Bound To My Ex-Fiancé’s Uncle

VIVIENNE Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life—my wedding. I was finally getting married to the love of my life and everything was in place. Perfect, right? If I had known it would be the worst day of my life, I wish I had never met him. The guests had arrived at the venue, which was the exterior of the beach house Julian and I had chosen. My father hadn’t hesitated in buying the property immediately I told him it was the perfect location for my dream wedding. However, this was not because he loved me but because he wanted it to look like he did. It was good for his campaign. It has always been my dream to have a wedding on a beach—a destination wedding with family and friends who had flown in from their homes to celebrate and share this wonderful moment with us. Julian didn’t care much about the location partly because his family is wealthy and partly because he never cares for things like this. Not really. He pretty much entrusted the entire planning and detailing to me because he knew I would never let him down. “Please, sit still or you’ll ruin the make up.” The makeup artist instructed as she did the finishing touches to my look while the stylist worked on my hair. An hour later, my mother walked into the room and gasped when she saw me, her palms instantly going over her mouth. I was already in my silk white dress—soft and willowy—that hugged my curves and gathered at my feet. It was a custom dress made by an exclusive designer. “You look ethereal.” She said, quickly brushing away the fake tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes. She was in a sea blue dress which was the wedding theme, creating a perfect balance with the natural brightness of the sea. The color made her look so much younger and unbelievably more beautiful. “Thank you,” I said softly as she caressed my cheek with that expression she always gave, like she still couldn’t decide if she could endure me or not. All my life I have always wanted to please her, but she never recognised my efforts, always choosing to pick at my flaws instead. I try to understand her sometimes but I just can’t. I’m certain she’s just happy to finally give me away to another family. After all, I’ll be out of her hair and she won’t have to hide her disdain for me anymore. “I want to see Julian” I muttered, unable to contain myself. I just couldn’t wait to see my man. I was overwhelmed, with a lot of emotion coursing through me. “No, that’s a bad omen. You should wait.” She said, still staring at me so softly and I nodded. She tapped on the little velvety box that I hadn’t noticed in her hands and opened it gently. Everyone in the room gasped when they saw the elegant pearl necklace that was sitting pretty in it. “I always wanted you to have this but I decided to give it to you as a wedding present. I am so proud of the woman you’re becoming and it warms my heart to see you getting married to the one after your heart and into such a prestigious family too,” She reached for my palms, “This has been passed on for many generations and just as my mother gave me, I'm handing it over to you.” She kissed my hands and went behind me, slipping it around my neck. “Wow Mom, it’s beautiful. Thank you.” I said, faking a smile as the makeup artist and stylist gushed behind me. This was a routine I had mastered all too perfectly. We would pretend outside like we had the perfect mother-daughter relationship, like she adored me, and then act like we’re strangers at home, behind closed doors. She was gone as quickly as she came. I stared at my reflection and let my manicured fingers graze the beautiful pearl piece on my neck. Unable to control myself anymore, I decided to surprise Julian. I knew he would be in his room which had been designated for him. As I walked down the hallway, searching for his room, I suddenly heard weird noises coming from the last door. My heart skipped. What was going on in there? Almost everyone had stepped outside for the ceremony, but the voices coming from inside hinted at something more. I paused at the doorknob, taking my time. Somehow, I knew that whatever I ended up seeing in there was going to change everything. Should I have just stayed back like my mother instructed? Do I go back to my room and act normal? But I couldn’t because my feet in my white heels were rooted in the spot. The anxiety was killing me and I just needed to see it with my own eyes. The noises grew louder and I turned the doorknob with trembling hands. Luckily for me, the door opened slowly, revealing a scene of betrayal. My soon-to-be husband was inside another woman, moving with a hunger he had never shown me. She locked eyes with me and moaned even louder, shutting her eyes in ecstasy. Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched the person I trusted with my whole life stab me repeatedly in the back. “Quiet…we don’t want that fool finding out, babe.” He whispered, covering her lips with his and grunting. My eyes shut in pain and I stumbled back, almost losing my footing. I must have made a sound because the two pairs of eyes turned to me. I watched as his face contorted into surprise first and then something akin to nonchalance. Unable to stand any of this further, I turned on my heels and ran outside, ignoring his voice calling after me. “Viv, wait, don’t do anything stupid. Calm down.” I just wanted to bring this entire charade of a wedding to a halt. As I stepped onto the sand, I made my way to the white carpet leading to the front where we were supposed to take our vows with the officiant. The whole beach setup looked glorious but Julian had ruined what was meant to be the best day of my entire life. All eyes turned on me as I made my way down the aisle unaccompanied, with a tear-streaked face, ruined makeup, and an overall disheveled look. The reporters wasted no time in recording my shame, as light and flickers from their cameras captured me. It took a while to realise the reason everyone was gasping and my mom who was at our table looked like it was a murder scene. Julian had followed me in an attempt to stop me—in just his underwear. His family on the other side looked on in horror, clearly taken aback by the turn of events. Once at the altar, I took the mic from where it was set up perfectly and spoke into it. My hands were trembling and my voice was shaking but I was not to be deterred. “Hello everyone. I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who showed up here today, flying from all over the world to share in my joy,” I took a deep breath before dropping the bomb, “This wedding will not be taking place because I just caught my soon-to-be-husband screwing another woman.” The mic slipped from my hands, landing on the sand, at the same time the entire place erupted in another round of gasps and whispers and more camera shots. I stared blankly into the eyes of the man who was at the other end of the carpet, in only his underwear and a tousled hair. I was so disgusted I wanted to throw up. I bent over when I couldn’t keep it in any longer and emptied my bowels right there on the altar, where we should have been exchanging our vows. From the corner of my eyes, I could see the anger in my father’s eyes, the fake concern in my mom’s, the pity in the guest’s and the excitement in the paparazzi’s and I just knew I couldn't stay here a second longer. I turned, running away as the sea breeze blew my white wedding dress away and the waves on the sea mocked me. A wedding on the beach indeed.