Chapter two
1718 Words
“…ill do it…”
The bitterness of my decision settled in the moment the words left my mouth.
My mother burst into tears and threw her arms around me. I couldn't bring myself to return the favour. The world came to a stop, and I couldn’t hear anything but my own thoughts.
A quiet “thank you” reached my ears. I couldn’t tell who had said it. Maybe it was my father. Maybe it was my mother. Nothing felt real. The room had faded into a dull ringing in my ears.
“Bring them back!” my mother screamed, wiping at her tears with trembling hands. “We don’t have much time”.
Within seconds, I was being whisked away to the dressing room, and I was pushed down in front of the vanity.
“Careful with the veil”
“Fix her lipstick”
“We need to alter the bodice, it has to fit”.
Hands tugged at my hair, pulled at the dress, and dabbed powder across my face. They all pulled at me like I was some mannequin. I couldn’t take any more.
“Enough,” I said sharply. They all froze. One more moment of this, and I’d break.
“You've all chipped at me enough; I think you've done exceptionally well; I need nothing to add to my look”. I said, dismissing them. I just needed to be left alone.
My gaze drifted to the mirror as I took in my reflection. I looked completely different. I felt different. I smoothed a trembling hand over the fabric, feeling foreign under my touch.
A familiar scent drifted into my nose, and I realized it was coming from my dress. The dress Dara wore just an hour ago, her scent.
Even now she’s everywhere. In the gown and in the life I’m about to step into.
I squeezed my eyes shut, desperately wanting to rip this dress apart.
A sharp knock at the door shattered the silence.
“Miss?”
The door opened just enough for the staff to peek inside.
“The ceremony is about to begin, ma’am.”
I drew a sharp breath, lifting my chin and walking towards the door before I did anything similar to what my dear sister did.
I followed the servant through the spiraling corridors, my heels clicking softly against the marble floors. I expected us to stop outside the ceremony hall, but instead she turned down a quieter hallway and stopped in front of a dark wooden door.
“Mr Laurent is waiting for you inside, ma’am.”
“Why?” She looked as puzzled as I. “I have no idea, ma’am; that was the instruction given to me”. Before I could say anything, she left.
I wrapped my hands around the door handle. The room was unusually dark compared to the rest of the building.
And there he was.
He stood in front of a window with his back to me. The sound of the door closing made him turn.
“You’re late.” He said without fully turning.
His dark eyes met mine.
It felt like he had me pinned down with just his stare.
His eyes studied me for what felt like forever.
“Who are you?” The question threw me off. I only just remembered that he must be confused as to where his bride went.
“You’re not Dara; you have ten seconds to explain where my bride is,” he said viciously, forcing me to speak.
For some reason, I hesitated.
In an instant, he took a step closer to me, slowly backing me up against the wall.
“I asked a question, and I demand an answer.” My lips quivered, but I refused to let him intimidate me
“ Dara is my sister, I…I thought you already knew. She ran away; now I'm supposed to take her place,” I said in my best attempt at a cool and collected response.
He just stared at me and finally said, “Your sister runs away, and now you’re here as the backup?” he scoffed. “Your family never fails to amaze me”.
The comment affected me way more than it was supposed to. “I never meant any trouble; believe me, if I had a choice, I wouldn’t be here either”. I said, refusing to let him get to me.
“It makes no difference to me whether it's you or your sister. I need a wife, not a love story,” He continued.
“Let me make this clear: this marriage is nothing but a transaction; everything ends when we both get what we want, understood?”
I had nothing else to say but a quiet “Yes.”
He gave a single nod, as though my answer was all he needed. Without another word, he walked past me and opened the door.
“It’s time.”I followed him in silence.The ceremony passed in a blur.
I barely heard the officiant’s words or felt the ring slide onto my finger. Cameras flashed. Guests applauded. Someone announced us as husband and wife.
None of it felt real.
Before I knew it, I was climbing into the back seat of a sleek black car beside the man who had just become my husband.
The silence between us was heavy, begging to be broken. I wasn't sure whether he preferred the silence or if he simply had nothing to say to me.
I turned my attention to the window instead.
Moments later, the city gave way to towering gates. As they slowly opened, an enormous mansion came into view, standing proudly against the afternoon sky.
The car rolled to a gentle stop. Almost immediately, a line of uniformed servants rounded the car, each moving with practiced precision as one stepped forward to open the door.
I'd have to get used to this.
Collin stepped out immediately without so much as a glance in my direction. Not that I cared. I gathered my skirts and followed, my heels sinking slightly into the gravel before finding the stone pathway leading to the entrance.
The front doors opened before we even reached them.
“Welcome home, Mr and Mrs Laurent,” the staff greeted.
The words caught me off guard.
HOME.
This was not my home.
It was strange hearing this place called my home when it wasn’t even supposed to be me in this position.
Collin advanced, ignoring their greetings.
I barely had time to admire the grand foyer before the soft clink of porcelain echoed through the house.
My eyes followed the sound of movement into the adjoining sitting room.
A woman lounged comfortably on one of the long sofas, a cup of coffee balanced perfectly between her fingers.
She looked up, smiling.
“You’re back ea—“
Her words died on her tongue the second she set her eyes on me.
She slowly stood up, setting the cup aside. Her deep blue eyes were piercing every inch of me. She stood tall, roughly 5’8, with blonde hair and a model-like physique.
“Who is she?” She turned to face Collin. The man in question was busy fixing his suit and didn’t even look at her as he spoke. “I thought I told you to leave”.
Shock etched on her perfectly structured face. “I just thought to surprise you before you got back”. I actually started feeling bad for the lady.
“I didn’t know you’d come back with some random b***h”. She sneered at me. I take that back.
Collin froze. “She is my Wife.”
My ears perked up; this was the first time being referred to as his wife, and I didn’t like the feeling. “And you’re well aware of the rules: no strings, no attachments”. He said.
Realization dawned on her as she immediately took in my attire. “You married her?” I believe that was posed as an insult rather than a question.
Silence filled the room.
“Leave.”
The woman’s lips parted as though she wanted to argue, but one look at Collin’s expression was enough to stop her.
She scoffed. “Unbelievable.”
Her gaze settled on me one last time, finally deciding to acknowledge my existence. “Good luck”, she added quietly, “you’re going to need it”.
Without waiting for a response, she snatched her handbag from the sofa and brushed past me, her shoulder knocking lightly against mine as she walked out.
The front door slammed shut behind her.
I turned to Collin, expecting some kind of explanation.
“Quite an entrance, I must say,” I said, sarcasm filling my tone. “Who was she?” It was my turn to ask questions.
He didn’t answer immediately, loosening his tie, seeming bored with the conversation.
“Does it matter?” he asked.
I scoffed. “We are married; the least you can do is show me some respect,” I said. “I think it does when she’s wearing your shirt and drinking coffee in your house.” For some reason, that bothered me.
He paused halfway up the stairs.
“You’ll find that asking questions about my personal life is a waste of my time and yours.”
I folded my arms across my chest.
“Then what am I supposed to do here exactly?”
He finally turned to face me.
“Whatever you want, the maids will attend to you; you can buy whatever you like, go wherever you like, just stay out of my way.”
His expression tightened.
“Your room is at the end of the east wing,” he said
“But don’t mistake this for a real marriage; you are here because the arrangement required a wife. Nothing more.
My heart tightened.
Within seconds, he disappeared around the corner, leaving me in a mansion that felt far too big and far too empty.
I looked around the enormous mansion that was supposed to be my home.
It had never felt more unfamiliar.
This was my first night as Mrs Laurent.
And I had never felt more alone.
- Writer
