The Fake Wedding
965 Words
Amara barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the ring.
For Ebele. Forever. 2002.
Questions chased her through the night.
Questions her mother might finally answer.
If Damien was telling the truth.
If the ring really belonged to his father.
If her mother’s past was somehow connected to the Carter family.
Then why had her mother hidden it?
And why did Damien look uncomfortable every time Ebele’s name came up?
At exactly 7:00 a.m., a knock sounded on her bedroom door.
Three sharp knocks.
“Get dressed.”
Amara groaned.
“Good morning to you too.”
“We leave in thirty minutes.”
“What for?”
Silence.
Then—
“Our wedding.”
Her eyes snapped open.
Right.
That.
Thirty-five minutes later, Amara sat beside Damien in the back of the SUV.
Neither spoke.
The city rushed past outside.
The closer they got to the courthouse, the harder her heart pounded.
This wasn’t real.
It couldn’t be.
Normal people didn’t marry strangers.
Normal people didn’t sign contracts.
Normal people definitely didn’t marry billionaires for money.
Yet here she was.
About to become Mrs. Damien Carter.
For ninety days.
Only ninety days.
The courthouse was surprisingly quiet.
No family.
No flowers.
No celebration.
Just paperwork.
Damien signed first.
Calm.
Collected.
Like he was approving another business deal.
Amara hated how easy he made it look.
When it was her turn, her hand shook.
The registrar smiled kindly.
“Nervous?”
“A little.”
Damien glanced at her.
“A little?”
She kicked his ankle.
Hard.
He didn’t react.
Which somehow annoyed her more.
Ten minutes later, the registrar cleared her throat.
“Please exchange rings.”
Amara froze.
Damien froze.
Neither moved.
The registrar frowned.
“Mr. Carter?”
Damien reached into his pocket.
Pulled out the ring.
The same ring.
The ring with her mother’s name.
Amara’s stomach tightened.
He slipped it onto her finger.
His touch lasted barely a second.
Yet somehow…
She felt it.
Every nerve ending noticed.
Every heartbeat noticed.
Everything noticed.
The registrar smiled.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Silence.
Then—
“You may kiss the bride.”
Amara nearly choked.
“No.”
Damien answered at exactly the same time.
“No.”
The registrar blinked.
Twice.
“We’re not kissing.”
Amara smiled awkwardly.
“Religious reasons.”
Damien looked at her.
“What religion?”
She ignored him.
The registrar looked confused but eventually shrugged.
“I suppose that’s fine.”
The ceremony ended.
Just like that.
No music.
No romance.
No fairy tale.
She was married.
As soon as they stepped outside—
Flash!
Flash!
Flash!
Amara screamed.
Cameras exploded from every direction.
Reporters appeared seemingly from nowhere.
Microphones.
Phones.
Questions.
So many questions.
“What happened?”
She stumbled backward.
Damien grabbed her wrist.
“Stay close.”
Before she could respond—
A reporter shoved forward.
“Mr. Carter! Is this marriage real?”
Another.
“Did you secretly date?”
Another.
“Who is she?”
Another.
“Is she pregnant?”
“What?!”
Amara almost attacked that one.
The crowd surged forward.
Damien immediately stepped in front of her.
Shielding her from the cameras.
Protecting her.
The realization startled her.
Because Damien wasn’t protecting his image.
He was protecting her.
“Miss!”
A female reporter pointed directly at Amara.
“How does it feel marrying Nigeria’s most eligible billionaire?”
Amara opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Then opened it again.
“No comment?”
The reporter pressed.
Amara smiled sweetly.
“I still can’t afford hospital food.”
The entire crowd burst into laughter.
Even Damien looked impressed.
Unfortunately, one reporter wasn’t laughing.
He stared at the ring on her finger.
Then his expression changed.
Recognition.
Pure recognition.
He pushed through the crowd.
“Where did you get that ring?”
Amara frowned.
“What?”
“The ring.”
His eyes remained fixed on it.
“Where did you get it?”
Damien’s body instantly stiffened.
The reporter took another step forward.
“That ring belonged to—”
“Interview over.”
Damien’s voice was ice.
Dangerous.
Final.
He wrapped an arm around Amara’s waist and pulled her toward the waiting SUV.
The move shocked both of them.
Because it felt…
Natural.
Too natural.
Amara looked down at his hand.
Damien noticed.
Immediately released her.
And suddenly neither knew where to look.
The SUV doors slammed shut.
Silence filled the vehicle.
Then Amara turned toward him.
“What was that?”
“What?”
“That reporter.”
Damien looked out the window.
Which was basically an admission of guilt.
“What did he know about the ring?”
“I don’t know.”
“Liar.”
Silence.
“Damien.”
More silence.
Finally—
“My father was involved in a scandal years ago.”
Amara’s heartbeat quickened.
“What kind of scandal?”
He hesitated.
For the first time since she’d met him…
He looked uncertain.
Almost reluctant.
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
His assistant.
Damien answered immediately.
Then his expression darkened.
“How many?”
A pause.
“No. Cancel my afternoon.”
Another pause.
“We’re coming now.”
He ended the call.
Amara sat upright.
“What happened?”
Damien looked directly at her.
“The story leaked.”
Her stomach dropped.
“What story?”
He handed her his phone.
A massive headline filled the screen.
BILLIONAIRE’S SECRET BRIDE EXPOSED
Underneath was a photograph of Amara.
Not from today.
Not from the wedding.
From the hospital.
Standing beside her sick mother.
And below it—
A sentence that made her blood run cold.
WHO IS EBELE OKOYE… AND WHY IS HER NAME ENGRAVED INSIDE THE CARTER FAMILY RING?
- Writer
