Chapter 2: Forced Wedding
1341 Words
Brianna's POV
Two years later…
I woke up before my alarm rang. Yet I remained in bed and refused to open my eyes as though the rays of morning sun would blind me. I remained in bed because I knew what today was.
June the 15th. Exactly two years since Daphne's death. Every day was a constant reminder of my betrayal.
Heaving a sigh and mustering up all the courage in the world, I rolled out of the bed and went about my morning routine.
As I sat by the window to spend time on a book, my gaze fell outside just in time for a limousine to pass through the gate. It wasn't Father and he didn't usually have guests this early. At least not in a while.
Curious, I kept looking as the driver opened the back door. My eyes nearly popped from their socket when the passenger got out. It was Nikolas.
What is he doing here? He hadn't showed up since Daphne's burial, so having him here was a huge surprise. I thought of possible reasons for his visit and could only come up with ‘business’. Even at that, anxiety gnawed at me and I wasn't bold enough to eavesdrop on his conversation with Father.
A knock came shortly after Nikolas left. I opened the door to find one of the maids.
“Good morning, Miss Brianna. Your father would like to see you in his chambers.”
My heart drummed. For him to have summoned me meant something was wrong. Still, I brought myself together and made my way to Father’s chambers.
“Come in,” he said as soon as I knocked.
“Good morning, Father. You sent for me.”
Father sat silently for a while, smoking his cigar before he spoke. “Nikolas Conti left some minutes ago. He seeks your hand.”
I stood like a statue, certain that I had misheard him. “Sorry?” Father hated repeating himself which showed in the way he glared at me. “I'm sorry, Father.”
“I'm sorry, Father,” he said mockingly. “I wasn't wrong to think you'll disgrace me before the Contis. If not for the merger, you have no business becoming a Conti.”
So I had heard right. Did that mean… Pure horror fell on me and my only visible reaction was a silent shake of my head.
“No.” I whispered. “That…that can't happen.”
“Excuse me?” There was a threatening tone to Father’s voice. Rightly so, because nobody dared stand up to him.
My family believed in arranging marriages mainly to build alliances. It'd been the reason Daphne had been engaged to Nikolas. And now, she was gone…I was forced to take her place. I couldn't believe this. I still gripled with the guilt of her passing away, and now this? I couldn't bring myself to betray her again.
I never talked back to Father. However, now I couldn't help but voice my refusal. “I don't mean to disrespect you, but this is Daphne's fiancé we're talking about.”
“Ex fiancé.” He took a draw out of his cigar and once the cloud of smoke faded away, a surprisingly calm face was revealed. “Come on, you should be happy. I expect you to throw a fist in the air.”
I frowned in confusion.
“Don't give me that look. You never did a good job hiding how you feel about Nikolas,” he said.
My mouth fell open before I could stop it. Father smiled mockingly making me want to sink into the ground. What did he mean? Did he read the diary too?
“You've always wanted what is Daphne's. Now, you might as well become the wife she never was.”
Tears formed in my eyes and I struggled to swallow the lump in my throat. “How can you say that?”
But still, somewhere in his accusation laid a truth. I did feel jealous of Daphne but not the way Father put it. I wanted the love Father threw st her, wanted the ease that came with her life. That didn't mean I sought her destruction.
“I’m not going to marry him,” I deadpanned. That was my resolve. I stood, watching Father leave his seat and walk towards me. Next thing I knew, my cheek burned from the impact of the slap he gave me.
Tears blurred my vision.
“There's more from where that came from if you try to disobey me. You will marry Nikolas and that's final.”
He returned to his seat, leaving me feeling every bit broken.
***
A woman's wedding day was meant to be the happiest moment in her life. But not for me.
Staring gloomily out the window, I sat at the backseat of Father's car. The veil over my face concealed my bloodshot eyes. I'd pretty much been a weeping mess since last week Father dropped the bombshell.
The car soon pulled up in front of a courthouse. Nikolas's family wanted a private ceremony, which was why there'd neither be a reception nor church wedding.
The driver opened the door, ushering me out but I remained where I was. Nervousness rattled within me so much that taking a breath felt difficult.
Don't think of disappointing me, Brianna. I'll be watching.
Father's voice echoed in my mind so I had no choice but to step out of the car.
Two witnesses sat in the foyer but there was no sign of Nikolas.
I quietly sat down and pondered on how drastic my life was about to change. Few minutes later, Nikolas arrived and without sparing me a glance, he walked into the magistrate’s office.
Swallowing my shame, I followed him in. The magistrate declared us husband and wife once the marriage licence was signed.
Yet again, Nikolas left without saying a word to me. This time, I didn't follow him. A crucial question weighed on my mind.
“Is anything the matter, Mrs. Conti?” the magistrate asked, cutting into my thoughts.
I opened my mouth to speak, but then thought against it.
Smiling, I shook my head. “No. Thank you.”
Father's car was nowhere to be found when I stepped outside. However, a Rolls Royce stood at a distance. It honked before a uniformed driver walked over to the backseat and held the door open for me.
Clutching my purse, I moved towards the car.
Nikolas completely tuned me out, his eyes anywhere but on me. All through the drive, I thought of how to break the ice. The courage to speak came just as we drove through the massive gate of his home, but it vanished when a maid walked up to my side of the window.
Her sweet smile briefly caught my attention before the driver opened the door.
“Show her to her room,” Nikolas said to the maid as he disappeared into the enormous, colonial-style mansion.
“Good day, ma’am,” she curtseyed. “I'm Alice, your personal maid.”
I managed a smile. “Nice to meet you, Alice. I'm Brianna.”
Alice and I climbed a flight of stairs before getting to the second floor. My room was the third one along the hallway. It was large enough to be a master's bedroom. The furniture and beddings were vintage in appearance, giving off a peaceful vibe. I almost basked in that peace when it occurred to me that this used to be Daphne’s each time she slept over.
A wave of agitation washed over me.
“Could you show me Nikolas’s room, please?” I asked Alice.
She led me to the west wing of the building. His room stood at the end of the hallway. Thanking her, I picked my steps towards it, raised my hand and was about to knock when the door opened abruptly.
His angry eyes were the last thing I saw before being yanked into the room.
- Writer
