The Secrets That Ruin Them

Chapter One – Not a Happy Bride

While the hall was full of chatter, decorated with beautiful white cherry blossoms, and every guests mingling around were dressed to their best, the young woman sitting in a room up stairs, in front of the dressing table, did not smile, did not even cry. She had a blank look on her face as the woman behind her, placed the white vale on her head.

“Miss Shaw, after tonight, you will be my Madam. I hope we can get along well. If you need anything please do no be afraid to ask me.” the woman said with a kind smile.

“What should... I call you?” the young woman asked in a low voice.

“Just call me Ms June.” the older woman said. “You are a beautiful young girl. The old Madam has found such a good wife for the young Master.”

“You said I can ask you if I need anything...” the young woman stated.

“Yes... Is there something you need right now? Are you nervous? All brides are nervous on their wedding day.” Ms June stated.

“No... I just... Want to know... What type of man your Young Master really is?” she asked.

“Oh well, I have been serving the family for years. He is not very talkative, he does not like noise or mess. He does not do well with other people. He works hard.” Ms June explained. “Oh... And... He does not like people who lie to him. He can get quite angry at times, so just be sure to keep him happy and you will live a wealthy life.”

“How can a life be great, be healthy, if there is no love.” the young woman questioned.

Ms June did not reply, she looked at the young woman by the reflection of the mirror, feeling sorry for the girl, understanding that no relationship was good when there were no feelings, most of all, no love, present. The situation, it may not be ideal, but Ms June felt that the girl bought it upon herself, by agreeing to get married. In fact, silently, Ms June felt the girl was a little greedy. She had agreed to marry, taking all the money that was offered to her, and yet, now she was worried about a marriage without love. With a heavy sigh, she shook her head and then turned, trying to be as nice as she could, telling the young girl that the ceremony would start in twenty minutes and that she herself would be joining the guests now.

The young woman, said nothing in return, just nodded and watched through the mirror as the older woman waked from the room and closed the door. The moment the door was closed, the tears slipped down the small cheeks of the young woman. She felt a tightening in her chest, and her whole body was shaking. She was scared, afraid for what was to come. She had not even met the man yet, the one she would be marrying. She was just worried, because of what Ms June had said about him. He sounded like a cruel man, and she was frightful, to know she was marrying such a man, frightful of what was now going to become of her.

A wedding was meant to be a sacred vow, a day where the bride was dressed like a princess and the happiest of them all. A day when two people who loved each other deeply took that final step and agreed to spend the rest of their lives together, sharing their special moment with family and friends.

Today, she had no friends present sitting among the guests, just a Step Mother and Step Sister. She did however, knew a few of the faces that were present among the guests, but she would not call them her own guests. They were all rich men and their families, gathered, to see what a joke this whole wedding was. Gather for the free food and drinks. Gathered to show off in front of each other and to suck up to the families that were even richer then they were. It was nothing but a show and it was not something she wanted. She would have rather a privet affair, go to the civil office, get the marriage certificate and be done with it. However, it was not she who was paying for the wedding, it was not she who made the rules. It was just she, who had to deal with it and go along with it all.

Her name was Nakisha Shaw. She was a twenty year old female student at the local University. She was in her second year of studying performing arts, but secretly, had been studying five years in a course for Neuroscience. She had one best friend that knew all her secrets and that was Jackquiline Mandsford who was also twenty and studying at University. Her best friend however was studying in fashion design. They had been friends since the age of five, and she would have been there for Nakisha on such a day, yet presently, Jackquiline and her family were overseas on a family trip. That was why Nakisha had no friends present. Yet, even if she did, it would not have eased her troubled heart.

Nerves, getting the best of her, Nakisha got up from the chair she was sitting in, picked up the hem of the dress and quickly walked to the bathroom attached to the room she was in. She could not help the way her stomach jolted at her three times before she reached the toilet and as soon as the lip was up, she was down on her knees, body trembling as she started throwing up, her stomach cramping together with each expel of anything that had been eaten or drank within the past few days.

When it stopped, Nakisha took a deep breath and re-positioned herself against the cold tiled wall of the bathroom, looking up at the roof, wishing that her life was different. She did not know how long she was there for, before there came an urgent knocking on the bathroom door. Looking up, she saw the face of the elderly woman who had been at her house just one week ago. Nakisha did not know the woman's name, but knew she was related to the man that she was about to become wife to.

“My dear, we all thought you ran away.” the woman said, her voice gentle. “I guess you are nervous.”

“Yes...” Nakisha said with a nod.

“Come her my dear.” the old woman spoke.

She moved forward, holding hands out and helped Nakisha up. Even though the woman would have been in her seventies, she still seemed very capable. She smiled kindly at Nakisha, patted her hair lightly and then wet a cloth and handed it to Nakisha to wipe her lips. Nakisha thanked the woman and tidied herself up, making sure she did not get any vomit on her dress. It looked fine, and now she knew, there was no more stalling. The time had come.

She was about to get married.

But she was not a happy bride.