Chubby Bride for the Dying Billionaire

BETTY POV

“No man wants a fat waste like you!” my mother blurted before she could stop herself “That is the reason Trent left you.”

Tears welled up in my eyes but I refused to cry, I was already used to the insults.

Every day I lived was a reminder that no one, not even my mother will ever accept me because of my size.

Diane fist tightened by her side in an attempt to steady them from shaking “Betty, just give me the money.” she breathed, returning to the main conversation before she began spitting cruel insults about my size and broken engagement with my ex-fiancé.

“Please, I need the money. Can't you see I am doing my best?”

“By gambling and spending every penny I make on drugs?” I snapped

“Shut up” Diane’s hand landed on my check, my head turning left with the force “How dare you talk to me in that manner?”

My hands moved to my burning cheeks. “Ruthie is booked for a surgery” I whimpered, “I have worked so hard to afford her medical bills, yet all you do is…” my voice trailed, only then did I realize I was shouting.

Diane rubbed her nose, it was a habit whenever she eagerly had the urge “Ruthie will be fine, you will make more money-please I just…just need the…the money now.”

Her blood shot eyes levelled on me, I hate that I inherited those brown eyes “I don't have the cash here” I lied

Diane stepped closer to me “How dare you lie to me?” she gripped my arm forcefully “I may be an addict but not a fool.”

The pain jolted in my skin “I am not lying…all my money is in the bank-”

Diane cut me off with a humourless laughter “Shame Betty, you are fat but you have a slim brain.”

She forcefully jerked me away, I lost my balance, causing me to crash on the reading table at the corner of my room.

Then she walked to my bed, pushing the pillow aside, revealing the bundle of cash I had hidden there.

A smile spread over her face, knowing she would be gambling soon thanks to my money, again.

“No…no mother- its for Ruthie” I made to stand on my feet, but she kicked my chest with her heavy boots, I clutched my chest as if to stop the pain.

“Ruthie can live, but I urgently need this,” she gathered all the money and left the room without sparing a glance back.

Tears finally rolled down my eyes. I was tired, ever since my father passed on months ago, I have been the one shouldering all the bills, while all my mother did was waste the money.

She cared less about Ruthie’s medical condition, her own daughter.

My phone ringtone tore through my thoughts.

“Betty, where are you? Avery is fuming right now, did you forget you have a bride to style?” Monica sounded through the phone.

“Monica, I…cant show up” I sobbed, cleaning the tears from my face.

“What? Why” my best friend asked

“I am a mess, Diane took my money, again,”

Monica drew in a sharp breathe “Remember the plan Betty, you need to make money for Ruthie’s treatment, move out from home and own your fashion studio, so you can give up now and return to waiting tables,”

Her words didn't have to be positive but they sent me to my feet. “I’m trying Monica but I am tired,”

“I know, but you can’t leave Ruthie medical care for Diane?”

I tightened my eyes. I hate the thought of leaving my sister with our irresponsible mother.

“Put yourself together, go for the job today, get paid and go home” Monica said “You are an amazing designer. Soon you will stop working under Avery,”

I really couldn’t wait for that day to come

Monica’s words was like a warm hug, “I will be at the wedding venue,” I replied

“The gown you designed is for Vanessa Coleman, she is getting married to Kelvin Kosh” Monica shrieked

“Who are they?” I blame my slightly boring life for that

“Girl are you living under a rock?”

“Well yes, since all I do is design dresses all day just for my salary to taken by my mother”

Monica ignored my pity talk “Kelvin Kosh is one of the richest tech CEO, his bride to be is a fashion model”

“Ohh, I only met them once during the dress consultation,” I replied

“Better be on your way already, Avery is angry as usual,” she added before hanging up the call.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, Diane finger nails had scratched my check, leaving fresh blood trickling from my flesh.

Another wound, yet the hundredth time, I still had scars and unhealed wounds all from my mother.

I did my makeup, covering up the wounds with a concealer of my skin shade like I always did before leaving my room.

Arriving at the wedding venue, someone called out as I paid the taxi driver, “Fatty”

If I didn't know better I would have corrected that my name was Betty, but I knew it was my boss, Avery Brown, and the last thing I wanted to do was get on her nerves.

Not when my only hope of survival is my salary.

“I need good reviews from the couples today to increase our sales” Avery started “This wedding has the potential to bring other clients, do you understand?”

“Yes ma’am” I bowed slightly

“Now move in the dresses” Avery instructed, pointing to the direction of the hangers inside the truck.

I wheeled in the heavy hangers, the white wedding dress was covered in a black linen.

As I walked to the dressing room, where I would meet the bride, I didn’t see the decor wire, my shoes caught on it and it was already too late to balance my other leg.

I fell right on my face with a heavy thud, every eye turning to my direction.

“Is that not Vanessa’s white gown?”

“How can a designer be so clumsy, what if she ruined it?”

I didn’t even check if I was fine or alive, the gown was more important, Avey could have me killed if I ruined it.

It was in great shape, I sigh, graciously the black linen had protected the white gown, but the wild stares of guests fixed on me told me something was wrong.

They were laughing too, my brows knitted in confusion before looking down at my torn dress which was revealing my big stomach.

Oh great, I moved the hangers into the dressing room quickly without looking back.

I looked at myself in the dressing room mirror.

“Shit,” the tear on my dress was embarrassingly large

My phone's ringtone sounded, “Fatty, where are you?” Avery scowled

“Ma’am, my…my dress is torn,”

“How does that concern me? You have to dress the bride,”

“Can Monica-”

“No, I hate to say it but you are my best designer and stylist,” Frustration laced in Avery’s voice “Wear the bride's backup gown, she wouldn't be needing it.”

“Okay ma’am” I responded before hanging up the call.

I looked at the white simple pencil backup gown, I didn't have to wear the veil since I was not the bride, I was never going to be the bride.

“No man will marry a fat waste…” my mother’s voice echoed in my head

She was right, I was never getting a wedding, not after everything that happened in the past with Trent.

“Vanessa is missing,” one of the bride’s maids announced in panic, pulling me out of the thought.

The dressing room immediately went into chaos, the other bride’s maid talking and scrambling around in panic.

“What happened?”

“She may be having cold feets,”

“She stood Kelvin Kosh up in front of everybody?”

“I will find her,” I spoke up, trying to calm everyone down.

I walked out of the dressing room, I didn’t expect the guest to have already caught news about the missing bride, they were already leaving in anger.

I blocked the door, “The bride is not missing.” I wore my brightest smile.

If Vanessa doesn’t wear the gown I made and the wedding doesn’t hold, Avery would not pay my salary and needed that money for Ruthie’s surgery.

“Then where is she?” an impatient guest asked

“Hey, Chubby girl, move out of the door” one lady ran her eyes from my head to my toes like I disgusted her.

I swallowed a lump down my throat, I have to find the bride but the guest had to chill first.

“This wedding is not holding, leave the door”

In fact there were hundreds of them, already murmuring at me to move away but I wasn’t willing.

“She…will be back shortly” I forced my smile to widen “The bride is trying on her beautiful dress designed by AB designs”

That was a free advertisement, hopefully Avery Brown will be proud of me and finally increase my pay.

“Hey, move away…”

I was too focused on the people in front of me, I did not notice when a man dressed in a tuxedo walked from my side, grabbed me by my waist, leaned in closer and kissed my lips.

I did not resist the stranger, maybe because deep down, I had forgotten how it felt like to be kissed, to be chosen and when he pulled away, he turned to the guests and said…

“She is my bride.”

“Congratulations Kelvin Kosh”

Wait, what? My eyes widened, Why did Kelvin Kosh, the groom, just kiss me?