CHAPTER 8 – CAN I EVER NOT BE FAKE?

🦋 FELIX 🦋

I walked into the mansion, replaying the last thing my grandmother said, “You don’t have a say. You are to get married to her, so be ready.”

Out of everyone I could be married to, why Rose? My grandmother cares about nothing but business; to her, happiness is business.

Benita stood at the center of the living room, pacing around.

As soon as she set her eyes on me, she ran towards me, “I was waiting for you.”

I scoffed, “Who are you to wait for me?” storming inside my room without giving her a second glance.

***🦋***

The week went by quickly, and during the week, I never set my eyes on Benita. She’s in her room when I’m leaving for work, and when I’m back from work. Even when I check the security camera, she’s never appearing in the sitting room, kitchen, or balcony.

I picked up the suit I’ve been blankly staring at for hours, it’s hard to believe I’ll be stuck with Rose under the same roof.

I got ready for the wedding and stormed out of my room. “We prepared the car,” one of my men said with his head hung low.

I nodded coldly and moved towards the door to leave when I received a message from my secretary, Greg.

“You’ll receive a call from the chairwoman soon, Rose Fred bolted the wedding. I’m saying she ran away on the wedding day.”

Seconds later, my grandmother’s call came in, “Find a solution to this situation, the media shouldn’t find out your bride dumped you on your wedding day, it would mess up the stock price. Find a substitute for now, and make sure to keep her face hidden.” With that, she hung up.

I slammed my eyes shut in frustration, “Get me Benita,” I commanded, breathing heavily. “She’s the only option I have in this situation.”

Soon Benita appeared, “You called for me?”

I nodded, “Let’s get married,” I declared.

Her face turned pale. “Sorry?”

“You’ll be getting married to me today, Benita,” I repeated, “As a substitute. Just until my real bride returns. The dress would be brought to you in a minute, get dressed and come out quickly… make sure your face is covered.”

A sad, sarcastic laugh left her lips, “You too?” she asked, “You also want to use me like everyone else. Foolish me forgot for a while and assumed you were different.”

I watched her walk away with a disappointed expression on her face, deep down I felt bad and selfish, which was an emotion I had never felt before, but I’d rather to tied to her than anyone else, and this feels like the best shot at my only way out.

***🦋***

🦋 BENITA 🦋

I could feel Felix’s gaze on me as we walked towards the altar, my heart racing and my palms growing sweaty.

I trembled as the familiar faces of people I’d rather not see for the rest of my life stared at me, their happy smiles making my skin crawl.

My father, who remarried the day my mother died, the stepmother who kicked me out of the house, and… Mr Williams, the man who completely made my life miserable.

I thought about the life I had always lived, the sacrifices I had to make, and the expectations I had struggled to meet. The more I stood there, the more I felt trapped.

My breath quickened, and my legs began to tremble. Felix held on to me, and I immediately took the support.

As soon as my part of the marriage was over, Felix took me to the car and demanded that I be taken home immediately, which I was grateful for. I don’t think I would survive another second stuck in a place filled with people who reminded me of nothing but my horrifying past.

***🦋***

I walked into the mansion, feeling utterly drained, the day’s event replaying in my head like a bad movie, each moment more painful than the last.

Every awkward interaction I had with those who frustrated me weighed heavily on me. Tears pricked in my eyes as I thought about how I was pushed into a situation that wasn’t mine.

“Stay outside,” I blurted out, gawking at the bodyguard Felix placed on me.

“We were told…” They paused.

I smirked, “Don’t worry, there’s nowhere for me to run to.”

I slammed the door shut, picked up a bottle of alcoholic wine and gulped it down, picked up another bottle and did the same, until I was no longer aware of what I was doing.

The sound of the door sent my head flying towards the entrance, and there, Felix stood with an expressionless face.

I thought as long as I was not starving or being maltreated, I had nothing to worry about. But now that my situation has changed, I want more.

Love, happiness, and support. I want everything I’ve never had.

Felix and I stared at each other for a ridiculously long time before he took steps closer to me.

“Why me?” I blurted out, breaking the silence. “I mean – you could easily get any girl out there and pay her for it, so why make me a substitute all of a sudden? Why are you also trying to make my life miserable?”

“A substitute?” I added, “That’s absurd. Why am I always the fake one? I had to face all those motherf*ckers who maltreated me today, my father, my step mother, Mr William, that old devil… do you even know how miserable I felt today? Why would you care? I was raped, Felix. I was traumatized and used. When I reported it to the police, do you know what happened? They ignored me and turned a blind eye to everything because I was poor.”

I laughed out loud, picking myself from the floor as I staggered from one corner to the other, finally standing in front of Felix.

I could hear him swallow hard and take a deep breath, but I kept talking.

“I was finally starting to forget everything, but you reminded me about everything today. I was finally thinking my bad luck was over – but a substitute?” I whispered.

I swung my arm as if trying to find balance in the air. “Why do you have to use me as a substitute? Can’t I be the real bride? Am I worthless to you, too? Say something and don’t just stand there!”

I stumbled closer to Felix, my vision blurring. Before I knew it, my feet tangled, and I felt myself falling. Time slowed as my lips crashed into his, our bodies colliding awkwardly. Felix’s eyes widened in shock as I grabbed onto him to steady myself, my lips not leaving his.