Substitute bride

SELENA'S POV

"Fetch your sister; we have company," Mother commanded loudly. I heaved a sigh, set down my coffee, and strode from my room with a sense of resignation.

Mother's enthusiasm for this marriage, as if she's struck gold, grates on my nerves.

At last, Gabriella will be gone, escaping Mother's outbursts, leaving me to endure them alone.

I entered Gabriella's room unannounced. She stood there, adorned in an elegant white lace dress that accentuated her figure, a veil draped over her hair, perusing a magazine.

"The guests have arrived," I said. Looking up, I noticed tears glistening in her eyes.

"What's the matter?" I inquired, my voice tinged with worry as I took the magazine from her, scanning the wedding news.

Gabriella exhaled deeply, her attention fixed on the scene beyond the window. "I'm not sure I can go through with this," she confessed softly.

"You must," I insisted, holding her hands for reassurance. "That's easy for you to say; you're not in my shoes," she replied sharply.

"Gabriella, it'll all work out. Mother wouldn't have agreed if they weren't decent folks," I reassured her quietly.

"Come on! You know Mother would do anything for money," Gabriella countered, rising from the bed, hands defiantly on her hips.

"Do you think money is her motive?" I questioned, skepticism creasing my brow.

"What other reason could there be? I don't buy the story about settling Father's debts after his death," she argued.

"We both know Father left a substantial debt to the Evans family," I said, pausing to catch my breath, "and Mother would not have pursued this if they weren't insistent on repayment."

"I just can't do this," Gabriella exclaimed, her frustration echoing as she slammed her hands on the desk.

"Gabby, our entire future lies on this. If you reject this marriage, we'll be ruined. Is that what you want?" I pressed.

"If you're so concerned, why don't you marry him?" She challenged me. My frustration mounted.

"I would if I weren't committed to Derrick," I replied, turning away to hide my turmoil.

"You can't even face me because you know you wouldn't dare," she said softly, and I felt a pang of sympathy for her.

"Gabby, you didn't hesitate to sign the deal with the Evans family. What's changed now?"

"I'm pregnant," she blurted out, stopping me mid-sentence.

"Pregnant? How? With whom?" I bombarded her with questions, her eyes downcast.

"I can't marry him; I'm pregnant with another man's child," she affirmed, cradling her belly.

"Who's the father?" I demanded, still reeling from the shock. She retreated, silent, as I approached.

"Say it," I urged. "Nate," she finally admitted.

"Nate Williams?" I sought confirmation. "Yes, who else?" she replied, sinking onto the bed.

"I can't believe you disregarded Mother's warnings about him," I said, disbelief evident in my tone.

"I love him, Selena. I can't marry that ruthless man that I don't know, especially carrying Nate's child," she declared.

"Nate is no saint either," I countered.

"But at least I love him. I need to leave, to protect my child from this sham of a marriage," she reasoned.

"Seriously, Gabby? How do you plan to pull that off?" I questioned, unable to hide my skepticism at her naive statement.

"As long as you're here, it'll be easier," Gabriella said, her gaze averted.

"I'm lost," I admitted, trying to grasp what Gabriella was implying.

"Just let Mom know I'll be down shortly," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Really?" I said, brightening up at her assurance.

"Yes, now go before I reconsider," she urged, and I enveloped her in a warm embrace.

"You're amazing. I'll be waiting for you," I said, planting a kiss on her forehead before leaving her room.

I spotted Mom downstairs with a couple of men, likely guests. "She'll be down soon," I murmured to her before stepping out of the living room.

*****

"Selena, where on earth is your sister?" Mom demanded as she entered the kitchen.

"I don't know, Mom. She's not downstairs?"

"You know she's not. If she were, I wouldn't be asking. Didn't you say she was coming? So where is she?"

"Mom, please, take a deep breath," I pleaded, hopping off the kitchen counter.

"Don't tell me to relax. The guests and the priests are waiting. Find your sister now; the whispers are starting, and you know how I hate that," she ordered, gesturing towards the door.

"You need to learn some patience," I muttered under my breath.

But Mom was already on her way out. "Gabby!" I called out, entering her room. "Gabby, where are you?"

I looked around, but she was nowhere to be found. I dreaded the worst. My heart pounded as I checked the bathroom, only to be met with emptiness.

"This can't be happening. Gabby!" I cried out, rushing to the window, but she was gone.

I approached her wardrobe, and my breath caught at the sight of her wedding dress still hanging there. "No, Gabby, you can't have..." I trailed off, disbelief washing over me as I clutched the dress.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, only to hear her phone ring from the desk. She left her phone behind. I realized, spotting it on the desk. Then my eyes caught sight of a note.

"I'm sorry, but I had no choice. Take care of Mom and yourself. Love, Gabriella."

I felt tears sting in my eyes as I read her words. "This can't be happening-" "What's all this?" Mom barged in, and I turned to face her with the note in hand.

"She left," I said softly.

"Gabriella?" Mom took the note from me, her voice tinged with frustration. "How could she do this? We had a deal with the Evans. She can't just leave us like this."

"It's clear Gabriella never wanted any part of this," I pointed out.

"Nobody does, but it was necessary to protect us," Mom snapped back. "Now that she's gone, we have no choice. You will marry Aiden Evans in place of your sister," she commanded.

"Never! It's not possible," I protested.

"Nothing is impossible. Either you marry Aiden Evans to save our family's reputation, or you let it be tarnished even further," she said sternly.

"I just can't," I responded, feeling a surge of panic.

"You must," she insisted, looking me straight in the eye.

The thought of betraying Derrick was unbearable. He has my heart. I understand the importance of family, but how can I possibly explain this to Derrick?

AIDEN'S POV.

Where could the bride be? The one causing such a stir?

I mused, eyeing the clock with a deepening scowl at each passing moment.

My fingers drummed on the table, betraying my restlessness. Staying still was not an option for me.

With each chime of the clock, my irritation intensified, secretly wishing for a mishap to disrupt the meticulously planned marriage orchestrated by my parents.

Nevertheless, I feigned interest, not wanting to appear indifferent to the marriage.

"Dad, may I have a word?" I requested in front of his friends.

They stepped aside, and before he could respond, I pressed, "Dad, what's causing the hold-up?"

"Women and their dressing rituals take time. Just like your mother," he said, nodding towards my mom, who was engaged in conversation with her companions.

"Sure, but this is taking an eternity, and I'm growing weary of this space," I complained, receiving a reassuring pat from my father.

"Relax. They wouldn't dare cause a scene, or they'll regret the embarrassment," he assured me, and I silently prayed for an end to it all.

**************************

SELENA'S POV

"I refuse to do it!" I declared to my mother, exasperated after countless pleas.

She had been incessantly urging me to marry a man I did not know, and my patience was wearing thin.

"How dare you raise your voice?" she snapped back.

"Forgive me, Mother, but marrying Aiden Evans is impossible when my heart belongs to another," I said softly.

"Enough with this talk of love. We both understand the dire consequences of defying the Evans. Our very lives are at stake," she reminded me.

"It's clear you're indifferent to my feelings. My happiness is irrelevant to you, isn't it?" I challenged, locking eyes with her.

She turned away, arms folded, avoiding my gaze.

"That's precisely why Gabriella fled, and I can't blame her. This is on you for agreeing to such terms," I continued, pointing accusingly at her.

"I'm not interested in who's to blame. All I expect is for you to replace your sister, that's all," she stated firmly, showing no signs of backing down.

"Think about your father. Do this for him if not for me," she implored more gently.

"He was the one indebted, and if you wish to preserve his reputation, then act. Otherwise, do nothing. I won't bother-"

"I'll do it," I interjected, and I saw a glimmer of relief on her face.

"That's my daughter. Now, dress in Gabriella's gown and join me downstairs," she instructed, handing me the dress before exiting.

What have I agreed to? Why did I consent to this absurd marriage? It was the memory of my father that haunted me.

The bridal gown felt like shackles rather than finery.

Each adornment weighed heavily upon me, symbolizing the burdensome expectations placed upon my shoulders.

Gazing into the mirror, I saw a bride whose eyes reflected uncertainty about a future dictated by duty, not affection.

Adjusting my veil, I resigned myself to my fate, thinking, 'For my family, for honor,' a mantra now ingrained in me as I donned the dress with reluctance.

Lost in contemplation, the sound of my phone jolted me back to reality.

My heart thundered.

Derrick, I muttered. It was Derrick calling. What should I do? How could I explain?

As the phone continued to ring, I turned away, tears streaming down my face, until the ringing ceased.

What should I tell Derrick when he discovers I'm marrying someone else?

A knock interrupted my reverie. "Selena, it's time," Laura, our loyal servant, and my father's friend, announced as she entered.

"Could you ask my mother for a couple more minutes?" I pleaded, standing and wiping away tears.

"I'm sorry, Selena. Mrs. Rose Vance, your mother, insists I escort you downstairs immediately," Laura said, her eyes on the ground.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to come to terms with everything happening so fast. This is surreal.

"I don't mean to pry, but it's evident you're not thrilled about this marriage," Laura remarked.

"You're right, Laura. But we must do what's necessary for our family's sake," I replied.

After a brief silence, I mustered a smile and said, "Let's go ahead," as Laura helped me down, holding the end of my bridal train.

The crowd's murmuring stopped as the wedding march began and I descended the stairs, sporting a pretend smile.

The priest, dressed entirely in white, took his place. My mother's eyes sparkled with triumph as if she'd won the lottery.

I couldn't wait for this to be over as I reached Aiden Evans, the groom, at the altar.

"You look beautiful," he said, but I gave no response. The last thing on my mind was to act as if all was perfect.

After the priest's short sermon, the moment everyone awaited arrived, and my heart pounded.

The priest looked at me and asked, "Miss Selena Vance, do you take Mr. Aiden Evans as your husband, in joy and sorrow, until death do you part?"

I can't go through with this, I thought, eyes shut, as whispers filled the air.

I wished to vanish, but reality hit when the priest asked again.

AIDEN'S POV.

Rejecting this charade was all I could think about.

Despite knowing that my family's reputation would be the talk of Los Angeles and beyond, I was prepared to put an end to it, yet I didn't want to be the one to halt everything.

For the first time in ages, I silently implored the Blessed Virgin Mary to inspire Selena to reject this farcical union.

********************

SELENA'S POV

The buzz of the assembly grew louder, and visions of my father haunted me.

"Do it for your father," my mother's voice resonated in my head, prompting me to exhale deeply.

"I do," I uttered at last, prompting applause from everyone.

Looking at Aiden, I sensed his discontent.

Perhaps he detested this as much as I did. Better still, I had no intention of enduring six months with him.

The priest's inquiry interrupted my thoughts, "Mr. Aiden Evans, do you take Miss Selena Vance as your wife, through good and bad times, until death do you apart?"

I silently wished for him to refuse, sparing me the blame.

Yet, my hope was dashed as he affirmed, "Yes," with a nod.

The audience erupted in cheers, and the priest announced, "You may now kiss the bride."

The reality of the situation was suffocating, the weight of my decision pressing down on me.

My lips parted, but not for the kiss; they trembled with the magnitude of the unspoken truth clawing its way up my throat.

My heart raced, pleading for an intervention, for a power outage, a sudden storm, anything to halt the inevitable.

And then, as his face drew nearer, a question surfaced, sharp and urgent, demanding an answer: Was I prepared to spend six months with a stranger just to settle my father's debts?

SELENA'S POV.

I contemplated excuses to avoid it, but my mother's glaring look stopped me.

Facing Aiden, he drew near, tilted my face up, and approached for a kiss.

His lips met mine, eliciting a soft sound from me.

His flavor was unlike anything I'd experienced, even with Derrick. Or perhaps I was overstating.

As his arms encircled me and our lips remained joined, the clapping reminded me it was time to stop.

The last thing I wanted was my image plastered across magazines and the internet, kissing Aiden Evans.

"That's enough," I declared, pulling away from his firm hold as he smirked.

One of the guests congratulated us, "You both are wonderful."

I managed to reply with a polite "Thank you," noticing Aiden's preoccupation with his phone.

"Congratulations," his mother, a dignified woman in her fifties, added. "Thanks, mom," he responded curtly.

The pretense of it all threatened to overwhelm me, and I needed to escape before I succumbed to it.

"I'll return shortly," I informed Aiden and his mother, who were deep in conversation, as I hurried to my room.

My mother's footsteps followed, but I didn't pause.

Collapsing on the bed, tears flowed as she entered.

"You nearly frightened everyone with your silence," she scolded, aggravating my frustration.

"It's always about others' opinions, never my feelings," I cried out.

"Selena, tears change nothing. What's done is done," she stated coldly. "And pack your bags; you're leaving with Aiden tonight," she added before leaving me alone with my sorrow.

With reluctance, I began packing, dreading the six months ahead with a man for whom I felt nothing.

Derrick's reaction will surely be one of anger when he hears about it. Facing him seems like an insurmountable task.

As I was securing my luggage, a faint tap at the window caught my attention.

There's only one person who uses that route to slip into my room.

Approaching the window, it opened to reveal Derrick.

He's the one whose mere presence accelerates my pulse.

"Surprise!" he exclaimed, leaping in with a bouquet he'd been concealing.

"Derrick. Why are you here?" I inquired.

His smile waned.

"Darling, the real question is why you've been ignoring my calls," he retorted.

I hoped that was all he noticed. I avoided his gaze as he stepped closer.

"And why are you adorned in a bridal gown?" he inquired, his words making me wish for the earth to swallow me whole.

"Answer me!" he demanded, his tone reaching a volume I never thought possible.

As I retreated, shaking, he seized my hands from behind.

"Derrick, release me. Let me go," I implored, withdrawing my hand from his hold.

"Forgive me, my dear. Can you explain why you're wearing that gown?" he inquired, worries in his words.

How should I begin to explain? What should I say first? These thoughts whirled in my head.

"Selena, please, utter a word. Say anything," he pleaded.

"I married Aiden Evans," I confessed, no longer able to keep it a secret. It was over. Despite the pain, I owed him the truth.

"No! You must be kidding, aren't you? You're-you're-"

"I'm speaking the truth," I interjected, looking him in the eye.

"This can't be real, Selena. Not today," he protested, and only then did I notice the ring box he clutched in his hands.

"I intended to ask for your hand in marriage today, my love. How could you do this?" he lamented.

His sorrowful expression moved me.

Deep down, I wished to reveal the sham and our eventual reunion after six months, but the backstory of the marriage had to remain hidden.

"Who forced you into this?" he probed, drawing nearer as tears streamed down my face and he clasped my hands.

"I...I never felt love for you," I declared, striving for believability in my admission, but he just shook his head, unconvinced.

"Really? You expect me to accept that tale?" Derrick challenged, skeptical, but I persisted.

"Whether you accept it or not, my feelings for you were never sincere. It was merely a casual affair," I claimed, releasing his hands.

"You're a terrible liar. Gabriella, your sister, was supposed to marry that man. How did you end up in her place?" he confronted me.

His anger was unsettling, but I had to come to terms with my situation.

"Derrick, that's not your concern. Please, leave me be," I implored, overwhelmed by the strain.

As I faced away, his firm hold encircled my waist. "Let's escape together. Let's just flee from all this," Derrick murmured in my ear.

My body yearned to agree, but the thought of my father compelled my heart to refuse.

Turning towards him, he gently lifted my face, his eyes brimming with emotion, and was about to kiss me when the door burst open, followed by a voice.

"What are you doing here?" my mother demanded, causing us to separate instantly.

I signaled to my mother to keep silent about the situation, and she gave a subtle nod of understanding.

"I've come to marry your daughter," Derrick declared boldly, grasping my hands.

"How audacious!" my mother exclaimed, her smile tinged with mischief. Approaching us, she forcefully separated his hand from mine.

"My daughter is already wed, and we have no need for you in her life. Leave immediately," my mother commanded, her voice booming.

"You orchestrated this, didn't you?" Derrick accused, prompting my mother to tighten her jaw.

"You're the mastermind behind this, right?" he pressed.

"Derrick, I won't tolerate baseless accusations against my mother. Kindly depart," I said, maintaining courtesy.

Though I was aware of my mother's influence on my choices, I refused to let anyone address her disrespectfully.

"You'll regret this immensely, I assure you," he warned.

"Please, just go!" I urged, my voice quivering as I watched Derrick make his exit through the window.

A piece of me seemed to vanish with Derrick's departure.

Derrick's warning reverberated: "You'll regret this immensely." Perhaps he was right. Perhaps duty would eclipse desire.

Yet, as the man I had once dreamed of slipped away, I wondered: could I rewrite my fate, or was it already etched in indelible ink, binding me to a stranger's embrace?