MR BILLIONAIRE WANTS A WIFE FOR CHRISTMAS

Chapter 27:

It was the day of the wedding, and Linda was sitting in her room, looking scared and unhappy. Her best friend, Claire, was beside her, trying to offer some comfort. Linda's eyes were red from crying, and her face was pale with worry. She turned to Claire and said, "If only I wasn't born, Claire. I hate the fact that my father couldn't see that I'm in love with someone else, and even carrying his child."

Claire tried to reassure Linda, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Get yourself together, Linda. We will get ourselves out of this mess. It's not just you facing it; I'm here to support you. Let's just listen to your father for now. We need to protect the child in your womb." Claire's words were meant to be calming, but Linda's anxiety was palpable.

Just then, Mr. Blackwood, Linda's father, came into the room. He looked at Linda with a mixture of expectation and annoyance. "Are you prepared for this, my beautiful daughter? We have prestigious people waiting at the reception. Facing Claire, you need to get her ready as soon as possible. We don't have to keep her gentle husband waiting forever." Mr. Blackwood's words were laced with sarcasm, and Linda felt a surge of resentment towards him.

Linda looked at Claire, who gave her a reassuring nod. Claire knew that Linda was trapped in a situation she didn't want to be in, and she was determined to support her friend. Linda took a deep breath and tried to compose herself, knowing that she had to face the reality of her situation.

As Claire helped Linda get ready for the wedding, Linda couldn't help but think about the man she truly loved. She was carrying his child, and the thought of marrying another man was almost too much to bear. She felt like she was living a nightmare, and she didn't know how to wake up.

Mr. Blackwood's voice brought Linda back to reality. "Linda, it's time to go. The guests are waiting, and Alex is getting impatient." Linda felt a surge of anxiety at the mention of Alex's name. She didn't want to marry him, but she knew she had no choice.

Claire gave Linda a gentle push. "Go, Linda. We'll get through this together. Just remember, you're not alone." Linda took a deep breath and stood up, smoothing out her wedding dress. She looked at Claire, who gave her a reassuring smile.

As Linda walked out of the room, she felt like she was walking into a prison sentence. She knew that she would have to pretend to be happy for the sake of her father and the guests, but inside, she was dying. She was trapped in a loveless marriage, and she didn't know how to escape.

The sound of the wedding march filled the air as Linda walked down the aisle. She saw Alex waiting for her, a smug look on his face. She felt a surge of resentment towards him, but she knew she had to keep up the charade. As she reached Alex's side, she felt like she was saying goodbye to her freedom, and hello to a life of misery.

As Mr. Blackwood escorted his daughter to the church podium, the bishop, resplendent in his ceremonial robes, smiled warmly at the couple. He raised his hands, ready to begin the blessing, when suddenly, Andrew burst into the church, his face set in a determined expression. The congregation turned to stare at Andrew, shocked by his outburst.

"Don't bless them!" Andrew exclaimed, his voice ringing out across the crowded pews. The bishop's hands faltered, and he looked at Andrew in surprise. Alex, who had been standing beside Linda, turned to his brother, his face reddening with anger. "Don't come here and ruin my marriage, Alex," he hissed. "You'll regret it!" But Andrew stood his ground, his eyes locked on the bishop.

"Keep quiet, and don't bless this marriage," Andrew repeated, his voice firm. The congregation was in an uproar, with some people gasping in shock and others whispering to each other. Alex's face turned purple with rage, and he took a step forward, as if he was about to attack Andrew. But Andrew didn't back down. Instead, he continued to address the bishop.

"The reason I'm asking you not to bless this marriage is simple," Andrew explained. "Mr. Blackwood's daughter here is pregnant, and I'm sure it's not my brother Alex's child." The congregation gasped again, and Linda's face went white. She seemed to shrink back into herself, as if she was trying to escape the attention.

Alex's face turned from purple to red, and he spluttered, "Brother, are you insane? How can you say that to my bride-to-be?" He turned to the bishop and pleaded, "Please, bishop, ignore him and bless this marriage. My brother is clearly insane!" But Andrew remained calm, his eyes locked on Linda.

"Tell the congregation you're not pregnant," Andrew challenged Linda, "and I'll bring in a medical practitioner to test you." Linda's eyes darted back and forth, as if she was searching for an escape. But she remained silent, unable to speak. The congregation held its collective breath, waiting for her response.

The silence was oppressive, and it seemed to stretch on forever. Linda's face was pale, and her eyes were wide with fear. She seemed to be trapped, unable to move or speak. Andrew's eyes never left hers, and he seemed to be willing her to speak. But Linda remained silent, frozen in fear.

As the silence continued, the congregation began to stir. Some people whispered to each other, while others looked at Linda with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Alex's face was still red with rage, and he seemed to be on the verge of exploding. But Andrew remained calm, his eyes never leaving Linda's face.

The bishop, who had been watching the scene unfold, finally spoke. "I think we need to take a break and discuss this situation further," he said, his voice calm and measured. "Let us recess for a few minutes and reconvene when we are ready to proceed." The congregation nodded in agreement, and the bishop gestured to Andrew and Alex. "Please, gentlemen, let us discuss this further in private."

Andrew turned to face the bishop, his expression unwavering. The atmosphere in the church was tense, and the bishop's eyes darted nervously between Andrew and the congregation. Andrew's gaze swept across the crowd, his eyes locking onto the prestigious guests who had been invited to witness the wedding. He took a deep breath, his voice ringing out across the church.

"It's look awkward, right?" Andrew began, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "My brother's fiancée is pregnant, and they're trying to force and pin the pregnancy on him." Andrew's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he turned to Mr. Blackwood. "And for Mr. Blackwood, who is full of different bad characters, to pretend to be a good man in society is laughable." The congregation murmured in agreement, their faces reflecting their disgust.

Just then, Mr. Blackwood's bodyguard stepped forward, trying to escort Andrew out of the church. But the crowd wasn't having it. "Wait!" someone shouted. "What if he's telling the truth? Mr. Blackwood's daughter needs to prove them wrong!" The crowd began to chant, demanding that Linda speak up and clear her name.

The bishop, realizing that the situation was spiraling out of control, tried to intervene. But it was too late. The damage had been done. The prestigious guests who had been invited to the wedding began to speak up, expressing their disappointment and disgust at the whole situation.

One of the guests, a respected businessman, stood up and addressed the crowd. "I'm shocked and appalled by what's happening here today. Mr. Blackwood, your behavior is unacceptable, and your daughter's actions are a reflection of your poor parenting." The crowd murmured in agreement, their faces stern.

Another guest, a prominent politician, spoke up. "I'm disappointed in Mr. Blackwood's lack of integrity. He's always presented himself as a respectable member of society, but it seems that's just a facade." The crowd nodded in agreement, their voices rising in a chorus of disapproval.

The bishop, realizing that the situation was beyond repair, walked away, his head hung in shame. The prestigious guests began to file out of the church, their faces reflecting their disgust and disappointment. The whole situation had become awkward, with Mr. Blackwood and his daughter at the center of the scandal.

As the crowd dispersed, Andrew stood tall, his expression unyielding. He had spoken the truth, and he had exposed Mr. Blackwood's hypocrisy. The consequences of his actions would be far-reaching, but Andrew was prepared to face them head-on.