I MARRIED MY EX'S OLDER BROTHER

The air smelled like roses and expectations, Xolani stood in front of the mirror admiring herself in her wedding dress, touching the delicate lace of her gown. It felt like everything was finally falling into place. "Today changes everything, "her mother, Trinity, says softly behind her. Xolani smiled, "yes," she whispered, "Everything is going to change." If only she knew how true that was. The church was very full. Friends, Family, Business Elites, Everyone that matters. The doors opened and Xolani walked in looking so beautiful. Each step down the aisle felt like a dream come true, slow, surreal, unreal. At the end stood Darius, handsome, Smiling. Lying. Her phone buzzed in her hand. She ignored it, nothing was more important than her wedding today, another buzz, then another. Her heart skipped, something suddenly didn't feel right. Without thinking, she took a glance at her phone. An unknown number sent a message was odd. She opened the message, and it read, "Watch this before you completely ruin your life." Her breath caught in her throat. What could this unknown person be talking about? She tapped it and what she saw completely shattered her. The video played, it was Darius laughing with Sanaa, her sister, her blood and her everything. Xolani's stomach twisted violently as she watched the both of them begin to kiss, the words that came out of his mouth next completely destroyed her. "She's just a bridge to the company. After today, there'd be no use for her anymore". "Relax Sanaa," Darius chuckled. She's not going to find out. "She trusts me too much." The phone slipped lightly in her hands. A tear slipped from her eye, but she didn't fall, and she didn't scream, instead she walked calmly towards him. The music continued, the guests smiled. Darius reached for her, "You look beautiful, he attempted to say before a loud smack cracked like thunder in the church. Gasps erupted. "Xolani, what are you doing!?" Darius snapped, looking stunned. She turned slowly. "I'm calling off this f*****g wedding." What the hell are you talking about? Calling off the wedding? Why would you do that?!, Darius asked as Xolani raised her phone to show him the video of both him and her sister kissing. Darius looked dumbfounded at the video Xolani showed him. He quickly tried to explain but was cut off. " I think everybody deserves to know the truth," she says as she turns to show everyone the video. Her sister Sanaa's face mirrored that of Darius. Minutes later, the wedding became a battlefield. Voices clashed, accusations flew round. Sanaa tried to deny everything, while Darius tried to control the chaos. But Xolani stood still. Unusually calm. Unaffected by the chaos that surrounded her. "You didn't just betray me, Darius," she says quietly, "You tried to destroy me." She threw the bouquet at his feet. "And now.... you're going to get nothing from me." Then she walked away. Not as a bride. But as a brewing storm.