CHAPTER2
1657 Words
Anastasia
It was the wedding day already, my wedding day.
"You make a beautiful bride." The beauticians complimented me.
I smiled at them in gratitude, wondering how Sabrina would have looked like today.
Without a doubt, I know she would have made the most beautiful bride.
When the beauticians suddenly stopped smiling, I knew my father had walked in.
"Leave us." His voice rang through the air, confirming my suspicion.
They all bowed before scurrying away.
He walked into the room, his reflection appearing in the mirror.
I didn't turn to look at him, I simply acknowledged his reflection.
"Your mother is getting ready herself." He half smiled, placing his hands on my shoulders.
My mother wasn't here just because she was still getting ready.
She couldn't bear to see what Sabrina would have looked like on her special day.
I understood her pain, I couldn't bear looking at my reflection too.
"If you hadn't killed our dear Sabrina, she would be the one sitting in that chair right now, Anastasia. Not you." Even though he was wearing a smile, venom coated his tone.
My father had never spoken to me about my sister's death before.
Actually, he had barely ever spoken to me.
After my sister died, the only person who spoke about her was my mother.
My father always dismissed discussions about her and my mother only got more frustrated and pissed.
Hearing him speak about her now, crushed my heart.
This was my first real conversation with my father in so long, but it wasn't about the things I had imagined them to be.
It was about how much of a monster I really am.
"You took her life without even giving her a choice. You almost dragged our name into the mud with your bloody hands. I do hope that you are not happy in your marriage with Rohan, you monster." He lashed out, still having that composed smile on his face.
I felt hot tears burning in my eyes but I made sure they remained in my eyes.
"It was a mistake." My voice was low.
The more I said it was only a mistake, the less I believed it.
"A mistake meant to get you together with Rohan."
"Dad, I...."
He silenced me with a raise of his hand and I went mute immediately.
"Did you really think I would never find out?" He bent his body and placed his head next to mine.
"What?" My body went still.
"I saw how you looked at Rohan, how you stole the gifts he got for your sister." His hold on my shoulder tightened and he dug his fingers into my skin.
"I will never forgive you for taking Sabrina away from me. Never."
The ride to the church was silent.
The only time my father spoke to me was when he reminded me why I was marrying Rohan.
Because I had killed his daughter and this marriage was needed to make him President.
My parents had somehow, made sure the press wasn't present for the wedding.
That, I was grateful for.
"Smile." My father whispered into my ears as we walked into the church.
A soft piano intro welcomed us as all heads turned in our directions.
I struggled to stop my hands from trembling around my bouquet when I spotted Rohan at the altar.
Our eyes locked instantly and the frown on his face hardened.
He wasn't even trying to make it seem real.
He wasn't interested in pretending.
Rohan glared down at me with so much hatred that I wondered what the guests thought.
When we got to the altar, my father stretched out my hand to Rohan.
He didn't move, refusing to take my hand.
For a moment, the murmuring in the church became louder and I almost let the tears spill.
I took my hand away from my father and simply moved to stand in front of Rohan.
And then, the ceremony began.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of God, family, and friends to witness and bless the joining together of Sabrina and Rohan in holy matrimony."
I zoned out as the priest continued his preaching about marriage.
Suddenly, Rohan began to smile.
It wasn't the kind of smile that put you at ease but the one that would make your blood run cold with fear.
"Please join hands and repeat after me." It was time for our vows.
I quickly said my vows and then it was time for Rohan to say his.
"Actually," Rohan interrupted the priest, taking my hands in a suspiciously careful manner.
I looked at the guests and saw the unease and confusion on our parents faces.
"I would like to say my own vows to my wife." The smile on his face widened into a beastly grin.
My hands becam sweaty and they trembled more than ever.
"Vows are not just mere words. They are sacred promises of a couple to one another. It wouldn't be wrong of me to tell my wife my own vows, would it?" He looked at the priest who looked just as confused as the rest of the church.
"Y....y.... You're absolutely right, Mr Singh. Wedding vows are sacred promises. Please go on." The priest looked at my father, still confused.
He nodded at the priest before pulling me closer to him, rather aggressively.
His voice dropped to a low whisper as he spoke,
"I, Rohan Siddharth Singh take you, Anastasia Adela Wettin to be my wife, not out of love but put of obligation. I promise to remember every wrong you've done to me and every wound you've inflicted on me. I promise to stand by you and give you exactly what you deserve.
"I will hold you close even when it hurts and keep you in my life no matter how much you might wish to be free. I will stand by your side, not as your protector but as your tormentor. I promise to make this marriage your Hell on Earth.
"This is the start of forever; your eternal affliction by my side. From this day forward, we are bound through better and through worse. And oh, I promise, there will be worse. Until the end comes and I decide to let you go.
"I promise, you will end it all for us, for you."
"Exactly what I deserve."
I knew too well what that meant.
When he stepped back, everyone around us smiled and applauded, thinking he must have said something romantic.
The priest beamed, oblivious to the words Rohan had said to me.
I tried to force a smile but it was difficult to.
I already knew my marriage with Rohan wouldn't be what I had always wished for it to be.
However, in this moment, as I stared into his eyes, I realized that my marriage with this man was much more than that.
I hadn't married a husband, I had married my sentence - the sentence I thought I had escaped after killing my sister.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The Priest said after we had exchanged rings.
He stepped forward again and took off my veil.
I expected a kiss, at least something to appease the guests and our parents.
Instead, his hands cupped my cheeks, his thumb pressing a little too hard into my face.
He brought his face closer and then took it away.
His lips barely brushed mine.
He didn't even bother to stage something believable.
He took my hand and we turned to face the crowd.
My veil was off now so I did my best to keep the tears in my eyes.
All that was left was walking down the aisle.
After that, I could cry to my heart's content.
I took the first step but Rohan didn't move.
Confused, I glanced back at him.
I looked back at the guests and for the first time, noticed the guests at the last rows.
They were dressed for the occasion but they had cameras in their hands, all pointed at Rohan and I.
My parents had made adequate preparation to make sure our wedding was press free.
Rohan had tipped off the Press and brought them to our wedding against our original arrangement.
"No, no," I shook my head, letting the tears spill.
I looked back at Rohan, "Please don't do this." I begged him but he simply let go of my hand.
Now, the whole church was already quiet, the only sound that could be heard in the room was the clicking of cameras.
Against my plead, Rohan walked away from the altar.
He walked past me, passed the priest, past the groomsmen and straight down the side steps of the altar.
He didn't look back, not even when the murmuring increased, not even when I dropped my bouquet and began crying.
I stood there, frozen, crying.
Our parents were in too much shock to even move.
Mindlessly, I picked up the hem of my gown and began walking down the aisle, alone.
The guests stood up, some pointing and whispering words I couldn't hear.
Others covered their mouths in shock.
The reporters followed me, still taking pictures.
When I got out, my security guard helped me into the car, away from the waiting reporters outside the church.
When Rohan had said his vow to me, I had imagined him bringing me eternal suffering in our marriage but he had more plans.
He wasn't just going to make me suffer behind closed doors, he would make sure the whole world saw me for what I was- a monster, the woman he would never love, a replacement.
He wasn't wrong and I was willing to carry on with my sentence.
I deserved worse than death and maybe, this was the best way of atoning for my sins.
- Writer
