The Mysterious Betrothed

The Engagement Party

    How embarrassing that she never got his name. It was such a perfect night, and she failed to get the one thing that could help her find him again. She was so lost in thought; she did not hear Anabella calling her name. "Sephera, hello, anyone in there? Anabella was waving her hands in front of Sephera's face. Realizing she was not paying attention, Anabella pinches her. With a jump, "Ow, what was that for!?, Sephera yells. "Oh good, you're paying attention now. Did you hear anything I just said to you? Anabella questions. She, of course, did not, but she was not going to tell her that. It was not until Anabella asked her to repeat what she said that she knew she was caught.

    "I said, we are taking the day off and going shopping." Finally, a break for all this. This was music to Sephera's ears. Anabella grabs her by the arm and pulls her out of the ballroom. They climbed in the limo and drove into town. "So, where should we start first?" Sephera asks. At the same time, they both say "Shoes!" and begin giggling. They stop at Minami's Kutsu. The employees must have expected them because two ladies were waiting to escort them inside. "Good day, miss Leighton. We have been expecting you." Anabella's face changes from a chirpy little girl into an assertive one. She introduces Sephera to Mrs. Minami and Ms. Hi-Soo. "This is Sephera's first time here. She will be treated according to Mr. Sevastian Leighton's orders."

    Sephera's head began to spin when she hears who really set this setup. Her face instantly looks flushed, and she feels dizzy. She puts her hand on her head and starts to sway. "A-Anabella, I think I need to sit down." Anabella looks at her and realizes she doesn't look well. She rushes over to her. With the help of Mrs. Minami and Ms. Hi-Soo, they bring Sephera inside. They help seat her on the nearby ottoman. "Get me a cold cloth and a glass of water," Anabella instructed them so assertively and calm, it scares Sephera. She had never seen Anabella act like this. She was always so chirpy around her. Mrs. Minami and Ms. Hi-Soo bring what Anabella asks for and then step back, waiting for further instruction.

    While Sephera sips on the water, Anabella goes outside to make a phone call. Soon she is back inside the store. "How are you feeling? Do we need to leave? Sevastian doesn't want you pushing yourself too much. So, he said if you are not feeling up to it, we can do this another day." Sephera's eyes went wide when she heard his name again. She sits up straight and calmly says, "No, I am okay. I am just not used to this type of treatment." Her mind, though, is saying so much more. And it is just weird that your brother is doing all of this for me. I've been doing good just going through the motions of this wedding thing, but this is making it too real. Of course, she can't tell Anabella any of this. So instead, Sephera gets up and starts looking at the different shoes the ladies picked out for her to try on.

    A couple of hours pass before Anabella and Sephera finally leave the store with at least four pairs of heels, three sets of sandals, and two pairs of matching sneakers. "I don't think I have ever had these many shoes before." Anabella beams and says, "Get used to it. This is now your life. Shoes, makeup, and dresses all the time." Well, at least someone likes all of this, Sephera thinks to herself. Out loud, she says, "It is going take some time for that to happen." Anabella squeals with joy, happy to hear that, and then pulls Sephera down the street. "Next, we are going to Mademoiselle Lucy's, the local modiste." This confuses Sephera. "What is a Modiste?" Anabella giggles and says, "It is just a fancy word for dress tailor." Sephera cringes at the thought of more dresses. She pouts and asks, "Do we have to?" Anabella looks at her, chirpy as ever. "Yes, this will give you an idea for your wedding dress design." Anabella shrieks with delight. "I am so excited to be your bridesmaid." Without showing any emotions, Sephera asks in her head, who said that!? I don't remember asking you, and I never said I wanted one either. Inside, Sephera was dying from all these revelations she was not prepared for. It made her wish her mom were here to guide her. The two of them walked into the store.

    When Sephera walked into the dress shop, she was floored by all the elegant and colorful dresses. She could not believe how many dresses there were. "Wait here. I'll be right back." Anabella disappeared into the back of the store, then a few minutes later, and came back. She excitedly tells Sephera, "Mademoiselle Lucy says your dress is ready." She then squeals with delight and pulls Sephera in front of the most beautiful dress she has ever seen on a mannequin. There in front of her was a light turquoise ball gown with layers upon layers of ruffled tulle. The snug bodice had an intricate design made of tiny rhinestones that came down into a V-shape at the front of the waist. Resting delicately on the shoulders, a matching soft mesh bolero adding the perfect elegant touch of texture and tasteful modesty. 

    Sephera was starstruck by the dress. "I…is this mine?" She said in a gasp. "It sure is!" Anabella said happily. "It's already paid for by yours truly." She points to herself. Just then, Mademoiselle Lucy appeared. An elderly slender woman with silver streaks in her hair in an elegant dress of her own, a black silk couture dress that dragged the floor. It was a one-shoulder design with a black matching cape over the left shoulder. "So glad you like the dress, Ma Cherie," she said in a French American accent. "I'll box it up for you right away." After she boxed up the dress, Anabella and Sephera left.

    By the time they got back to Sephera's place, they were both exhausted. She said goodbye to Anabella and left all the shopping bags by the front door for Robert to take. She staggers up the stairs to her room and then falls onto her bed. Sephera can't keep her eyes open any longer. She drifts off to sleep as the night fell outside. Sephera jerks awake suddenly. She is lying in her mother's lap. As she strokes her daughter's hair, her mother says, "It's okay, sweetie. It was just a nightmare." Sephera looked at her surroundings and realized her mother was there. She throws her arms around her neck. "Mom, I had a dream you were dead and left me to get married to a stranger." Tears stream down Sephera faces as she held her mother close. Sephera felt safe and warm in her mother's arms.

    It wasn't until she let go of her mom and sat up, she realizes that this is a dream. She is in her childhood room with pink and purple lace on the windows and stuffed animals everywhere. Her mom would sit on her bed with Sephera's head in her lap and stroke her hair when she would have a bad dream. More tears stream down her face when she looks into her mother's eye. "I miss you. There is so much I want to say to you, but you are gone." Her mother grabs her hands, calmly and very tentatively said, "Look at me. I will always be watching over you. You can always talk to me here in your dreams. This makes Sephera cry harder.

    Her mother wipes her tears. "Start from the beginning and tell me everything," Sephera told her everything that had happened since she passed away. Her mother is sad to hear her father has turned into an angry man. She tells Sephera that her father loves her and won't be like this forever no matter what happens. She, herself, begins to cry. She feels so bad for the mess she left for her daughter to clean up. "I'm sorry you have to go through this. Remember what I said in my letter, okay? Never forget that." Just then, her mother begins to fade away. Sephera sees this and cries out, "No, please don't go. Don't leave me alone again." The last words she hears from her mom was I love you, and then she is gone.

    Sephera woke up and was back in her room. Laying in the dark, she thinks of all the things her mom told her. She curls up with the purple sweater and breathes in what was left of her mother's scent. She is feeling more lost than she ever has. She lays there wondering if there is a way out of this arranged marriage or if she should just accept her fate. Her eyes begin to droop, and soon she is back to sleep.

Two weeks after the dream, she decides after the "talk" with her mom; she should meet her betrothed first before judging him. What could it hurt, right? She still is unsure if she was ready for this, but she would try to be. After all, it is too late to turn back now. Tonight is the engagement party.

    There is a knock on her door and a chirpy voice on the other side. "Let me in. We have work to do." Sephera lets Anabella in, and soon Anabella begins working on Sephera's hair. Anabella was more excited than Sephera would ever be about tonight. "I can't wait for Sebastian to see you. He will be so amazed at my beautiful handy work." Sephera nods as if she agrees with her, but inside she is dreading the coming events. Anabella continues to curl and primp her hair.

    Afterward, Anabella grabs her makeup kit and places it on Sephera's vanity. She pulls out different-sized brushes and some various blue eyeshadows. Anabella meticulously starts in the corner of the eye with a light blue eyeshadow. Then she lightly places a teal color next to it and tenderly blends them so there are no gaps. Before Anabella adds the silver glitter over the eyeshadows, she adds a black cat eyeliner over the tip of the top eyelid. Finally, she puts on the final touches of concealer, blush, and lipstick. When Sephera looks at the result, a stranger is staring back at her. She was amazed at how different she looked. Before today, she would never be caught dead in makeup, but seeing what can be done with her slowly changing her mind.

    Sephera walks over to her bed and reaches under the bed. She pulls out the box with the dress. With some help from Anabella, she puts on the dress she bought her for this special occasion. Once it is zipped in the back, she stands in front of the mirror. A woman stood before her. She knew at that moment. It was time to face her fears and accept this is as her new reality.

    As Sephera descends the stairs, Simon, her father, is waiting for her at the bottom. He looks at her with admiration but does not say anything. Simon takes her hand and guides her to the limousine. He helps her by lifting the puffy part of her skirt so she can get in. The drive to her grandfather's mansion seems long with the long silence between her and her father. As they arrive, Sephera can't believe the number of cars and limos that go on for miles.

    Finally, it is her and her father's turn to get out. One of the valets helps her out. As she has done before at the last party, she links arms with her father, and they go inside. Two gentlemen in tuxedoes walk up to them and bows. One of the men begins to speak, "Good evening, Mr. Atkins, Ms. Insley. If you would, please follow Marcus to the ballroom. Ms. Insley, you will come with me, and I will show you to your room." Simon nods and soon is gone down the hall. Sephera is being led up to the second floor. At the top of the stairs, Anabella is waiting for her patiently.

    She is no longer her chirpy self. She is poised and sophisticated. "Thank you, Skyler. I will take it from here." As he walks away, she giggles and pulls Sephera into a side room. Once inside, she begins to put on her dress and shoes. Then she grabs Sephera hands and asks, "Are you ready for this? Sephera begins to sweat a little. "I don't think I am." She sits down on the bed and begins to panic more. This causes Anabella to rush to her side. She puts her hands in Sephera's and says, "Don't worry, I will be right beside you. You can do this. Just breathe." This seems to help Sephera calm down, and then she steels herself. "Okay, I'm ready!"

    A loud knock comes at the door. "We're ready for you, Ms. Insley." Anabella and Sephera look at each other and say, at the same time. "Showtime!" Anabella leaves the room first and disappears down the hall. Then Marcus shows up at the door. He guides Sephera to some hand-carved tree doors where the other gentleman is waiting for her. He then explains to her what will happen next. "First, Skyler will announce you, and then you will walk in and pause at the top of the stairs. From there, you will descend the staircase where you will meet your father and grandfather. Got it?" Sephera was beginning to panic a bit, but she nods and prepares herself for her grand entrance.

    Skyler goes into the doors, and from her side, Sephera could hear him announcing her arrival. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Miss Sephera Ann Insley of Doncaster." She remains poised as the double doors opened. Okay, Sephera, breathe and do not fall on your face. She takes a deep breath and steps through the doors. At the bottom, there are gasps and awes. Some women whisper to each other; others stare in astonishment as Sephera stands at the top of the stairs.

    Keeping her head held high, she begins to disembark down the long red-carpeted staircase. As she does, she can see the tons of young men with gaping mouths. It takes everything in her not to laugh when she has this thought: I wonder who will catch a fly first. She just keeps smiling the best she could. When she reaches the bottom, she made sure to curtsy to everyone.

    "Simon, you have taught her well." Sephera looks to her left to see a man complimenting her father. Her father does not acknowledge him. Instead, he waves Sephera over to him. "Sephera, I would like to introduce your grandfather, Adam Insley of Doncaster." She bows and says, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir." Adam nods and guides her around to introduce her to various people. She meets her soon-to-be mother-in-law and father-in-law, but it seems Sevastian is nowhere to be found. Meeting them wasn't as bad as Sephera thought. She found out they haven't seen Sevastian in a long while. From what she could tell, they were really excited to see their son again.

    After talking for a while, Sephera asks Adam if she can mingle on her own. With his permission, she rushes to find Anabella. She finds Anabella dancing with a young man who looks a couple of years older than her. She waves at her to get her attention. Anabella excuses herself from her dance partners and comes over to Sephera. "Everything okay, Sephera?" Sephera smiles and says, "Yeah, I just need some air. Can we go out on the terrace?" Anabella obliges, and they both walk across the dance floor to the large glass doors that lead outside.

    Once outside, Sephera releases the breath she is holding. "Finally, I can breathe again. I thought I was going to die from everyone staring at me." Anabella laughed. "What are you talking about? You did great! You should have seen the look on Sevastian's face. He was starstruck." Sephera interjected, "Wait, what!? He's here?" All the blood rushed out of her face, and now she was feeling nauseous. She knew they were supposed to meet tonight, but she was nowhere near ready for that part. Anabella saw her face. "Hey, are you okay?" She asked. Sephera's head was beginning to spin. "Anabella, I don't feel so good." The next moment Sephera loses consciousness.

    "I told you she wasn't ready for this! Her father was angry. "Yes, she is. You are just coddling her!" "If Elandra were here, you would have never been able to force Sephera to do this!" Don't you dare talk about my daughter like that! She chose to be with a schmuck like you in exchange for this! Don't tell me what she would have done! Sephera was in and out of consciousness; she could hear her father arguing with her grandfather. But then there was another voice. She could have sworn she had heard it before, but she just couldn't place it. "Gentlemen, why not take this bickering to another room if you will? Sephera needs to rest, and you are not helping the situation." The voices began to disappear out the nearby door. Soon she drifted back out of consciousness.

    Eventually, Sephera starts to stir. She wasn't expecting to find a frantic Anabella next to her bed. Anabella throws her arms around Sephera's neck and frantically says, "Oh, thank goodness. You are awake!" This surprised Sephera a little, but she hugs Anabella back. Anabella sits backs and calmly asks, "How are you feeling? You scared me half to death!" Sephera, still not understanding what happened, asks, "I don't know what you are talking about. The last thing I remember is you and I was on the terrace talking. So how did I end up here?" Anabella took a cold cloth and ran it over Sephera's head. "You passed out."

    Then Anabella seems to switch gears from being frantic to be chirpy again. "Sevastian was such a hero. He caught you before you hit the floor. You should have seen the way he carried you inside and how he stayed by your side the whole time. It was so romantic!" Sephera thinks it must not have been that romantic because I don't remember any of it. Wait!? If he carried me inside and watched over me, then where is he now? Anabella must have read some of her thoughts because she said this, "He wasn't able to stay until you woke up. He had other business to attend to." Sephera was kind of relieved to know she missed, but she was mad at herself too. I fainted! Really!? Ugh! I need to see who he is. Now I have missed him again! Feeling defeated, Sephera asks Anabella to take her home.

    Robert pulls around the car then Anabella and Sephera climb in. Both fall asleep on one another's shoulder as the limo rides into the night. Robert stops at Anabella's house first. Not wanting to wake Sephera, she moves her head gently to the seat and gets out. By the time Robert pulls into the driveway, Sephera is wide awake. When she gets in the door, her father is waiting for her.