Avenging Angel of Love

THE WORST KIND OF KARMA

Laura’s dejected look was a complete contrast to her beautiful off-the-shoulder cream-colored wedding gown, her glittering Swarovski crystal-adorned stilettos, her glamorous French twist hairdo, nude make-up and white gold with genuine diamond jewelry set as she looked at her reflection in her bedroom’s gold-leafed full-body mirror. Yes, she was truly lovely to behold.

However, her broken heart and grieving thoughts did not at all reflect how she currently looked…

She can still remember the morning when she spoke to her father and mother about her solution to Maritess’ earlier decision. Laura almost broke her personal decision not to cry when they reacted positively to her amiable but heartbreaking solution.

“I agree, daughter. I’m so happy that you chose to see reason and did not make a scene,” Engineer Erickson Fabian stated sagely while patting his oldest offspring’s back.

“You truly are a saint, Laura. Don’t worry, your decision is all for the best for our family and that includes you as well, my dear,” Mrs. Virginia Fabian declared confidently as she also approached her 26-year-old daughter to smooth her hair back from her lovely heart-shaped face.

They both were not surprised when I told them of Adonis’ decision to break off our engagement. Neither were they shocked at my sister’s choice of not marrying their wealthy friend’s son. So it is true that they are for Maritess and Adonis to be together which leaves me no choice but to take Mari’s place at the altar.

And this is the time that was scheduled for the day of the wedding and Laura was trying her best to control her intense misery from overflowing. This was the first moment for her to see her future husband and vice versa. It was very important that she showed him the ideal woman and submissive wife that she could be. All this for the sake of her grandmother’s much-needed surgery and to save her parents' honor and reputation.

Even if they are the very ones who sold her out first…

“You are quite lovely, my child,” gushed her mother who was wearing a lavender long gown with a matching platinum and amethyst set. Her honeyed voice sounded as if it was almost forced as she entered the future bride’s bedroom. “But you need to smile, Laura. We can’t have your groom see a sour puss as a future spouse, right?”

“You’re absolutely correct, my darling Virgie,” echoed her blond father in a matte black tuxedo who was right at her mom’s heels. “Roland should see and feel your eagerness and enthusiasm because you have chosen to marry him.”

Oh, so that’s his name. Roland… It sounds nice. I hope he’s also as nice as how his name sounds.

“Why are you guys still in here,” a familiar young female in a short backless black cocktail dress whined. “All the guests are already here and you’re going to be late for your own wedding, sister!”

Well, in the first place, it should be you who should be the bride today and not me, little sis!

But of course, as usual, Laura kept her thoughts to herself even if it was true. After all, it was very hurtful and the light brown-eyed lady martyr had never done anything spiteful on purpose in her whole life…

And she’s not about to start now, especially since it’s her wedding day!

“Alright then Laura, shall we?” the proud grinning dad asked as he offered her arm to his eldest.

The forlorn lass gave a curt nod, coiled her slender upper limb around her father’s burly arm, took a deep breath to fortify herself and forced a smile on her face…

“Okay Dad, I’m ready. Let’s go…”

+++

As Laura and her male parent entered the massive cathedral’s threshold, the young reluctant bride focused her gaze at the the dark-haired male in the white Kiton tuxedo standing at the foot of the altar. She could make out a bearded square jaw, broad shoulders, a slim waist and quite an impressive height. However, she was too far away to see his facial features other than his face shape and his light beard.

However, as the bridal march was pounded masterfully on the organ beside the raised platform where the fully decorated mahogany altar was, Laura was soon close enough to view Roland’s extremely good-looking face.

He was lightly tanned and had an aristocratic straight nose above a set of luscious-looking cupid bow lips. His beard was slightly thick but is expertly and neatly trimmed. He had high sharp cheekbones that looked like they could cut glass while his dark, piercing almond-shaped eyes had a mysterious gleam in them. Also his large muscles stretched specific parts of his tuxedo impressively but inconspicuously.

Laura was instantly smitten!

But of course, she kept her thoughts to herself as her father placed her slender arm on Roland's massive muscular one. However, as her groom took her hand in his to escort her towards the altar, Laura could feel her long finger’s skin slightly prickle from his touch.

All throughout the ceremony, Laura’s attention was on the man who was kneeling before the altar beside her. And even if she could not see him, she could definitely feel the warmth of his wide torso beside hers. Unfortunately for the bride, because of her unfathomable need to focus on Roland, missed several instructions that the priest gave them to do for the rites to be completed.

What the heck is wrong with me? I need to straighten my thoughts out or Roland might begin to think that I’m not willing to marry him!

But isn’t that exactly how you felt before you saw your soon-to-be husband, Laura? A voice inside her head pointed out. You didn’t even want to be his bride a while ago! So what happened that you would suddenly change your mind?

Laura couldn’t answer that odd unknown speaker in her mind. All she knew was that she suddenly wanted to know more about this handsome, well-dressed unknown individual the second she laid her eyes on him. And the young bride secretly wanted that the beautiful man beside her would feel the same way for her as well…

“You may now kiss the bride,” the elderly priest solemnly intoned, instantly breaking through Laura’s deep thoughts.

The curvy bride wore a single thin hand-embroidered veil on top of her head and was attached to her hairdo at the very top, which allowed it to cascade past her shoulders and cover her face. Roland parted the thin netted material with one hand and coldly laid a small light peck on her lips then quickly stepped away from her, giving the impression that he was forcing himself to kiss her.

Talk about karma… Just a while ago you were the one who was so cold and unfeeling at the thought of marrying a man you’ve never seen before. And now, strangely, it is he who seems to feel that way towards you. Oh, how the tables have turned on you, foolish girl, Laura silently berated herself. So what are you going to do about him now?