Chapter 3 003

~Janet ran to the wedding dress and took her duvet, beginning to use it to blow the fire away~ But who was she kidding? The wedding dress was already burned and releasing ashes. "Do you know how expensive the wedding dress you've burned is? Do you know the cost and the gravity of what you've done? What will the president say now?" Janet asked, but Ara rolled her eyes, not like she cares. She had already burned the wedding dress, so nothing could be done, they wouldn't be able to afford an expensive new one, and even if they did, it would arrive too late for the wedding. "What are we going to do now?" Janet turned and asked Mason, who was completely speechless. "We're just going to order a new one, but it won't be the exact same one," Mason said. "Do you think the president won't notice?" she asked. "At least it will be something better, or do you want her to wear rags to the cathedral?" Mason asked. "Then that would be even worse, and she would know the gravity of what she has done." Janet rolled her eyes. "Are you ordering it already?" Janet asked, and Ara's eyes widened. She didn't expect it to be that fast. "The cheapest one is $25," Mason muttered. "Just ordered it," Janet said and walked over to Ara. "You can see I'm wasting my hard-earned money on you, and you don't even deserve it," Janet whispered with gritted teeth. "Why are you so hell-bent on selling me off?" Ara suddenly asked. "That's because this was your fate from the moment you were born. You were meant to marry him," Janet said. "Okay, who am I getting married to? Who is my supposed husband?" she asked. "Don't you think you're asking too many questions now? You will see him soon enough," Janet replied, and Ara's tears began to flow. Her mother didn't feel remorseful about what she was about to do. Ara didn't know if she should be sad or happy. Happy to be escaping her mother's wrath but sad that she was being sold or married off to someone she didn't know. ______ Adriana walked into her son's room, where he was still sleeping soundly. She sighed and strode over to him. "Little Alvin, it's time to wake up. Mommy needs to get you ready," she said in a low voice. "I want to sleep some more, please, Mom," Alvin mumbled, his eyes still sleepy. "But you need to get dressed for school," she replied, and he sprang up from his bed. "School? I thought today was Saturday," he pouted, and Adriana forced a smile. "Today is Thursday, so get up, little Alvin," she said. "But I don't want to go to school today," he muttered, and Adriana raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?" she asked. "Because my teacher is a big headache, and I prefer watching Disney," he mumbled. "Really?" she asked, and he nodded. "Well, if you don't stand up and get ready for school, Mommy will have no choice but to restrict you from watching Disney," Adriana said, and Alvin's eyes popped out. "Fine, Mom, you win," he muttered, and she carried him in her arms to the bathroom. She was planning to go job hunting because her current boss was giving her a headache. After bathing Alvin and getting him dressed, she fed him breakfast and packed his bag, not forgetting to add his coco milk. When they got outside, the school bus was already waiting for them. "Bye, Mom," Alvin said when Adriana placed him on the bus seat. "Give Mommy a kiss on the cheek," she said, and he pressed his lips to her cheek. "Bye," she muttered as the bus drove off. _______ "What's keeping them from delivering the dress?" Janet asked, pacing the room. "I don't know," Mason muttered, while Ara grinned mischievously. It was already 10:00 am, and whatever was causing the delay shouldn't be resolved anytime soon. "We're going to deduct from their pay for making us wait," Janet said, just as the doorbell rang. Mason quickly opened the door to reveal the delivery man. "What took you so long?" Janet asked. "Traffic, ma'am. I had to break all the rules to get here," the delivery man replied, handing Mason the package. After signing for it, the delivery man left, and Mason locked the door. "Get dressed and don't even think about pulling another stunt like you did earlier. If you burn this wedding dress, I'll burn you," Janet sneered at Ara, who shrugged. Ara thought to herself that it might be better to get burn as she didn't know what fate had in store for her if she got married. Would her husband be worse than her parents, or would he be kind and caring? She looked in the mirror and saw that the maids had done an excellent job with her hair and makeup. The wedding dress, although not expensive, fit her perfectly and accentuated her curves. She wasn't a fan of makeup, but she looked stunning. With her long, curly hair, deep ocean-like eyes, and pink lips, she was perfect in her own way. The maids added the final touches with accessories and a veil, and Mason was awestruck when he saw her. "We should get going now, it's almost time," Janet said, and Mason nodded. They walked to the waiting car, and the engine kicked on. The car drove away. ________ (𝐖𝐒𝐂 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐄) Sofia drove into the parking lot and got out. She saw Holly standing in front of the school gate. "Hey!" she called, and Holly looked at her. "This is weird, you're at school earlier than expected," Sofia said. "Well, I'm just waiting for Ara," Holly replied. "Wait, Ara isn't in school yet?" Sofia asked, concern etched on her face. Holly nodded. "It's weird, first, she didn't pick up our calls, and now she's not in school." He replied. Sofia's eyes widened. "Is she sick or something?" She asked. "If you keep asking me these endless questions, who will I ask? She's not picking up her calls, not replying to my messages, I'm just f**king worried about her." He snapped at her. Sofia's face mirrored Holly's concern. "I'm also worried about her. Should we go to her house, maybe her mom has sold her off or something?" Sofia said and Holly looked at her. "Have you forgotten how we went to look for Ara, and her mom used cold water to chase us away? The water was even mixed with spicy peppers, and she warned us not to ever step foot in her house again." Holly's eyes sparkled with sarcasm. Sofia chuckled, remembering the incident. Just then, Stacy and her friend Michelle walked towards them. Stacy waved at Holly, who scoffed in response. If anyone deserved a Grammy Award for being the world's best bully, it was Stacy and her minion, Michelle. They had once bullied Ara, but Holly had come to her rescue. Stacy approached them, flashing her pearly whites. "Hey." she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Sofia, you were saying lecture was about to start, right? Let's go." Holly muttered, and they walked away from Stacy and Michelle. Michelle suddenly walked up to Stacy, holding a lollipop in her hand. "Isn't he blind not to notice that you have a crush on him?" Michelle teased, and Stacy rolled her eyes. "Whatever, all I know is that I'm never giving up on him." she said, walking away with a determined stride. ________ The maid finished the final touches on Vesper's dress and buttoned it up. He was dressed in a sleek, crimson tuxedo suit, his hair styled perfectly, and his muscular chest evident beneath his shirt. "Is everything ready for the wedding?" Vesper asked Finn, who nodded in confirmation. Just then, an elderly woman, Nanny Celia, entered the suite. "Nanny, what are you doing here?" Vesper asked, surprised. Celia smiled warmly. "I wouldn't miss your wedding for the world, dearie." She approached Vesper and placed a golden tie in his pocket. "May no evil eyes be cast upon you and your bride," she whispered, her eyes shining with kindness. Vesper scoffed lood-naturedly. "You know I don't believe in all that," he said, but Celia just smiled. "I know you don't have a heart, but that won't stop me from praying for you." Celia replied. Vesper rolled his eyes affectionately. "Shall we go?" Celia asked, and Vesper nodded. They walked outside to find the waiting Lamborghini. Celia had already entered the car, and Vesper was about to follow when his phone buzzed. His eyes widened. ________ Ara arrived at the wedding venue and her dad escorted her to the cathedral. They walked down the aisle together and Mason smiled, she just wished she could get rid of the silly smiled that was in Mason face. They got to the cathedral where the awaiting priest was, wait was she marrying a ghost, cos she can't even find her soon to be husband. Minutes upon minutes pass but there was still no sign for her supposed husband. Isn't this a sign that the almighty himself doesn't want her to tie the knot. Mason and Janet were worried sick where they were. Why is the president not coming, or has he changed his mind. Mason phone finally chimed and it was a message from Finn. ~The president said I should let you know that he wouldn't be able to attend but the wedding should still takes place~ The message read and Mason eyes widened. This wedding looks like a bizarre, where have you ever seen that a bride got married without a groom, or a groom got married without a bride. But who was he stop it, he was absolutely no one. "Priest, let the wedding continues." Mason said and Ara eyes widened when she heard that. Was she going to be getting married without a groom, fate was playing a dangerous game on her, she was being forced to get married to the man age hasn't met before, and now she's going to be saying the wedding vows herself. Interesting!! The priest word broke what she was thinking. "Do you, Ara Campbell, take Vesper Jenkins to be your husband, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for as long as you both shall live?" The priest asks. An awkward, deafening silence ensues. "Unfortunately, I do." Ara responds calmly. "I declare you both husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." The priest pronounces. "Hahaha." Ara mockingly laughs. Her tears finally fall, a stark reminder of her loveless union. The priest's words ring hollow, as there is no husband present to kiss, a husband who is absent from his own wedding. Janet suddenly stood up and walked toward Ara, she then pulled her into a hug. This was the first time, are so called mother was going to be hugging her. "I don't know maybe I'm gonna miss you, or it's your silly tears I'm gonna miss or is it the chore you do at home that I'm gonna miss, it's done now, you're married to him, just be a good wife ok. " Janet said faking a tears. Ara boiled her hand into a fist, she was angry, she was very furious and she was burning with rage. Is it the fact that her mother set her up in a forced marriage which she's trapped in forever, or the fact that she got married without a groom that's making her angrier. "I hate you mom, I hate you. " She gritted her teeth. "The feeling is mutual, dearie. " Janet smiled and another round off tears cascaded down her face.