Married by Mistake, Desired by Fate

Chapter 2 - Humilliated

Sienna Koch

What just happened? I looked at the stage, and the man I had been promised was holding hands with my little sister. My sister! She knew I was engaged to him, and yet, she was there, smiling, willingly breaking me.

I looked at Aunt Claire, and she scoffed and gave me a warning look, one that told me, “Don´t you dare make a scandal!”

Tears welled in my eyes, and inevitably, they started falling down my cheeks. The people around me stared, whispered things in hushed voices, while I stood there, at the last step of the stairs, seeing how my dreams, my future, and everything I was promised were snatched from me.

Mother quickly stood beside me, “Don´t you make a scene, Sienna… Scarlet has a lot of explaining to do,” she grunted, and I felt my heart break a little bit more. She was angry about how things happened, but we both knew that there was nothing much to be done. The news would have a field trip if we change the version of the announcement. There was no confussión in Frederick´s words… he had chosen Scarlett.

And my sister… God! My sister betrayed me and took him from me. “Well! Enjoy your night!” Aunt Claire smiled and then glared at Frederick and Scarlett on the stage. She descended the steps with the grace of a gazelle, with the stealthiness of a feline, and his eyes were the ones of a predator… calculated, cold, feral.

“Follow me,” she said, and after Frederick and Scarlett descended from the stage, hands intertwined, Mom and I followed.

I was always one step behind my mother, and this time, I forced myself to drag my feet down the hallways and into the studio where all hell broke loose.

“What was that about?” she barked at Frederick, who didn't even flinch at her tone.

“Mother, Scarlett and I are in love, and if an alliance with the Koch family must be done by marriage, why not her?” Frederick said in a definitive voice, not even glancing my way.

“Scarlett! How could you?” Mother said, and she took a deep breath, and gave everyone one of her Oscar-winning, shy-damsel performances.

“Mother… I met Frederick a while ago, our common friends called him Fred, I had no idea he was Sienna´s Frederick… only recently I found out, and by then it was too late,” she said, and Frederick held her hand soothing her distress. He was all attention, all care and kindness, not to me, of course, but to her.

“You should have told me,” Aunt Claire said to Frederick, and he chuckled.

“So you can stop me from choosing the one I love above duty?” he said and gave me a cold stare, making me feel worthless.

“People knew, Frederick.. They knew it was Sienna, not Scarlett, the one for you!” Aunt Claire snapped, her frustration and anger seeping out of every word. “Now, how are we going to solve this mess?” She lost all composure and slumped on the chair. I have never seen her this distressed.

“Well, people will gossip, and then they will get bored…” Scarlett said, while Mom gasped and Aunt Claire glared at her. I knew better than to speak my mind, not before them, especially our strong-willed aunt.

“They will gossip? Gossip!” she raised her voice, “You stupid girl! They will have a field day! Our names will be dragged down, the company will suffer, we will have to stop being seen in public! This is a disaster!” she said,

“Mother, watch how you speak to her! She is my future wife, and you must respect her!” Frederick barged into the conversation, while every word twisted a knife into my heart.

“Aren´t you going to say something?” Aunt Claire looked at my mother, and I knew that the ultimate betrayal was about to happen. Scarlett has always been strong-willed, spoiled, entitled… and mother, she always caved… always favored her.

“Well, Frederick is right, an alliance between families was promised, and Scarlett, well, she is a Koch just as Sienna is,” Mother sighed, knowing that if she refused, Scarlett would lose her s**t, and she would eventually throw a tantrum about it.

“We can send her off,” Scarlett said, and I looked at her appalled. I have never been away from home. I was raised to be Frederick´s wife, and now she is suggesting to ship me off as a worthless piece of furniture that has served its purpose.

“Sienna, darling… how about you help us a little here…” Aunt Claire used her soft tone, dripping with condescension. I knew better; she was scheming a plan to save her face in this situation, and with my weak mother´s response, I was the one who would have to pay the price.

“I don´t know how I can help…” I mumbled, and she smiled.

“Maybe… you have always had a high spiritual life… maybe if you announce your calling to a religious vocation… that would explain the change…” she said, and I gasped.

I might be shy, timid, and a little awkward, but by no means do I have a religious calling. “But I don't want to be a nun…” I muttered.

“Oh, it doesn't have to be definitive… only for a few months while the buzz dies down, and the wedding is over,” she said, and my heart broke. This was my family, the people I have trusted my entire life, the ones that should be taking care of me, who should care about my feelings…

“Please, Sienna… that is for the best.” My head almost snapped sideways when, for the first time, Frederick acknowledged my presence. “Don´t be selfish…” he added, and I almost wanted to throw up… Selfish? Me? He was the one who, knowing his duty, his commitment, decided to move on. He was the one who made this announcement, stomping all over my heart, all over my dreams.

I wanted to yell at them, all of them… but instead I stood up and looked at Aunt Claire. “A few minutes ago, I was a tramp; now you want me to be a nun? Please take a pick.” I said exhausted, broken…

And because in my family it is always the fallen tree, the one they kick the most, my mother held my hand, and softly said, “Honey, it is for the best… I will call the convent…” she said, not giving me a choice. Stripping me from every form of independence… I was a pawn in their plans, disposable.

“Alright, then… we will give that version to the media, and it will be water under the bridge in no time.” Aunt Claire smiled, then she turned to Scarlett.

“Now, dear… welcome to the Devereux family,” she beamed, and everyone left without giving a second glance in my direction.

After Thanksgiving, my mother packed my things and shipped me to a convent, where I found some peace and solace. It was not that bad, the simplicity in which the nuns lived their lives, in which day by day passed, somehow helped me mend my heart…

I was not pretty, nor daring… I was denied a formal higher education, only allowed to finish high school, because I had been groomed to be the perfect wife. All my life crumbled around me, and here, in the peace of praying to God and in the company of the nuns, I found some semblance of normality. I found out that life must go on, I found a purpose and a rhythm…

In fact, I almost convinced myself that it was in the right place for me. Mother called me once a week, and rambled about the wedding preparations, Scarlett's latest tantrum, or the latest social event. She sent me an invitation, a Christmas Wedding by the beach, and soon I was packing up my stuff to attend my sister´s wedding to the man who was supposed to be mine. I just hoped people had forgotten about me and how I was humiliated several weeks ago.