My Father-in-Law’s Dark Obsession; Claiming His Son's Bride

Liana Brooks. “Sweetheart, you know I adore you, but I always thought he'd be happier with Vanessa. She just… sparkles differently.” Tristan's mother—the famous world renowned model—Elena Carter said, her voice dripping with sweetness but her words were like a knife, drove straight into my chest and ripped it apart. The smile on my face faded away in a blink and my eyes narrowed in a mix of confusion and disbelief; I couldn't just wrap my head around the fact that she would actually say this. In front of all these people and in my own engagement party. “What did you mean, Mom?” I asked softly, making sure my voice doesn't betray the sadness—or rather, the anger inside me. I looked at the elegant woman, never expecting the trashy words that came from her. “Yeah, I mean, no offense, but you’re trying so hard,” Madeline—Tristan’s sister—cooed, her voice disgustingly sweet. She gestured towards Vanessa who was grinning from ear to ear. “ While Vanessa just… fits with him better. You are lucky he chose someone so plain like you. I hope you will be ready to keep up with our family's expectations.” Her voice was deliberately loud—too loud, drawing the attention of the guests nearby to us. Even a few of them started whispering, comparing Vanessa and I. What?! A wave of humiliation crashed down on me. My hand tightened around the champagne flute and I resisted the urge to throw the drink on her smug face. I mean we've never gotten along… but humiliating me like this at my engagement party wasn't something I have ever expected either. Fine, I wouldn't deny the fact that Vanessa was more beautiful, sophisticated and the classy princess of the high ranking CEO in Vienna… but then, I wasn't so bad. I had a smooth almost white skin, oval face with a well defined jaw and long ginger hair that reached my lower back if I let it fall. I was five feet tall, with sexy features that made the jaws of men drop anytime I walked by. I stared at Tristan who was standing close to Vanessa—too close that their bodies were almost rubbing against each other. I hated to admit the fact that they looked so perfect together. They were even in matching outfits. Tristan was wearing a brown suit that made him look so handsome and powerful. Vanessa was dressed in a brown dress that left nothing to the imagination. Tristan had a boyish grin on his face; he clearly saw nothing wrong in his mother's statement. I had expected him to defend me—to at least tell his mother and sister that he loved me regardless and what we shared was beyond ordinary—but he only swirled the wine glass in his hand like he was having a swell time. “Aren’t you going to say anything?” I asked, my voice trembling with unrestrained rage. “Are you just going to f**k—” I paused, wouldn't want to use the F word in public where over a hundred eyes were watching me like a hawk. I squeezed my eyes closed. Breathe Liana. Breathe. Don't let these people turn you into what you are not. Then I opened my eyes, and with a practiced composed expression, I continued. “... Are you just going to stand there and watch as your family talks down on me?” Tristan's smile vanished, his face crumpled in confusion. “Talk down on you?” He repeated as if the words were inexistent until now. “Come on, Liana. It was just a joke. Don't ruin the mood by taking it to heart.” A joke?! My stomach knitted painfully. It seemed like a bucket of cold water was emptied on my face. “You call that a joke?” My voice was sharper now and raw with pain. In seconds, Tristan was by my side. His fingers dug into my arms tightly like he was reminding me of my place as he leaned in. “Behave yourself Liana,” he warned through gritted teeth. “It's our engagement night, don't ruin it with your jealousy for Vanessa and insecurity. I choose you to be my wife after all and that is all that matters,” he said like he was doing me a huge favour by asking me to marry him. I couldn't say anything. I did not even know what to say. I looked at Vanessa, my best friend, expecting her to at least defend me. Actually, Tristan and I met through Vanessa. She had been my room mate and best friend in college. We had taken a picture which she posted on her i********: page and that was where Tristan saw me and became interested in me. She told me about him being her childhood best friend and asked that we went on a date. At first, I disagreed because I knew I wasn't on the same level with him. He was a rich, handsome dude… one of the most eligible bachelors in Vienna. But she insisted and I eventually agreed on just one date with him to get them off my back. During the date, Tristan had proved to me that he wasn't like the other spoiled rich kids around. He treated me so well that I couldn't help but fall in love with him and we started dating with the plan to get married after I graduate from college which I did last month. But now… no, not now.. for sometime now, there has been a shift in his behaviour. Reduced calls, reduced attention, spent more time with Vanessa than he did with me… but he claimed it was work which I believed him, after all both families ran some corporate businesses together. Vanessa did not defend me, she only held onto Tristan who had returned to her side tightly. Her manicured fingers wrapped possessively around his arms like he was hers and I was nothing. “You falter me too much auntie,” she said, her voice revealing just how much she enjoyed as they praised her while tearing me down. She eyed me down condescendingly and it's made me wonder what went wrong with us—with our friendship. “Liana too is a great lady.” That doesn't sound convincing enough. “...and… I'm sure she will adjust just fine.” Then she looked at me again. “I hope you are not angry at Auntie and Madeline, Liana?” She said with a sly smile. “They don't mean to be harsh. They are simply looking out for you.” A bitter laugh bubbled in my throat at the disappointment that comes at me at every turn. Elena let out a dry chuckle. “Angry? She can be angry all she wants… but I won't just fold my hand and watch as this gold digger eats up my son's wealth away.” Then her nose flared up. “Why would you even introduce them in the first place, Vanessa?” “Mom,” Tristan called softly. “I love Liana and that is all that matters, okay.” But his words don't even prove that he loved me. Elena rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” She snorted and walked away. Madeline took a sip of her wine. “I will be watching you and my brother's marriage and the moment I discover any foul play.. I will make sure that you have yourself to blame.” She also walked away. “I will go talk to mom, okay,” Tristan murmured and also walked away with Vanessa, while calling behind Elena and trying to pacify her even when I was the one that had just been humiliated. I looked at my parents and Elder brother who has been quiet all this time. They quickly snapped their heads to the side and walked away. Of course, I did not expect any better from them. They've never cared about me, until recently that Tristan started showering them with expensive gifts which I told him several times not to but he wouldn't listen to me and that was why his family thought I was a gold-digger. Since childhood, my brother, Lysander, was the one who got all their love and attention, so I did not even consider myself to have a family. I worked hard to train myself through college. I stared at the eighteen karat gold ring that suddenly felt heavier on my middle finger and I wondered if I had made the right decision accepting his proposal less than an hour ago. Tears stung my eyes as the murmurs, snickers of mockery around me grew louder. I wrapped my arms tightly around my body, tapping my back gently in self comfort. It was my coping mechanism. The only way to remind myself that I got myself even if the whole world turned their back at me. After I had managed to calm down a little, I turned and walked out of the extravagantly decorated garden, my steps were unsteady. Their eyes burned into my back but I did not stop. God… I needed to get out of here while I have a rethink about this wedding that was supposed to be held in two weeks time.