A Simply Unlikable Mate

Not dream wedding

As a young girl, Ethel Haynes imagined what her wedding would be like.

She knew she would marry a handsome man like one of those happily ever after princes from fairy tales.

She wanted it to be in one of those big cathedrals with the guests shedding tears into silky white handkerchiefs as she walked down the aisle.

She wanted a choir of little children singing in angelic voices as she came in.

The church would be filled with pink roses on every side.

Her wedding cake would have six layers and definitely some wine and chocolate with coconut.

Her dream wedding would be big, expensive and positively memorable .

In present time however, her wedding was definitely big and expensive but positively memorable was not what she thought.

It all started a week ago. After she said yes to Adriel everything moved very fast.

He made her sign a contract before she left his office. He even transferred two million dollars directly to her account immediately so that she could not change her mind.

Ethel barely read the contract and when she finally did she realised he had included a big pay out if she broke the contract. she would have to pay him ten million dollars.

Ethel was so mad. How did she not read the contract she asked herself.

She was forbidden from having any sort of romantic or s****l relations with any man during the two year period of their marriage.

She could not live outside Midrand for over a day.

She was not allowed to discuss their private affairs with others.

The list of things she was forbidden to do was long.

Adriel Kang had officially trapped her legally.

Less than a day later and everyone in Midrand knew that Adriel was getting married. Nobody however knew much about his bride.

"I can't believe he is getting married Ethel. Did you see anything while you were in his office?" June asked

"Well, it's a long story. Also a short one." Ethel said

"Out with it Ethel. You have been in a daze ever since we left Adriel's office yesterday. You didn't say much all the way during the ride home. I thought you wore excited becwe got the money. And in full to boot.

Your little red dress pulled off the miracle after all."

"June, shut up and listen." Ethel loudly said.

"It's me."

"It's you what?"

"It's me, I am the one getting married to Adriel. "

"Hahahaaaa." June laughed. "You need to tell better jokes Ethel because that's not very funny. "

"I am serious June." Ethel went to her purse and pulled out the wrong.

June screamed in shock. It was a pink diamond ring. A very big one at that.

"My God Ethel that looks expensive. Very expensive. Like sell it and buy a mansion kind of expensive. "

"I know." Ethel said. "Why else do you think I am not wearing it. I am afraid someone will yank it off my finger or stab me for it."

"How in the world di you swing this Ethel. He is the biggest prize in Midrand. You haven't even lived here for one week and he is marrying you. I need to sit down." June sat down as she said this.

" Tell me everything that happened when I left that office." June ordered.

So Ethel told her everything. June looked like she had just heard an apocalypse was coming to earth.

"You said yes to a contract marriage, are you crazy?"

"No, just desperate and tired." Ethel said.

"I need to take a look at that contract."

"I don't have it, he keeps it on his office. I will get a copy after we get married."

"I don't know if I should be happy for you or scared. Adriel is going to eat you to pieces Eth and I don't think he has told you everything. "

"I hope you mean something dirty when you say he is going to eat me. I am not allowed to have s*x with any other man during the duration of the marriage. "

"Does this mean your marriage will have strings attached because I don't know if that story will end well."

"I don't know June but we are going to take things one step at a time. I already signed the contract after all. The wedding is in five days."

"That's right, June said. We have so much to prepare before the wedding. I am throwing you a bachelorette party. You can't say no."

"You should call your parents. Your mum is going to kill you. "

Ethel jumped up and run to get her phone. She could not believe she had forgotten to call her parents. She was getting married and her family didn't know.

The first thing her mother said when she answered was "Where the hell are you? Are you okay and why did you sell your house?"

"Mum calm down and listen to me first. I sold the house because my boyfriend proposed and we are getting married. I am starting a new business and moving into his house after the wedding. "

Ethel's mother screamed and called her father.

"Henry Ethel is getting married. Come and listen to this. Our baby is getting married. We want to know everything about him and his family. "

"Mum the wedding is in five days so I don't have time to explain a lot. I need you to book a flight and have everyone come to the wedding. I am going to send you some money to book flights for the whole family. "

"That sounds very expensive Eth." her mum said in a worried tone.

"Don't worry mum, Adriel told me to do it. He even gave me the money to spend. Just get here as soon as possible. "

After about seven minutes Ethel ended the call with her mother. She called Adriel.

"Hello my bride." he said. Ethel's heart skipped a bit.

"My family is coming into the city for the wedding. I don't know where to put them up. I don't have a house. Can you help?"

"I will provide rooms at the hotel. Tell me how many people we should expect when you have more information. " he said.

"Alright then, thank you."

"Don't hung up." he said " We are getting married, you should be calling me sweet names in public. People need to believe we love each other if we are to sell the we once dated and broke up but now we are together again scenario."

"Try calling me honey."

"No I won't." She replied

"Say it." he ordered in a more commanding voice.

Ethel could not resist it when he used that tone. "Honey." She called him in a soft voice.

"Good girl." he chuckled

"What are you going to do with the rest of your day today?" he asked

" June is taking me shopping for a wedding dress."

"About that, you are about to have an additional visitor. I wish you luck. " With that said, he hung up.

What could he possibly mean Ethel wondered.

When Ethel and June were leaving to start wedding dress shopping, a big man stood infront of them. " The lady would like to see you ."

"Who is the lady?" Ethel asked

"Your husband's mother. Did he not tell you about her. You should brace yourself. " June said.

They followed the man to a parking lot where two cars were waiting.

"Get in" he said.

That's when Ethel saw her, Adriel's mother. He looked so much like her the resemblance could not be missed. She was wearing a white dress and heels with a wide hat.

She definitely knew her fashion. Her arms had these muscles that clearly showed how much effort she put into her workouts.

Ethel did not like working out. She didn't think she would have much in common with Adriel's mother.

To her surprise, Adriel's mother took her hands smiled and said " Hello my dear, I am Melinda. I am so happy to meet you. Adriel has told me so much about you. Let's talk more as we shop for your wedding dress."

For a whole afternoon Ethel tried on dress after dress in the most expensive bridal shops she had ever entered. Some of these dresses cost up to two hundred thousand dollars and Ethel was afraid to touch them.

"Don't worry my dear, Adriel can afford it. We are doing him a favour by spending some money for him." Melinda said.

Ethel was still not totally convinced. Melinda didn't listen to anything Ethel said she just kept picking what was most expensive and beautiful.

When June pulled out the wedding to do list Melinda pulled it from her and took over the planning of the wedding.

She rejected the roses and ordered for Lilies and orchids.

She said no to the church and said the wedding venue was already picked.

She said the flavors of the cake Ethel wanted were too sweet and picked neutral flavours. She even called and put in the order with a design of her picking.

She booked an entire orchestra to play music if her choosing as the bride walked in.

This was not the wedding Ethel pictured. Adriel's mother had taken over the wedding. She was even speaking to Ethel's mother on phone already and making seating arrangements.

Ethel was left speechless. This would be her wedding but also not her wedding. Thos must n

be why he wished me luck.

She tried to call Adriel but he had switched off his phone.

"coward" She muttered.