Chapter 1- Prologue

Joy, happiness, and cheerful faces filled the atmosphere of the party room. Every guest who was present in the warm conversation, how this moment they had been waiting for a long time. The marriage of their relative, July Foster, who they thought had no interest in romance. 

This celebration is limited to only relatives, close acquaintances, and co-workers of the bride and groom. But there is one different thing, on the invitation cards and party room decorations. There is not a single portrait of the groom and bride, even the names of the groom and bride are can be seen. Every guest could only wonder if it was part of the party concept.

In the bridal waiting room, July anxiously awaits the arrival of Argus, who can't be contacted till now. The waiting room door opened. But what appeared from behind the door was not the face of the person she was waiting for. Her's cousin and her aunt approached with worried faces but tried not to panic. Because they wanted to keep July's heart at peace on this important day of life.

The cousin―Salo, moved closer to July to speak in a whisper to ear. "Where is the groom? Do you really have a groom? Or is this all a hidden prank cam?" Salo is still a girl of high school grade, more younger than July.

"Sshut! Watch your words!" snapped the mother who can still hear what Salo said. The word gets Mary's anxiety. "You're too many watching prank shows! You think marriage is a joke?"

Salo shrunk to a reprimand from her mother, even though she only meant to lighten the mood with a joke. Both in the event room and the waiting room, as time passed, the atmosphere became darker and heavy. All of this is due to one reason, the presence of the groom who can't be found there even though in less than half an hour the groom and bride must immediately enter the ballroom and walk to the altar to take the marriage vows.

"Aunty should just wait inside..." said July feeling guilty.

"No-no, sweety. I'm worried about you." Mary kept squeezing a handkerchief, a gesture of restlessness. "Oh God, I hope nothing bad happens." 

Mary's mind could not shake off the thought of a disaster that might happen to the groom on his way to the wedding hall.

Meanwhile July was worried about something else, deep in her heart seemed to have found an answer. Yes, this situation feels familiar. With all those thoughts and memories swallowed herself, not wanting to make things worse. July will only think simply if Argus doesn't appear until the last moment then this marriage will not happen.

There was a knock on the door, then a moment later the door opened, a woman who was visible from the black blazer she was wearing was a hotel employee who handled July's wedding. Come to give the news, "The groom has arrived..." 

In front of the door, a charismatic, dashing and stocky silhouette figure with elegant clothes specially fit by designers appeared in front of July, Mary, and Salo who had been waiting.

July gasped and stood transfixed, clearly showing the entire expanse of the graceful and glamorous design of the wedding dress she was wearing. Mary and Salo's faces automatically looking relieved. At the same time, they were amazed by the handsome face of the man chosen by July, which she desperately kept secret of his identity from her relatives and people around till this moment.

"Thank goodness… You managed to arrive without missing anything!" Mary almost cried because of the feeling of emotion and relief.

"I'm sorry, Auntie Mary, my lateness must have made you and all relatives restless." He said who was referred to as the groom.

"W-wait!" Almost without being able to say, only that one word managed to come out of July's mouth. Her brain work stopped as if frozen because of this confusing situation.

"Dear, we can have a long chat later after the event." Mary felt the situation was urgent, she also had to go back into the event room to inform the others who must be waiting as well. "July, Auntie will be back inside." 

The soft touch of Mary's hands on July's hair, which is neatly arranged in a bun-up, in the form of a braid. The touch make July more complicated inside.

"Salo, follow me." Aks Mary to her daughter.

Mary or Salo are not observant enough to carry July's facial expressions at this time, in their minds, there is only peace because the groom has appeared. After the two go away, only July was left in the bridal waiting room, a hotel employee and a man who came suddenly claiming to be her future husband.

***

"What is this!" July protested firmly against the man in front of her.

With a calm demeanor, the man only answered July with a finger in his mouth, asking her to remain calm. 

"You can leave, we need some privacy just the two of us alone." He asked the hotel staff. Then as requested an employee out of the room, only the two of them were left there.

"First, allow me to introduce myself." 

July's face still hasn't changed, confused and annoyed. 

"My name is N, an agent who was hired to replace Mr. Argus who is unable to attend today. I am in charge of being your groom at this wedding." He explained with a straightforward attitude as if he was used to it and was an expert.

"Agents? The task of replacing Argus? What nonsense is all this!!" July was furious, she had no time to serve the insane person in front of her. "Wait!" 

At first, July thought that the man in the room with her now was entered the wrong room or that he had just insane man at the wedding venue. But Argus's name had just been mentioned a moment ago, what was the meaning of all this? 

"Who do you mean by Argus? It is Argus Osborne?"

"That's right, Miss July, your lover Argus Osborne, who is supposed to be marrying you today."

It took July to digest all the information at this time. "Are you fucking kidding me! You said Argus paid you to be his substitute at the wedding?" The outburst of anger could no longer be controlled. "Where is he right now? Tell me!"

Still, with his calm and professional attitude, N faced July. "Seeking or asking him to come now won't help solve the problem, Miss. You should focus on your wedding event which is," N looked at the time on the luxurious watch on his wrist. "there's not much time left to make a decision."

"Decision?"

"Yes, what decision are you choose? Going to continue with this marriage by acting until the end? Or did you reject my offer of a deal and choose to cancel the wedding?" 

N's explanation immediately made July come back to her senses. This is not the time to question where Argus is when it's clear he left her. The big problem is how to continue the fate of July's marriage now. But the idea just...

"Of course I refuse!" 

Did he think July was crazy enough to accept that ridiculous offer?

"Hm, in this situation with all the risks? Miss, are you sure?" 

July didn't need to take any further consideration even though at this time N was trying to convince her. 

"I think this plan makes it possible to happen." 

July listened to his words with an interested expression. 

"As far as I know, Miss did not reveal the identity of the groom to all relatives or extended family also the guest. Therefore I think the groom can be anyone, no one will know the truth. Which is the original or the replacement."

July does this to protect Argus from attacks and rejection by her relatives and extended family. But what now, Argus used that to run away and pass the responsibility on to a substitute.

"Miss you're loss if this marriage is annulled, correct? The environment, the extended family, the image, you will sacrifice too much." Part of N's job as an agent is convincing clients to use his services of course. He had to somehow convince July to hire him.

N's words are true if July thinks about it. All relatives, extended family, and co-workers are in the wedding hall at this moment. July remembered aunt Mary would have told everyone that the groom had arrived. If July cancels the ceremony now, then she will have to face bigger problems than just the matchmaking that Mary arranged.

Once again the hotel clerk knocked on the door, and she came in to announce it was time for the bride and groom to enter the wedding ballroom. July is still undecided with a lot of thought to make a decision.

"How is it?" N stared at the bride intently and determination radiated in every part of him. His outstretched hand waited for July's hand to welcome him.

The image of auntie Mary's face as a substitute for her parents who have passed away is clear in July's mind. How painful and hurt it would be if Mary had to accept July's marriage failed after a long wait. Did July have enough courage to disappoint Mary after all this?

July was forced to have no time and choice, a moment of desperate thought overcame her. Currently, what she has to face and solve is the problem in front of her eyes. So she took the risk, other matters let's think about it later. Right now July is just focused on saving the hearts and feelings of her extended family.

July took the first step as if possessed by something else. She slowly walked over to N and took his outstretched hand. The substitute groom smiled charmingly welcoming his bride. The two of them walked together towards the event room. Throughout life at the age of 31 years, July married a foreign man she had just met for the first time.