The Replaced Bride's fortune

"Pack your things, you're going to the Maserati home tomorrow," father barked at me as I bowed sheepishly at the dining table.

"But...why?," I started in a quiet voice, taken completely off guard at the sudden news, "Emily might be back in time for the ..."

"Shut up, Brianna." He dismissed me before I could even land my point. "Just do as I've said, Emily is not coming back and you will be taking her place as the bride. That is final."

I nodded, a quiet sense of resignation washing over me. I cowered in fear at his cold tone, my gaze running down the table at the so called family-people, who should be defending me or at least try to defend me. No one batted an eye. Not even a shock expression on their face.

It was pathetic really, I had never expected much from them, never hoped for more than I was given but this one cut a bit deeper than I'd like to admit.

I'd long known that they'd find a way to dismiss me from the house sooner or later. But what I didn't know was when. I guess this was it. It was finally time I was put to use for their own gain.

The rest of the table continued with their meal, engaging in conversations I didn't dare to partake in.

Mother was seated ramrod straight at the other end of the six seater dining table. Her head nodding in response to whatever Elsa was saying from her right side.

Ezra was seated on her left, his food long gone, his full attention on his phone , not minding us at all. I didn't dare use my phone when I was at the dining table.

I was seated just at the left of father, the seat opposite mine which would have been occupied by Emily now empty. A perfect reminder of her absence or do I say her convenient escape from her long arranged marriage. It was also a painful indication of my current dilemma.

Emily was supposed to be getting married to Adrian Maserati in two days. She had shown no sign of resistance at the time she was informed.

We had all been gathered on the table barely two weeks ago. Emily had smiled, eating her food without as much as a shred of concern on her face. I was very surprised by that.

"Yes father," she had said, a small smile on her face as she nodded in acceptance.

I'd have thought that she would fight, yell, riot, anything else than agree to the marriage with Adrian.

Adrian Maserati was a feared man. There were rumors and stories of how he killed people and how his company was built on innocent tears, sweat and blood - and I mean literal blood. He was known for his brutal ways and was feared among many.

When father had announced it that very day, I remember the quiet gasp that escaped my lips. I didn't believe it, we were not generational wealth type of rich but we weren't poor by any means. Hence my shock when it was announced that Emily would be having an arranged marriage.

"The marriage will happen in about two weeks," father had said, "get yourself prepared for it. The wedding would be extremely vital for ours and the company's future."

Even though Emily was not my favorite, at least not by a landslide, I felt slight pity for her. She'd been raised as a sheltered child. The second daughter of the family. Spoiled to the best the family could offer.

We weren't close, not in the years I'd lived year after being adopted. We barely spoke or even talked as sisters -or at least step sisters. But I never wanted for her to have an unhappy future.

At the time I came newly to the home, she was the last child. I was a crash in her little world, and for a short while, she picked on me, trying to get our parents' attention. But that didn't last.

We both soon realized there was no attention to fight over, no affection to compete for, and things just... stayed distant between us.

That night, after the wedding announcement, I passed by Emily's bedroom and I could hear her quiet sobs through the door. My heart sank for her but at the same time, I was relieved to be the glass child of the family.

At least, I had no worth to be married for a business alliance to Adrian Maserati, the cold brutal CEO.

After the announcement of my shotgun marriage in place of Emily. Dinner ended almost immediately, with everyone dispersing to their respective wings.

That was how things had always been in this cold house, there was no warmth. There was no laughter at dinner tables, no conversations about how the day went. Nothing. I especially didn't speak much at all. There wasn't anyone who cared much for what I had to say.

I was left to clear and clean the table and tidy up the kitchen. We had help and maids but these were things I'd learnt to do without being told.

'It was part of my due diligence,' I'd constantly told myself.

After all was done, I retreated to my room down at the basement floor. Dropping flat on my bed as I stared at the little neon star stickers at the ceiling of my room. It was the only source of light I had in my poorly lit room that didn't even have a decent window.

I let out a deep breath and I ponder on my nearing future, my current crisis.

I'd hoped that Emily would by some miracle, return home. She'd come back and take her place.

With the way it looked back at dinner, I keep thinking maybe I was the only one who was left in the dark about Emily fleeing the country to escape her marriage. Maybe this was their plan after-all.

I didn't want to get married, I was only 23. I wasn't the favourite child of the family but I was comfortable enough. I wasn't treated too poorly, I'd long learnt my place and stood firmly on it.

Being adopted at 10 years old was not in my go card at all. I'd long believed and settled my mind that I won't be getting picked or adopted. I was older than half the kids at the orphanage and most couples preferred younger kids, from month zero to ages three was the perfect choice.

I'd long accepted my fate, I remained quiet even when my world was falling apart.

My only hope was turning 18 and getting out of the system. Finding my own way through life and fulfilling my dream of owning a small coffee shop and bookshop to spend my days. Marriage was never part of my plan. Not then, and definitely not now.

But with the look of things, I didn't have much of a choice. I had to take my sister's place. That was the only duty I'd ever been asked out rightly for and thus my final duty to the Stewart family.

They didn't need to say it outright but it showed, in the way they treated me that they believed I owed them for taking me in.

And so, I'll suck up my resistance and my aversion for this arrangement and get married like they want.

This was my final duty and my gratitude for the choice they made in picking me from the plenty in that orphanage 13 years ago.

Once I'd taken time to relax and sort out my thought, I got started on packing the little clothes and items I owned. It wasn't much, I didn't own much. I was never greedy; I didn't ask or reach for things beyond what I needed or what was mine to have.

"I guess this is it. The last bag," I let out a quiet sigh as I zip up the final bag of things I'd be taking along. Essentially, it was my whole life packed in the box.

By tomorrow, I'd be on my way to Adrian's home, the wedding would be happening there. I wondered what it would be like over there.

Would there be cages that housed criminals, or dens that trapped innocent people that crossed him? Would I even be treated right? If I lived in anyway similar to my life here, it would suffice. I would make do and fill my days.

The thought of what I would find there sent shivers down my spine. I didn't hope for much, I just hoped to live in peace.

I already kept to myself well, I didn't speak except being spoken to and I wasn't keen on starting conversations. I could only hope that Adrian left me alone to my devices.

Heading to my vanity, I pack up the rest of my stuff into the small pouch that laid there. The lip balm, mascara that I rarely used and my small pocket blade.

Maybe it could come in handy when I arrived at the Maserati estate.

I had no idea what I was walking into. But I had no other choice.

The following day, a car arrived at the Stewart mansion. A white Escalade as I peeped from the attic windows of my room.

I didn't get a wink of sleep the whole night. My eyelids burned at the lack of moisture but I didn't even care.

"They're here for me." I whisper to myself. Okay, this was really happening.

Emily was not here, this was really happening. I was getting married to him still.

Maybe I should have slept actually, maybe then, I could wake and this would all be a bad dream. I'd have asked one of my siblings to pinch me awake but we weren't that close.

Not a minute after, a knock came, incessantly and loud. "Brianna, it's time to go." That was Ezra. "Dad said to bring you downstairs. Are your bags packed?"

That was my cue, it wasn't a dream, it never was. It was my reality and it was time to face it.

I didn't respond, there was no need to. I was really leaving now.

I moved forward towards my small door frame and yanked it open. "I'm still set, I just need a little help..." He left.

Ezra had always been weird, he was about twenty six now and still lived here with us. Not like he had much of a choice, the whole family lived here. This house didn't live much independence for its habitants.

He was the exact replica of father, same cold grey eyes, thinly sliced lips and dismissive stare. If anything were to happen to father, he would be fit as a replacement. He already worked closely with him as COO at the company.

Letting out a soft sigh, I began dragging my suitcase out, one after the other. I didn't have much, but I suppose if I was moving my whole life, I needed at least three suitcases.

Well, I had four boxes and a duffel bag. They carried my entire life and existence.

After dragging the final bag out of the door, I stopped to take a final look of the place I'd called my home, it wasn't grand or perfect but it was mine. I'd come to love my little basement room.

Closing doors as I closed the final chapter of my life here at the Stewart house, I make my way down the stairs.

Struggling with one box and duffel bag, I trudge my way down. Below the stairs I find an unfamiliar face, a man clad in an all black fitted suit. He looked like he came straight out of a spy movie scene.

"Miss, do you have more luggage to haul down the stairs?, the man asked.

I stared confused, not sure who he was speaking to.

"Me? Are you talking to me?"

He let out a small smile that seemed to make his already small eyes smaller. "Yes, miss. Of course. Now do you have any more luggage?"

"Oh, uhm. Yes.. I do," I stuttered, heat crawling up my neck at the sudden niceties. "There are a couple boxes more up there." I gestured up the stairs.

He nodded and got to it, carrying the boxes in twos, he brought down the rest of my luggage. All I could do was watch awkwardly.

He hauled them all to the vehicle and I was left in the living room of the place I called home.

No one was home to bid me farewell. Not father, not mother. Not any of my other siblings. I knew they didn't care much but this was glaringly obvious.

I let out a deep breath, my nostrils filling with the home smell I'd grown accustomed to. It didn't smell wake or homey, it smelled like a clean, artic igloo. An unmemorable scent.

As I move to head out of the house or the last time, thinking if I'd ever have the chance to return, father walked in.

"Be on your best possible behavior, child." His voice thundered as he stood at the top of the stairs. "You will not soil our good name. Okay?"

My heart thudded, he came. It wasn't for a teary farewell but he came. I guess that was good enough.

"Yes father."

With one last cold glance, he walked away. And I bid my farewell to the only home I'd ever known.

After about an hour, we arrived at the Maserati estate. It was magnificent and expansive. We drove through the automated gateway that led to the most beautiful home I'd ever seen.

I started to blink as I watched through the windows, maybe this really was a dream. It was nowhere near what I expected.

I expected a dungeon like stonewall building that resembled the ones that mother gothel lived. Not this.

When we got to the entrance of the main building and I couldn't keep my mouth closed. Up close, the house was even better. The building sat in the middle of an expansive stretch of land. Easily about five hectares.

I was welcomed at the entrance like royalty immediately I got down. My boxes and bag already being hauled inside.

"Welcome Young miss."