Chapter 7 THE GROOMLESS BRIDE

The week leading up to the wedding passed by in a blur. My mother had been inconsolable after the phone call with Mr. Carter, but she eventually pulled herself together and began planning the wedding. We had to find a way to tell everyone the news - that I was getting married, and that my groom wouldn't be there. It was even harder to tell Bella, my younger sister, but we managed to do it. Some people were excited, others confused, and others just seemed worried for me. We told them all and handed out the invitation cards. Bella, on the other hand, was excited.

It was hard to tell Timothy the news, but I knew I couldn't put it off any longer. I couldn't bear to see the hurt in his eyes, and I knew that telling him would break my heart. In the end, it was Kathryn who told him, while I cowered in my house, unable to face him. I felt like a coward, and the guilt weighed heavily on my shoulders.

The media had gotten wind of the situation, and I was horrified to see headlines calling me "The Groomless Bride." My mother decided to make the wedding a private affair, by invitation only, to try to keep the media away. It would take place in our backyard, with only a handful of close friends and family members present.

As the wedding day approached, I thought that I would be able to come to terms with the fact that Adam wouldn't be there. But on the day itself, as I was getting ready, I found myself feeling a deep sense of loss and grief. I kept thinking of all the things that could have been, and it was hard to keep my emotions in check.

I was filled with sadness, anger, and hatred towards Mr. Wilson. I promised to make him pay for what he has done. We did not care about the number of guests at the wedding. If we could, we would have had no guests at all.

The day of the wedding finally arrived, and I felt numb as I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. I was wearing a beautiful white dress, but it felt like a costume. I didn't feel like a bride - I felt like a prisoner, being forced into a life I didn't want.

"You look beautiful, Althea," I whispered to myself, my voice breaking. I could feel the tears welling up, but I forced myself to stay strong.

"Smile!" I said out loud, trying to cheer myself up. But the smile felt hollow, like it was just an empty shell.

As I continued to stare at my reflection in the mirror, I felt my emotions rising to the surface. Before I knew it, I was crying uncontrollably, my makeup running down my face. The sight of my own reflection was too much to bear. All I could think about were the events leading up to this moment, and I couldn't stop the sobs from coming.

I couldn't bear to look at myself any longer, so I turned away from the mirror and sank onto my bed. I cried and cried, feeling overwhelmed and defeated. Just as I was beginning to think that there was no way out of this situation, I heard a knock at the door. I hastily wiped my eyes and tried to compose myself, but it was too late. My mother had already seen me in my distraught state.

"What's wrong, my dear?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. "What happened?"

"Nothing." I voiced out, my words barely audible.

"Sweetheart, please stop crying," my mother said, her voice gentle but firm. "You agreed to this marriage, remember? Please, try to stay strong. It's for the best."

I wiped the tears from my eyes, but they just kept coming. "I know, Mom," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It just...it just hurts so much."

I felt completely drained, like all the energy had been sucked out of me. I just wanted to be alone, to wallow in my misery and despair. But my mother was determined to comfort me. "I know it's hard, Althea," she said, sitting next to me and placing a hand on my shoulder. "But sometimes, we have to do things that we don't want to do, for the greater good."

I looked up at her, my eyes red and puffy from crying. "I know," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "But I just don't know if I can go through with it."

"I'm so sorry, Althea," my mother said, her own eyes glistening with tears. "I never wanted you to have to go through something like this."

"But I just don't understand," I said, frustration bubbling up inside me. "What is the secret? Why can't I know what's really going on?"

My mother's expression was grave. "I can't tell you the details, but please trust me when I say that it's for the best that you don't know."

I couldn't hold back the tears that were welling up in my eyes, and they began to fall in earnest. In all my years, I'd never imagined that I'd be in a situation like this.

My mother looked at me, her face etched with worry and regret. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, my sister, Bella, walked into the room.

"Althea, what's wrong?" Bella asked, her eyes filled with concern. "It's your wedding day. You're supposed to be happy, aren't you?"

I tried to compose myself. "Bell, these are tears of joy," I said, forcing a smile. I didn't want her to worry, and I wanted to be strong for her. She was the most important person in my life, and I wanted to make sure she was always safe and happy. Her smile meant the world to me.

"Promise me you'll visit me when you get married, okay, Tea?" Bella said, a mischievous grin on her face.

I shot her a warning look. "You promised not to call me that in front of mom!"

"But you called me Bell!" she protested. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, right?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, we're even," I said, my smile wide. "And I promise I'll come visit you once I'm married."

Bella beamed at me, and for a moment, everything felt right in the world. We were sisters, best friends, and we would always be there for each other, no matter what. The future was uncertain, but with Bella by my side, I knew I could face anything.

Bella was so excited by the turn of events that she blurted out, "Sister Althea, promise me you won't forget us. Please come visit when dad comes back from Germany, okay?"

My mom and I exchanged a glance. "Okay," I said, even though I knew it was a promise I might not be able to keep.

Bella said her goodbyes and left the room, and as soon as she was gone, my mom spoke up. "She seems so happy."

"If only she knew," I said, my voice low and sad.

"Althea," my mother began, a note of worry in her voice.

"It's okay, mom," I reassured her. "I promise I won't tell her. Dad's in Germany, and that's how it's going to stay."

My mother nodded, then stood up to leave the room. But before she could get to the door, I called out, "Mom, promise me that no one else in the family will get hurt if I do this."

My mother turned to look at me, her eyes full of sorrow and understanding. "I promise," she said quietly, before leaving me alone with my thoughts. I knew what I had to do, but it didn't make it any easier. I was about to make a decision that would change my life forever.

It was the only way to save my father from my cruel father-in-law. I had no idea where they were keeping him, or what condition he was in.

I lay on my bed, my eyes red and swollen from crying. The growling of my stomach reminded me that I hadn't eaten all day, but I knew I couldn't leave the room until it was time for the ceremony.

I closed my eyes and tried to relax, but my mind was too full of worries and fears. I thought about my father, and whether he was okay. I thought about my mother, and how worried she must be. And I thought about Bella, and how she would react when she found out what I had done. I felt like a prisoner, trapped in my own home, and I longed for freedom. But there was no escape from the situation I was in.

ADAM'S POV

Adam sat in the living room of his penthouse apartment in New York City, enjoying a cup of coffee. Suddenly, his assistant burst in, holding a tablet in his hands. He looked nervous and uncertain.

"Sir, we've finally found some information about the girl... er, I mean your bride!" the assistant stammered.

Adam took a long sip of his coffee, savoring the moment. This was going to be fun.

"What have you found out?" he asked, a sly grin spreading across his face.