Replacing his murdered bride

POV: AUDREY.

My mom was going to hear from me today. I'd had enough of the reckless, self-serving decisions she made to protect her so-called reputation.

Dad's company scandal was clearly the result of her selfishness and her obsession with always appearing high-class in society. She could chase her luxury lifestyle all she wanted, but selling Jimmie off to Mr. Royales? That was the line she wasn't crossing.

Jimmie wasn't going to slave for any man, least of all for that cold beast. Of all the billionaires in Edinburgh, she picked him-enigamtic, cold and feared.

The thought made my foot slam down harder on the accelerator, my car racing like a freed bird toward the Royals Hotel, where the party was happening. My phone wouldn't stop buzzing, and I knew it was her calling. But I wasn't giving in to her tantrums today.

When I pulled up there, she was at the entrance pacing frantically. Even from here, I could feel the storm radiating off her. I walked up to her without an ounce of urgency.

"Audrey."

"What are you doing here?" she snapped, like I had no right to be in her precious environment. Her eyes pierced straight through me.

Jimmie and I were her only children and growing up, she'd never liked me. I was the wild kid who hated books, threw tantrums, and acted on emotions. As for Jimmie, she was my perfect contrast: calm, brilliant, obedient. Even when she didn't like something, she smiled and complied.

That's exactly why my mom chose her for this marriage because, she knew Jimmie wouldn't refuse her pleas. But I wasn't going to let her walk down that aisle.

"Where's Jimmie?" My voice shook.

"You need to leave, Audrey," she whispered, gripping my arm hard.

"Not until I see her." I yanked my hand free.

"She's busy right now. I can pass along your message."

"Mom, I know you hate seeing my face, but I'm not leaving until I see Jimmie."

"Do you want to create a scene here?" Her face tightened.

"Huh?"

"Why must you make everything about you?"

"Mom!" I yelled, but she didn't flinch.

"You'd better leave, or I'll call security," she threatened, shoving at my arm.

"I'm not leaving. That's final." My grip locked around her wrist.

"Audrey! For the love of God, just leave. Jimmie would never forgive you if you ruin her party " she pleaded trying to convince me.

"Mom, I'm not a kid. I know fully well that Jimmie's just doing this to please you."

"Let's talk about this tomorrow, okay?"

"No mom," I shot back. "I'm not leaving without seeing her."

"Audrey, just try to-"

She was cut off by my dad's voice.

"What's going on here?"

His forehead was creased tight and fists were clenched. Knowing his temper, I knew I had to tread carefully with my words.

"Megan," he said, his voice like steel. "What do you think you're doing?"

We both let go of each other instantly. My mom avoided his gaze. A cold shiver ran down my spine.

My dad was dangerous when he was angry.

"She wants to see Jimmie," my mom said flatly.

"And?"

"You know Audrey, she has a knack for ruining things and I'm sure that's what she's here for."

"Oh my God, Mom!" Tears burned in my eyes, but she ignored me.

"I've been trying to get her to wait because Jimmie is busy prepping for her wedding, but she's being stubborn," she added, rolling her eyes.

"Honestly, I'm starting to get pissed."

"So you're both just standing here arguing?" my dad asked.

"But you know how she-"

"Enough, Megan." His eyes shut for a second, like he was holding back an explosion. After a deep breath, he dropped the bomb.

"Jimmie's missing."

"What?" My mom and I said in unison.

"She's been gone for over an hour. She was supposed to appear before the guests, but she hasn't shown up..."

I didn't wait for him to finish. I bolted.

I had to find her. If anything happened to Jimmie, I'd never forgive my mom.

I sprinted to the VIP elevato. If she was anywhere, it'd be in a private suite. But I wasn't granted access. I needed some kind of card.

Heart pounding, I ran back to my mom, yanked her purse from her arm, and dumped its contents onto the tiled floor. A flash of gold caught my eye: a card labeled VIP. I snatched it and darted back to the elevator.

The doors dinged open, and I rushed into the first room I saw. It was empty and for some reason, unnervingly cold, like I'd stepped into a place meant for the dead. My throat tightened as I stepped inside.

"Jimmie..." My voice echoed back at me.

I fumbled along the wall for a switch but accidentally pressed a button on a remote. The lights flickered on. However, my relief lasted only a second when I saw it.

A trail of blood, leading to the bathroom.

My stomach knotted and sweat rolled down my temples despite the icy air. My hands trembled and with a pang of fear, I followed the trail.

When I stepped into the bathroom, my hope shattered.

Jimmie's body lay in the bathtub drowned in a bloody pool of water and her cold face visible.

Shock and grief hit me all at once, and my legs gave way causing me to collapse onto the wet floor, numb from guilt and pain.

POV: Audrey

The sinister scene before me made reflex tears stream down my tearline, ruining my mascara. I felt like my world was crumbling before me. Wanted to speak but I didn't know which felt heavier-my lips or my heart. Breathing suddenly felt like a crime.

My parents stormed in immediately. Turning to my mom, I yelled,

"Mom!!" My knuckles turned white from how hard i gripped my ruffle skirt.

"This is some kind of prank right?" I inquired but my mom rushed past me into the bathroom. Crouching down slowly, she lifted Jimmie from the bathtub into a sitting position and touched her face lightly.

Her face was elegantly dolled up and glistened in fine beads of sweat, her hair was packed into a loose messy bun, her locket sat prettily on her slender neck and, her blue sundress was stained at the waist hem, from the hairpin driven into her lower abdomen.

"My poor child!"

"Who could have done this to you!" my mom sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

My dad stood like a sculpture unmovng like, he just saw a ghost. Scared, my mom dropped Jimmie and ran to my dad, gripping his tuxedo pants,

"What are we going to do?" But she was met with silence.

"Hilary!"

"C'mon, say something."

"I'm calling the police." I said fumbling the contents of my purse in a frantic search for my phone when my mom grabbed it from me.

"You can't do that Audrey."

"What are you on about mom?" I asked curiously.

"We can't call the police, Audrey."

"I mean how do we even explain this?" Her gaze was hard.

"Mom!!" I called out.

"What other explanation do we need for this? It was clearly a murder." I shot out.

My mom instinctively covered my mouth with her right palm.

"Keep it down Audrey."

"And not a breath about this to anyone." She commanded.

"For fuck sake!" I muttered amidst tears giving up.

My mom paced round the room frantically, bitting the skin around her fingers desperately, like they would give her some answers.

"This won't do." She muttered repeatedly.

While believing that the worst has happened, I stared into the thin air when my mom said something that made my blood run cold. The dizziness I felt suddenly vanished as my heart sank and my stomach clenched hard, turning my fear to fury.

"You have to replace Jimmie." my mom stated coldly.

"What??" I yelled.

"I said you have to replace Jimmie."

"Come to think of it, The Royales haven't even met her for a start, so they won't even know." She said boldly.

"This is so messed up!"

"How could you even think of that, mom?"

"My sister was just murdered and what, I should replace her and supposedly marry her husband?" I scoffed amidst my utter shock.

"That's impossible mom." I finished plainly.

"You know what?"

"I will actually pretend I didn't hear that to be honest." I stated.

"Audrey! You would do anything but disrespect me."

"The mom card isn't gonna work on me today mom." I took my stand strongly.

"Excuse me?" my mom was getting pissed off but I was not giving in.

"No, seriously mom!!"

"The only thing we should be doing right now, is taking Jimmie for an autopsy and probably calling the police, before it's too late.....!" I yelled at her; when she furiously grabbed my right hand and cut me off again.

"Henceforth, you have to live as the Royales bride. We can't handle the consequences that would come with losing them, not after I just lost a daughter!" She said as she let go of my hand which had already turned red from her stronghold.

"Your daughter?"

" I bet you think of us as tickets to get a luxurious life."

My mom's selfish attitude shattered me. She would do anything to live a luxurious life, even at the expense of her daughter's life. I turned to my dad knowing that my mom had made her stance clear.

"You are not even saying anything dad!"

But he just stared at me.

"You are in cohorts with mom?" my shaky voice asked.

"Audrey dear, your mom is right. We can't afford to handle what happened here." He said gently with his eyes nearly blood red from tears.

For a split while, I lost my sense of speech which I found almost immediately.

"What was I expecting anyways?"

"The both of you are just selfish and evil."

" I regret having you guys as my parents!" I blurted when my mom's warm palm met my face. Its sting resonated through my heart and cheek.

I turned to her furiously.

"Did you just hit me mom?" I questioned intently.

"Get it together Audrey!!" My mom screamed angrily.

"Report it to the police and what next?"

"Do you really think Jimmy's killer is a mere personnel? He clearly wants to use our family to bring down the Royales family and we can't obviously do that. Not after they agreed to help us."

"Help?"

"This is so crazy!"

"Like mom!! For the love of humanity, this is so unfair, to Jimmie especially."

"And you mentioned help?!"

"This doesn't help mom! You are just selling us to fulfill your selfish desires mom!" I concluded as I slumped to the floor hopelessly.

"I don't care whatever you may call it but, you are going to take Jimmie's place and that's final!"

"That's enough!" My dad cuts us short.

"Audrey, you have to replace Jimmie."

"So Jimmie gets no revenge?" I blurted.

"If you want Jimmie to get revenge, your only chance is to marry her husband." My mom concluded.

Left with no other choice, I picked up the wedding dress and stormed into the dressing room.

******

THE DRESSING ROOM

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I locked the door to the room and brought out the dress, carefully surveying its details.

It was a long red satin gown with a plunging v-neckline while, its back had an open cut style with a crisscross slender strap support. The skirt was fitted and flared from above the knee, elucidating luxury and sweeping the floor magnificently.

I put on the dress and it suited my body, perfectly binding to my curves.Picking up the jewelries on the vanity table, I layered the look by quickly retouching my makeup and packing my auburn wavy hair into a high ponytail, I left out the bangs that nearly covered my eye.

As I gave myself one last look at the mirror, a heavy sigh escaped my lips, as it dawned on me that I had to live as Jimmie, henceforth.

As soon as I came out from the room, a strong arm yanked me back, slamming me into a broad and unyielding chest. My body stiffened in shock as the strong mint and chocolate mix cologne hit my nostrils.

POV: Alexander

The last thing on my mind was getting married. I wasn't interested in women and the fact that most of the women I have ever met, were just after my wealth, tops the cherry on the cake.

Perks of being the most eligible bachelor in Edinburgh.

As a meticulous and calculated person, I really despised getting into unexpected situations like getting married to someone whom I have never met, on a random Friday night.

It felt as if I was being obliged on what to do and I really hated it. My mom can be so unreasonable at times.

I walked through the lobby, ignoring the polite bows from the staff as I made a beeline for the private elevator. The few shots I had taken were playing tricks with my head and without my glasses, everything was a mess.

The elevator dropped me off at the last floor of the building and I found my way out.

I was headed to my suité when a slender figure behind a slightly ajar door caught my attention but I couldn't phantom what it looked like.

Damn chronic astigmatism.

I moved closer to get a clearer scene and there she was.

Something with colours in my monochrome day.

Her red dress hugged her like it was part of her skin and it's open back exhibited the butterfly tattoo above her hip, like a work of art being displayed at the museum. Her auburn hair which was pulled into a ponytail, gleamed under the light.

Something about her was just inviting.

I lingered, waiting for her to come out and her scent suddenly hit my nostrils. It was the familiar vanilla channel perfume.

God!!

She smelt like a tiramisu.

My intrusive thoughts took over, as I pulled her into my cold chest. Her body was so soft and felt velvety. A pang of guilt hit me for grabbing her aggressively.

The first thing I noticed was her hazel almond - shaped eyes with bangs that nearly covered them. With a defiant tilt to her chin and perfectly glossed pink lips, she was mesmerizing.

Even if I died today, I would have no regrets because I was lucky enough to behold such a light.

"What the h*ll dude?!" She snapped, jerking me back to reality.

Her response really took me back but I wasn't going to show it. Gently removing her hair tie, I slowly ran my fingers through her silky auburn hair that fell freely on her back.

"Excuse me?!" She said, voice rising.

"Look. I'm already having a bad day. Don't make it worse." She finished.

Her words sounded amusing.

"Hazel." The word escaped my mouth like air.

" Hazel???"

"You've got to be f*cking kidding me!" She cursed, rolling her eyes.

"Can't this day get any worse?"

"Listen up sir!!"

"First of all,..."

"I'm not impressed by whatever you think you are doing."

"Secondly,"

"I have a name and the last time I checked, it's not hazel."

"So just let me have my hair tie and finish up this b*Itchy day. I need to have my rest." She finished conclusively.

Fighting between the urge to walk away or reassure her, I blurted,

"Relax hazel."

"I just don't want anyone seeing that tattoo. It looked too delicious."

"What?" She exclaimed as her cheeks flushed crimson.

"I'm just doing you a favor hazel."

"Which I didn't ask for......"

"Your eyes......." I cut in.

"They are warm."

The words slipped out.

"You are insane."

"Can you let go of me? I have an engagement party to catch."

"And my husband won't be pleased to see you holding up his loving bride in this manner." she gestured to our romantic posture.

"Ohhh" I mouthed as a sneer smirk formed on my lips

Jimmie.

She was definitely not the quiet and polite girl I was promised. She was fire and I'm heavily interested.

"Interesting." I grinned.

"What's funny?"

"I'm not trying to snatch you from your high and mighty husband hazel." I said calmly.

"i just want to have some fun with my wife before the party"

"What do you mean....?"

She faltered in her steps as the realization hit her.

"Have you been teasing me all this while?"

"I wouldn't dare! Your husband was gonna have my head, if I did that." i replied cockily.

"You are so...?" She snapped averting her gaze but I cut in.

"Unbelievable?"

"I know hazel." I replied softly as I gently brushed her bangs off her face.

"Wanna know something?"

"You are not what I expected. You are better." I gently remarked.

But she really wanted to have the last say.

"I have a very broad knowledge of how mesmerizing I look, Sir. I mean I'm not blind."

"You really amaze me." I said smiling.

"A reward for it then?" She shot back arching her brows.

"Only the best for you, Hazel." I said gently stroking her cheek. I locked in her sweaty plan in mine.

" Let's go get married."

Maybe with her, marriage wouldn't be so bad after all.

Background song: constellations by Jade Lemac.

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