3. MARRIED

The day was finally here. Lena and Lisa sat in her room while the makeup artist did the last touches on Lena's face, giving herself a satisfactory smile. She turned to Lisa and said, "Done, ma'am!" Then she started to pack her things into the makeup box.

"I don't think this is necessary," Lena told Lisa. She had rejected the makeup offer when Lisa suggested it to her, but Lisa didn't have it. She went ahead to bring the artist.

"It is, you look so pretty, and I'm sure he would go crazy once he sets his eyes on you today." Lisa giggled, standing from where she was seated. She strode over to where Lena was sitting and cradled her already-styled hair.

"I don't want to do this." Lena just realized that after the wedding today, she won't be coming back to her father's house. She was so scared it could be a bad one. "I'm so nervous. I don't want to live with a man I don't know."

"This is the crossroad, Lena. We can't go back anymore. We either take a cross, or we stop at a standstill." Lisa caressed her back and kissed her forehead. "You will be fine, trust me." She convinced her friend.

Lena didn't trust her friend's words. She could read the uncertainty in her voice and expression; she wiggled her head and stood up. She went towards the window in her overflowing white gown; Lisa had specially picked her wedding gown. Though Lena just wanted to make things simple, she didn't want to give Darian the impression that she was pleased to marry him even though he had dropped some money for them to make preparations.

Lena rubbed her temples in worry, sighing hard, her eyes roamed the room. She felt homesick already. She walked back to the bedside and stood, staring at Lisa.

Lisa monitored her friend's movement; her overly long gown flowed throughout the room, the slit that cut right to her knees revealed her well-toned legs, and her well-carved shoulders were shown in the dress; she had simple but expensive makeup on her face. She was so pretty that sometimes, Lisa wished she was a guy and Lena was his girlfriend.

She looked at her again and nodded at the choice of gown she made. She was proud of herself. Her slender figure fitted the dress perfectly well.

"You should take it easy, okay? The church program starts in an hour. We should brace ourselves for it." She told Lena.

"So, this is it? I'm getting married to that man!" She half yelled and was close to tears. "I don't want to do this. I'm so afraid." She held her best friend very tightly. "I don't want to do it, please help me."

Lisa patted her shoulders and hugged her. She could see the trepidation in Lena's countenance but there was nothing she could do to help her.

"I will be here for you, but Lena, don't ruin that perfect makeup with your tears." She pressed her lips together and shrugged her shoulders when Lena looked at her scornfully. She smiled and urged her to be okay.

They left the room afterwards, and Lena met her father, who sat in the living room casually dressed in a black suit.

He should be glad his daughter was getting married, but there was no smile on his face; he looked at Lena as she walked towards him —she looked so beautiful and innocent, her hair was curly and packed to the back, her long gown graciously flowed and she looked so perfect as she walked towards her father, holding the two sides of the gown with her fingers, she looked so beautiful, but there was no smile on her face.

"Lena?" He called once she was standing in front of him.

She looked away from him. Bowing her head, she waited for him to speak to her.

"I'm sorry. I hope you forgive me someday." He muttered in a gentle voice. He took her hands and kissed them softly.

"Will you be fine on your own? I just realized that I won't be coming back to this house after today." She sniffed, about to cry again. She still cared about him no matter what he did.

"Darian made arrangements with some maids. He will send them over tomorrow." He told her, and she was surprised. She was oblivious to all that, but she didn't push it further.

All that mattered to her was her father's well-being, and she was glad it would be sorted out.

"The church program is starting in twenty minutes. We have to leave now." She told him, and they both walked out of the living room.

They got outside, and a car was already waiting for them; Darian had sent a car to go pick up his bride.

Lisa helped Lena pack the gown as they entered the car.

—---

A few minutes later, they were in the church premises. Lena got down from the car with her father standing by her side. Lisa was at the back, clutching the tip of the dress in her hands.

As they walked inside, Lena's heartbeat intensified; that was her fate being sealed with a man. After that day, there was no going back, she was going to be his wife and bear all the shit he would make her go through.

These thoughts clouded her mind, and she was on the verge of crying, giving up, and running out of the church, but it was already late, she couldn't do that anymore.

Her father walked her down the aisle. Darian was standing there already; he's been waiting, and he loathed that she kept him waiting, but he would let that slide —it was their wedding day.

Darian donned a well-fitted expensive black suit, he fell his hair this time, and Lena wondered how he could be so flawless. His manly cologne filled her nose, which smelled expensive. He had his eyes on her, making her uncomfortable.

Her father let go of her hands and stood back; there was no audience in the church, just the couple, Lisa, Gavin, and Darian's Chauffeur, and the priest who was to join the two in holy matrimony.

Darian looked at Lena, a smug smile spreading across his face. "You kept me waiting," he cautioned sternly.

She said nothing to him, she looked over at the priest, and the mass began.

After the celebration of the holy mass, it was now time to join the couple together.

The priest approached them with a bible in his hand, and Lisa walked up the aisle to deliver the ring.

"Darian Dawson, do you have a toast to make before I join you two together?" The elderly priest asked him.

"No," he shook his head without hesitation.

"And you, Lena Johnson, do you have a toast to make?" He asked her. Lena gave the same response too.

"Now, you say after me." He turned back to Darian. "I, Darian Dawson, take you, Lena Johnson, as my lawfully wedded wife, to love and cherish every day of my life, for better or worse till death do us part." The priest called out, and Darian said slowly after him, but he wasn't sure about those words, and he felt the marriage oath should not be necessary to try, but they had to go through the required procedure.

He slid the diamond ring onto her fragile finger, and it faultlessly fitted; Lena looked into his eyes and felt nothing at all; she let out an exasperated sigh —that was not the kind of wedding she had wished for all her life.

"Lena, are you ready to pronounce your vows?" The priest asked her, and she looked to where her father and Lisa were sitting. She wanted to scream out loud and tell the priest she didn't want to marry Darian, but that would be her father's death.

She turned back to the priest and nodded in response, "I'm ready," she muttered.

"I, Lena..." He said, and she repeated after him. When she was done pronouncing her vows, she took the ring and held Darian's beautiful lean fingers; she gently put it on it and looked at him, his eyes met with hers, but he was quick to stare away from her.

"You may now kiss your bride." The priest announced to them. At that moment, Lena realized she had never had her first kiss, she widened her eyes in shock, but Darian had a smug smile on his face.

He pulled her closer to himself and gently lifted the veil, cupped her face in his hands, and bent his head to her level.

"You're mine now." He whispered into her ears, and those words alone sent quivers down her spine. The words sounded dangerous. He smiled at her and placed his lips on her tiny lips, kissed her once, and let go very quickly.

Lena felt no impact from the kiss, she looked at her father again, and he had an apologetic look on, bracing herself for what was coming the whole day.

"I join you two in holy matrimony, and I now pronounce you husband and wife!" The priest raised their hands to the air.

Lisa and Gavin applauded. Lena was so scared. Her heart couldn't stop beating hard, but there was no going back now, it had been sealed, and she was officially his wife.

After the solemnization of holy matrimony, they left the church premises. Lena met with her father and Lisa for the last time before going with her husband.

"Lisa, I'm leaving. Going with him forever." She sniffed, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't know what will become of me

 I'm scared." She let out her fears, and her friend hugged her tightly.

"You will be fine," Lisa assured her. "And don't forget that we are always there for you. No matter how hard it gets, you can always call on us." She said, giving her a reassuring smile.

"I'm so sorry, Lena." Her father started. "I blame myself for this." He patted her back and gently rubbed it down.

After a while, she raised her head. "I have to leave now. He's waiting." She told them.

"Take care of yourself, and don't forget to put a call across if something goes wrong." She nodded her head, and Lisa blew her a kiss. She stared at them for the last time before leaving.

She waved to them as she was going to the car to meet Darian, she got inside, and her eyes met with him; she quickly gazed away.

"Were you planning to go back to your father's house?" His voice sounded harsh.

Lena looked at him and said nothing.

"It wouldn't hurt if you give a response, you know?"

She still didn't respond to him. The chauffeur started the car and drove away from the church premises.

Lena's heart began to beat hard; that was it, she was going to his house and didn't know what awaited her. She felt nauseated and wanted to throw up, fly out of the car and go back to her father. But the deal was done, she was starting a new life with Darian—a life she would either loathe or love.

She sighed, awaiting her doom in the hands of Darian Dawson.