His Brother’s Bride

Humiliation

The big doors to the ballroom were right in front of Elena. They made her feel like she was about to be eaten alive. Her heart was beating fast, and she stopped dead in her tracks in the hallway. Her small purse was digging into her hands. On the side of those doors, there were cameras everywhere and countless mean people who liked to gossip. She could almost hear them talking about her.

“I do not think I can do this,“ she said quietly.

Adrian was standing next to her, fixing his cufflinks, like he was getting ready for a business meeting, not like he was about to face a room of people who did not like him. “You can do this,“ he said. “. You will do this.”

She turned around. Her heart was beating in her head. “Do you even hear what you are saying? Do you know what people are saying about me? They are saying I am a joke, that I married you for money. Your mother called me names this morning. Now you want me to go in there and pretend like everything is okay?” She laughed. It was not a happy laugh. “You want me to go there and smile while everyone is talking about me like I am some kind of freak?”

Adrian's face got tight. “You are my wife, Elena. That means you have power if you know how to use it, Elena.”

“Power?” She laughed again. It was a sad laugh. “I do not feel powerful, Adrian. I feel like I am a piece in your game, Adrian.”

“You are not just a piece in my game, Elena,“ he said sharply. “You are my wife, Elena… My wife does not cry before we even start, Elena.”

Something inside Elena felt bad when he said that. She felt like she wanted to fight. She took a breath and made herself smile. “It is easy for you to say that, Adrian. You do not have everyone talking about you, Adrian.”

“Yes, I do,“ he said quietly. “I know what it is like, Elena… I do not let them see that it hurts me, Elena.”

Elena wanted to say something, but the doors were already opening. The ballroom was gorgeous with many lights and fancy dresses. There were also countless people staring at her, and she could hear them whispering mean things. It was just like she thought it would be.

Someone said, “Look, it is the bride who ran away.”

Another person said, “What a waste of money. She married his brother.”

Someone else said, “Maybe she married the right brother. Maybe she did.”

Elena stood up straight. Tried to ignore them. She could feel Adrian's hand on her back, pushing her to keep going. Then she saw Victoria, Adrian's mother, standing in the middle of the room. She was smiling. It was not a nice smile, Victoria.

“Well, well,“ Victoria said, her voice loud and clear. “Look who is here, Elena. The bride, Elena!”

The room started laughing, but then Victoria's smile got mean. “I guess I should say, 'Look who is replacing my daughters as an in-law.'” Elena felt like she was going to cry. She was so mad. When she turned to Adrian, he was not even looking at her. He was not saying anything to defend her, Adrian.

Her eyes got blurry. She felt like she was going to cry. Then she said, “You know what? You are right, Victoria. I am not the bride you wanted, Victoria. But I am the bride who is standing here tonight, whom your second son abandoned and Adrain has to save his ass and the family’s reputation…so if you could excuse me! Elena said with a straight face.

The room got quiet. Everyone was staring at her. She could hear their hearts beating. Someone knocked over a glass. It broke. Some people were still shocked at the counter response she gave.

Victoria's face got red. She said, “You do not understand what is going on, Elena.”

Elena just said, “I want you to know that I am not afraid of you, Victoria.”

Victoria smiled again. It was not a nice smile, . “I think you are mistaken, Elena. Daniel is not the bride. I am the one who was supposed to be the bride, Victoria.”

Adrian finally said something. He said, “I doubt that is true, Victoria. I think you are mistaken, Victoria.”

Elena felt happy and proud when he said that. She felt like she had done something, Elena.

The rest of the night was a blur, Elena. There were many people talking about her. She just ignored them, Elena. She. Laughed, and she felt like she was wearing a mask, Elena.

When they finally left and got in the car, Elena was tired. Adrian turned to her and said, “You surprised me tonight, Elena. Most people would have fallen apart by now, Elena.”

Elena turned to him. Her heart was beating fast, Elena. “What do you mean, Adrian?” she asked.

“You fought back, Elena,“ he said quietly. “Most people would have given up by now, Elena… You did not, Elena.”

Elena smiled. It was not a happy smile, Elena. “I guess I am not as weak as you thought, Adrian,“ she said.

Adrian looked at her for a time, and Elena felt like he could see right through her. Then he said, “Maybe you are not Elena. Maybe you are stronger than I thought, Elena.”

Elena felt happy when he said that. It made her feel like she could do anything, Elena.

When Adrian turned away, Elena looked out the window, Elena. The city was pretty, with many lights, Elena. Elena did not feel like she wanted to be a part of it. She just felt strong. She knew what she had to do, Elena. She was going to be Adrian's wife. She was going to make sure that everyone knew it. She was going to be powerful. She was going to make sure that no one could hurt her again, and not her family.