Shattered Illusions

Chapter Three

Amelia's POV

Today is my wedding day but I don't feel like it. I can't believe I'm getting married. I stared back at the beautiful woman staring at me with scanty eyes. I wasn't going to stay married to Henry Caldwell forever. I will find a real reason to divorce him after five years.

Mr. Caldwell, who now forces me to call him dad, kept his promise three months ago. There and then after I had agreed to get married to his disabled son, he called the doctor and deposited a huge amount of cash into the hospital's account, enough to take care of him for the period of time he stayed in the hospital. Not only did he pay my brother's bills which was the initial agreement, he paid off my family's debt. I owed him big time and that is why I will try my best to make this thing work.

"You know you don't have to do this."

"Yes I have to mom, I made a promise and I must fulfill it." I replied, staring at her figure in the mirror.

"Baby, I'm sorry you have to give up your life and dreams in order to save our family. I am the head of the family. I'm supposed to be risking my life not you and it pains me so well." My father said and I stood up from the dressing chair and held his hands.

"No, we are family and families do crazy things for themselves and who said anything about me giving up my life and dreams? Mr. Caldwell said that I can continue living my normal life."

"Yeah but what about his son Henry?" My mother asked worriedly and I placed her hand on top of mine.

"Don't worry about me, I will be fine. Just make sure that Jason takes his drugs always and on time. Don't let him skip a single tablet."

"Don't worry baby, we won't let your hard work go to waste." My mother said pulling me into a hug which turned out to be a family hug. Inwardly, I swore to them that I would not let the person who had kept us in this condition be at peace until I bring that person down to my feet.

"Look at you, gorgeous. I always knew that you would look cute on a wedding gown but this is out of this world." Ellie exclaimed from my behind making me smile.

"Stop exaggerating, everyone looks cute in a wedding gown. It's some kind of a natural law Ellie." I said turning to her.

"Well, we will leave you girls to it, we will be outside. Remember you don't have to do this if you don't want to or you're feeling uneasy about everything. Your father and I will figure something out if you decide that you…"

"Yeah mom you've made your point but I want to do this and I can handle myself. I'm not a baby anymore." I said and she drew me into her arms for a brief moment before she turned to go.

"Well, even though you are not feeling it, I won't let you go to your wedding as though you were in some kind of a toture room. Sit your ass down and let me work my magic on your cute face."

Within few minutes, we were done with the make up and in few hours, I was standing in front of the church with a veil covering my face.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" My father asked me as he offered his palm to me for support and I nodded forcing an almost genuine smile on my face. I am doing this for the good of my family, I told myself. I looked at my husband to be who was sitted in his wheelchair on the Altar. He didn't stare at me in a way that looked like he admired me. He looked as though he was forced to be here and he couldn't wait to get done with everything, he wasn't trying to cover up the fact that he didn't want the marriage.

This was the first time I was seeing him this close and I admit that he is handsome. I zoned out while the priest said what he was paid to say. The speech was never ending. When it was time to exchange vows, he did it coldly and he forced the ring into my finger. I forced a smile on my face just so that I wouldn't burst out in tears.

My wedding day turned out to be the most boring day of my life. I had to keep smiling because the paparazzi wouldn't stop taking pictures and I didn't want them to get the slightest idea of what was going on if I don't want to destroy my family's already broken image.

My wedding night wasn't any better. Not that I had expected my 'husband' to be romantic or try to know me, but I didn't expect him to be too cold. He spent the evening staring at a picture which I presume belonged to his wife, it was no news that Henry Caldwell and his elegant wife Whitney Caldwell had a ghastly motor accident five years ago, one that she lost her life in the process and Henry was crippled forever. And I was also very sure that he didn't sleep in the same room with me even though Mr. Caldwell had booked only a room for us. When I offered to help him get out of his wheelchair, he brushed me off.

Not that I cared if he likes me or not or if he acknowledges me or not as long as I was keeping my own end of the deal, it was all good to me.

When I got up the following morning, I discovered that he had already gone. I had to book an Uber to the Caldwell's mansion.