Contract Marriage with a Billionaire

CHAPTER 4

THE STRANGE GROOM

The joy which filled Mina’s immediately when the stranger told her that they should get married. The joy was second to none.

She returned to her room with a broad smile on her face, like she wasn't the same girl who looked gloomy with tears in her eyes a few minutes back.

One hour came in no time, and by the time the wedding started, the wedding hall was filled with families and friends who were there to support Mina and Jace.

“ It's time to call the bride and the groom into the hall” the priest announced and almost immediately, the entrance door to the wedding hall opened wide, while everyone turned to see the groom and the bride walking in.

The stranger held Mina’s hand as they walked down the aisle, with everyone clapping happily for them.

Finally, they got to the front of the altar in the wedding hall and that was when it dawned on everyone that the groom wasn't Jace but some stranger from nowhere.

Whispers and murmurs erupted everywhere inside the wedding hall, but the bride and the groom cared less as they faced the priest to start at once.

Confused, the priest started by telling them to exchange marriage vows.

“ I, Mina Ryan, wed you—- wed you–” Mina raised her brows at the groom because she didn't even know his name.

“ Royal” the stranger whispered into Mina's ear, making her smile.

“ I, Mina Ryan, wed you Royal, my husband. To love and to hold, in sickness and in good health, until death do us part” Mina said, aloud for everyone to hear.

By then, everyone had calmed down as they watched the exchange of vows between the couples.

At the corner of the wedding hall, Rita, Mina's mom, almost collapsed to the ground, but with the help of her husband, she stood back.

“ What is she doing? That isn't Jace. What is that girl doing?” Rita asked, almost in tears.

“ She needs to be taught a lesson” Michael, Mina dad, gritted his teeth with folded fists.

“ I Royal, marry you—- what's your name?” Royal said out loud, and another thunderous murmur and whisper followed.

“ My name is Mina Ryan '' Mina answered confidently, not minding the reporters whose cameras were clicking non stop, let alone the dangerous glares Jace, Rosa, her mother and her father were giving to her.

“ Forgive us priest, but I must have forgotten the name of my bride” Royal gave the confused priest a small smile and proceeded.

“ I, Royal Caribbean, wed Mina Ryan, my wife. To love and to hold, in sickness and good health, until we divorce“ Royal said and another murmur exploded. By then, Mina's mum’s face had turned pale like a ghost as she watched what was happening.

The priest brought the rings and gave one to Mina which she inserted into Royal’s finger and the other to Royal, which he inserted into Mina's fingers.

Even though no one clapped for Mina because of how shocked they were, she clapped for herself as she showed them her ring, most especially Rosa, who stood rooted to the ground with seething anger.

“ You may now kiss your bride” the priest announced, but Jace shouted, making everyone turn to him, but Mina cared less as she moved closer to Royal for the kiss.

Royal held her face softly and moved his face closer to her. Instead of kissing Mina, he placed his thumb on her lips, kissing his thumb instead of her lips, in a way that no one, not even the priest knew about.

He broke it in three seconds and gave Mina a blank look. She was indeed surprised, she never expected him to be a gentleman, despite how cold he seemed to be.

Soon the wedding came to an end and Royal left, leaving Mina to face her angry family.

She kept looking for him among the crowd who were leaving the wedding hall, but he was nowhere to be found.

“ Mina! What have you done?” Rita rushed towards Mina who was holding her wedding gown in front of the altar.

“ I have gotten married as you all wanted,” Mina retorted coldly.

“ Is that the groom we chose for you?” Rita asked and held Jace’s hand. “ This is the groom you fell in love with, remember? We didn't choose him for you, but you chose him because you fell in love with him, so what's with that strange-looking man? Huh?” Rita asked, glaring daggers at Mina.

“ I fell out of love with Jace,” Mina simply replied. She would rather not make it known to her family that she caught Jace cheating on her with Rosa. It will only stir more problems in the family.

“ Who does that? Why would you fall out of love with your fiancé on the day of your wedding?” Michael, Mina's father, chirped in at once.

“ Can you all just let me be? I am sick of you all controlling my life, I am not a child anymore. For heaven's sake, I am 23 years old!” Mina shouted.

“ Who controls your life, Mina? Aren't you tired of acting childish? You just embarrassed us in front of many people. Are you aware that reporters attended this wedding?” Rosa chirped in.

“ Who cares? Let them make our family the headline of their news, I don't give a damn about that. I have gotten married, and I will be leaving for my husband's house, maybe I can be free for this family“ Mina retorted angrily.

She was still fuming when her eyes made contact with that of her grandfather, who said nothing.

“ Grandpa, you know how much I love you and I know you will love whoever I choose, provided that I get married,” Mina said and her Papa John nodded.

“ Yes, I respect the decision of my granddaughter. She's free to get married to whomever she wishes to marry, so no one should pester her” Papa John warned and walked away.

“ Do you think you will get away from this?” Rosa glared at Mina who had a small triumphant smile on.

“ Who said I was going to let you win? You can have him, after all, he is my trash. You helped me pick up my trash” Mina whispered.

Rosa couldn't hold back her anger as she raised her hand to slap Mina across her face, but her hand hung midair. She tried to take her hand from the grip of whoever held her, but it was so tight that she couldn't.

Mina raised her head and so did Every member of the Ryan family. It turned out to be Royal, Mina's new husband.

“ You are not entitled to raise your hand at my wife, not now when I am her husband,” Royal said coldly, his phoenix eyes glaring dangerously at Rosa who staggered out of fear.