The wrong brother’s bride

Queen in red

Darcy point of view

The door of my Rolls-Royce opened and I stepped down on the red carpet with my head up. It had taken three years of preparation which was enough to ignore the whispers around me. My red Louis Vuitton gown wasn't just an ordinary gown; it was the definition of peak and luxurious fashion that was specially made by the best designers in the company to align with the curves of my body, the same broken girl who scrubbed the floor of the same hotel I was about to enter as a queen. The slit on the gown was high enough to make married men deny their wives at one glance.

Stepping into the opulent grand hotel, the paparazzi were the first to welcome me, but my dark shades and the help of the bodyguards were enough to help me with the chaotic situation. "Ms. Carter, Ms. Carter over here!" "Ms. Carter, what are you wearing?" "Ms. Carter, is it true that you are worth $800 million?" But I gave no reply, no wave, and no smile. I just walked in a perfect rhythm as my heels slammed against the marble floor. I don't entertain cameras. The flashlight aimed at me were increasing in seconds, but the diamonds swinging in my earlobes did justice in reflecting the light back. Martins, my driver and former secret service agent, offered me a hand, but I deliberately ignored him and walked past him to the stairs leading to the hall. He was doing way more than his job these days.

As I stepped into the hall, all conversation died immediately. A woman in blue silk was not patient enough to hold her thought. "She looks so beautiful, who is she?" she said, but I pretended like I didn't hear a word. The waiter almost stumbled with a tray of champagne as he fixed his eyes on me. I took a glass off the tray and sipped as I stared over the fancy hall filled with crystal chandeliers. I stared past the politicians, tech billionaires, and oil barons, searching for just one face: the man that made me feel like nothing.

Ignoring the flashlight coming from a phone at the end corner of the hall, the host of the event then spoke, announcing loudly, "Welcome the young and beautiful CEO of Beauty Lux." At this point, people were trying to figure out who it was because they surely didn't believe it could be me. They immediately glanced towards their phones typing, and I totally understand. I let them google, I let them wonder, they couldn’t understand how I made it possible at this age. The host continued: "She has been a blessing to the beauty industry and an inspiration to most women out there. Welcome Ms. Darcy Carter."

I smiled with my eyes as I walked to the front row, ignoring the little whispers around me. I sat like I owned the place, looking round the hall once more as my eyes met the man I was looking for, the reason why I was here: Declan Voss. He sat at the VIP table taking too much space, like he own the building which he did. His six-foot-three frame was still evident while he sat. His well-tailored Tom Ford suit fit his body well, and his dark hair was perfectly combed to the back but the champagne turned bitter on my tongue as I let the disgust get to me. The scar on his left eyebrow was visible, white line through dark brow. I had given him that scar the night of our divorce. I had to defend myself. Now his eyes were still fixed on me even though his arm was possessively around Victoria—the blonde, obsessed fiancée that had always wanted him, sneaking to his room every night I slept at the West Wing. She was in white, and I'm not surprised; she has always wanted to play bride.

Declan wasn't ready to take his eyes off me. His glass of champagne had been halfway to his mouth for over 30 minutes. His skin looked whiter, like he has no blood in his body, the same look he had when he threw me out. What kept ringing in my mind was: "You treated me like trash. Today marks the day I start taking them back."

The gavel against the podium brought me back to life, and I had to focus on the auctioneer, just like everybody in the hall. "Hello everyone, welcome to the Opulent Oasis Hotel for the biggest auction event of our century. Welcome again, our wonderful clients, and the ones that are just joining us for the first time," he said while moving slowly from the podium to the crowd. After all the rules and regulations for the auction were passed, the bidding was about to begin. Declan hadn’t taken an eye away from me, not even for a second, and I could tell from my periphery.

The auctioneer began: "Today's sales start with the most important item here and the reason why most of you are here: Lot number one, the 50-carat black diamond, a stone that rejects light and holds the cosmos itself. It is the most magnificent gem in the world and has been treasured since its discovery in the 18th century, and the starting price is $15 million." Immediately, the bidding opened, and a lot of billionaires raised their cards. I was calm and patient. I knew why I was here. Soon, the number of bidders started to reduce, and this time, it was already at $18 million. Then, Declan raised his card and said, “$20 million.” This time, no one was competing with him. Of course, he was the richest man in the country, and besides, he would never let anyone win against him at an auction; his ego wouldn't let him accept defeat. But I knew I could, especially now that I knew exactly what he is trying to hide.

“Anyone? The diamond is going for $20 million!” the auctioneer said. This time, he was already smiling. Declan had bragged to some of his wealthy peers that he was getting the diamond for his wife, Victoria. Just about when the bidding was about to close, I raised my hand slowly, drawing everybody's attention toward me, and then I broke the silence: “Sixty million.” The hall was quiet for a few seconds before a glass fell from a man's hand. Now there were whispers everywhere, and the auctioneer’s mouth was widely open: “Sixty million... from... Ms. Carter!” he stammered. Declan's eyes were wide open as he scanned the room and moved his eyes back to me. I knew he had told his investors that he was bidding $40 million max, so I had already prepared for this. He is forced to either lose publicly to me or go bankrupt trying to outbid me, and either way I win.

Victoria whispered something in his ear, but he didn’t respond. His eyes were still on me, but they were red, filled with rage, the kind of intensity that used to make me kneel to his feet, but this time it only made me smile. “Sold to Ms. Darcy Carter for $60 million!” the auctioneer announced, and the hall was filled with applause. It was indeed an amazing sight to witness.

I stood up, and all eyes followed. I walked towards the podium, still with no smile on my face. I had to pass directly by Declan's table, and Victoria could not help but whisper what sounded like negative words, but I couldn’t hear; I wasn’t listening. I leaned close enough to Declan, enough for him to inhale my perfume. Just when my lips were barely an inch from his ear, I whispered, “you broke the wrong lady, Mr Voss.” I could hear his teeth clench. I gave a smirk and walked towards the stage, collected the diamond, and smiled back to the crowd clapping. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Declan clench the champagne glass so hard under the table that it broke and injured his palm. Although his face was plain, he kept his fist tighter, not pain but rage. After an hour, the event came to an end.

I walked outside the hall to my Rolls-Royce. The diamond had already been given to one of my bodyguards, and the respect that came with all of this today was so massive. It gave me fulfillment. Just as I was about to enter my car, I felt a grip, and immediately my bodyguards moved towards Declan, who was holding my arm. “Mr. Voss,” one of them said politely, “move back.” He left my hand but didn’t step back. The paparazzi were already ready for what they know how to do best, and a lot of phones were drawn out from pockets, but he didn’t care, just the way I didn’t. His grey eyes were fixed on mine, and I could see red in his eyes, red dangerous or something close to desperation. “Where have you been? It’s been three f*****g years, Darcy,” he said, but I couldn’t help but smile at how funny the question was, as if he cared. But he deserved an answer, so I served it cold: “Where else, Declan? I’ve been building my life, unlike you, who only knows how to destroy yours.” He gave a cold look and said, “This isn’t over.” I responded immediately: “Yes, it isn’t... Now step aside, unless you want to see from the news how you abuse me because you were jealous I beat you over a bidding.” He stepped aside, and my bodyguard opened the door for me. Just as he was about to close the door, I stopped him and said to Declan: “Oh, and Declan, watch your company stock tomorrow. I bought another 8 percent tonight.” I didn’t wait for him to react before closing the tinted window of the car. Seconds before the car moved, I saw him punch the wall so hard, and I smiled in satisfaction.