Chapter 5 : You May Kiss The Bride

Chapter 5: You May Kiss The Bride 

Just an hour ago, the legal agreement had been signed by my father as I had signed my marriage certificate. He had left me alone by the entrance as I was going to walk down the aisle all alone which I was grateful for. I was going to officially marry Justin Moretti once the two large doors opened and at least, they opened. The two large doors opened in front of me. The orchestra in the corner of the grand began to play a wedding song which my sister had chosen because this was supposed to be her day.

The grand hall inside the church was filled with quiet murmurs of the five hundred guests who had stood up and waited for me to walk down the aisle. The air was thick with the scent of flowers but I could only feel the pounding of my heart, each beat a painful reminder of the situation I found myself in. I stood by the entrance all by myself and I never imagined I would be here, standing in my half-sister's wedding dress and about to marry her ex-boyfriend who she had a year long affair with. I felt a wave of nausea roll over me. A day like this was supposed to be the happiest day of my life but instead, it felt like a cruel twist of fate. Across the room, Justin Moretti stood at the altar, a twenty-six year old guy who had once been my first love. I had fallen in love with him when I was fifteen years old because he was a guy out of a novel, handsome and enchanting.

The first time I saw him was during a meeting my father had held, I couldn't stop staring at him even if he was only training to take over the family business. Yet he had fallen for my sister and was her lover. I stared at him who looked devastatingly handsome in his black tailored suit, his jet black hair was combed back as his hooded eyes were intense. But Helena stood off to the side, wearing a blue bridesmaid dress as her eyes gleamed with malice. She had set up this entire scenario, forcing me to marry Justin, her ex-lover. I glanced at Justin, I had not spoken or made any contact with him for the past three years. We had exchanged hellos and goodbyes but that was it. How was I supposed to be his wife?

My legs felt numb as I took the first step down the aisle, stepping onto the long carpet which came to an end at the altar. I hated everything about this wedding because it was chosen by my sister. The flowers, the orchestra, the wedding dress and the guests, everything was chosen by her. Each step was a battle against the overwhelming urge to turn and run to escape this nightmare but I couldn't. If I chose to run, a war would break out between the two families or my youngest sister would have been forced into my position. I finally reached the altar as I stood in front of Justin, avoiding his eyes because I knew that if I looked at him, his gaze would be directed behind me at my sister who was standing there as a bridesmaid.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Adrianna and Justin.” The priest began, his voice a dull sound that barely registered in my mind.

My parents sat in the front row, their faces masks of polite interest. They didn't care that Helena chose not to marry Aaron Moretti because they knew if she didn't want something, I was always there to get her leftovers, her sloppy seconds. I felt someone step away behind me as Helena went to sit down beside our parents at the front row so that I could see much of her clearly. Her smile widened as the priest continued, her eyes never leaving mine. She was basking in her victory, having stolen yet another piece of my happiness.

“Do you, Arianna, take Justin to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?” 

The words felt like a cruel joke. Love? Cherish? How could I pledge such things when our union was born of a peace treaty? I finally glanced at Justin, somewhat seeing him since the white veil was draped over my head. Imagine marrying the man you once loved, a man who was your first love but then your sister came along and he ended up choosing her. That was my current situation but still I uttered those two painful words even if it caused me discomfort.

“I do.” I whispered. 

The priest turned to Justin, repeating the vows. His response was calm but his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.

“I do.” He muttered.

He did not want to marry me, he had been forced into this marriage. The exchange of rings followed, the cold metal of the band was like a chain that bound me to a future I had never wanted. Justin slid the ring onto my finger and I felt a tear slip down my cheek.

“You may now kiss the bride.” The priest announced.

Helena's smug expression changed since she didn't think we would go through with the kiss but we would even if we didn't want to. Justin drifted the veil behind my back, he caught the sight of my face and I wanted to die on the spot because my heart was pounding violently with despair and agony. He leaned in, his lips brushing mine in a brief and careless kiss. It was nothing like the passionate kisses I had imagined, the ones I had dreamed of for so long on my wedding day. The guests broke out in applause, their cheers a hollow roar in my ears. But as he kissed me, I felt the taste of whisky which meant that he had used alcohol as a way to go through with the wedding and marry a woman he didn't love. I forced a smile, my face a mask of false happiness as we pulled away from each other and we turned to face the cheering crowd. Helena masked her expression of jealousy as she cracked a smile at me. She had won and she knew it.

She had taken everything from me and left me with nothing but a life of misery. I despised her with an intensity that burned through my veins but there was nothing I could do, not now. Justin took my hand and we walked down the aisle together for the sake of the guests as they were standing, cheering and applauding for us but some had a look of pity since they knew the truth. Helena was supposed to be in my place, she was the one who was supposed to marry Aaron Moretti.