The Misplaced Bride

Chapter 4

Aurelia's POV

Lucien and I walked hand in hand, towards the floor to ceiling doors. The four men who opened the doors earlier now nodded their head as a silent bow to the power couple.

Is this happening for real?

Once we were outside, I was blinded by the lights and noise. I had to squint my eyes to see what was happening.

There is a group of photographers actively clicking our pictures. And behind them, right outside the gate are dozens of women crying because their crush Lucien Ashcroft just got married and that he is not single anymore.

Why do people even love him?

"Smile at the cameras, hun. You are the current sensation," Lucien whispered in my ear.

I could hear several questions. Several assumptions. The security line is doing a great job at stopping the media four steps in front of us so we are not suffocated.

Is this what Lucien puts up with every single day?

Damn.

Of all the questions raised, the one that stood out the most was how a girl behind the gates screamed.

"Lucien Who is she?"

As if Lucien was her ex and she was demanding to know who his current girlfriend is.

I looked at Lucien, whose eyes are on the girls behind the gates. I expected him to ignore the question because even he doesn't know who I actually am. Other than my name of course.

But to my surprise, Lucien's hand found my waist again and pulled me closer. I could feel his body heat and the scent of his cologne is making me feel a little tipsy.

I remind myself that I am supposed to hate this guy but my body looks like it could betray me at any moment.

Lucien smirked at the audience as he said ,"She is Aurelia Beaumont Ashcroft"

The crowd cheered and the photographers violently clicked my pictures.

Everything else went by a blur and we were escorted to a Rolls Royce that was waiting for us.

"So you did give me a name," I said the moment it was just us both in the car.

"You do have a name," he said, with his usual calm and composed posture.

"Yes. But people out there expected something grand like you saying I am your wife or something," I shrugged my shoulders.

And I watched him look at me, a little bit amused.

"Now what is wrong with having an identity Aurelia? Is it that bad?" He asked me.

That shut me up instantly because wow. He does have a point.

"It's better we talk about the ground rules," he then said and the driver momentarily looked at us through the rearview mirror.

"What ground rules?" I asked him back and he looked at me like I was probably the dumbest creature on the planet.

I shook my head lightly and tilted my head towards the driver. I know what ground rules he is talking about but I don't want to talk about them in front of a third person.

"Meet my best friend, Benito" Lucien casually said but my lower jaw is already hitting the floor.

What??

"Best friend?" I asked him and he nodded at me. Just one subtle nod.

Benito then turned around to look at me. And I see his full face. He is the heir to The Kudrow group of hotels and wow he is our driver of the day.

"Lucien and I made a pact when we were in college. We would be each other's drivers on their wedding days," Benito finally spoke.

I looked at Lucien again. So private Lucien is different to the public Lucien. Interesting.

"Nice to finally meet you, Aurora. I've heard great things about you," Benito said.

That itself says that he doesn't know a thing about what happened and what's going to happen.

"Quit the act. The bride got misplaced and she is Aurelia. You would have known if you were there on time," Lucien clapped back that made Benito's eyebrows go all the way up to his forehead and he looked at me.

"Do you even know how hard it was to.. forget it," Benito didn't even finish his sentence before turning the car to the right where we were entering the mansion.

The gates are taller than a two storey building with a huge A engraved in the middle. Ashcroft.

It took us three minutes to reach the mansion from the gate and that's how huge the lawn is. It's like I entered a different world altogether.

My phone started blowing up and I guess the press finally released our photographs everywhere.

"You ready?" Lucien asked me but got down before I could give him my answer.

Classic Lucien Ashcroft.

I followed Lucien and got down only to be met with.. no one.

It was only until we walked in, did I see his family. When did these people reach here?

"About time you showed up, Eh Kudrow?" Edmund Ashcroft asked Benito.

Benito responded with a tight lipped smile. He is just being polite without talking much. That makes me wonder what kind of a person Edmund is. He referred to Benito with his surname and not his real name.

"What a spectacular event that was. Misplaced Bride and a nobody who is now part of the Ashcroft legacy. Just what I was afraid of," Edmund then said with a smile.

I stopped wondering what kind of a person Edmund is now.

He is the kind of person that you want to slap for no reason.

"Yes. I figured a nobody who stayed was better than somebody who left," Lucien paused and took a step closer, with a smile that's identical to his father,"oh wait. Weren't you the one who chose Aurora?"

And with that, there was pin drop silence.

And wow Lucien Ashcroft. My mind wouldn't have thought of a comeback like this.

"Go get changed, Aurelia. There is a family ritual you need to do this evening," Nicole said.

I looked at Lucien and all he did was give me a subtle nod. I am good to go.

Nicole then showed me the way to what I think is Lucien's room. Now that we are married, he and I have no other choice but to stay in one room.

"Everything you need has already been arranged. I'll be there with you in a minute," she said with a very subtle smile. You don't even know it's there but it is.

I walked in and this room is the size of my entire apartment. Man!!

I got rid of my clothing first. If this was any other gown I would have been sweating but boy oh boy this was comfortable. I guess money does actually give you everything huh.

Just when I was getting rid of my jewelry while in a robe, the door opened and I saw Nicole walk in.

She gave me another subtle smile but this time, she wanted the smile to be seen. And wow she looks so radiant when she smiles. Just that she doesn't do it often.

"Oh Aurelia. It's about time you walked through those damn doors," she said.

And that was the moment that my heart dropped into my stomach.

She knows who I am? How is that possible?

What exactly did I get myself into?