Christian and Leah’s wedding

A year ago

I finally took his hand. Anger pushed me to put aside my hatred for him. My focus had changed. I wanted to hurt Leah. And there was no way I could without his help.

We finally had the same goal. Finally, we saw eye to eye.

He too wanted to hurt Leah. 

"I never thought I'd see the day you get your heart broken." I jested.

The look in his eyes told me I was not to repeat those words. But who cared what he wanted.

"It's true, isn't it. You want revenge cause she cheated on you. I saw the pictures from the day of your engagement. You were in love. That is before you found out you were the other man."

"This isn't about love. It's about keeping a fucking promise." He growled.

What about your promise to me? I wanted to ask, but instead I said, "I didn't hear a denial." 

He glared at me. I averted my eyes from his own. 

"So what's the plan? The invitations are out, and Leah's name is on it. Plus, it's two days away. How are you gonna rectify that? Will you be announcing a correction?… are you gonna pick a new date for our wedding?"

"No." Was all he said. 

"Excuse me. No? What does that mean? No what?"

"I'll take care of everything, you just show up on time. You know what, I'll have my driver pick you up from the hotel by seven. Just be ready."

I wanted to argue, to understand the details of the plan. But I let it go.

I wondered if he was having second thoughts. He needed this more than I did, so there was no way he wouldn't go through with our wedding. Right?

"Okay."

***

Like Christian had said, his driver, Joshua, was outside the hotel waiting for me. Christian had been my alarm that morning. I grabbed a short casual free flowing gown with string for hands, then I wore a matching black flat, grabbed my bag and hopped into the car. 

The car stopped and I saw that it was the venue of his and Leah's wedding.

I'd been waiting forty eight hours for an announcement from Christian, but I'd seen nothing on the tabloids and the news. With only three hours to the wedding, I finally got an idea of what his revenge plan was.

As much as I hated Leah, it didn't sit well with me. The Callisto's would be put to shame, and mocked if he did what I presumed he was going to. I didn't want that. My father had been good to me. To an extent, my mother too. They weren't my birth parents, but a couple years ago they were the only parents I knew.

"I need to speak with him. Call him here. He's not taking my calls." 

"Please stay still. You'll ruin the makeup." The brunette said with gritted teeth. She'd made no effort to hide her dislike for me. I'd heard her snickering with her assistant the second I walked inside the room. My theory was that they must have figured out what was about to happen. 

I believed taking Leah's place on her big day was a despicable thing to do, how could I fault them for feeling the same way.

"I'm sorry. He's busy."

Joshua looked apologetically at me. 

I really didn't want to be a part of this. It was all shades of wrong. 

"You tell him if he doesn't come here in the next five minutes, I will walk out that door. Tell him I said that."

Joshua walked outside the room. A few minutes later Christian barged in.

"Everybody out." He commanded and we were left alone.

"I won't do this. I won't hurt them like this."

Christian sauntered to where I sat, resting his hand on my chair, he gazed into the mirror. I watched his reflection. He looked absolutely dashing in his black suit and silver tie.

"You sound like you have a choice."

"I will walk out of here. Don't test me."

He sniggered. "You're in no position to make threats. You signed a contract and its binding," his hands moved from the chair to my shoulders, massaging almost painfully, he said, "I own you, Alora. And you will do as I say."

Once again, I saw him for the monster I always knew he was. He'd go so far to hurt someone. 

What he was about to do was evil. And worse, he'd make me a part of it whether I wanted to or not. 

"This isn't right." I tried to reason with him. 

He smirked, and then just left. 

Joshua, the makeup artist and her assistant came in seconds after. Within a few minutes, my hair was pinned painfully, yet beautifully at the back of my head. 

"You can go. I can manage the rest on my own."

They stood like they hadn't heard me.

I looked at Joshua for an explanation.

"They can't leave until you're in your wedding dress." He cleared his throat. 

Joshua had been standing by the door like he was a security detail and not a driver. And as I continued to notice him, his behavior struck me like he had a background in it. 

"Okay. Can you step out though. So I can change. Thank you."

Immediately, he left the room.

The girls brought me the white gown. It was really lovely. I shouldn't have been admiring it, not right now, but I couldn't help myself. I traced the lace fabric, running my fingers on the sleeve. The bustier was embroidered with small diamonds and silver thread forming a flower pattern. The back of the dress was open, and small white buttons ran from the waist to the tail. The entire dress was made with the lace fabric, and aside from the sleeves, the rest of the gown had a white silk fabric under it, and it ran to the fish tail of the dress. The piece was really gorgeous. I had no doubt the best had made this because when I wore it, it was the perfect fit, and it felt like it too. 

It surprised me, considering my measurements had been taken, but I never did a fitting.

What now?

As if we had telepathy, Christian walked in. He took his time staring at me, but his face remained impassive. 

"Let's go. it's time."

I didn't even get a 'you look beautiful' from him. He was seriously making me doubt my decision here. Why did I think he had changed? This was the Christian I knew. He was being nice before because he wanted something from me, and now that he had it, he no longer had to pretend.

He took me to the entrance of the hall. I hadn't seen inside, but I guessed it would be beautiful, and filled with important people. After all, the youngest billionaire bachelor in town was getting married. 

Christian and I stood hand in hand waiting for the officiator to call us in. The nerves had kept my mind occupied. Until the slap, that is. Leah's hand meeting my face brought me back to reality.

"You bitch." 

My hand flew to my face, and I watched her in disbelief. She raised her hand again to hit me, but this time Christian intervened, stopping her hand mid air.

"Don't cause a scene. It's distasteful." He glowered at her, then flung the hand he'd been holding down.

"Christian, what are you doing? What is this? You're supposed to marry me. Why is she here?"

He didn't give her any explanation. So she turned to me.

"You are so shameless. And disgusting. To go along with this, do you have no shame?"

I was beginning to get fed up with the way everyone treated me like they could easily walk all over me.

"Shameless? Coming from you, that's rich. You're the one whoring around, and I'm shameless?"

The look on Leah's face was priceless.

"I, I, I… it's not…" she ran to Christian's side, holding his arm, "she's lying, it's not true. I would never, never, cheat on you. Don't believe her. How could you believe her?"

He continued to ignore her, paying deaf ears to her words.

"You can't do this. My parents, this will humiliate them. Please. Please don't do this."

Christian pushed her away and she fell to the ground. For the first ever, I felt something other than hatred for Leah. 

The wedding gown she wore was the same one I was wearing. Everything, even the design was the same. I looked at Christian whose eyes looked ahead. He was really a cruel man.

My attention went back to Leah. Tears rolled down her face. She wiped it off. Big mistake. Her mascara sullied her face, ruining her makeup.

Let's give a round of applause for the bride and groom as they…

Leah rushed up, taking Christian's hand again. "Please. Please don't. Please. I'm begging you. I'll do anything. Just… please."

He looked at me, "your veil."

I brought the lace that was pinned on my hair over my face. 

I wondered if people would notice the second we entered. Or if it would take them a while to realize that the bride was different. 

Leah was a size six, I was a size eight. We were both brunette's, but I carried bangs and my hair was only to my shoulders, while hers was longer. She was five foot six and I was five foot seven. We had distinctive features. Different nose, different lips, but it was all hidden under a veil.

Christian held my hand and began to walk inside the church, I braced myself. Even though my hatred for him was rekindled, I found it a bit comforting that at least I wasn't walking down alone.