Royal Wedding

3.First Meet

Finally, Clara designed her dress with her mom's fabric. It looked very classy. It was beautiful. Clara's eyes teared up, touching the red fabric in that white gown.

"I will wear this dress on my birthday. The day when I will get freedom from this hell. The day when I can finally breathe," Clara mumbled to herself and touched the fur in the hem of the dress.

Her mobile started ringing, breaking her thoughts.

She answered the call with a smile. The smile was so bright.

"Jason," Clara exclaimed happily. Jason is the only person whom Clara can call her family.

"Hey, Cherry, I am back from Scotland," Jason screamed over the call. He is finally back after a whole year. Clara became emotional again. It was painful without him.

"Jason, I mean. I am happy. I." Clara stuttered, not able to pour her emotions.

"Let's meet in our café," Jason said, as if he could read her completely. She might have so many things to share.

Clara took her clutch even without checking the time. But again, who can stop her, or who would even notice her absence? She chuckled at the thought as she left the.

*****

In a restaurant.

A private room was booked for two people and the waiters were restricted from coming inside once they delivered the food.

Xavier and Ron Taylor sat there enjoying their food.

"Did you enjoy my gift?" Xavier asked with a sly smile and Ron could only laugh at his comments.

"Than ever," Ron replied. They are friends with benefits. Xavier gets financial help from Ron, whereas Ron gets to keep his affairs unidentified.

"How is Clara?" Xavier asked with the guilt of whatever she was going through. Xavier is Stella's blood brother and Clara's uncle. But that doesn't stop him from helping his friend in this cheap affair.

"She is, as usual, very silent and cautious, just like her mom, Stella. She doesn't speak with me. The last time she spoke was about her mom's fashion house, and she is handling them now." Ron replied sadly. He didn't like the way Clara distanced herself from him.

"Mom's part of the property that belongs to Stella would be in her name when she is 24. Did you plan anything to get them your name?" the way Xavier spoke, it was obvious that he already had a plan and his smile showed that he would benefit from it.

"There is no way that old woman would let me benefit even from a loophole." Ron groaned in frustration. Stella's mom hated Ron, and that was mutual. They had a love marriage against Stella's mom's wish.

"I met our lawyer a few days ago for some other personal reasons," Xavier spoke as Ron smirked at him.

"Personal reasons? The same reason I am meeting you?" Ron asked as both laughed loudly. Xavier is friends with many big shots only with his club girls.

"So that helped me to get hold of my mom's will," Xavier replied as Ron got silent all of a sudden. Okay, now it's getting interesting.

"There is a way you can get her property," Xavier told Ron. Xavier already regretted wasting all his share of mum's property, and he had to get help from everyone to run his clubs.

"Whatever it takes, I will do." Ron got ambitious all of a sudden. Money makes a person do anything to any extent. He didn't care he would hurt his daughter in this process.

The moment Xavier told him what that loophole was, Ron started hatching so many plans. He didn't even think twice about considering them. Stella's share of property is too much to consider any silly sentiments.

******

Ron entered his home with the same thoughts and was wondering how he could plan to get those properties.

Elsa came and offered a milkshake to her father with a bright smile.

"Is there anything you want from me?" Ron asked suspiciously. Elsa offering anything to Ron could only mean that she needs something in return.

"They asked for your daughter's hand only. Why can't we suggest Elsa for Alex?" Bella asked softly. Ron turned to his wife.

Ron looked at Elsa, who was blushing visibly to show her direct interest in this matter.

"I will think about it," Ron replied, and already liked the idea. Building a relationship with Fernandez is not a joke. They asked for this. There is no way Ron would let this opportunity go in vain. His orbs turned dark when he planned something else with this.

But will it be successful?

*****

Clara entered the café and waited for Jason for almost half an hour, and he didn't appear.

Finally, he got there with his charming smile.

"I am leaving." Clara snapped at him angrily. He can't make her wait for 40 minutes for freaky.

"If you were to leave, you wouldn't have come." Jason and his cheesy dialogues always made Clara's mood light. She smiled a little.

"Omg. Do you possess supernatural powers?" Jason asked as soon as he kept the chocolate milkshake on the table.

"Why?" Clara asked as she grabbed the milk and drank it in one go, as if she had been starving for ages.

"I mean, you didn't get hurt when landing directly from heaven?" Jason started his sets of pickup lines and Clara rolled her eyes at him.

"Can you just give a break to your cheesy lines? Tell me, how are you?" Clara asked with a smile.

"I am fine. And this is also for you only." Jason gave his milkshake to her. Clara's face flushed as if she was caught red-handed. She didn't like it whenever someone pitied her. But it's Jason. She can't even deny anything.

Clara silently drank the shake with a smile. Jason looked at her with so much sadness in his eyes.

How can god be so cruel?

*******

Two more days passed by with the same discussions.

"Sister, you didn't have breakfast today either?" Alina entered the room.

"Why are you bothering to get me a plate? I am fine," Clara replied with a smile.

Alina is Bella's second daughter. She is like an angel in Clara's life. Alina is much closer to Clara than Elsa. She loved her like anything, and Clara felt sad whenever she thought about leaving the place with Paxton alone.

Alina and Elsa are Bella's daughters, whereas Paxton is an illegitimate child. No one except for Clara, Elena and Ron knew about his mother.

"Just that I can eat with you" Alina winked at her sister as she gave him the food and took another bite.

"Why did you deny the proposal?" Alina pouted as she showed her displeasure with her decision.

"Did you know how happy Elsa was? She even asked Dad to propose her marriage to Alex. Do you even know who Alex is?" Alina screamed with a huge frown. Clara drank her glass of water calmly.

"Who would reject him even in a dream?" Alina asked, and Clara let out a huge sigh.

"It would be a perfect fairy tale if you married him". Alina was so sad that how could Clara be so fooled?

Alexander is known for his handsome looks. He has built a huge business empire with his hard work. Any girl would die even to come go into a rumor section with him. But Clara just rejected that eligible romantic partner.

"I don't need any sweetheart to light up my life. I want a peaceful life that I can earn in my own capacity," Clara replied plainly. Why should she depend on any guy?

"But, sister. You should at least give them a chance." Alina was not convinced yet.

"Now they are here to announce Elsa's marriage to Alex. Both families decided on them and have no objection to it." Alina was so sad to announce it. But Clara didn't feel anything. But yeah, Grace's face flashed in front of her. Her family doesn't deserve Elsa's type of girl.

"Dad is calling you both down." Elsa came to call them.

Elsa is damn excited about marrying Alex. Who wouldn't be? Clara scanned her attire with her makeup and rolled her eyes. Elsa was obviously showing her crush on Alex with how she dolled up.

"We will be there in a minute," Alina announced as she searched for a dress for Clara.

"I am okay with what I am wearing." Clara tried to protest. But it fell on the deaf ears of Alina.

"Can't she at least once act like a teenage girl?" Alina thought to herself.

She chose a light blue knee-length gown with ruffled sleeves. That was one of the dresses that Clara had in her wardrobe.

Clara changed herself as she knew she couldn't argue with Alina about anything. This little girl has her way with Clara for everything.

But she sternly denied even putting in compact powder. She doesn't want to grab attention. She doesn't want to look good at all.

Clara went down with Alina. They were discussing business and everything. Elsa blushed, visibly as if she had gotten a jackpot. Clara scanned the room. She was curious to see Alex in person. Clara wouldn't lie that she was not interested. She had seen his picture, and, of course, she knew how handsome he was.

"Damn, the pictures didn't do justice at all." Clara's mind snapped and Clara looked at Alexandar Fernandez.

Alex looked just like a celebrity who had his face done by doctors. Perfect eyes to pair with a perfect jawline. Has Clara seen anyone like this? Hell no.

"Did you change your decision? Just tell me. I will help you get him at any cost." Alina spoke and noticed her stare at Alex. Clara straightened herself as she glared at her sister.

"Is it that obvious?" Clara thought to herself.

"Dear, how are you?" Grace asked, seeing Clara. Clara replied with a smile.

"We respect our daughter's opinion. So we didn't want to force her," Ron said humbly.

"But at the same time, we wish to be a part of your family." Ron cleared the point so that they didn't misunderstand anything.

"We are happy that you proposed this marriage," Grace replied, stopping Ron to explain more.

Clara stood there clenching her fist. How much more would her father stoop lower? She knew very well that he would do anything to get such an alliance for his daughter.

"Why can't they see his vile thoughts?" Clara wondered, and she just hoped Elsa's evil side didn't affect Grace's family. If it happens, Clara can't forgive herself.

After a small exchange of words, Grace took some jewelry and picked up the chain with a diamond locket having their family name in the middle.

"This is our family tradition." Grace Fernandez eyed her grandson to make the bride wear the set. Alex took the necklace carefully, and that's when he raised his eyes from the mobile phone, to look at his bride.

"Make Elsa wear them," Grace again spoke, and he looked at the three girls standing there side by side.

Alex went blank all of a sudden. He should have paid attention to them while they were discussing his marriage. He felt so stupid for not identifying his bride when they were about to get engaged the next day.

He looked at Elsa.

She is an absolute beauty. There is no chance anyone will fall for her. Her smile and twinkling eyes were attracting almost everyone in the hall. Her smooth skin radiates her glow.

He looked at Alina. He knew that instant, that she must be the smallest one among them.

Finally, he turned to Clara. For a moment, he stared at her without blinking.

He recalled that one of these girls rejected marrying him. But who might be that one? Instant anger filled his eyes. Who is that arrogant girl to deny marrying him?