THE WEDDING

The Party

uncomfortable with her touch. I want to reject it. But I know I can't, not now in front of this crowd of people. I roughly take her hand and we stand in front of the priest.

I don't pay any attention to the priest until I hear the words that I never want to hear again in my life. The priest repeats them, waiting for a response.

"Do you, Mr. Joel Fuente Mayor Guzmán, accept Miss Gabriela Altamirano Rossi as your lawful wife to love and respect her until death do you part?"

"Yes, I do!"

"Do you, Miss Gabriela Altamirano Rossi, accept Mr. Joel Fuente Mayor Guzmán as your lawful husband to love and respect him until death do you part?"

"Mm... Yes, I do!"

I feel a slight grip on my hand and it's Joel with a face that wants to kill me. He's going to put the ring on me, and as expected, it's too big. I close my hand so that it's not noticeable and doesn't slip off my finger. I take his hand and put the ring on him, which fits him perfectly. Lost in my thoughts, I feel like a complete impostor now. It's as if the ring is screaming, "This isn't your place." The priest continues with the ceremony.

"You may now kiss the bride."

And all the air within me escapes. He grabs my neck and kisses me. At first, I don't react. Then, as he presses his fingers into my neck, I come to my senses and return the kiss, which I must say left my legs trembling.

Although it only conveyed anger, we break apart. People start cheering as he takes my hand and we approach his family and friends, who give me dirty looks, obviously. I'm a total stranger to everyone.

"Gabi, let me introduce you to my business partners. After that, we'll dance the waltz and cut the cake. I'm in a hurry to leave, but we can't make it too obvious, so we'll have to stay a while."

He only approached me when necessary, otherwise, he ignored me. He was talking with a guy he introduced as his business partner. I, on the other hand, was dancing and laughing with my friend. After all, this was a fake wedding, but mine nonetheless, so I should enjoy it. I had a few drinks and had a great time.

"Seeing 'my little wifey' enjoying the party makes me very angry. How can she celebrate this? As if it were really her wedding? What kind of woman am I marrying, Kamila? For God's sake, she has no common sense. She should be hiding in a corner, unnoticed. Everyone here knows she's not the bride, and this is just a farce to prevent the scandal caused by my girlfriend and best friend. And to make matters worse, more people ask me about that traitor Manuel and Mafer. I never want to hear about them again. Let's go, wife!"

They say behind me with annoyance in their voice. I say my goodbyes and we head to the waiting car. We drive to the hotel, and upon arrival, he opens the suite that was all prepared.

We pass in total silence. He remains in his pants and shirt, sitting on a couch drinking. On the other hand, I go to the room to get out of this annoying dress, but then I remember that I don't have any clothes.

I wasn't prepared for this. I take a silk robe that had the name Mrs. Fuente Mayor embroidered on it, which I assume he prepared for his wife. I can't deny that everything is beautiful—roses, chocolates, candles, a lot of personal care products for women. I imagine this is what his girlfriend used. I really don't want to overstep any boundaries. I'm afraid to touch anything because I don't know how he might react. I walk into the living room and see him lost in thought, drinking. I apologize, Joel. I took this robe because I didn't bring any luggage. I apologize for my audacity, but that dress was too tight for me.

He looks up and sees her in the embroidered silk robe that I had ordered for Mafer. He throws his glass against the wall, and he explodes. I see her, looking very frightened. I just stand up and approach her. "Don't you dare touch her things. You have no right! You're nobody! Do you understand? You're just a cover-up. You'll never be more than that."

I wanted to let out all my anger. I couldn't understand how she could look so beautiful, even at a wedding that wasn't hers. She had no right to look that way with the things that should have belonged to Mafer. Yes! The woman who made me look like an i***t in front of the whole world.

“And to you, I'm Mr. Joel! Don't speak to me anymore, little girl! I want to be alone!”

"I didn't expect you to treat me like this, but I understand that you're consumed by your pain. I can't imagine what you must be feeling since I've never been in love.”

He's pacing around the place, saying who knows what, cursing the whole world. I just stand still in my place. I'm already regretting having agreed to this. I understand that he's hurt, but that's no excuse to talk to me like that. If my father saw how that man treated me, he wouldn't hesitate to punch him in the face. Unfortunately, he's no longer in this world. If he were alive, he would have never agreed to help my friend with this madness.

I never should have come! I should have stayed in Madrid, taking care of my job. But my friend insisted so much, and I couldn't say no. We hadn't been able to see each other in person since graduation because she stayed in Miami with her parents. After the wedding, she would fly with me to Madrid, where we would share an apartment while we build our company.