HEIRS OF DISDAIN(They never wanted this.)

Chapter 7

Alison

Never in my life did I imagine my wedding day would come this early. It's the morning of my wedding, and all I have to say is: is it too late to be a runaway bride? I never imagined getting married was more tasking than pulling an all-nighter at work.

I woke up as early as 6 am to get my hair and makeup done in the hotel I'd slept in the previous day. The makeup artist started her magic. She applied primer to my face, then went in with the foundation, then concealer and blush. Then she started with my eyes. She used a combination of blue and gold which complemented my skin and matched my jewelry. Then she started with the eyeliner—sharp and sleek.

Then she went in with a red lipstick, a sharp contrast with the soft-toned makeup. Then she started highlighting my features.

After a long while of sitting and head tilting, I was done with makeup. Then we moved to my hair. The hair stylist pulled and held my hair with several pins that poked me with every move I made, so much that I feared it'd draw blood.

With the help of a few hotel staff, I wore my dress—the strapless dress I'd tried on the day before—and was led to stand behind the double doors, waiting for my cue to walk out.

---

Alex

As soon as those double doors swung open and I set my eyes on her, I was convinced that at that moment I never knew the true definition of beauty.

She was adorned in a sparkling white gown that made her appear like an angel, at least to me.

She'd taken my heart captive, and I had no intention of taking it back.

For those few seconds, I almost forgot it was an act. I wasn't really getting married to her. This was just a business deal for mutual benefits.

But those hazel eyes that always seemed to search my soul, demanding answers but getting my heart instead. Cherry lips that I longed to plant kisses on. And her ever-unmoving heart that always seemed to be cold.

Her quick and snarky replies to my constant teasing. Her intoxicating smell of lavender and roses that always drove me crazy in the best possible way.

It was happy yet sad. Somehow I had the woman of my dreams, yet somehow I didn't. It was like she was right in front of me but very far away at the same time.

Yet after all these years, I never succeeded in stopping my stubborn heart from beating for you.

By the time I was done with my internal monologue, she was already before me, her father leading her towards me. He gave her hand to me and said, "Take care of her for me."

Without peeling my eyes off Alison, I replied, "Always."

I took her hand and led her to the altar where the priest was waiting for us. He then started with the introduction and then asked Alison.

"Do you, Alison Jameson, take Alexel Dragovich to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

Alison answered in a heartbeat. The priest asked me the same, and I answered the same. Then it came to my highlight of the day.

"You may now kiss the bride."

The priest declared, and I cupped Alison's face with my hand and brought it close to mine. As I inched closer to meet her plump, full lips, the warmth of her lips against mine—even for only a few seconds—almost drove me crazy.

It took all my willpower not to pry her lips open and explore her mouth with my tongue, tasting every inch of her mouth and leaving her gasping for air.

But sadly, I could only stop here, I thought as I forcefully pried my lips away from hers. And then I saw it: disappointment in her eyes.

Unlike last time, I was sure of what I saw. So I wasn't the only one that wanted more. That thought quickly uplifted my mood. Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice the cheers of the audience.

We walked down the altar, meeting and greeting family and friends.

After a while, Alison made her way to Alicia's side, and they immediately started chattering away. I wondered how they always had something to say to each other.

---

Alison

For some reason, although this was a fake wedding, my nerves were all over the place. Immediately those double doors swung open and I met Alex's waiting eyes, my nerves immediately disappeared. He looked rather different from normal as he was sporting a rather polished look.

As my eyes reached his, his eyes captured my soul and I felt entranced. I almost forgot the presence of my father who was beside me as he took my hand and gave it to Alex and said something. I didn't hear, probably because I was ogling my said nemesis. Alex replied, "Always." His unfiltered attention made me happy for some reason.

We walked hand in hand towards the altar. We stopped in front of the priest, who immediately started speaking to the guests.

He then asked me that cliché question that he probably asks at every wedding he officiates.

"Do you, Alison Jameson, take Alexel Dragovich to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do," I said in a heartbeat. Then he asked the same to Alex, and he followed suit.

The priest then opened his mouth and declared, "You may now kiss the bride."

At that moment, all my hesitation from a few hours ago just disappeared into thin air. And I'm guessing it was the same for Alex, given that he lowered his head in a swift motion and touched lips with mine, placing a soft, tender kiss on my lips as electricity pulsated through my veins and my heart erupted.

The feeling didn't last long, because after just a few seconds he detached himself from me. The cheers of the audience snapped me back into reality.

We made our way to the guests, greeting friends and relatives until my facial muscles almost gave up from all the smiling.

While Alex was engrossed with a man I couldn't recognize trying to curry favor with him, I immediately took that opportunity to slip away to Alicia's side.

She immediately started a conversation while seeming annoyed about something. "Uhm, Alison, were you the one that invited my boss?"

"Your boss?" Although I'd heard a lot about him from Alicia (none of which were flattering), I had no idea who he was. Alex probably knew him. Maybe he invited him. "I don't think I did. Maybe Alex did. Could you point him out for me?"

She pointed to a grumpy-looking blonde-haired guy that looked like he belonged in a Vogue magazine.

He looked somewhat familiar. At that moment, Devon, one of Alex's friends, came to meet him.

Now I remembered where I saw him. That's Christian Palmer, a friend of Alex. He'd probably invited him. Wait a minute...

"Wait, that's your boss? The one with attachment issues?"

"Yes, why?" Alicia asked, confused at my question.

"Nothing. Just that he's Alex's friend, so he probably invited him. So from now on, it seems like you're going to be seeing him at a lot of parties."

Her face fell dramatically. "Oh."

"Why does it even matter? It's not like he can make you work at a wedding."

"I don't put that below him." She glared at him.

I couldn't contain my amusement and let out a hearty chuckle.

"Plus, he keeps glaring at all the guys I try to talk to. I don't know if he expects me to be a lonely monk like him." She continued glaring daggers at him.

"Or..." I drawled, "he might be jealous." I teased, poking her sore spot.

She immediately scoffed. "I'd be surprised if he's attracted to humans. He's probably into aliens or robots."

I smiled at her constant glares. At this rate, she'd burn a hole through his face.

"I wonder how much he's tormented you for you to despise him this much," I commented.

"Words alone can't express." She shook her head like an elderly lady.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Linda in her pink 'should-be' bridal outfit that left way too little to the imagination. She was talking to a waitress who seemed terrified.

"Don't you think Linda's been acting a little weird lately?" I asked.

Taking a sip of her champagne, Alicia said, "She's always been weird. And given that she's in the bridal train of the man of her dreams, wouldn't it be strange if she doesn't act weird?"

"Wait, Alex is the person she likes?"

"Yup," Alicia said with a popping 'p' sound.

Suddenly it all made sense: her sudden concern about my wedding, how she'd been all over Alex. Yeah, I should have noticed it.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice Linda climbing onto the stage as she clinked her glass to gain the audience's attention and proceeded to speak into the mic.

"I'd like to make a toast to my lovely cousin and friend. The bride of the day. You've been more than just a friend to me, and I hope after your marriage, nothing will change between us." She raised her glass and voice. "To Alison!"

The crowd immediately followed suit and downed their drinks. I took a drink from a nearby table and downed it in one go. “I hope nothing will change between us”. Was there ever anything between us? I didn't know who this fake display of affection was supposed to be for.

Let's hope this wasn't another scheme. I was truly exhausted today.

"So, any new catch?" Taking my mind off Linda, I asked Alicia, whose brow was furrowed, still annoyed by her boss.

"No luck. My grim reaper boss scared them all away. One even asked me if I and my boss had something between us." She let out a sarcastic laugh. "I wish I could just..."

She made a strangling motion towards his direction.

I let out a hearty laugh at her murderous intent towards her boss. Suddenly I felt a wave of dizziness hit me, and I staggered backwards and steadied myself.

"Are you okay?" Alicia asked, concerned.

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired."

"You don't look well. You should go up and rest for a while. I'll call you before the reception."

"Okay, don't forget."