Chapter 05

AMELIA

“I can’t believe I am doing this,” I murmured to no one in particular.

Watching myself before the mirror with a face fully painted in makeup, and a rock the size of a mini boulder in my finger made this all seem real.

I ran my fingers through the shimmer of my silver dress. God, I looked beautiful. Ethereal even, but I couldn’t find the slightest reason to enjoy any of it. If anything, the silver made me feel like I had been chained into this decision.

I stared at the ring on my finger. This wasn’t what Darrel had slipped on the night he went on one knee. The card before me didn’t have both our names. I wasn’t getting dressed to meet his associates.

This night was about me, and Alexander Belmont.

“Wow,” I sighed, exasperated.

“Are you okay?” Joan asked, as she moved closer.

“Uh, yeah. It’s just hard to believe that this is all happening so fast.”

“It’s been three weeks, darling. We need to make an announcement before a bump begins to show.”

I squeeze her hand gently. “Thank you for staying with me, I couldn’t have come this far without you.”

“Don’t worry about it. Once you’re the wife to a billionaire, you can pay me with a Range Rover.”

We both laughed at her jokes.

“We have twenty minutes left to prepare. Please let’s all get on our feet.” The organizer said as she walked in.

With a phone on her ear, and a pad in her hands, I watched as she spoke, and checked things off the list simultaneously.

“I can’t wait to see the look on Darrel’s face when he realizes the man you just bagged.”

That sentence was enough to release a smile. In fact, it was the only reason this wouldn’t turn into the story of a runaway fiancé.

The need to see the regret on his face was just as much as I needed to force myself to breathe on the nights I curled up in a bed soaked with tears.

The door opened, and Belmont walked in. His hair was cut short, his black shirt had some sort of inexplicable glow, and the serious tone of his face set everything in motion.

“There is my bride,” he said, as he walked closer.

My body stiffened. I knew I had to sell the idea of our love to everyone, but still… I didn’t know this man. I recently learnt his birthday, and his favorite color–none.

He wrapped his arms around my waist, and pressed me on him.

My heart continued to pound in my chest.

“Technically, I am not a bride yet. This rock is just an engagement ring. A pretty one, but not pretty enough.”

His face broke into a smile at my words. With no response, he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

“I promise to get a better one for the altar.”

“I’ll hold onto that promise,” I teased, as I crossed my hands over his shoulder.

My heart clenched tighter. I would walk down the aisle with this man.

God, it felt so much realer. Darrel would never get to hear his child call him daddy. I would never wake to meet him laying next to me.

Fuck.

“I don’t think I can do this,” I whispered.

His brows knotted. “Everyone, clear the room.”

I watched as the makeup artist, and other staff hurried out. Joan remained.

I peeled myself off him.

“What’s wrong, Amy?”

“I–“

Why wouldn’t the words come out?

“This is scary. And fast. I just–“

“Take a deep breath,” he said as he cupped my face. “In.”

I inhaled.

“Out.”

I exhaled.

We repeated the practice four times until my head began to clear up.

“Darrel is already in there, and I saw him snuggling up to a woman. If you don’t do this, not only does he figure out our failed attempt, but you look even more pathetic and vulnerable before him. Do you want that?” His question came with a squeeze of my cheeks.

“No. No, I don’t.” I answered, even though I knew his story about seeing Darrel with another woman was a lie. He wouldn’t do that. Darrel wasn't a man to move from one woman to another so swiftly.

“Good.” His hands fell to his side. “I have arranged this event so we begin with meeting my favorite workers, and lucky for you, Darrel was included in the list. I know seeing the surprise on his face will be enough to convince you to stay through the night.”

It was all I actually needed.

“Okay. I’ll finish up, and we can join them.”

It took me no time to prepare, and as Belmont or rather, Alexander led me into the hall, I touched my stomach, pleading for strength.

I needed to be able to do this. The glistening lights, the soft music, and the little laughter I heard from the other room told me it was already far too late to change my mind.

As soon as we stepped in, all eyes fell on us. My stomach dropped.

Feeling their eyes on me was bad enough, but the shock of realization when they realized who I was, made me wish I could melt.

How didn’t I realize that most of these people had attended my previous engagement? They knew who I was. Their surprise quickly morphed into judgement as they moved forward.

I searched for Darrel’s face in the room. I needed to maintain focus. He seemed absorbed in a conversation with another man. Did he have intentions of fucking that one too?

I nearly rolled my eyes.

“Isn’t my fiancé absolutely perfect?!” Alexander asked in a high tone. That caught his attention.

Joan was right. Watching as his eyes widened, his lips parted, and the glass in his hands fell was fucking amazing! The man next to him tried pulling his attention but he was unable to peel his eyes off me.

With a victorious smile, I turned to Alexander, pulled his face, and pressed my lips on his. He melted into my arms almost immediately.

A loud round of applause erupted in the room, but from the corner of my eye, I could still see Darrel choking on the surprise. I deepened the kiss, savoring the moment.

Eventually, I had to pull myself off him. Congratulations began to pour. Darrel’s jaw was now locked, and his eyes fired hatred at me.

I gently waved at him. Game on, bitch.

He remained in the same position, and I continued to savor my victory until an unknown woman walked up to him. Who the fuck was that?

She handed a champagne glass, and he took it.

I craned my neck in an attempt to get a clearer view at her face, but right then, she stood before him, covering my view.

Who was this bitch? What did she want?

I watched in horror as she leaned closer, and pressed her lips on his. “I love you so much, baby.”

What the actual fuck?!