Inks and Vows: Billionaire Arranged Marriage

"I do" the bridesmaid prompts me in my ear. I realized I had been zoning out again. I looked at the man in front of me, knowing that these words would bind me to him forever. He was a total stranger. This was actually the first time I saw him. Oh, he was immaculate in a tux, had those facial features that would make male models jealous. In short, he was the man every girl wanted to date. Everything was perfect, except for his eyes. A silver color but there was something weird about them. Every time I saw his face, I get the feeling that I should run the hell away. And he never smiled. I felt nudged again and realized the priest was waiting for me. I looked at my husband, and he looked dead angry, like he could throttle me. "I do" I said hastily, and the girl behind me sighed. "I now pronounce you husband and wife" the priest said, happy with my answer. Did he know I was forced into this wedding? "You may now kiss the bride" he said, and I froze again. It felt like walking in a crowd of people and a stranger trying to kiss you. Fortunately, he leans in and pecks my cheek ever so lightly. I sigh and everything else becomes a blur. The mixed emotions I had been harboring all let loose and I zoned out. Greeting guests, walking out of the church, getting to the reception, it all seemed like a painful headache...and it was. It was only at the reception that the bridesmaid, my supposed cousin Daphne, nudged me again. "Smile, this moment will be remembered for years." She said and smiled at the camera. She was a breathtaking woman. She'd give competition to the most successful models. And my mind wanders back to two months after my dad's funeral. "But mother, how can you do this?" I shrieked when she still would not change her decision. She shook her head. "You were always ungrateful!" she said, and took a sip of her wine. Anyone looking at her graceful manner would think she was royalty or something. *I am not marrying someone I do not know, especially not for family peace or such bullshit" I retorted. My father was always there for me, but my mother, she was always distant. I missed him in such moments, he was the only one who would stand by me. "Why can't Daphne do it?" "Daphne is not a direct descendant, though she would indeed have been better at it than you" came the reply. I shook my head. "There's no way in hell that I will do it." My mother's features became hard as she pushed back her wine glass. She looked straight at me and said in a chilly voice, "You do not even have one ounce of beauty, it should be a fairy-tale that a rich handsome guy is marrying you. Even your father knew you would never be the type of girl a man would want. So, for the sake of your father's peace, you will get married so that wherever he is, he will not be worried about you, as he was always when he was alive", she finished and walked out of the kitchen. Daphne nudged me again. "You cannot be spacing out like this." She whispered and I nodded. My groom was talking to his best man and everyone else was enjoying it. I sighed. I was married... at least it was a big feast. Everyone was interested in my mother returning to the family, everyone admired how she still retained her beauty. After an hour, Daphne and I walked to the room to help me change. "Oh, cheer up. You married such a handsome man!" I chuckled and started taking off the veil and jewelry. "You really should have married him." "I wish, but I am not the firstborn, you are" she said, with a hint of regret in her voice. Oh, I would be so glad to trade births with her! "Seriously, why don't you people stop this! It's 2014 for God's sake. What's with the firstborn thing!" I nearly shouted. Jeez, my nerves were all over the place. She shrugs. "You are lucky you have not been in the family from the start. But this is how it's always been. It's a curse being one of the oldest families in Europe." She says, then shakes her head. "But anyway, -" she was saying when there was a knock on the door. Daphne walks out and returns in less than a minute with a blush on her cheeks. "Your groom personally came to deliver this" she says with a shy smile. One thing I learned about belonging to this family was that they had servants for everything. So my groom coming to deliver this was indeed...unusual. I took the box from her and inside was a deep purple dress. I stared at it and shook my head. "I am not wearing that" I stated. Daphne looked horrified. "Why not? Look at this dress, it's perfect." She holds it up for me to look at. The said dress was gorgeous with lace and satin. It had an air of high society to it. But what attracted me most was that it was conservative and not revealing at all. I shake my head. "My point exactly. It looks too expensive and I am not wearing that." I said. "He said it's his family color" she says in a low voice. I sigh. Jeez, families now have specific colors associated with them. "Alright, but you need to help me with that," I said, and Daphne nodded happily. As soon as I walked into the room, my husband, who was talking to some men, walked towards me. He had this smile that every man has when they see a beautiful woman. I frowned. I was not delusional that I was a raving beauty. I looked to my side and saw Daphne standing there too. It made sense he would look at her and have that expression on his face. I shake my head... really, they should have married. He came to stand on my other side, placed his hand on the small of my back, and walked towards the exit. I walked out, Not taking in people's gazes, those judging gazes. I could see it in their eyes. "What does he see in her?" "Why would he marry this one, when the cousin was much prettier?" And then my mother stood at the door. I could see the disappointment in her eyes. "Why couldn't my daughter be a beauty like me," I sighed and hugged her goodbye. Mrs. McMillan and Miss McMillan stood there too, both beaming with happiness. "I am so glad to have another daughter" she said and gave me a big warm hug. She seemed genuine among all these fake ones. My sister-in-law-on the other hand, a famous model, hugged me too. "Welcome to the family" she said, and I could not fathom whether it was welcoming me or a threat. However, she looked at my husband, and brightened. "Have fun you too", she wished us and waved us goodbye. My groom opened the door to the car for me and walked to the other side. I waved them one last goodbye. I sighed as soon as he closed the door. The dreaded moment. An Awkward silence. He took out his laptop and started working on it and I sighed. It's better than trying to make small talk. What do you say to a stranger who just agreed to share your life? I stared out the window and saw the streetlights whisk away. Then in the night sky. I had the dreaded feeling that I was being led towards destruction.