Her Peculiar Husband

CH 9 || Boundless Guilt

Olivia

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“Oh, my lovely daughter. You made your mommy proud today.” I heard the plummy voice of my mother, Oriana, who was only my birth mother but never behaved like one. Embracing me she shed crocodile tears. I struggled to stop myself from rolling my eyes. 

I wonder if it was a wedding venue or whether she was running in for an Oscar there. For me, she was no less than a chameleon. 

“You look so gorgeous, honey. I am sorry for… for whatever…” She sobbed. In my entire life she never for once had cried but there she was pretending to be a doting and a loving mother. I felt uncomfortable when all at once she was using endearing words for me.

“Get hold of yourself, Mrs. Parker. We will take care of your daughter like our own. Don’t worry.” Nina comforted Oriana. Oriana faintly smiled and wiped her crocodile tears before she kissed my forehead. The urge to clean me of her filthy kiss soared in. It was getting arduous for me to endure her but gladly she stopped and started talking with Nicholas. In a way, I could tell she was interested in him. That woman never left any chance to trap a rich man and there she was trying the same tactic with my father-in-law.

I was just about to take a breath of relief to be out of her hold when the other member of the Parker family came to act. It was none other than Alicia who pretended to be in the seventh heaven. The moment her facade removed she lost all my respect. Ava was far better, at least she never hid her true self.

“I wish you were my daughter and not Oriana’s.” The honey cup words of Alicia were too much for me to take in.

“I am so jealous of you,” she said to my mother, emanating her fake tears. I was confident the others must have been thinking about what a great bond I shared with my family, only if they would have the slightest idea they were all despicable souls wearing a cloak of fake altruism.

“I know you are worried about your sister. Don’t worry, we will find her sooner than you think.” That statement of hers was to remind me that Ava would soon be back to claim her right. It was a warning for me by Alicia to not let myself be involved with Noah in any way. Even I didn’t want to be involved with the one who was a heartless being.

After her, it was Alex who also fake sympathized with me, and then I was asked to go and change for the reception which was to be followed in the next one hour. Jack was nowhere to be found which was fortunate for me. I didn’t want to see his face, otherwise, I would have done something in fury. I didn’t want my rage to work against me. I knew that my one wrong move could waste my efforts of years to achieve my freedom.

After I reached the bride’s vacant room I removed the veil off my head, unpinned my hair, and let it fall free. I breathed and sat down on the spot I had previously occupied where I was decked up for being the bride. I was no longer Olivia Parker. I had become the wife of the famous businessman, the apple of everyone’s eye, Noah Miller.

I was a Miller, Olivia Noah Miller. It was surreal and disheartening to even believe. I sighed before I looked at my fingers which were still a bit red that reminded me of Noah. How bizarre one could be. At first, it seemed as if he didn’t care about Ava, and the very next moment he tried to penalize me. 

I was so lost in the thoughts of my eccentric husband when I heard something as if someone was uttering something in a muffled voice. The sound died when the door to the room was knocked.

When I answered, a woman staff member of the venue walked in, smiling.

“Hello, Mrs. Miller.” Mrs. Miller sounded so dreamlike to even believe. I found it way more bizarre as I liked the sound of it, better than I liked being called Ms. Parker.

‘I think I have lost my mind.’ I mumbled to myself.

“Did you say something?” she asked perplexed. I shook my head, smiling, and questioned, “Ah, no. How can I help you?”

“There is a parcel that came for you,” she said before handing me a square box covered with glitter paper. My fingers burned when I held the box. Instantly I kept the box at the dresser on my front. 

It was certainly for the original bride, Ava, so I confirmed, “Are you sure it is for me?” She seemed confused by my question so I let her know what I meant by saying, “I mean I wasn’t supposed to be the bride so…”

“It’s for you only. It has been addressed to you.” I turned the box that had a sticker which said, ‘To the new bride Olivia Noah Miller.’

I wondered who it could be who knew I would be getting married to Noah instead of Ava. Arranging a gift in a short time was not possible. There was someone who probably knew it all beforehand or maybe planned it all.

It was something that could not never go unnoticed by me.

“Is there anything else with this gift? Any card or something?” I was perturbed but the woman in front seemed placid.

“No, just this,” she replied. There was something oddly familiar with her smile or maybe her face. She left me in my confounded state and I couldn’t even question who exactly gave the gift to her.

I got up and walked out but she was gone. She was too fast. Presuming that I might be thinking too much I walked in. 

I was planning to open the box when those muffled sounds reached me once more. I looked around but couldn’t pinpoint where exactly the voice was coming from.

“Is anyone here?” I asked. I did receive the response by the thumping of the cupboard at the farthest corner of the room. My blood ran cold when the thumping continued. With the greatest difficulty, I took hold of a sharp piece of glass in my hurt fingers and walked to the cupboard.

After I opened it, I was dumbstruck to know it was a small room instead. Near the door laid my two best friends. Their legs and hands tied with rope and mouth covered with duct tape. I couldn’t be more horrified by the scene in front of me.

I didn’t waste any moment before I removed the duct tapes from their mouths. I started untying them. First I untied Mia. When Mia and I were untying Max I questioned, “Who the hell did this to you both?”  

“That asshole father of yours. He didn’t let us come to you.” Mia replied seething in anger. Hearing about him I was livid. I never knew he could stoop so low that he even kidn*pped my best friends.

With teary eyes, I hugged my best friends and then helped them stand up. 

“Thank God, you found us before things got out of hand.” I heard Mia. I couldn’t discern the meaning of her statement until Mike added, “I am more than relieved. Let’s not waste any moment now. We need to hurry and leave before your evil father and his team find us.”

“I will never let you sacrifice yourself for your stupid sister Oli, Never,” he added. The honesty and sincerity of his voice scared me. I had disappointed my best friends by being selfish of choosing a path they would never want for me. But I had to, for them for me.

Mike walked out of the small room and so did Mia and me. Mia was holding my wrist and was taking me out of the bride’s room when I stopped in my tracks.

“I can’t do this.” My friends stopped too. Both of them stared at me in disbelief before Mia said,” Don’t tell me you are gonna sacrifice yourself. Oli if you don’t want me to put you in a bag and take you out then walk.”

If it would have been a normal day I would have laughed at the comment she passed but I was filled with boundless guilt. 

 Mike had read my expression. His eyes scrutinized me from top to bottom before he walked to me. He knew me well. He realized they were late. When he was inches apart he held my left hand’s wrist. I gulped and failed to meet his gaze. Holding my hand up he showed it to Mia, and said, “She is Mrs. Miller now,” His tone was audibly hurt. Rage could be seen in his eyes and so did the pain inflicted upon him.

“Congratulations, Olivia…” Tears enveloped my eyes and Mia stood there astounded. Even though I wasn’t in love with Mike, he was my best friend, who had the right to be a part of my life decisions.

“Mike, I…..” I couldn’t speak further as he didn’t let me.

“No, wait! It's Olivia Noah Miller. Congratulations Mrs. Olivia Miller” I had hurt him terribly. His tears cascaded his cheeks, and mine too. I wanted one chance to explain myself.

“Mike….” He walked out without even sparing a glance at me while I stood there in tears. Thieving the chance to explain, my one best friend left me.