BRIDAL MISHAP

CHAPTER FOUR

I finished applying makeup to my face. It had taken me a few minutes to cut off my hair and style it like I had done to Mabel's a few hours ago. Mabel had always loved how long and silky mine was though. I hoped she would understand that I was doing this for her.

My vision blurred with tears as I stared at the mirror. I bit on my bottom lip and wiped my tears. I had spent too much time applying this makeup. I refused to let a few tears smear mascara all over me.

I stood up. The wedding dress was a perfect fit for me. I silently thanked Mabel for the bright idea she had for us to wear similar wedding dresses. If she had not come up with such a creative suggestion; I would have been at a complete loss today.

I sucked in a sharp breath and glanced at Mabel. She was still lying on the ground; Unmoving. I took a few steps toward her and knelt beside her. "He's going to pay for this Mabel," I promised. "He is going to pay for all the pain he put you through. I will not rest until that happens, and this is my first step in the right direction." I finished.

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The sound of hills on the ground filled my ears as I marched through the hallway and down the hall, I knew the guests would be waiting hysterically by now, Esperanto aunt Petunia. She had flown from Australia to attend the wedding. So I had to make it happen. I had to please those guests like Melody would do.

My expectations were pulled to a halt when I stumbled into something — Someone. I gasped at what I hoped sounded like Mabel.

"Mabel! We've been looking for you everywhere!" The tone was sharp and I almost could not believe that Mabel's name could be associated with that tone. Mabel had always been the perfect child, the one my mother liked to introduce to her guests and the one father was very fond of speaking about.

She was the one that Aunt Petunia loved to share small talk with and she was the closest to William. Mabel had always been everything our family had — I had. She was my shoulder to cry on and she always found ways to fix every one of my petty mistakes, but she was gone. And now, I had to take her place; Literally.

I regained my balance and locked eyes with William. His gaze was cold and his lips were pursed into a straight line. For a moment, my heart sank at the thought that he probably knew it was me.

"Everyone's waiting." His tone had an edge to it that I did not like. Before I could speak though, William grabbed my arm roughly and practically dragged me through the small distance to the garden where everyone was waiting.

The place was indeed breathtaking. But not as much as the look on Sebastian's face. He seemed completely horrified at the fact that I was here; That Mabel had still arrived, that she was standing in front of him, hale and healthy.

I plastered a smile on my face and took casual steps toward him, My hands were intertwined with William who seemed to be acting strange. He was never this rough with Mabel, and I had the feeling that he knew the truth tugging at my heart.

My mother's eyes hardened when they locked with mine. It suddenly felt like everyone could see through me, but if they knew the truth; Why was no one speaking or trying to do anything?

I was roughly brought out of my thoughts when Sebastian took my hand. The wedding started immediately. The Priest took his sweet time talking about the sanctity of Marriage, and the entire time, I could feel the tension in Sebastian's body increase with each passing moment.

Did he think that he could murder my sister and just get away with it?

"Miss Mabel Montes, Do you take Mr. Sebastian Monroe to be your lawfully wedded husband in sickness and in health, riches, and poverty till death do you part?" My breath hitched. My knees almost buckled but I stood my ground as images of Mabel's body that was lying a few feet above me flashed before my eyes. She deserved justice and I was going to do anything to get it.

"Yes, I do," I breathed and glared back at Sebastian. For some reason, he seemed completely furious with me; or rather Mabel.

"Mr. Sebastian Monroe, Do you take Miss Mabel Montes to be your Lawfully wedded Wife? In sickness and in health, riches, and poverty till death do you part?" Silence fell at this point and for a moment I thought he was doubting it. My heart sank and I could almost laugh at the irony.

A few hours ago I was determined to call off the wedding and now I was desperate to ensure it took place. Life had a way of playing with people's emotions.

"Mr. Monroe—"

"Yes." His voice was stone cold and we locked eyes. I didn't try to match his gaze. It wasn't something that Mabel would do. She was rather submissive and calm while I was impulsive.

"Alright then, I pronounce you, Husband and Wife."The Priest said and everything went haywire from there.

The sound of an ear-piercing shriek and a loud thud filled everyone's ears. I flinched as the image came into focus. My breath caught in my chest and the only thing I could make out was William's high-pitched British accent that only came out whenever he was terrified.

"Melody!" William shrieked and he ran over to the body that was currently lying on the ground a few feet away from us, the same one that had fallen three stories and hit the ground. If Mabel wasn't dead before, she was now.

The pressing question wasn't that though, it wasn't even the horrified look and genuine tears in Mother's eyes or how William trembled with emotion at my sudden death. Rather, the pressing question was; If Sebastian was right beside me, and Jared was just a few feet away...

Who in the world threw my sister down the three-story building?