The Bride He Lured

8am Location: Mahone, a fictional state in the USA. It was on a sunny morning in April, the sky was clear and the atmosphere was intimidating but hearty. As Black Range Rovers were scattered across the parking lot of the high court, men clothed in black suits and dark shades positioned themselves in strategic places across the arena. Their own vehicle, a limo, drove in. The girls couldn't help but notice the aura. “Girl, I didn't know Luca was this rich.” A young woman in her early twenties exclaimed, taking in the area, dramatically holding her chest. The baby pink glitter gown that she was wearing followed the perfection of her curves, and her dirty blonde hair was in a messy high bun. “I am not sure these are Luca’s. I think someone else is getting married at the same time as we are.” The lady on the other side, dressed in a dreamy white gown, fidgeted with her smartphone. “I can't explain it, but everything just feels off.” She continued, worry evident on her angelic face. “Hey, Rosa. Don't cry now. It's your big day after all.” The lady in pink reached for her hand, caressing the bride's well-manicured fingers lightly. “I don't want your pretty eyes all smudged up, and you're going to make me cry too,” she continued. This made the bride chuckle a bit but tense up almost immediately. “But don't you think it's strange that I haven't been able to reach Luca for the past five days? Lila?” “But each day he sends you a gift and a greeting card.” Lila reminded her friend, raising her brows repeatedly in a playful manner. “Did I mention that the guy also changed your wedding dress to one of the limited collections at the last minute to surprise you, and it suits you perfectly!” “Exactly.” Rosa agreed, pointing her index finger briefly at her friend before she continued. “Luca is a financially responsible person. He'd never spend one hundred and fifty thousand dollars on a flipping dress!” “Besides, that amount is six times his total bank worth!” Rosa found herself screaming before pausing to gulp down a glass of wine beside her. Lila did the same. Her friend was definitely overthinking, she thought. The groom didn't cut off contact. “You know what?” Rosa began as soon as she dropped down her glass. “I will not continue this process till he picks up up up my call. Tell the driver to take us back home right now.” She yelled while the sweet sour wine stung the back of her tongue. “What? Rosa, calm down! I am very sure he's here waiting already. We'd give him a piece of our minds, refusing to pick up your calls.” Lila assured while trying to call Luca herself. The girls weren't done with the agreement when the limo halted. “Driver, turn back home right now!” Rosa protested, but the car stood still. Within the blink of an eye, both girls were dragged from both sides of the car by hefty men. “What on earth is happening!” Rosa cried in total panic with her feet wriggling in the air. “Oh, I am so going to kill Luca for this!!!” Lila declared as adrenaline pumped mercilessly through the unexpected chaos. As both young women were dragged across the stairs to the court building, Rosa's face makeup began to smudge because of sweat and unrest from struggling to be free. Her red hair, which was in a bun, was now scattered all over her face because of how badly she was protesting to be liberated. “Aaagh.” The bride cried out at the cruelty of her being thrown across the floor the moment she was pushed through an entrance. Losing one leg of her red heels along the way, she reached her hand to unbuckle the other one stuck to her twisted ankle on the cold hard floor. “Oh my, Rosa,” Lila cried out, seeing her friend in the unfortunate position while she was still sandwiched within the grip of two hefty Black men. “Hello, ladies.” A masculine voice announced his arrival as he entered the room with men at his back. Rosa's eyes remained glued to the floor as she continued to cry her eyes out. Why was she always unfortunate? “Where is Luca?” She demanded in her position. With her shoulders heavy with humiliation, her chest heaved up and down. “Where is Luca…” A voice mimicked silently, and ugly laughter filled the room. Rosa whimpered. Her nose wasn't enough for breathing anymore, so her perfect heart-shaped mouth coated in smudged red shiny lipstick was slightly apart. “Luca? Who is Luca?” The man who made his entrance earlier asked, looking around at the men present in the room. They all nodded their heads in denial while trying to keep a straight professional face. Lila's eyes widened, and she began to fight again. Whatever terrible dream this was, it was getting more realistic than it should. “You have the wrong girls. You don't know who you're messing with!” She warned. “Isn't the bride a daughter of a disgraceful politician whose career ended miserably?” The man replied, crossing one leg over the other before he continued. “Did I add he cannot be here today? __Old Sac is fighting a losing battle in the ICU.” “What do you want?” Rosa gathered herself like someone who has been possessed. Limping on one foot, she left her single red heel behind while she walked towards the man who had been running his mouth for a while now. “What could you probably give to me with your failed acting career?” He fired, and faint giggles briefly swept through the room. Rosa cleared her hair away from her face with her other hand on top of her pelvis. How could a man with such a captivating face be this cruel? “Then where is Luca? Where is my groom? Did he do something to you?!” She charged towards him, pulling the collar of his suit. He shoved her away almost immediately her hands gripped him as if she was some dirt. “There might have been a change in plan, you see, Rosa Langford. Your groom is going to be me. Too good to be true, isn't it? He smirked while she cleared her hair from her face again. At the peak of tension, Lila suddenly snatched away and ran towards Rosa. “I don't know what the f**k this is, but you need to leave—RIGHT NOW!” She ranted in one breath before helping the bride up. It was good one of them was thinking of a way out of this problem. Immediately Lila turned with her friend's hands within hers, she was met with the most intimidating eyes of a masculine-presenting woman. It was cruel to Lila that she also met with a deafening slap that made her black out immediately from this same woman. “Take her away, now!” The woman ordered, wiping her suit while her men dragged Lila out. “Zara, that was intense, you blacked the poor thing out!” “As if I care. Zayn, get done with this game, please. This is the most annoying wedding I have to witness.” “Where are you taking my friend?” Rosa protested in an attempt to run after the men taking Lila away. An arm encaging her neck from the back while tightly holding her waist in place halted her forcefully in her tracks. “Sign.” Was all Zayn said to Rosa, whom Zara held in position with her arms around her neck. As the bride struggled to make sense of the situation while she tried not to suffocate, it was clear that whoever these people were, she was in trouble. How powerful were they to throw this facade in a high court! “My groom is Luca. I will never agree to marry a sadistic, miserable stranger.” Rosa was cut off from her speech because Zara kept increasing the pressure around her neck while she protested. “Zayn I told you to sedate this b***h. We won't be dealing with any drama now,” she queried her brother while Rosa choked in her grip. “Calm down, sis, can you just let her go for a moment?” Zayn appealed. “Not a wise decision, but hey __.” The masculine-presenting woman replied, letting go of Rosa as if to prove her point. As predicted, Zayn smirked as the bride tried to run off miserably while holding her neck with both hands as if to soothe it from the discomfort of bondage. “One more step, Rosa Langford, and YOUR FATHER is HISTORY!” A voice threatened authoritatively. The tic of the clock and the beep of her heart stopped, halting her in her tracks. “Wh_ what?__” She managed to mumble, frozen in her white pearl dress. “No!” She warned, putting up her index finger after turning to face Zayn. Her breath got louder and louder as tears streamed down her face. Who were these people? Where was Luca? What did they want from her? “You will not do anything to Mr. Langford!” She cried out. “Then sign the damn papers, or you'll be forced to see how I blow off your father's head!” Zayn threatened, stamping his hands on the table, giving her a jump scare.