Chapter 5 FAREWELL TO MY INDEPENDENCE

The scenario that was presented to me resembled a tough admission test.

One where you had to mark your best responses with a pencil to place first or shrug your shoulders and take the test again the following year.

However, it still didn't appear to apply to my current situation.

Slumping my shoulders meant consenting to become his wife while penciling in the right answer meant declining to marry the guy next to me.

In any case, the repercussions were still fairly distributed.

Refusing to be his wife meant exposing a major scandal, allowing a grandfather to pass away, and defaming a prosperous family.

I had to bid farewell to my independence and virginity as well as embrace motherhood-a role for which I was ill-prepared-when I agreed to marry him.

I was left stranded by the accusatory mental fingers pointing at me, the murmuring sounds of the throng filling my eardrum, and the wedding bells ringing melodiously in my head.

This was one of the fortunate days for people who had never witnessed a bride weep in all of her wedding magnificence.

They may become well-known with just a quick look at me and an update on their Instagram.

I felt hot tears shoot down my cheeks, licking my chin, and my eyes glowed with anguish.

At least the Virgin Mary in the Bible married the love of her life, Joseph, and had a child with the Lord of Lords. Why did my situation need to be unique?

Emily had forgotten about me, and the faith I had in her vanished.

I was unaware of how long the priest had been gazing at me, but as soon as my eyes met his concerned ones, he reached for a hankie to dab at the perspiration streaming down his face.

His mouth curled into a lovely grin, but there were deep lines on his forehead that indicated how stressed out he was by the circumstances. He cleared his throat and beckoned the assembly to focus. Grasping the microphone tightly, he sent out a few quivering words.

"From the bride's coldness, it will be best to..."

"No!"

Following the protest, there was a collective gasp, and everyone in the room glanced worriedly at Grandma-well, except for Nicholas, who kept his gaze fixed on his sparkling diamond watch. She moved up the red-carpeted floor and stood somewhat away from the altar. In the hush that followed, her shoes creaked horribly as she grasped her robe tightly. She did not seem to be backing down from her objection. "I declined! There will be no cancellation of this wedding for any reason. My ultimate conclusion is that she will wed him." Grandma gave me a shady stare.

Her lips become as rigid as stone, and her eyebrows furrowed.

Her icy gaze scorched my chest, ripped my flesh, and sent shivers down my spine.

How in the world was I going to get out of this mess? There was no more hope. Katerina, my little angel. Although she seems afraid, don't you want this wedding?

My teeth throbbed when Grandma's menacing words brushed across my ears.

"I... Yes."

My lips moved to release my stuttering words.

Did I experience relief?

Not at all!

That's because my grumpy husband looked up at that very moment, capturing my gaze in his intense blue eyes, making my breath flutter and my throat dry.

Allowing my gaze to stray from the white blossom on his breast pocket, I saw his adorable sharp jawline, distinct stumble, and stunning black birthmark that matched his pink lips in that endearing grin.

My heart melted, oh my.

The Greek god was standing in front of me, his eyes full of mischief and his beauty vague.

A throat noise cut short those few moments of passion, and I looked up to see a smiling priest.

"Katerina Carter, Did you come here voluntarily to dedicate your life to your husband's love and service?"

"Yes, father."

I swallowed.

That's what your affirmative indicates. You are off each other and for each other; you are no longer your own."

Time appeared to go by more quickly than I had anticipated. The applause and shouts stole the show, and our miss returned to a state of tranquility.

"Nicholas Woods, do you accept Katerina Carter as your devoted wife here and now by our holy right?

As his lips parted, my heart skipped a beat and pounded against my chest.

A flush spread over my cheeks as she stole a look at my face.

"Yes."

There were applauding hands behind his answer.

It was then my time. Katerina Carter.

My commitment to no freedom was signed by the golden ring he had put on my left hand's finger.

On Lover's Day, how did I get married to a stranger?

When I was married to such a guy by an elderly woman, how was I ever going to regain my independence?

How is my career doing?

This was not encouraging.

"You may now kiss the bride."

With a flick of his palms, my veil flunked over my hair.

He tilted my head to the side, surprising me by letting his lips collide with mine. His lips snagged my bottom lip and turned it into his luscious ones, robbing my virgin lips of their purity.

The magnificent effect made me feel butterflies in my stomach, and his cherry aroma filled my nose.

Gripping onto his neck, my bouquet clenched in my fists, my lips opened to receive his warm tongue, which struck my mouth at an awkward angle.

I felt sick to my stomach from the unpleasantness of his tongue swimming in my mouth and our salivary contact.

"KATERINA, YOUR MUM WILL be proud of you and Lucas too."

Grandma traced circles with her fingertips on my back and pulled me into an embrace, but I didn't even look at her.

My focus immediately shifted to the receptionist's visitor.

"Please, don't act foolishly.

Take excellent care of your spouse as well as yourself."

She pulled her hands away from me and planted a kiss on my head.

My hand caught her robe as she was coming out of me with great stride.

"Isn't it early for you to leave?"

"The wedding is over, meaning the money for Lucas's heart transplant is already transferred into my accounts."

Her lips become a rich crimson, shimmering grin.

What a heartless lady, with as many personalities as a pair of dice.

Was the money and the wedding all that mattered to her?

She was cunning.

Perhaps she contributed to Katerina's disinterest in this marriage.

This grandmother was disgusting.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

I gave her a troubled look.

She took her robe from my enraged grasp and stroked the silver chain around my neck with her hands.

"Lucas's heart transplant is scheduled for the first hour tomorrow morning, so we ought to be in South Africa by this evening."

Before she could continue speaking, I felt a hand ensnaring me in a tight hold across someone's chest.

The person's tears flooded my room.

"Katerina, I appreciate your assistance. My darling, you performed well. We are blessed with you."

I knew from his remarks that the renowned Lucas I gave up my freedom for should be the one.

His wet eyes met mine as he released the hold. His grin and gray hair made me think of the old guy who escorted me to the altar.

Without a doubt, Lucas was that old guy.

Grandma said, taking Lucas's hands in hers, "Honey, we have to hurry up or we shall miss our flight."

"My kid, be safe and say a prayer for my well-being. Please be a nice girl.

As he and Grandma went away, his speech became hazy.

"Sure."

I looked around the throng later that night for Emily, but not even her ghost acknowledged me.

To where might she have gone to?

Strong hands grasp my wrist, yanking me from my reverie.