The Valiant's Bride

Chapter 1

ALINA POV

There was the awkward silence between them once again, those darting stares that sunk holes into my skin and I could feel a pair of eyes watching me from behind, boring holes through my head.

“Your dress looks magnificent”, Clara said from behind, a sly smile on her lips. “Too bad you look this beautiful for such a man as your future husband,” she smirked, walking over to the door.

“I heard he manhandles women, sleeps around with whoever and treats them like trash, but then again…you’re not so far from that, are you Alina?” She asked from the door, flipping her rather short hair to the side.

“If you’re lucky…you’ll be a placeholder and not a punching bag” she snapped.

My blood had begun to rise, it was bad enough that I had to hear about my marriage from my friend and now my so-called sister was rubbing it in about what a man he would be.

“Please Clara..let her be” Ayla, her mother said from outside, walking in, her hands on the middle part of her flowing dress, I turned my eyes to see her, my expression unwavering from since the first day we met, her dark brown hair glowing below her shoulder as always, that mild smile on her lips, it was sly and evil, but she forced it on her face anyways, I wasn’t always sure why.

“You look perfect” she mumbled as she walked closer to me, her eyes on my reflection in the mirror.

“Finally..you’ll be out of our house, and you’ll be taking this family’s debt with you” she snickered, her smile turning into a smirk as her lips hovered over my ear.

“Get her ready and bring her down. We have to leave right now..we can’t keep her groom waiting.”

Ayla sneered as she walked off.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes teary, a hand on my shoulder reminding me of my time to leave.

“My daughter looks so precious,” Father said with a hearty smile as he looked at me from the last step of the stairs.

Can’t he see that I’m dying on the inside?

My heart ached even more as I noticed the wide smile on his lips, he was ready to get rid of me so quickly, just like his wife had suggested, his crooked tie placed in the middle of his large body, the mustache taking more space on his face, why wouldn’t it? He was giving me away to pay debts he accumulated to get jewelry for his wife.

I walked slowly, maybe too slowly as though it would make me get out of the situation I was in but I knew it deep down that it was futile so I held onto my dress and walked up to my father, my eyes fixated on the open door and car right outside instead of his chubby face filled with the wrong excitement.

As I sat in the back seat, my hands clenching my dress, my throat had become so dry and my legs had become numb from anxiety as questions ran through my mind.

What if he’s truly as Clara said? What if he’s a killer? What if he hates me?

I heard a screeching sound that disrupted my thoughts, I turned my head to the side, it was my worst fear, the venue, large clear white doors in the middle.

“We’re here” the driver announced, his hands still on the steering wheel whilst my heart wrenched and pleaded that we turn back, go back home and never have me out here.

“Come on princess” Father said, stretching out his hand to help me out of the car.

I heaved a sigh, slipping my hand into his and taking a step after another as slowly as I could to avoid my clumsy feet from causing my fall, the only thing worse than marrying a mafia leader would be humiliating myself on the day of the wedding.

“You’re going to make an amazing wife,” Father said once more as he held my hand.

“Father…please excuse me” I said almost immediately as we entered the venue. I needed some time to think, to unwind before my life long journey would begin.

“Where are you going?” Ayla asked, her brows furrowed at me.

“To the bathroom..I feel nauseous” I revealed, my hand on my chest as though to suppress the

feeling of vomit rising in my throat.

“Fine..but be quick!” She snapped, her eyes rolled at me as she pulled onto her daughter, taking her inside to sit as she signaled for a maid to follow me, I couldn’t understand why.

“Please miss..I’ll help you” she said with a shy smile.

I followed in, walking in as subtly as I could.

****

“Do I really want to do this? Do I have a choice?” I mumbled the question to myself as I stared at

my reflection in the mirror, my hair pulled back neatly and calmly.

“Miss please..your wedding is about to begin” the maid said with a light knock on the door.

“I’m coming” I answered, looking back at the door.

I heaved a long sigh and then turned the knob and walked out.

I walked calmly, trying my best to be as fast as I could.

“Miss your dress isn’t arranged at the back” she announced as she followed behind me.

“Wait what?” I asked as I walked, slipping on a part of my dress, my body almost plummeting to the ground when I felt a grip on my wrist and another on my waist.

“Are you alright?” He asked in a low baritone that scratched a part of my brain rightly.

“Ye..yes” I stuttered, pulling myself together to stare at him.

He seemed like the most handsome creature to exist, his jawline nicely chiseled, a strong musty scent coming from his body, his light green eyes staring into my soul, his white hair in a beautiful buzz cut, the black shirt hogging his body.

Get yourself together! You’re about to get married, I wish it were him..but it isn’t, such a handsome man can’t be my husband because Ayla has it covered

“Please miss..thank you sir..we have to get going” the maid said, snapping my head back to reality before helping me to walk out.

I could swear I felt my heart race and skip at his gaze and words, I turned back only a little, and I could see only his broad shoulders facing me.

“Why did you take so long!” Ayla scolded

“Let’s not worry ourselves with that…she’s here now, she can get married now” Father said in a subtle tone, holding my arm in his.

“I thought you wanted to run..just remember you can’t!” Ayla snickered as she placed her hand on the back of my dress.

I could tell she had sparked a warning and I shriveled at her aura.

Then the wedding song chimed in, I stared at father, his eyes squinting as he smiled, this was my cue to force a smile on my lips and so I did.

We walked down the aisle and my eyes had become blinded by the sun rays right at the front.

I held my breath as I walked until I had stood in front of my soon to be husband, my eyes faced down.

I looked up to see his face, there it was, the beauty standing in front of me, his black suit hogging his body, his eyes glimmering in the light, his face stonecold and unreadable yet, he stared at me softly.

I can’t

believe it’s him..Andreas Valerion, you look beautiful.