow to the couple. The priest began,"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Andrea and Niklas in holy matrimony. This is a day of great joy and celebration." The words seemed to hang in the air, unacknowledged by the couple. Andrea’s mind wandered to her past, to her lost love and the dreams she once held, her plans for the future as well as how she sought to become the best known actress. Niklas, on the other hand, was mentally plotting his next move in the business world, his heart hardened by years of ambition and bitterness. "Do you, Niklas Eduardo, take Andrea to be your l
"Make yourself at home Andrea, or should I say, daughter in-law" Mrs Eduardo said and laughed so loudly, making her son look at her , wondering if she had run mad with the way she was laughing because he got married." Of course mother" Andrea said, smiling and bowing to the woman, reciprocating the new name she had to call her." Aigoooooo" she coed loudly, holding her mouth while smiling like a teenage girl blushing at the flirting skills of a younger lover." I've arranged everything you'd need, if you are to need anything else, don't forget to call my attention or that of the maids" she said to her again, noticing her son who was leaving to the room, tired from hearing the cringe he felt from listening to their conversations."And oh my son" she said and brought her lips close to her ears, wanting to whisper something to her."He was born a strong kid, I hope you're strong and ready, I don't know how strong he'd do you down there" she whispered and immediately held her lips again,
Andrea was left standing and watching, waiting to see if there was anyone else coming to give her a piece of their minds and reminding her about her place as a country bumpkin but no one seemed to come, except for the little girl she had seen earlier. " My mother and her mother are always like that to everyone. Don't take it to heart and think it's only you they're mean to" the girl said, making her face expressionless as possible, not wanting to betray that she worried for her. " Ohh, thank you for the heads-up" Andrea muttered and gave the girl a thumbs up with her two hands. " What does that mean? Is that what they do at your province?" She asked, curious and irritated at the same time that she was conversing for long with the new lady of the house. "It means that we're good and that I'm happy you're caring for me and I want us to be friends" Andrea went on the explain to the girl who seemed never to have seen anyone doing a thumbs up before. " I don't want to be your friend.
"What are you wearing?" Niklas demanded from her as she came out of the dressing room, walking into the grand room that served as both the parlour and the bedroom.She looked at the pink night wear she wore and stared at him, finding out that he was wearing the exact same designs, but in the blue colour."Mother!!!" He said beneath his breath and walked up where she was."Who gave it to you?" He asked and she immediately told him where she had found it in.He began walking towards the dressing room and she followed, fearing that she might have annoyed him in a way a submissive wife was not to.He opened his wardrobe and screamed in horror, half of his clothes had been replaced.He turned and opened hers and screamed his mother's name again, as he saw that the clothes that were in her wardrobe were all the female designs for the new clothes and suits that were in his wardrobe.Even his night wear had been changed and he had worn it thinking it was his cleaner that had replaced his old
Niklas was skeptical and at the same time apprehensive of her and her goals and why she had been in his room on the day of the one night stand. Perhaps she was worse than most arranged brides who entered the marriage with the sole aim of reaping the man dry. He wasn't going to give her such opportunity if she were one of them. Tossing up and down his bed which made noises that disturbed the equally tensed Andrea's ears, he couldn't help it and she couldn't help being lost in thoughts. Afraid of what might happen during the night or after the night or if someone was going to come at her in the night, threatening to kill her. "Andre" she heard and wondered if she were dreaming because that was a short form of her name only her father called her by. "Andre" Niklas called again, repeating the name he had heard her father call her once, which had sounded like a melody to his ears. She stood up and looked at him, surprised he was calling her that. He stood tall right in front of her a
Andrea stirred from her sleep, disoriented for a moment by the unfamiliar surroundings. She remembered the events of the previous day and sighed deeply. Determined to make a good impression as a submissive wife she was keen on becoming, she decided to cook breakfast for the family, since there was nothing more she could contribute to aid her husband's ambitions-- like she had been told. She quietly slipped out of bed and out of the room, careful enough not to wake Niklas, and made her way to the expansive kitchen she had identified, from the clanking of pots she had overheard from the workers who were obviously planning to make breakfast for the family. Andrea had always prided herself on her cooking skills, but this kitchen was unlike anything she had ever seen. Stainless steel appliances gleamed, and every utensil imaginable was neatly arranged inside the cupboards. It were as if the kitchen was a store that sold cooking and kitchen wares. "Madam, what brings you here?" One of
Xyrielle took a spoon and scooped a little from one of the plate of the egg Benedict she made a d immediately spatted it into an empty plate in front of her. She laughed again. " Don't try to impress anyone Andrea, they won't accept your efforts" " Do you always treat everyone around you this disrespectfully?" Andrea asked her. " Calling everyone by their names even though they were older than you. If my brother were here, he would have beaten you if he were to find out that a little girl like you called me by my name. He's Eighteen though, but he still treats and calls my name with respect. I'm surprised a little girl like you don't" she added to annoy the girl that had been picking up at her. Xyrielle swallowed her spit. " Well he can't" she blurted. "There's no hope he'd see me anywhere anyways. He must still be at your village province where you people don't even know how to make a common egg Benedicts" Andrea shaked her head and laughed deep within her. The girl was real
"Ohhh mother,you won't imagine the lady that had acid thrown at her face. Apparently she was having an affair with the commissione's husband and when she found out the second class husband she had fallen in love with and married was having affair, She went after the lady and threw acid on her face" Beatrice said. "it wasn't on her face she threw the acid on.If you want to gossip, atleast do so with correct facts" Xyrielle dissed at her mother, pissed off by the mere sound of her voice. "You disrespectful urchin" Beatrice said, clenching her teeth at her."Enough!!" Mrs. Eduardo said and the dining became silent again."You tried, but try harder next time" Mr Eduardo muttered before he stood up to leave for work.His remark had left the people who were in the dining with him surprised. He wasn't one that complimented someone's cooking, he wasn't one to throw in good remarks. As he walked out, along with Claudia and Beatrice that followed suit, Andrea picked up something.Xyrielle d