SUBSTITUTE BRIDE: A DEBT TO PAY

ANDREA

It wasn't until my mother called me that morning that I knew my dreams would never materialize.

It was on this day that my entire life took a turn for the worse.

You might be wondering what the fuck I am talking about and I will tell you.

I had the perfect life, a university undergraduate studying law in one of the most prestigious universities in the states.

"You are joking!" I laughed, making sure my mother knew I found her very hilarious.

"Andrea Silva, am I a joke to you? This is quite a serious matter and I want you to treat it with all seriousness" My mother's stern voice reproached me.

She had to be joking because what she was saying right now was downright unreal and impossible.

"I am not going to drop out of school to marry a man I barely know and just because Camila disappeared on you. Did it ever occur to you that she ran away just to avoid this same situation?" I asked.

Camila was my twin sister and to say we were complete opposites would be an understatement. We were like blood and water in both looks and mannerism; simply put, I was the bland version of my sister who had the most bubbly personality and this she reserved for others. To me, she was an asshole and we had not talked for a long while hence the reason I had no idea she had disappeared.

"That is besides the point, Andrea. We owe that man a lot of money and this is money that we cannot think to pay back. You would know that we had to take out that loan to send your ungrateful self and your sister to the University" my mother scoffed

"So this is my fault?" I muttered.

I knew about the loan but what I had no idea about was the price we had to pay for it.

"I am just saying that it is time for you to do something for the family for once and you are being a little bitch. Your sister would have done this without batting an eyelid" my mother reminded me.

My sister who was conveniently missing, I thought but did not voice out.

"I cannot marry a total stranger, mom. I am not taking Camilla's place and if she agreed to this then I do not know what you are going to do about that" I argued.

There was no way I was listening to this conversation and my mother right now. I was hoping she would laugh and tell me how much of a scaredy cat I was. Maybe she would say she had been trying to prank me and this was nothing more than that.

"Your father is going to jail if you do not do this and you know what they do to people like us in there" My mother's soft voice came through my musing.

"I know you think this is the craziest thing but your father is going to go to jail and there will be nothing for you or for me. We will be the talk of the town, our faces out there as debtors. Now you are going to tell me how in God's name you plan to finish schooling if all of these happen" She raved.

"Was this always the plan?" I asked, my resolve faltering.

As much as I considered whatever this arrangement was totally ridiculous, I wanted nothing to happen to my family and I would do anything to protect them and that anything included marrying a stranger.

"What?" My mother muttered, confused.

"Did you both always plan to sell one of us to this person you owe money?"

"Why would you say that!" Her voice rose.

I sighed, feeling the beginning of a headache.

"I am going to have to call you right back, mom. I have classes now and I have to think about this... it is really a lot to take in right now." I told her.

"Before you go, Andrea... please know that we are all counting on you. You have to do this for us or our family is ruined" She explained one last time.

"I hear you, mother" I told her.

The line clicked and I reached for the dress I had planned to wear for the day, my head buzzing with thoughts.

I pinched myself to be sure this was not some sort of dream but it wasn't. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my blue eyes stared right back at me as if to tell me that this was it.

All the plans I had to finish top of my class, to go to law school... there was no point. I had to get married or it was over for my family.

I collapsed on the bed, the tears coating the tips of my lashes.

What if I find this man and beg him to give my family time to pay up? Would that solve this? I thought to myself.

I did not think it would but it was better to try.

I had not asked my mother the name of the bastard but I intend to find out.

My phone trilled again, it was my father.

I hesitated, knowing he would want to talk about the same thing... marriage.

"Hey Dad" I muttered, picking up after the third ring.

"Come home"

Two words... not a how are you? Or I am sorry your life is going to be upended

"Dad-" I began.

"Come home, Jesse... right this minute or you can forget about being my daughter."

"But Dad-"

"You are going to do right by us just as we have done right by you whether you like it or not." He snapped.

The line clicked before I had the chance to say anything else.

The tears came then, blinding me. I sobbed into my empty apartment and then I picked up a duffle bag.

It was time to go home.

Time to get fucking married.

ANDREA

I stared at the ceiling, my eyes watering with tears.

I was back in my old room, the same I had shared with my sister about to get married to a total stranger.

My thoughts, my opinions... my dreams did not matter and it was useless trying to reason with my parents and do not think I had not tried.

How I wanted to speak to Sarah, my best friend.

She would know what to do... the right words to say to get me out of this freaking nightmare.

I could run away, I thought, sitting up almost immediately.

There would be no point to this besides where would I go? And what would become of my parents.

I sighed for the umpteenth time that day, laying back down on the bed.

A swift knock on the door to my room interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in" I called out.

My mother poked her head into the room, her eyes surveying my state of undress.

"What are you doing?"

"Feeling sorry for myself, mother" I rolled my eyes. "I do not want to get married to whoever this person this" I turned around, hoping she would understand.

She was my mother after all... she should be on my side.

She said nothing for two seconds before she continued like she had not heard a word I said.

"I know you are not a fan of chocolate cake so I ordered Vanilla and Red velvet. I was wondering if..."

"Mom" I stopped her. "I do not want to get fucking married"

"Foul language, Andrea" Her eyes narrowed.

My mother took one last look at me, her eyes blank before she closed the door.

It was too much of me to expect that for once in our lives, she would actually stand up for me and not cower behind my father allowing him his every whim.

And as for Camilla... I wish I could strangle the little chit right now but as much as I wanted to kill her, I was worried about her.

My phone trilled, interrupting my misery.

"Hello" I muttered into the receiver.

"Miss Silva" A voice I have never heard before asked.

It was deep, sure and I felt a ripple raise through my spine.

I suddenly had the urge to want to see the man behind the voice. I wanted to know if his face was just as sultry and breathtaking as his voice.

"Yes?" I croaked, clearing my throat in annoyance.

"I want you to be ready by 4pm; I am going to have a car around to take you shopping for the wedding." The voice declared curtly.

"Excuse you?" I snapped, visibly pissed.

Who the fuck was this? I thought to myself.

"Who the fuck are you?" I blurted.

"I am sorry, we have not been properly introduced" The voice drawled. "I am your husband"

The line clicked before I even had the chance to say anything.

I stared intently at my phone in shock, trying to comprehend what just happened.

Rude asshole, I fumed.

I glanced at the clock.

It was 3:00pm and so I rose, slipping into a dress.

If he wants to go shopping then he should do that all by himself, I thought.

If he thought for one freaking minute that I was going ton be at his beck and call after the marriage then he had an entirely different thing coming to him.

It was even for the best that he had reached out to me himself albeit rudely. It would give us time to call off whatever sham this was and maybe enough time for me to speak some sense into his obvious empty head.

I opened the door to my room, my eyes darting about right before I slipped out of the house. I was not about to listen to talks from my mother and barking commands from my father on why I shouldn't be out.

I hailed a cab with no possible direction in mind, stopping him when I came across a bar and then ordered a drink.

I glanced at the clock again, it was 3:30pm; there would not be enough time for me to get back to the house and for the arrogant bastard to pick me up but I could not care less.

Maybe if he knew how irritating I found the whole arrangement and I wasn't someone to ever follow his orders, then he would figure out how terrible this arrangement was.

I downed the drink I had ordered and excused myself, making a mental note to call Sarah as soon as I reached home and then I hailed a cab.

It stopped me in front of my family's house and I was greeted by the stern look of my father as I walked in.

"Where have you been?" He asked.

"I had something to do." I replied as vaguely as possible whilst brushing past past him not wanting to explain myself any further.

"You can't continue doing this you know." He muttered, stopping me in my tracks

"Doing what father?"

"This is the time for you to step up for this family. I have carried each and all of you on my backs for years and I will not have you throw everything I have worked for away just to satisfy your whims." He raved.

"My whims? I scoffed

"I will have you remember that I did not ask for any of this, you put us in this situation, whatever this is, you created it." I shot back at him as I felt the anger build up in my veins.

"You will not speak to me that way, Andrea... you will watch your fucking tone with me" My father raved

We held each others gaze for some seconds as I could see the look of disappointment build up in his eyes. There was a time in my life when that look alone would have been enough to break me; daddy's good little girl, but not this time.

This time I was too angry for that to even be an option.

"You wanted me back home, well here I am. You want me married and I am going to be." I said, "Now if you will excuse me, I have a date with the man you have apparently sold me to."

I turned around and sped away before he could say anything more to me.

My mother was waiting at the top of the stairs and she too also had a look of disappointment in her eyes but I paid her no attention as I walked straight to my room and slammed the door shut. I could hear her pacing in front of my door for some seconds no doubt trying to figure out if she should enter or not and then finally deciding against it, leaving me to my devices.

I felt bad but they had to know that this was not supposed to be happening.

I checked my watch again, it was 4pm on the dot.

I could not help the smile that graced my face at the thought of whoever the asshole was waiting for me to finish up and I did take my time even when my mother called out my name, notifying me that he was around.

I made sure I wasted about thirty more minutes before I was ready and descended the stairs.

The erratic pounding of my heart was the only thing I could hear as I descended the stairs. I could see the silhouette of a man but not what he looked like.

"Here she is" My mother announced, beaming from ear to ear.

He turned then and the sassy words I had planned out died in my throat.

"Miss Silva" He smiled, rising to his feet.

Damine! My head screamed.

This was impossible; there is no way he is the man I am to marry, I thought to myself.

"Mr..." I stuttered.

"Fel" He supplied. "Damine Fel and you, Miss Silva are fashionably late" He arched an eyebrow, taking in what I was wearing with a sweep of his eyes.

"I was out" I muttered lamely, like that was going to explain the reason I was late.

He cocked his head to the side and then put out a hand to me which I took, sucking in my breath with his scent wafting to my nostrils. He smelled like expensive cologne and I immediately wanted to take another breath so I could smell him again.

"We shall get going" He nodded towards my father and then my mother, leading me out of the house and into his car.

I said nothing as he opened the door and I slid in while he circled the other end. My head remained reeling with the fact that the stranger whom my family desperately wanted me to marry was Damine Fel.

The same boy turned man I have had a crush on since like forever.

"You are quiet" He declared, turning to face me.

"I am overwhelmed" I muttered, hoping that explained rather than gave away the fact that I knew him.

He did not seem to recognize me and I did not expect him to. It has been so long ago; 15 years was a lot of time to love one man.

"You are Andrea" He stated.

"I am" I concurred.

"Hmm" He muttered, saying nothing more.

DAMINE

It was an even better idea to pick her up instead of the driver like I had originally planned. She looked every bit like Camilla except there was something particularly demure about her. Like she was the lifeless version of her otherwise bubbly twin sister.

I loved Camilla but she was nowhere to be found and as much as I wanted to scour the earth for her, I had to get married before the deal with my investor is finalized hence the switch to the other sister.

I found it infuriating that I was overly aware of her presence. The still way she sat in the car and the steady rise and fall of her chest.

As much as I wanted to turn around and watch her, to familiarize myself with the notable differences between her and the woman I loved, I did not.

We arrived at the restaurant and I was brought out of my thoughts by this. I reached the car door and pulled it open, putting out a hand to her.

"Thank you" She murmured, her voice shaky.

There was a difference in the way she had spoken to me earlier on the phone and it was that feisty voice that had made me vaguely interested in wanting to know her.

Camilla never talked about her sister all the time we were together. She was always too absorbed in talking about herself and do not get me wrong, I loved to see and watch her talk... her eyes lighting up with delight.

Andrea on the other hand, there was no light in her eyes or maybe I wasn't yet opportune to seeing it?

I led her into the restaurant and straight to my favorite spot, it was a place I had visited plenty times with Linda and when the waiter approached us, she had a smile on her face.

"Miss Silva, it is lovely to see you again" She said.

Andrea smiled back at her, her eyes meeting mine.

She waited however until the waiter had taken both our orders before she asked the obvious question.

"I take it that woman was familiar with my sister?"

"Yes" I responded, my eyes pinned on her.

She had blue eyes but in the dimly lit restaurant, it was more of gray with a hint of hazel around the edges, it teased my senses.

"I don't know what we are doing" She muttered in embarrassment.

"We are getting married" I reminded her, reaching for the glass of water beside me.

"I know but shouldn't we be looking for Camilla? This should not be happening and we do not... you do not even know me" She muttered in exasperation.

"I do not need to know you, Andrea. I only need to get married and Camilla..." I paused, taking in a deep breath. "Camilla is not available right now. I am sorry if this was not in your plans but you are going to have to make space for it right now" I declared.

It was more like an order and I could see her eyes flash as she took in the meaning of my words.

There it was, I almost smiled. The life.

"I know what I am supposed to do and I know we are supposed to get married. I guess I only thought I could reason with you as any sane humans in the 21st century would but I can see that I was very wrong" She nodded curtly in my direction, shutting me off completely.

I said nothing more; there was no need for me to begin building a relationship with her because I would never love her. She was here for one thing and one thing only and that was to be a dutiful wife to me.

The waiter saved us from further conversation with the arrival of our meal and I ate, glancing occasionally at her but otherwise, we just ate.

She pushed her plate away, reaching for a glass of water.

"I am not going to fight this marriage and will do whatever you want" She told me, her eyes steady.

I pushed my plate away too.

"I was not under the impression you had a say in the matter, Miss Silva"

"You can call me, Andrea... Damine. After all, we are going to be husband and wife"

A jolt snaked through my spine at this.

I shook my head, warning myself to not mistake her for her sister. They were nothing alike but this one... there was something about her.

"When is the wedding?" She asked.

"In two days" I told her.

"Two days!" Her eyes rounded. "You...we cannot get married in two days"

"I just heard you say you are going to do whatever I want or was I mistaken?"

Her eyes flashed again in anger and I realized with abruptness how much I wanted to see more of that flash.

No, Damine... I chided myself. She is not the one.

"I will be ready" She murmured, her tone final.

"If that is all, Mr Fel then we should take our leave. So I can get ample time to shop for a wedding dress. No one would want the wife of the billionaire, Damine Fel to appear in sack clothes now, would they?" She shot me a small smile and I could tell she was teasing, making light of the situation.

I rose to my feet, stepping out almost immediately she did so we were standing face to face with me towering over her.

She took a step back, a look of panic I did not quite understand entering her eyes before it was gone and I was left to think I had imagined her fear.

"Are you okay?" I asked still.

"I am fine" She ground out. "You startled me, is all"

"You are easily startled, Miss Silva" I noted.

"Am I? or is it that you are such a big oaf"

She turned around, walking in front of me while I resisted the urge to laugh.