Trapped In The Wrong Arms

Ava’s POV The house bustled with activities, people ran around in a bid to get things in order. My heart raced wildly in my chest as I stood before the full length mirror, staring at my full body. Clad in a dress as white as snow with my hair done up in the bridal style and face mildly made up, I looked just like the perfect bride that I’ve been fantasizing about since I was a kid. I’ll finally get married to my best friend and the love of my life today, it still feels so surreal. I can’t believe I’ll walk down the aisle to him this morning, then I’ll spend the rest of forever with him. “Miss, it’s time for you to leave.” Someone’s voice broke my line of thoughts, I looked away from the mirror for the first time in minutes. “Oh, okay. I just need to make a call before we leave.” I said, walking towards my phone on the bed. I just need to hear Leo’s voice first before anything. I feel so nervous and he’s the only one that can calm me down. I dialed his number but it didn’t connect at all, it just kept disconnecting. My palms suddenly started getting sweaty as different thoughts started popping up in my head. What could be wrong with him? He had already said he’d keep his phone on till the time we see each other in church today. I realized that the good morning text I sent to him earlier hadn’t been delivered too, it was just sent. “What’s going on?” I asked myself. Leo doesn’t keep his phone away from himself at all. I tried calling him again and this time, it connected. I heaved a sigh of relief. “Leo, I was so scared. Why have you not-” I was interrupted by a strange voice. “Ava, we can’t find Leo.” Another voice came on, that sounded like his mother. Almost immediately after she said that, the door to my room came open and my parents came in. “What do you mean? Where did he go to?” I asked, my heart racing wildly in my chest like a caged bird. “He disappeared, he ran away.” That was all my brain could capture before the phone slid off my hand. My mind immediately went blank, different jumbled thoughts invading my brain immediately. No, it can’t be true. Leo won’t run off on our wedding day. Maybe he was kidn*pped or something. That has to be it, Leo can’t betray me like this. “Ava, can you hear me? Leo is truly gone. And it doesn’t look like he was kidn*pped. He left with some of this things, he didn’t just go with his phone.” My mum said to me, holding my face in her hand. My heart literally shattered at her words, constricting tightly against my chest. My head felt light, I really hope this is a dream. I wish this is all a figment of my imagination and nowhere near real. Another person stepped into the room, it was none other than Daniel, Leo’s brother. Though I’ve always been scared of him, I ran towards him with hope in my heart. “Have you found Leo? Is he back now?” I bombarded him with questions. “Can we be left alone, please? I want to have a word with her.” He said instead, his deep voice sending chills through me. We were left alone. My tight chest didn’t even make me see the way he stared at me, I’ve never really been in a close space with him because Daniel is just so scary that I find it hard to look him in the eye. “Get married to me instead, the wedding can’t be put on hold. We have a lot of dignitaries who are around already. Then we can find a way to look for Leo after the ceremony.” My racing mind came to a screeching halt, I was lost as what he meant by what he just said at first. But then the words registered in my mind and I shook my head repeatedly. “No, I can’t do that. I won’t cheat on Leo, I’d never do that to him. Why would you even suggest something like that?” Angry tears streamed down my cheeks. “I’m sorry about what’s happening right now, but we can’t cancel that wedding. We have a lot of dignitaries seated already, you’re even keeping them waiting as it is. Those people are the major shareholders in both of our family’s businesses and we can’t afford to lose them by making them feel disrespected.” I kept shaking my head as he talked, defying the authority that his voice carried. I wouldn’t do what he was asking of me. “I don’t care. Let’s just look for Leo then. He’s the only one I want to get married to. Besides, don’t you think that the same people would suspect foul play if you’re the one seen in the hall and not Leo. Our pictures are literally everywhere!” I yelled, staring at him like he was crazy which he really was. “I’ve taken care of that, everyone knows you’re getting married to me now. We had to twist the narrative that we’ve been together since but I hated social media and that’s why it was you and Leo on the news.” He answered me. Shock and anger coursed through me, I had never been that mad about something like I was. I was furious. “Who the f*ck gave you the go ahead to do that? Why would you do something like that? Did you know that Leo would go missing? This has been your plan all along right?” I yelled at his face. My parents rushed in immediately, coming towards me. My mom held me back because I’d have done something worse to Daniel if I had the chance to. “He went missing at the early hours of this morning, we started looking for alternatives immediately. I’m sorry, but we have to do it this way. We’ll start looking for Leo immediately after the wedding ceremony.” Daniel said convincingly. I still couldn’t wrap my head around what he was trying to tell me. I pinched myself hard, hoping it was all a dream but it wasn’t. “Ava, you have to calm down baby. I promise you, we’ll look for Leo as soon as possible and get him to you. But we have to save our face for now, this wedding needs to hold. It’s just a temporary development.” More tears streamed down my face. “Marriage is a scared thing, mom. I can’t go to that altar and exchange vows with someone I barely know.” My voice shook. “It’s not real, just keep it in mind that it’s not real. Please do this for us, baby. You have to get married to Daniel in Leo’s stead.” She didn’t give any room for negotiation at all, I had to do it. And just like that, I found myself being married to Daniel and the love of my life nowhere to be found.