THE SWITCH

ChapterTwo

The once quiet hall was now filled with loud gasps from every corner of the room. What sort of nonsense is that? All the preparations just to end up saying he wasn't getting married to her?

That wasn't even the Collins problem. The entire family was in deep shock as to why. Why? Was all that was going through Ava's mind.

She rushed up to him but one of his men held her back but she spoke up anyways, "Why?! Wha- what have I done? Why have you decided to just not marry me anymore?" She was on the verge of tearing her eyes out. If only this was just a prank. A joke. April's fool or something!

Only that it wasn't.

Michael slightly turned to her and answered, "Because I'm getting married to someone else."

He dropped another bomb like it was nothing, again leaving everyone gasping loud. Loud whispers could be heard everyone. What was he talking about? Has he suddenly gone mad? Who is this new person? Is this some joke?

Michael chuckled darkly as he made a small hand signal. The hall gradually grew quiet as everyone watched his men bring in gadgets. A projector screen had already been placed at the wall behind him and then the projector was brought in with laptop.

Michael continued talking as they set it all up. "What you're about to watch was all done intentionally and that is why I have decided to marry someone else."

Everyone's heart was in their mouths, wondering what the hell he was talking about. Everyone stared at the man handling the projector and then the projector screen as soon as light was shone at it.

The silence was like that of a graveyard. Blurry movement were made in the video until it became clear. Gasps flew out, specifically from Ava who was closer to the screen. "I- isn't that Alyssa?!"

Alyssa, who had been quiet all through from the beginning, blinked as all heads turned to her. She had been just as shocked as everyone when the groom suddenly stopped the wedding and started talking about wanting to marry someone else. She was just as confused. But now, it was of another level.

Alyssa's eyes met with Michael and the smile he gave her sent chills running down her spine. Why? Why did she have a bad feeling now? Why was she even in the video?!

Everyone turned back to the screen and soon enough, they could see Alyssa and Michael together in a room. She was all over him, kissing him hard as he gently pushed her to the bed. Clothes were quickly flying around as moaning sounds could be heard.

Alyssa's eyes stretched so wide as she stared at the screen. It suddenly went off but she couldn't blink. She knew everyone would be staring at her now but that was the least of her problems.

Then just like that wasn't enough, Michael dropped another bombshell, pointing at the now blank screen. "And that lady you'd just seen. That lady over there," He pointed at her, "She's the one I'm getting married to today."

A pin drop could be heard from the silence that filled the hall. This wasn't just any silence. It was the type that pricked the skin. The horrifying one.

How was she going to explain what just happened? Wait, how was she going to do that when she herself didn't even understand it. Who was going to believe her now? The video was literally showing her making out with her sister's groom. And it seemed like they even had s*x.

It had to be edited, because she had no recollection of that situation ever happening.

Alyssa was still quiet. Her eyes still just as wide. Nobody had said anything. Nobody simply wanted to believe it. It had to be a joke. A very funny joke.

But it wasn't looking like one as Michael started walking over to where she was sitting. No, please! Stay away! Her life was about to be ruined by his steps alone.

Just as he was about to reach the table where she had been sitting alone, she abruptly stands up and stretches her arms forward, pushing the chair backwards with force.

She shakes her head quickly, still lost for words. What was she to say? She could only wait for the moment when he'd burst out laughing, calling it all a joke and she could finally breathe.

Yet he wasn't doing what she was badly waiting for.

"Alyssa," He called her name so softly it sounded like a lullaby. What was he doing?

"Alyssa!" Her name rang out again but this time it was her father's loud voice. She shuddered at the sound as she waited till he was right beside her, staring at her with angry red eyes. "Are you going to explain what sort of joke this is or what?! Is this how you plan to disgrace your family?!"

Disgrace her family? She had no idea what was going on! Couldn't anybody tell? She rose her head to look at Michael who was still standing there but with a different expression now that her father was there. She needed his help. Only him can tell them the truth and clear her name.

She stared at him with pleading eyes, begging without saying a single word. She could only pray he knew how to read facial signs.

Michael was slowly getting pissed. He watched her father scold her in front of the whole guests, demanding an explanation he knew she didn't have. He noticed how confused, scared and uncomfortable she felt. She was suddenly looking at him again with pleading eyes. He was her only hope and he was going to save her, but not from this situation but something much more worse. Her family.

"Mr Geoffrey, I don't like the way you're speaking to my bride to be." Michael said, now looking at her father.

Like could he do any worse?

Alyssa almost choked on her breath. Maybe she did because she could swear she'd stopped breathing. Why was he trying to make things worse?

She watched as her father turned to him and asked, "This isn't some joke?"

Michael only blinked at him, the answer already in his blank expression. He wasn't joking. This wasn't any joke.

Alyssa quickly turns to her father, knowing she had to save herself. She had to do something. "Dad, it's a lie. It's actually a joke. I've never met up with him before talk more of having..." She paused as she couldn't say the word. "Dad, you have to believe me!" This was the first time she was speaking since she stepped into the hall and her voice sounded distressed.

"Believe you?" Her father turned back to her, his face holding anger and disappointment, "How can I? You've always wanted to ruin this family and you sure have succeeded, haven't you?"

Alyssa shakes her in denial. That wasn't it. None of it was. She knew nothing of anything!

She turned back to Michael, anger slowly rising inside her. What sort of game was he trying to play?

Just as she was about to speak, Ava suddenly comes up and pushes her back. Alyssa stumbles but gets her footing before she could fall. She wasn't surprised.

"You! Who do you think you are?!" Ava wasn't asking, she was shouting. Again, Alyssa wasn't surprised.

She continued, "What did I ever do to you to deserve such from you, huh? Why are you so selfish?!"

Alyssa paused as she stared at her younger sister. She wanted to laugh. Ava had done a lot to her that could have made her do worse but she couldn't. She genuinely loved her even though she was her stepsister and she had actually always been the selfish one, but Alyssa didn't care. She was family afterall.

Ava wasn't done though, "You claim to love me and always call me family but you actually have just been jealous of me and hated me. You wanted what I had and so you went behind my f*****g back and slept with my fiancée! My goodness, you're such a slut!"

Alyssa hadn't still said a word afterwards when liquid was suddenly splashed on her face and body. Her sky blue dress was now stained with red wine. Could this day get any much worse?

"You're lucky I didn't spit on you." Another voice spoke. It was Tasha, her stepmother. "How dare you?" She wasn't shouting but her tone alone was venomous.

The entire family hated her now for an act she knew nothing about. Is this how life worked?