Old fling

Nina's POV

Four years later.

My hands ran across the gown I had on, simple yet elegant as I inhaled deeply.

I didn't know why I felt this way, but I could tell that something was wrong,a feeling which I wasn't supposed to have but I couldn't help it.

Today was going to be the day I got wedded to Brian, CEO of a goods conglomerate, which my mother had hooked me up with.

I knew that I wasn't in love, that Ryan still occupied a decent part of my mind but I just couldn't help it. It was a way of putting up a strong front. We had been wrecked from within and someone else had been giving out information, classified ones to our opponents.

Goods which we were supposed to launch before others knew about them, got out and everyone knew about it before we could even launch it. All effort to get the scoundrel was to no avail and the stocks were falling off and something to hold a strong front was needed.

I wasn't in love with Brian, in fact he knew that and I knew that all he did was find me amusing, intriguing in fact because he couldn't stop talking about me the first time we met his parents.

He had gone ahead to request for a second date and as mothers would always be mothers, she had taken the bull by its horn, taking the opportunity before it even launched itself at her.

So here I was dressed in a simple yet elegant white gown that went all the way to my knees and had a flare that extended to the back and also reeks of wealth.

“ Mother,” the door creaked open and Julia whispered at me. I turned around, giving her a tender smile while she crashed into my body in a warm hug.

“ Where is Julian?” I questioned, searching for him but he wasn't around her which was something that didn't happen unless…

“ He should be at the table. That was the last place I saw him.” that was where he was. He was inseparable from food.

They walked in pairs, Julia and Julian and I was still going to call them my greatest gifts because they really were, I didn't know what else I was going to do without them in my life. Sweet, little angels of mine.

She nudged at me, pushing back to grasp a look at me before she leaned closer. A replica of her father, that was who she was.

Everyone knew and so they kept her far away from anything that would arouse suspicion. Reina should be here soon with her children and they were a handful.

But they went on just well with mine, so it was easy to keep them together. After I had collapsed after seeing Ryan's engagement, I was put to bed rest, with orders that I wasn't supposed to let anything trigger me.

I had almost lost them but here, they were standing hale and hearty and…

“ Can you get Julian for me? I need to take a proper glance at him.” I requested.

She pouted before she left, swirling on her gown as she stomped away. Julian looked just like me so it was going to be almost impossible for anyone to tell he was Ryan.

Brian hasn't shown any resistance when he got to know about them and had stood in handling out fatherly roles when it wasn't even needed. He had said it was just so they would get acquitted with him.

So they would see him as their father. I couldn't say no to him, not when he didn't mean any harm when he had said that.

Julian strolled beside Julia minutes later, his mouth stuffed with cake. I bent forward, running my hands on it as I whipped it off.

“ You know today is a big day for mummy and, mummy would want you to behave, right?” I asked to which he nodded.

“ Good,” I ran a hand through his hair, giggles leaving his lips. “ Be a good boy and stay with grandma and also aunty Reina and Uncle Richard, you aren't supposed to answer strangers no matter who they are, okay?”

They both nodded nimbly before they ran off once more leaving me to my scattered thoughts. I plopped down on the couch, thinking if telling them that their father was dead was something I should have done.

They knew Brian wasn't their father and that their father was dead. I didn't know about mine, but I knew that he might still be alive somewhere.

I had been told not to push it because if I did, I might end up hurting my mother who had painstakingly made sure that I was raised just right and fine without his assistant.

My heart throbbed as I patted it. My mind kept slamming so hard, telling me that something was wrong, that everything was going to go wrong but I had to keep my wits and get married to Brian, if not for anyone but for the company which my mother had built all of this while.

The door creaked open revealing Reina who slammed me into her arm. “ You look pretty,” she cheered.

I didn't tell her that was the same thing she had said the first time as all I did was pinch her cheek. “The kids, where are they?”

“ With Julian and Julia, they are a handful and Richard is going to have a tough time today.”

I felt pity for him, a little part of me pricked at the thought that he would have to do that all alone but he had not complained about that anyday, instead he did so with glee.

Her face searched mine. “Are you sure that you are fine? You look confused.” she noted.

I nodded at her. “I am fine. Just tired maybe, but I am doing just great. Have you seen my mum anywhere?” I asked.

She ought to be around with her friends, she had single handedly said she wanted to oversee the party and make sure everything was right. I couldn't fault her, the first time had been a disaster so I was ready to let her do whatever she wanted with this one.

It wasn't love anyways, so she was free to do whatever she thought was fine.

“ You know…” Reina started. “ It isn't too late to say it, if you aren't fine with this. I know the first time was a disaster but you still have a choice.” she searched into my ears, where it had reddened.

“The company needs this, Reina. It isn't a matter of what I want. It is my duty to make sure my mother's work doesn't diminish, and you know that.” I answered.

She knew that I had little to no choice and I had to go through with these.

“ Okay,” she nodded. “ I guess it is time that we walk out, your mother is outside. She wanted me to have a conversation with you before she takes over.”

I nodded as my steps fell into track with hers, my mother stood outside, her lips pursed together like she had something to say before she smiled at me.

“ You look lovely,” she complimented. “As always child.” she patted my hands while she held me out to the lawn which was decorated.

Crystals adorned the floor as we walked through with Reina walking behind me. A soft smile came on my face when she gave Richard a smile who waved back before we walked to the altar where the priest stood.

Brian stood, in his glory, dressed in a green suit that clung to his figure. His sharp features struck through as he held my hands, squeezing it through the gloves I had on.

A smile tugged at the edge of my lips at him when he leaned closer, whispering something into my ears that had me breaking up in a smile.

“ You can't just say that, people are watching.” all he gave was a shrug before he stared at the priest.

I threw aside the thought that had besieged my mind away, nothing could go wrong. Everyone here loved me or rather they loved my mum, they all wanted to see me happy.

Reina had taken her seat beside Richard, who squeezed her hands reassuringly, and I knew they were possibly reminiscing about their wedding.

A vow renewal was coming soon, so had Reina told me shortly after I had told her I was getting married.

“ Standing before me, are the couple, Nina and Brian, before we join them in holy matrimony, is there anyone who objects?”

“ I should have told them to scrap that part out” Brian gave a mocking gaze to which I tapped on his arms playfully.

The priest swept a glance through. “ Since there is none…we now…”

“ I object,” a voice uttered that quaked everything in me. I flickered my gaze to the voice and I had never wanted to puke like I was tempted to.

“ Hello fluffy bear…” he waved, a grin following. “ Were you going to get married even while we were still married? Ohhh.” He placed a hand on his chest. “How cruel of you.”