The Wrong Bride

Everyone in the room was staring at my father in complete confusion. His hands shook as he studied the document, his eyes going wide with shock. Suddenly, he slammed the papers down onto the hardwood floor with a loud slap.

"There has been an accident!" he yelled, his voice cracking. "Mr. Whitmore's bride was supposed to be Victoria! Alessia stole her contract!"

My heart dropped to my stomach. I opened my mouth, desperate to defend myself. "I did not steal anything! You handed me that folder yourself!"

"Shut the hell up!" my father roared, turning on me with pure hatred in his eyes. "You are a cruel, evil sister! You deliberately tried to take what belongs to Victoria!"

The crowd immediately broke into loud whispers. Harsh words floated through the air, accusing me of being sneaky and desperate. Victoria rushed to my father's side, staring at the papers on the ground in disbelief. Her eyes filled with fast tears as she forced out a sob.

"How could you do this to me, Alessia?" Victoria cried out, looking at the guests. "She switched the papers on purpose! She knew Drake was wealthy and wanted him for herself!"

Chaos unleashed across the room. My parents screamed at me while guests pointed fingers. Through all the noise, Drake stayed completely calm. My eyes kept darting toward him, watching his reaction. He pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers, a look of pure frustration on his sharp face.

He cleared his throat. It was a small action, but it commanded immediate silence. The entire room fell quiet instantly.

"I do not have time for this," Drake said quietly, his deep voice cutting through the room. "I am marrying whoever signed the contract. The name on the paper is Alessia, and that is final."

My father took a step toward him, his face pale. "Mr. Whitmore, please let us fix this. My other daughter is the one you agreed to marry!"

"I said I am out of time," Drake bypassed him completely, stepping past my father as if he were invisible. "I need to leave now."

My father turned back toward me, his face turning beet red with rage. He walked up to me, throwing wild insults and cursing at me in front of everyone.

"I did not switch the contract!" I yelled back, tears burning my eyes. "You forced me to sign whatever was on that table!"

My father raised his hand high, preparing to strike my face again. I lowered my head and raised both arms to shield myself, bracing for the hard sting. But the blow never came.

Drake had caught my father's wrist midair, stopping his arm cold.

"Do not touch her," Drake warned quietly, his grip firm. He let go of my father's arm, throwing it back down, before looking at me. "Come with me."

I stood still, shaken and trembling from head to toe. Drake grabbed my hand and started leading me toward the double doors. I pulled back, trying to anchor my feet to the floor.

"Wait!" I gasped, resisting his strength.

Drake held my wrist firmly, not letting go. "I have no time for family drama. We are leaving."

He pulled me out of the grand house and down the front steps toward a sleek black car parked in the driveway. Before we even reached the vehicle, the rear door swung open. A young man dressed in flashy, expensive designer clothing stepped down onto the gravel.

"Did you bring the bride, Drake?" the young man called out with a lazy smirk. "Mother is waiting."

He called Drake his brother. The sound of his voice hit my ears like a physical punch. It was oddly familiar, so familiar that my head began to hurt with a sudden, dull throb.

We finally reached the side of the car. Drake let go of my arm and pointed toward the open door. "Get in the car."

I could not move. I stared up at the man standing beside the vehicle. My breath caught in my throat, and the world around me seemed to stop completely.

It was Natalie's father. The boy from college who had vanished five years ago without a word, disappearing into thin air before I could ever tell him I was pregnant with his child.

He stared at me wide eyed, his smirk completely vanishing as his face went pale. I stared back, my heart pounding violently against my ribs as shock froze my blood.

"Alessia, get in the car," Drake stated again, his tone sharp. "I am completely out of time."

I finally managed to tear my eyes away from his brother's face, turning to look up at Drake.

"I cannot go yet," I said, my voice trembling. "That is what I was trying to tell you when I pulled back inside."

Drake sighed heavily, crossing his arms. "If this is about packing your clothes, you do not have to worry. I will buy you new ones."

"No!" I shook my head frantically. I looked back at my ex lover, then turned my eyes straight back to Drake. "I need to get my daughter. My daughter Natalie is still inside that house."