CHAPTER TWO
1627 Words
“I don't remember courting you” Damien whispered beside me again.
Panic spread through me as I kept chanting no in my head. Cold sweats trailed down my back.
How did he know ? I was dolled up to look like Selene, I had fooled myself when I looked in the mirror.
I finally had the courage to look up at Damien, he looked unfazed like he didn't just drop a bombshell.
I waited for him to interrupt. But he wasn't doing anything and that terrified me even more. My hands trembled, making the bouquet shake with them.
‘In my books, this was usually the part where someone would burst through the doors yelling ‘Stop the wedding’ but I guess real life hated me.’
I waited again for him to step back, to yell ‘she's a fraud’ or ‘get her out of here’ but nothing came.
The officiant continued with the ceremony like nothing happened. I barely heard anything he was saying because I was focused on Damien, the words were blurring into each other and I couldn't focus. Until Damien's large hands covered my trembling hands.
To others, it may look like a simple gesture people in love do, but to me, it seemed like a warning.
He didn't look angry or shocked in the slightest, you could even mistake him for a statue at this point. Then, his thumb brushed lightly across my skin. The movement seemed absentminded but it didn't stop me from reacting like I'd been burned.
And something tells me he knew exactly what he was doing.
The officiant smiled at us
“Damien Voss, do you take Sel….”
“I do” his voice cut through the remaining sentence without hesitation like an eager husband but his voice lacked warmth.
‘Why in God’s name is he still going with this?’ I felt like throwing up.
The officiant turned to me and I swallowed hard.
“Selene Rhodes, do you take Damien Voss to be your lawful husband ?”
I gaped like a fish at the officiant.
“I….l….l” I kept stuttering. Damien's hands squeezed mine and I turned to look at my parents.
If looks could kill, I'd probably be six feet below.
“Miss Selene,” the officiant called out softly. I felt like the hall was closing in on me.
“I do” I exhaled.
“Great choice” Damien said beside me, his voice still emotionless.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife” the officiant announced. “You may now kiss my bride”
My stomach dropped, I didn't want to do it.
Damien pushed my veil back and leaned in. I was sweating and my heart was pounding furiously.
The kiss was brief. His soft but firm lips landed on mine and it was gone immediately.
Applause erupted around us, blinding flashes of cameras followed, people cheered and everyone looked happy while I felt sick.
The ceremony ended soon after. The room blurred as hundreds of people came to congratulate us, hugging and shaking our hands but I wasn't looking at them. I was focused on my parents.
My father's shoulders had visibly relaxed while my mother looked like she was seconds away from crying happy tears. People would think it's because their daughter just got married but they were relieved because their debt had been cleared. Something bitter climbed up my throat. They looked relieved while I was traded.
Photographers kept giving instructions and I was exhausted by everything. I just wanted to curl up in my bed at home, with a book in my hand and iced coffee on the other.
“Closer please” one yelled. “Damien put your hands around her waist,” another added. And he complied without complaint.
He moved closer, his arm settled lightly on my waist. Not affectionate but…professional like he was signing paperwork. “Perfect”
While we were getting congratulated, he barely said anything or smiled, just a head nod. People approached us and looked intimidated when they looked at him. I don't blame them because even if the man looked good, his aura felt cold.
My parents and uncle approached us looking exhilarated.
“It's really good to be able to call you my son-in-law” my father cheered, shaking Damien's hand who responded with a head nod and an unreadable expression.
“I’d like to talk to all of you privately” Damien answered instead. And without waiting for a response started walking towards the exit hinting for us to follow him which we did.
The atmosphere shifted immediately because I knew what was coming.
My parents and uncle looked happy, smiling even, oblivious to what was about to happen.
The walk to the private lounge which happened to be in the same hotel as the wedding ceremony was silent. My mother tried to chip in something but she was met with awkward silence.
‘Good for her’
The moment the door closed behind us, the silence became heavier.
Damien removed his jacket and draped it over a chair. He tossed his cufflinks and watch onto the table, poured himself a glass of whiskey, then sat.
I stared at my parents and they looked nervous. My father looked like he was about to pass out and my mother kept twisting the rings on her fingers. My uncle on the other hand suddenly seemed fascinated by the marble floors.
‘Apparently, eye contact became illegal in the room.’ I would've laughed if the situation was different.
Damien took a sip from his drink and sighed in contentment.
‘There's a saying that quiet people should be feared but I think it should’ve been, quiet people like Damien should be feared.’
He didn't look angry which made everything worse.
“Damien…” my father started
“Would someone like to explain why I married the wrong twin today ?” He asked, cutting my father off.
Everything stopped, my mother looked like she’d forgotten how to breathe, color drained from my father's face.
“Go on,” Damien urged. He just kept staring at us.
My father broke first “Damien, I can explain….” The words came out too fast, I'd never seen my father this scared. “Selene panicked….. it all happened so fast… she disappeared and the guests and business partners…. and the media started arriving so we….” My father wiped sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. “The situation became complicated so we had no choice”
That made me almost laugh because apparently I had hallucinated being forced into a wedding dress.
“Please understand” my mother stepped forward. “The wedding couldn't be cancelled, the scandal would've destroyed us”
“Interesting solution” Damien said after taking a sip from his drink.
“No… it's not like that. It's just that….” my mother tried to explain but his eyes shifted towards me. My heart skipped a beat from fear.
“You committed fraud”
My father's face drained completely, he looked like a child caught lying.
“Damien please…” my father swallowed.
“You risked my reputation to protect yours,” he said calmly and my throat dried because he kept looking at me. Enough to make breathing feel difficult.
“She agreed to it willingly,” my father gestured towards me.
The words hit harder than I expected. I stared at my father in disbelief because wow. I felt something twist painfully in my chest. I knew they hated me but…
Damien's eyes narrowed slightly, that was when I realized my hands had balled in a fist.
“You make it seem like I had a choice,” I said quietly.
My father looked at me like he was asking me to shut up, my mother and uncle looked horrified.
A painful laugh escaped my mouth
“Funny” I said “I don't remember you people asking me to do it”
Nobody said anything because what were they supposed to say ‘no we actually blackmailed you into doing it’
I looked at my father and I instantly regretted speaking up. I knew that look. He blamed me and was disappointed like always.
I wanted to step back like I always do but I didn't. Instead, I bowed my head to avoid my father's gaze.
Meanwhile, Damien's eyes kept bouncing between me and my parents.
“I won't annul the marriage”
Four pairs of eyes traveled to Damien, all gaping at him.
I saw my parents and uncle relax as disgust rolled through me, it was almost painful. They were willing to hand me out without feeling guilty.
“Of course,” my father answered quickly, smiling.
“But understand this clearly…Elara is now my responsibility” Damien said coldly like he was talking about a piece of furniture.
“Absolutely” my parents said together while I shook my head.
“Leave” Damien gestured towards the door.
My parents moved immediately, my uncle basically ran out while I followed slowly behind them, head bowed. I needed a moment to process the events of the day.
“Not you” Damien called after me.
I froze and my parents paused briefly. I felt a tiny bit of hope bloom in my chest, maybe they're about to defend me. But instead, they closed the door behind them.
My heartbeat became painfully loud as Damien looked at me. Like really looked at me. I felt like I was drowning in his eyes.
‘Wonderful. If I survive today, I definitely deserve an award.’
“Now tell me…” He set his glass down. “Where's your sister ?”
- Writer
