Her Peculiar Husband

CH 7 || Eccentric Matrimony

Olivia

****

The makeup artist was busy rolling the brushes on my cheeks. I was staring at the doleful reflection of myself in the mirror placed just in front of me.

Only the lipstick was to be smeared on my lips, everything else was done.

After the stroke of coral pink colour on my lips the makeup artist, Maggie, said, “It’s done.”

Her smile was faint, the expression of pity marred not on hers but also the hair stylist’s face who was next to deck me up.

My blurry vision as a result of the unshed tears of my eyes had faded my reflection.

No one except I was cognizant of how exactly I was trying to control my emotions, which wanted to break the barriers and come out, vehemently. I felt as if I was being prepared to get sold. I was no damsel in distress but given my situation, I had to act like one.

Parkers were strong, absconding them meant to keep my life and dignity at stake. Taking a step without proper planning was not the right thing to do, that’s why I stayed dumb.

Though I knew that marrying Noah and moving to New York with him would clear my path to escape, I still was not happy. My heart was heavy and even though I was trying very hard to blink my tears they were emerging time and again. I was forced to take a step my mind and heart weren’t ready for.

Like every other girl, I also had a desire, to get married to the man of my dreams. Never had in my worst nightmares I had thought I would be marrying someone out of my will, someone, whose only name was known to me.

I was being the replaced bride and even the thought of it pierced my heart. I wondered what I had done so wrong that I had to pay such a huge price to have my freedom.

I discerned Ava’s feelings of the time she would have come to know the truth about the deal. Still, a part of me couldn’t justify her actions. She was never the kind of woman who would easily surrender, even in front of grave circumstances. If she liked something she was quite clear about it and if not then she would have done anything in her power to throw it out from her life, no matter whether it was a thing or a person.

I mused, why didn’t she stand up for herself.

What concerned me more was, even though her marriage was a part of a deal, she still was in love with Noah. Did the truth of the deal weigh that much that she left the man of her dreams?

If I would have been in love with someone, I would have never hurt him. If only I would have given a choice to love.

“Your makeup would get ruined.” I heard the taut voice of Maggie. That’s when I realized the tears had broken the invisible fence of my self-control and had started flooding out of my eyes.

“I...I am sorry.” With a quivering voice, I replied. I took some face wipes out of the box kept on the table in my front and started wiping those treacherous salty droplets off my face.

“Let me help,” said Millie before she took the wet wipes from my hand. She padded them softly on my cheeks before saying, “Everything will be fine.” I gave a tight lip smile to her before nodding. The words were to comfort me but they failed in doing so.

Ray was about to start curling my hair but before she could someone knocked on the door.

“Come in,” I said after making sure I was looking presentable enough and not the one who had cried just a few minutes back.

“Hey.” It was Lia, my assistant.

“Hi.” I smiled. Beholding her, I discerned she wanted to talk to me in private.

“Will you both give me a few minutes, alone?” I asked Ray and Maggie. Agreeing, they both left us two alone for a bit.

Lia walked to me and when I got up, I was enveloped into a hug by her.

“I am so sorry for what is happening to you. I never knew because of Ava you would be put into such a situation.”

Pulling back I gave a light smile to her before I said, “Don’t be sorry for me. I just want you to remember that our deal is still on.”

“You mean the plan to escape?” She questioned, sotto voce.

“Yeah. I agreed to the marriage as it will be easy for me to escape the Millers than Parkers, who have eyes on my every move.” It was the half-truth. The main reason was I was blackmailed to marry Noah.

Lia was the only one I could rely on regarding the escape plan. It’s not like my friends weren’t trustworthy but they would not leave my side and I didn’t want to put either Mia or Mike into any kind of danger.

The reason for taking Lia’s help was unconventional. I was fortunate enough to get hold of one of her secrets that made us an ally, otherwise, none of us could stand each other even for a split second. That one secret of hers even bagged her the role of my assistant.

“Ok, When will I contact you then?” she questioned.

“After reaching New York, it will be me who will contact you first. Wait for my signal but keep arranging things for my departure.”

“Sure.”

Though Lia was perplexed as to why I had asked her not to contact me first yet she didn’t question me and agreed to my demand.

“You know I used to wonder why you want to escape the Parkers so badly. At times, I used to envy you. Now, I know the reason.” I chuckled bitterly hearing her. If the world knew how I had been living for the past twenty-four years all I would receive will be a pity, the feeling I resent most in the world.

Lia was upset, for me, and those who brought me up for years didn’t even care. Stopping my train of thought, which was necessary at that moment I asked Lia, “Can I borrow your phone?”

My thoughts could wait for a tad but calling my best friends was of much more importance.

“Here.” Lia when handed me the phone, I instantly called Mia.

“Mia,” I said the moment she picked up the call.

“Oli, we got hold of your phone. I called every friend of Ava’s and guess what, they say the wedding is happening. I realized they don’t know about her friend’s whereabouts. They are I guess in the delusion that Ava is getting ready. What should we do now?”

Mia said it all in one breath. She was perturbed and sounded worried.

Instead of replying to her, I questioned, “Where are you both?”

“We are on the way back to the venue.” I heard Mike, making me realize that the phone was on speaker.

“Come fast, the wedding is happening.” is what I said. I didn’t want to tell them the truth, otherwise, they both would have created a scene and wouldn’t have let me get married.

“You mean Ava came back? When? That woman made us lose our s**t. I am so done with her stupidity. How do you even deal with her?”

It was Mia again, blabbering over the call. I was going to miss her terribly after leaving Amsterdam but was left with no choice.

“Don’t be late, guys. I need you both here. You guys will know everything when you will reach here.”

“Oli, is everything okay?” Max, questioned, his voice filled with concern urging me to tear up once more but I controlled.

“Yes. I am hanging up now, as I needed to see the arrangements. Bye.” I cut the call and gave the phone back to its owner.

“I hope you get to escape sooner.” Lia’s wish was what I needed the most.

Lia went out and Ray and Maggie entered. Ray leisurely curled my hair giving them an unusual look. I looked great with those curls.

“I wish the marriage to be filled with only love.” Ray wished me. The marriage she was talking about was going to be anything but filled with love.

“And I wish it lasts long, till eternity.” wished Maggie. Eternity was too much of a longer time, I planned to end it sooner.

Giving me good wishes they left, leaving me alone with my incessant thoughts. To be honest, I needed some alone time as a lot was going on inside my head.

A few months back when Mike had proposed to me I didn’t agree. The reason being I didn’t want to get married out of love. Little did I know my fate had other plans and here I was ready to be the bride of the one and only Noah Miller.

I wasn’t any fortune teller but one thing was certain that the eccentric matrimony of ours could never provide serenity to any of us. It would always remain a thorn in my path that I would have to pull out before executing my plan to escape.