Chapter 3 SILENT SACRIFICE

Sophia's POV

"Here comes the bride."

I heard the announcer say, and almost immediately, the large door to the hall flew open, revealing guests and cameras flashing at me. I swallowed my saliva to calm my nerves.

I held the wedding dress that had suddenly become tighter as I marched inside, focusing on the man who was soon to be announced as my husband.

Each painful step in the awfully tight shoe that would have been my perfect size any other day brought me closer to what would be my fate for the next year.

"Sophia, you look beautiful." My father said as he extended his arm for me to curl mine in, "he's not going to hurt you. I've started working on getting everything back. As soon as it clicks, you'll leave there."

I nodded.

That was the only thing I could do, I didn't know how to process everything. Some days back, I would have been in my little Shop, doing what I enjoyed doing, but here I am, walking to sign my freedom over to a man whose name once haunted me.

My father led me to where Bran stood, the guests were already on their feet clapping, and the lights from cameras had also increased; all this made me nervous.

He took my hands from my father and led me close to him, he took my father's hands in a handshake, the two men not a word to each other. I watched as my father walked away, embarrassed to look at Bran and even more ashamed to look at me.

"I thought you would change your mind, really glad you know what is important. Family above your Ego." He said, holding my hands tighter.

"Something you would never know." I retorted, ready to match his words.

"On this day, we witness the joining together in holy matrimony of our Son, Bran Garner and our daughter, Sophia Tyler. We are here to witness the solemnization of their beautiful love." The minister said, distracting us from the tension already growing between us.

Beautiful love? Seems he didn't get the memo, this was no love and beautiful was the wrong word to describe it, I was being sacrificed like a lost lamb, the only difference was that I consented to it and walked with my legs to the altar.

"If you continue with that face, no one would believe we're in love, they'll think I forced you down the altar."

I scoffed.

"And you think you look convincing? Please."

He smiled and held my hands tighter. I was already getting tired of how long everything was taking. This process used to be very short when I was just a guest sitting in the pews, but right now, it is taking forever.

"Time to exchange the wedding vows."

"Finally," I said, exhaling deeply, if we have gotten here, then there's a chance that the ceremony will soon end.

"Do you, Bran Garner, take Miss Sophia Tyler as your lawfully wedded wife? In sickness and in health, till death do you part." The priest asked, looking at Bran.

"Yes, I do." He replied, his eyes moving to me, holding nothing.

"Do you, Miss Sophia Tyler, take Master Bran Garner as your lawfully wedded husband? In sickness and in health, till death do you part?" He asked, turning to me.

I swallowed.

Could I do this? I was lying in front of God and everyone. My eyes started to water, I looked over to my Dad, who was sitting down there quietly like a kid who was being reprimanded; his friends were around him.

"I repeat, do you, Miss Sophia Tyler, take Master Bran Garner as your lawfully wedded wife? In sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

I heard him the first time, the words felt heavy in my mouth, my eyes were watering more, and I felt his hand around mine, it was something more than assurance, a threat, a warning or a promise? I couldn't say. I heard murmurs.

"I do." I blurted out with every ounce of strength in me.

"I hereby pronounce both of you, man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

I looked at him. This wasn't necessary; we could skip this part, but he was quick. The next second, his hand was already around my waist, and his lips covered mine.

I let the tears fall.

•

I walked into the changing room and sat on the only available chair, I was supposed to come here and change into the second outfit for the reception.

"You seem to be having a lot of fun for a wedding that is just on paper."

I looked up to see Henna standing cross-legged at the door.

"Please, I'm not in the mood," I said, wiping my eyes.

"Come on, you made a show when Dad talked about marrying him, that I believed you, but look at you, this is probably a dream come true." She said, walking towards me.

I have had enough.

"Do you think I like the fact that I'm being shipped off like some goods to another man's house? I'm giving up everything to make sure we come out of this unscarred, do you think it's convenient for me?" I asked, trying to hold back my anger and tears. I didn't want to destroy the makeup since I would be out again in no time.

"You're good at acting, you deserve an award. You throw stones and hide your hands, then come back to play the victim and make it look like you are making a huge sacrifice."

"What are you talking about, Henna?" I'm approaching her.

"I just want to see how Dad would react when he finds out you and Bran are more than strangers."

I froze.

"Shocked? Now tell me how you want him to react when he finds out you orchestrated everything with your sweetheart so you both can have this perfect wedding, you be–"

A knock interrupted her, and we both turned to look.

"Ma'am, it's time to change." The stylist assigned to me said as she stepped inside the room.

"I hope you have fun, though, I hope everything doesn't collapse when you think it's over." She said while leaving, but stopped at the door.

"I hope you know this one is bigger than you; you have more people to fight than you think." She added with a smirk.

I felt goosebumps on my skin.