MARRIED AS A REPLACEMENT BRIDE

I attempted to conceal myself from reality, but in the end, I came to terms with it. The bully that was life was a passive-aggressive one. It compelled me to conceal the aspects of myself that the rest of the world did not want to see. In response to those portions, I refused.

After locking them up, I exiled them from the area. Why so?

Today's culture is judgmental.

And I'd cursed my existence a trillion times.

Yet instead of being foul-mouthed in a closet full of skeletons, I read literature.

My goodness!

That was the end? No kiss?

I collapsed on my knees, wept my heart out, and tossed the book across my room.

The narrative wouldn't have ended out this way if my favorite character hadn't been killed.

Bad, bad author!

To aggravate the matter, there was neither a sequel nor a forerunner, to this novel.

It concluded with an unresolved question that tore me apart; Are happily ever after real?

Like pepper was squirted into my eyes, a few drops of tears trickled down my cheeks.

Hmmm, such a terrible situation.

So I was up throughout the night to watch such a tragedy?

Shouts eloped from below.

Sophia, hurry up. Get out of bed.

She was at it again displaying her crazy.

The last time Ella yelled my name from below I slammed my head on the closet and became unconscious.

Everyone in our area detested her strange voice because she was constantly hitting high-pitched like a mad lady.

Guess who recently got a gift for Valentine's Day?!

Of course, she must have received a box from Chris, that's why she couldn't stay without flaunting it in my face.

Give me a minute, I stood on my feet and slid into my pink flip-flops.

I was downstairs as soon as the door to my room bagged behind me.

Get yourself a partner, she screamed and threw many stylish bags on the well-sculptured glass framework that stood in between us. And quit gazing at my desk, nothing is yours.

I licked my lips while striving not to clench my hand.

Just because she was dating didn't give her the right to make me unhappy with my choice not to have a partner.

Keep your viewpoint for yourself, I grinned and slid upon one of our sofas. It's not required.

It was just a matter of seconds until her giggle flooded my little bubble.

She closed the space between us.

Listen to me very attentively, her emerald hazel eyes, a quality we both got from our dad, blazed into mine.

On Valentine's Day, your buddies are getting roses. They are laughing with their lovers and enjoying their youth. If you desire, remain here and wait for your creator to send your lover from heaven. I hope he will not pass you by. You risk dying alone.

Ella's tongue had poison which swooped like lighting on my heart.

I've had enough, you speak much. Let me be. I sprang off of the sofa to hurry upstairs to my room, but she grasped my wrist and tossed me back on the couch. Dang it! What do you want?

She shifted her face away from mine, adjusted her crop top, and posed like a stripper.

I have a date tonight with Chris. If you are interested, I may ask him to plead with one of his pals to handle you for tonight.

Ignoring Ella seemed best these days while waiting for our parents to return home from their favorite romantic vacation and look into the situation.

I don't need help. Get lost!

Ella scooped her luggage from the table, blew a kiss at me, and went upstairs.

Her lovely curled-up, dark brown hair spilled down her back and bounced as she flopped her feet on each step.

I turned my gaze away from her big set of hips.

Why boast about a high school boy?

Aside from partying and casual sex, what else could he offer?

Ella half-walked and half-ran out of the home.

Her tight fabric showed her magnificent assets, however she shook the controversy off and toed her shame out of the house.

I groaned and traveled to my chamber.

Goodness, the spoilt diva was gone.

She has always been a nightmare.

I marched to the restroom and completed my morning ritual.

The restroom was a definite passport to fun; a location I won't miss for anything in the world.

The only location that allowed croaked voices and off-pitch lyrics.

I got out of the bathroom, dried my hair, and hurried to my closet.

I rummaged through my ensembles, landing on a pink floral gown that ended at knee length, and a black leather cloak to pair with panda fur sandals.

The enchantment of Valentine's Day couldn't pass me by.

I would rather spend time in the park than stay at home and be bombarded by Ella's foolishness.

I put on a dazzling lip gloss, nestled my star-shaped earrings, and let my thick brown hair flow to my back.

I was good to leave and nothing could stop me, not even Ella Jones, the adored princess.

THE STREETS WERE COLD and bright following the rain that soaked the town earlier this cold morning.

The month of February arrived with its stakes of snowfall, but this year the flakes didn't come up.

So, no nice snowball guys for couples this year.

I ambled passed a garden and paused to catch a couple making out on the green grounds.

They snuggled, caressed, and grinned at each other like there wasn't tomorrow.

It was hilarious to fall into the clutches of dependency, screwing the fact that; love will leap through the back door eventually.

They were in love, but how long would love last?

Shouldn't it be characterized as dumb to grab onto a stranger? One day this stranger could go, and then that small heart he left behind would break into pieces and flow to ashes.

Boys were all the same, from the high school sweethearts to the college golden-age playboys and most older males, the sugar daddies; all sucked.

Love, the dictator, the woman with unsightly piercings, a lethal monstrosity, the tattooed beast; she wasn't a role model to any aspiring medical practitioner.

Though it made a lot of sense to stay single, I still couldn't keep myself from fantasizing about having a partner.

"I wish I had a boyfriend," my lips curled into a tiny grin, but I was eager to shove such thoughts into the

Back of my skull, down the grimy webs of amnesia, hoping they linger for eternity in the trenches.

Head high up and shoulders squared; my gaze flew onto the street and I admired the glamour of nature.

"Get off my way, are you blind?"

I slipped out of my daze and glanced at the Lady whose scream pulled me out of my thoughts.

My Gosh!

Her charm radiated in one light save for the sneer on her lips.

Her diamond earrings glittered like refined wine, matching the scattered emerald stones on her gorgeous cream-white strapless bridal gown.

Her bridal bun was incredibly lovely and her cosmetics raked off money.

"I'm-I'm sorry..."

I chewed my bottom lip and cast my attention to the floor.

Shit!

Her veil, surrounded by a bouquet of colorful petals, smashed at my feet.

Did she just drop her bouquet?

I blinked a million times at her movements.

In the next second, she sprinted across the street and got into the backseat of a cab, which drove away in no time.

One word, 'splendid,' for this year's Valentine's Day; a woman escaping from her wedding.

It didn't disturb me, so, I took the bouquet and savored its lovely aroma.

It confused my senses with lavender and sandalwood.

I was taken off-guard by a slight pressure on my shoulders. "I realize it's a hard choice for you to be married at a young age. But you have to marry for the well-being of our family."

"I beg your pardon?" I met eyes with a lady in her late forties. "Is this supposed to be a joke?"

Her blue eyes peered intently into mine as she put her palms on my cheeks and massaged my face. "Katerina, you can't ruin this wedding."

"What? Who is Katerina?!"

I let go of the bouquet and pulled the woman's thumb off her cheeks.

There was no way she could be thinking I was Katerina. How in the world was it ever possible?

Conceivable?

This lady might be saved from her gloomy vision by an ophthalmologist.

"I'm not Katerina, ma'am. You're thinking I'm someone else.

I crossed my fists over my chest and gave her a sour look as her memories faded.

Not to come out as impolite, but she was insistent on airing her foolish complaints.

"You heard me right."

The lady was staring at me so intensely that she neglected to shut her open lips.

Nevertheless, she rubbed a pile of wrinkles that wrinkled her forehead under the beneficial influence of my remarks.

She let out a cloud of breath and gripped my palm, refusing to be persuaded.

"Leave me alone, or I'll call the police."

"You won't dare do such a thing to your Granny."

She clasped my hands and locked my gaze in hers.

Her dropping words were followed by silence, which made my heart beat so quickly.

My brain counted that slowly.

"Listen, Katy, listen attentively."

She let go of my hand, causing Goosebumps to appear on my skin and tears to stream down her cheeks.

"Please don't treat us like this." "I know it's hard to get married at eighteen while in college, but you have to understand something," she said, blinking a few tears from her swollen eyes.

The purpose of this wedding was to ensure your pleasure and well-being. We want you to live the luxurious lifestyle you've always imagined and get the greatest education we were unable to provide."

She continued to cry as she expressed her anguish in her words.

What hurt her on the inside also made her lips heavy and destroyed her beautiful lipstick.

Her comments were meaningful; her cheeks were flushed with blush and makeup.

Yes, she meant what she said, but no matter how much time she spent crying, her tears wouldn't transform me into her grandchild.

She was so distraught that all I could do was gaze as I repeated the truth-the part she didn't want to hear-and she could only weep.

"I'm Sophia, not Katerina, Ma'am. Katerina rushed away in her wedding gown only moments earlier. She left her veil and flowers there and took off in a taxi. I apologize, but there's nothing I can do about it.

She looked at my face, stopped crying, and grinned.

What a horror!

If Ella hadn't been so silly, I wouldn't be in this predicament.

I sneaked a peek at her ocean blue spaghetti strap dress that hung over her gray high heels.

She had a well-styled Mexican braid on her hair and had an almond scent.

Unlike any Belgian, her accent was French spoken with ease.

This feature forced me to conclude that she wasn't local.

"I remember the night your mother gave birth to you because of your emerald eyes. Regretfully, she can only see you from above, but she will be happy to see you blossom into the lady she would have liked you to be."

"What? My mother is not dead, nor will she pass away soon. Let me now be."

Her lips were painted crimson, and the smile that had been on her face turned into a grin.

"I'm tired of you and your antics, Katerina. You are unable to skip your wedding. At the altar, Nicholas is waiting for you. Please remember him and your grandfather's heart at the same time."

"Lucas's survival depends on a heart transplant. Just think of what would happen if he found out you attempted to flee your wedding. The revelation will shatter his poor heart, and shock will kill him."

To stop tears from spoiling her face again, she squeezed her nose.

"Do you want to murder the one person who gave you love and support when you were a child? Don't do this to us, please. Nicholas is our final chance, and Lucas needs a heart transplant." She groveled at my feet, wailing pitifully.

Whoa! Oh my God!

How did I travel to this location?

I was not going to accept Katerina's place in this woman's life and act as if nothing had happened.

I couldn't possibly help her with her issue.

Tears clouded my vision and replaced my composed expression.

For whatever reason, she couldn't make me a substitute; this wasn't right.

"My name is Sophia Jones, and Ella Jones is my twin sister. Since our parents are still living, all I want to do today is spend time with my family on Valentine's Day. I don't even have a partner," I said, but she ignored me.

"Katerina, please stop being dramatic and stop crying. By pretending to be someone else, you are doing more harm to yourself.

Katerina, consider Lucas. Do you want him to pass away?

"I don't know Lucas, I don't know you, I don't know Katerina, I don't know anything... let me be, "Despite my efforts, my hand remained in her hold.

When her phone began to vibrate, she let go of the phone to answer it.

I seized the moment and rode off as quickly as I could, but a man with strong arms grabbed my arm and lifted my feet off the ground in a traditional bridal manner.

"Let me be, I'm not Katerina!"

I let out a loud cry, but the powerful arms held me in place.

The man put his palm over my mouth and hurried over to a smoke-filled black Hummer Jeep.

My every motion was immobilized by his might.

"Set me down! Help, Help, Help."

I screamed and flung myself into the Hummer Jeep, but he shoved me back and hit the rear door.

What an asshole! I swore.

Sitting next to me was the stranger I had been speaking with earlier.

"You may choose to be married voluntarily or we can force you into marriage. Make an informed decision," she growled, telling the driver to speed.

"Help! Help!"

I struck the glass with my fist, but my cries were only heard by the blades of agony. Over time, I became weaker.

There was nothing I could do to stop my Valentine's Day marriage from occurring; it just could not be happening.

I cried so loudly in the hummer that I fell asleep.

What will my folks think of this?

What would happen if they disowned me for marrying someone without telling them?

They have always been the epitome of rigidity, the embodiment of terror, and the defenders of hell.

What reaction do they expect from this?

I was deep in contemplation about my life when the vehicle came to a halt.

The Hummer came to a stop in front of a five-star hotel that I had never seen or heard of.

The previous nasty guy unlocked the door and yanked me out of the vehicle hard enough that I stumbled.

What a moron!

I wiped tears from my eyes and looked around the lobby, seeing all the fancy automobiles.

Why did they have to handle me in this manner?

These folks were wicked.

"Katerina, look away from those cars and come over here. We're running out of time to get you ready for your hubby."

Clutching her heels on the marble, she walked to the hotel's main door.

"I won't come with you!" I growled, but the big guy's eyes told me otherwise. He didn't appear to feel sorry for me, judging by the look he gave me. "Caveman, I'm not afraid of you.

"Move."

"I won't."

I was afraid when I saw how his biceps bulged under his shirt as he crushed his teeth and clenched his cheeks.

After adjusting my short pink gown, I approached the lady.

Is this what fate has for me? Is this the end for me?

Resisting the temptation to cry, I followed her into one of the hotel's elevators.

The people on our trip looked at me as if I were a ghost from a horror film. My shoulder was wrinkled by a warm touch.

"I apologize Katerina for the suffering I'm putting you through. You will appreciate me for this in the future, and it's for the best."

"This way," a charming woman led us into a hotel room while dressing in a white blouse, short shoes, and a form-fitting black skirt.

As I followed her, I paused briefly before realizing that a sea of exquisite white flowers was hanging carelessly on the walls.

Roses spiraled over them, the tile floor glistened, and the suit's many mirrors mirrored their charm.

This outfit was covered with glowing torches that oozed power over the garish ornamentation.

Fleet-like curtains flowed down the impending walls in shades of white and yellow.

The most bizarre of all was a swarm of pink balloons that filled the space, creating a singularly captivating attraction.

"Ah! Oh my god, what happened to your bridal gown and makeup?"

I glanced at a girl wearing a sky-blue gown with handles. She approached me closely enough to have her stunning high bun catch my eye.

She put her hands over my face and pursed her lips.

As I examined her dark eyes, hail cascaded down her cheeks and saturated my chest.

How come they were treating me like Katerina?

"Emily, don't waste any more time on this nonsense. The fact that we found her is what matters most. My presumed grandma exclaimed, "Go get her ready before the next hour," and grabbed her phone from a sofa close by.

My tears were wiped away by Emily's hand that rushed to my eyes.

She kissed my redemptive cheeks and grinned, flashing her gorgeous dimple.

Hey, this is a day you won't regret. Emily! Do Katerina's hair and makeup. Her new bridal gown is en route to this location."

"Ma'am, consider it finished.

She drew me into a little compartment of the suit by tangling my hand with hers.

There was a big Princess mirror on the wall of the cubicle.

A white French-cushioned chair, large yet respectable, was nestled within a polished brown floral slab.

As I broke down in a stranger's arms, the reality of who I was stopped dead in its tracks.

No matter what I said, there was no going back since they all assumed I was their Katerina.

"Sit down and let's apply cosmetics again. Please stop sobbing so I can make your gorgeous face seem better. She took the chair out for me and made me take a seat.

What swept over them all?

Might they represent a new breed of psychopaths?

Was someone playing a joke here?

Was Ella involved in any of this?

Were they just using Katerina's absence as an excuse to force me to marry someone I didn't know?

I could see that all of my notions were far from reality by the serious expressions on their faces and the amount of effort they put into the preparations.

"Girl, what happened? How were you discovered by them?"

I was set free from my thoughts by Emily's comments.

She spoke a bit too loudly, but not loudly enough for her grandmother to hear her.

How?

Was Emily aware of Katerina's misadventure?

What was happening in this situation?

I was confused by these questions.

At her words, my tears stopped, and I widened my eyes, ready for her to continue.

She moved my chair over to her desk and dumped her beauty kit.

Tell me you didn't tell her that I assisted you in getting away, please. If she finds out, she's going to murder me. I've already been threatened by her. Did you tell her, wait?"

She was terrified at every step, staring directly into my eyes.

She helped Katerina escape, but why?

Who was she?

Why did she allow this to happen?

My life was about to be irrevocably damaged because of Katerina and her.

I could not allow this to happen.

"Answer me, girl. Have you told her?

"No, I didn't tell her, you are safe."

"Hallelujah, hallelujah," she said as she gave a heart-shaped embrace to her breast. "You did well... hallelujah."

My mind began to fill with possibilities as she continued to speak.

Emily could be my way out of this situation.

She could get me out of here and use her powers once again if she helped Katerina.

"You have to help me out of here."

She got up and started to go about the room, checking on Grandma's whereabouts as I bit the inside of my lip.

"Once more? Katerina, we made a deal, and I've fulfilled my end of the bargain. How do you think I'll be able to assist you in leaving again?"

She nibbled on her long, manicured nails.

"My only hope is in you. Please, you can still help me get out of here; you proved yourself once, therefore I have no doubt you can do it again."

With tears in my eyes, I dropped to my knees and tucked her robe.

Whether or not she had a deal with Katerina didn't matter to me; all I ever wanted was for her to save me from this drama, even if it meant disclosing my true identity to her.

I was helped to my feet by her holding my hands. "Katerina, stop this. I will do my hardest to keep you safe from Nicholas since I owe you a lot. However, you must swear to me that you will follow my instructions exactly this time." She wiped the tears from my eyes.

She then gave me a fresh napkin, which I used to wipe my runny nose and dry my wet eyes.

Later, she hugged me, and I lay down in her arms. "I swear," I said, nodding.

I used my last bit of power to wrinkle the fabric of her dress.

"What is the plan?" As we braked Ringer, I asked.

"I'm a decent girl, curiosity; this is a surprise. She giggled, "Now, let's get you ready," and she pushed me to sit on the cushion.

There was no time to question what she said.

I could believe her words if she helped Katerina just once. I grinned and let out a puff of breath. To help Emily with my clothing and manicure, GRANDMA BROUGHT IN THREE girls.

She was often griping about time wasted and other little things that she noticed. "Emily, Katerina's hair is still not done?"

Emily said, "Katerina is all set, ma'am," and laid the last of the pins she was holding down on the table.

She approached me with a mirror, and I was astounded by my transformation.

One of the ladies said, "Oh my goodness, this is the best chignon I have seen in my entire life."

"What do you think?" Emily gave me a shoulder squeeze.

Nothing could be spoken or a word to praise her efforts.

I couldn't stop talking about the hair and cosmetics.

It was my first time using makeup this pricey and vibrant.

Your emerald eyes pop with the black makeup and eyeliner, which is fantastic, my darling. The red lipstick looks flawless against your complexion. She almost shed a tear as she said, "You are so lovely.

My glance did blow my head.

Makeup exuded a sense of beauty and emotion that could elevate any woman to her highest potential.

I was not the person in the mirror; I was someone else, and I was different.

What happened to my face?

"Look who's here," Emily said, shattering the stillness that persisted in our fog.

I twisted my gaze from the glass to her, then settled on the spotless white material that twirled on a stand beside the compartment's door.

The lace fabric of the handles glinted with white pearls.

Not to mention the translucent gown at the level of the curves, the veil had this diamond crown affixed to it that gleamed from a distance.

It was a bridal gown fit for a princess from one of these hit Disney productions.

"Wow," was my final response before the girls helped me get dressed.

My feet were placed into the five-inch silver stiletto heels that matched the dress after they had buttoned the garment down to my waist.

"Emily, where is the bouquet?" When Grandma couldn't locate it, she became frightened.

A girl burst into the room with a bouquet of red, white, purple, and yellow petals, saying, "This is where I found it."

The hues were exquisite and endearing.

I walked down the hotel's main door, clutching the bouquet and forcing a grin.

The crimson carpet that led to a tastefully adorned white vehicle was where the veil flowed behind me.