The Billionaire Substitute Bride

I remembered how it all began

I remember it clearly as day. I remembered waking up very early that day to help in preparing for my sister's wedding celebration. I had helped arrange the chairs at the beach because my sister said she wanted a beach wedding.

I remembered running from one flower shop to the other that morning just to get lilies because my sister had made last-minute changes. She called me crying about how the flower guys had messed up her flowers and gotten her daisies instead of lilies.

She even threatened to walk away from the wedding if they did not get it right. Me being the big sister, I promised her I would fix it, and fixing it is what I did. I made sure I went round that morning till I got the lilies and brought them back to the beach. The flower guys had sworn she said daisies, but I wasn't in the mood to find fault, so I had it fixed.

I worked tirelessly till midday, and people started arriving at the wedding celebration. I saw the groom arrive before I decided to go to the hotel room close to the beach where me and my family were lodged and change into something decent for the wedding.

I remembered entering the hotel, and I saw my stepmother waiting at the reception. She appeared paranoid and distressed, trying to reach someone on the phone. I don't know, but it appeared it wasn't connecting.

I wanted to ignore her and go upstairs because I was exhausted, but she sighted me and ran towards me. She gripped my hands and pulled me towards herself. I became alarmed and asked her what the problem was.

“Mother, what is the issue? We have to hurry so we won't miss Chloe’s wedding, the groom has arrived,” I tried to tell her, and she shook her head in shock and put her hands on her mouth, trying to hide her emotions, and I became more agitated.

“Did something happen?” I remember asking her.

“Chloe ran away with James,” she said.

“What?” I exclaimed. “You are lying,” I shouted, and then turned and brought down my voice to avoid drawing attention to us.

“James is my boyfriend, and Chloe is getting married, how did they run away together?” I asked, not believing a word she said.

“See for yourself,” she said as she showed me a text apparently sent by Chloe. It read:

“By the time you will be getting this message, me and James are already on our way out of the country or probably already out. I don't want to marry Mr. Grey, I never liked him. Me and James are so much in love, and we plan to get married. Tell Mr. Grey I'm sorry, and we are sorry for hurting you.”

“But James is my boyfriend,” I tried to say, but my stepmother cut me off.

“That is not the point,” she said, almost screaming. “What are we going to tell Mr. Grey? He is going to kill your father,” she said, shock evident on her face. I felt my heart rate spike because Mother was telling the truth.

Who doesn't know Spencer Grey in the entire Greenville? He was merciless and unforgiving to anyone that crossed him.

The thought of him finding out that his bride eloped at the wedding will not sit well with him. He might even end the Lawson family for that.

I immediately took my phone and dialed James’ number. My stepmother came to me, hyperventilating as she stood close. I put the call on loudspeaker, and surprisingly, he picked it up.

“James, where are you, and where is Chloe?” I asked immediately.

“I’m sorry, Vievie, we are on our way out of the country. We wanted to tell you so bad that we were in love, but we didn't want to hurt you or anyone, so we decided to elope. We believe this is better for everyone,” he said over the phone.

“And you think this is better, running away? I thought we loved each other? Is it something I did? I can change, become better…” I said, but he cut me off.

“I’m sorry, Vievie, it just wasn't working anymore. I'm happy with Chloe, and she is happy with me too,” he said. I heard Chloe’s voice in the background.

“Chloe, Chloe,” I called out immediately, but the line went dead in my ear, and I stood there helpless and broken. My stepmother’s voice became frantic as she spoke to me.

“Vivienne, come, you must replace your sister, or else we are all dead,” she said in a frenzy as she held my hands and started dragging me upstairs.

“What do you mean, replace my sister?” I asked as uncertainty crept into my voice.

“If we don't provide a bride today and Mr. Grey is embarrassed, your father and all of us might lose our lives,” she stopped abruptly as we reached the top of the stairs.

“You must replace your sister. You both have similar build and the same body structure. I promise I already have people looking for your sister, and once she is found, she would take your place. I promise to explain everything to Mr. Grey after the wedding,” she said and began to move again.

I opened my mouth wide in shock at her crazy idea. “Don't you think Mr. Grey would kill us faster for replacing his bride than from his bride running away?” I asked, clearly agitated and not buying the plan.

“No, I don't think so. Such a man would prefer someone else replacing the bride than appearing at his own wedding and the bride standing him up. The whole of Greenville will burn, with us included,” she said as she pushed her door open, her hands shaking from fear and frustration.

I sighed. “Don't you think we should tell Father? Maybe he can help,” I said uneasily.

“You know your father, he always wants to do things by the book.

The last thing is for something to happen to your dad when he is trying to protect his family,” she said before going to the closet and brought out the white wedding gown Chloe was supposed to wear, and my eyes widened.

“Mother, I cannot wear that, it belongs to Chloe. What if Mr. Grey finds out?” I asked in fear.

“I promise to explain everything to him myself, we just need a small time window to bring back Chloe,” she said. “Please do this for your family, your father ” and that was all it took.

Soon I was in the white wedding dress, veil covering my face, and walking down the aisle of my sister’s wedding with friends and family gathered. I could feel some of them crying while some were clapping softly as I made my way to the altar.

Fear gripped me as I took every step, but I continued.

My hands tightened on the bouquet of flowers like my life depended on it. My eyes landed on my stepmother, and she gave me a reassuring nod. I breathed in as I got to the altar, and there was Spencer, handsome in his tux. His blond hair was neatly styled to the back, his blue eyes locked me in place.

I looked at his chiseled jawline and chin, I couldn't take my eyes off him.

Spencer gave me his hand, and I took it. His eyes scanned the audience before settling on me permanently.

The officiation of the wedding began. We both took our vows, and we were pronounced husband and wife. Where all hell broke loose was when Spencer was asked to kiss his bride.

His hand moved to remove the veil. I stood there, visibly shaking from fright of what he would do when he found out he had been tricked. He lifted the veil, and his eyes darkened when he saw me. He looked around, and everyone was shocked too. Loud gasps echoed everywhere, and the initial claps and excitement died down.

Spencer’s anger grew in an instant. “What sort of trickery is this?” he asked loudly.

His grip on my hand tightened painfully, his eyes burning with fury as he stared down at me like I was the worst mistake he had ever made. I could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on me, their whispers rising into a loud murmur that filled the entire place.

I opened my mouth to speak, to explain, but no words came out. My throat felt dry, my voice stuck somewhere deep inside me.

I turned slightly, my eyes searching for my stepmother in the crowd, hoping she would step forward and explain everything like she promised. But she stood there, frozen, her face pale, her lips pressed tightly together.

And in that moment, I realized.

I was on my own.