Chapter Two: The Vows

~Mia~

I stood before the ornate mirror in the Celeste gown by Oscar de la Renta. The strapless mermaid-styled dress hugged my curves, displaying my toned physique. The soft ivory silk cascaded down my body. Embroidered with special floral and beading that glittered like moonlight, as I looked at my reflection, I was dazed by my outlook. The woman staring back is now a version of elegance, wealth, and poise.

“Is this what my father wanted? " To sell me for wealth?” I questioned with a perplexed expression. I wonder how much he has now in his bank account, how much he has to lavish on his alcoholic lifestyle. I wish I had the heart to leave him like Mom did. " Why must I pay for his debt?""

I felt my anger boiling up. But my thoughts were interrupted as Emily walked in. She was dazed with astonishment at seeing me.

“Ma’am, you need to step out now; it's time.” She said as she moved close to help me make my way to the altar.

“It's fine; I can walk on my own,” I said, objecting to her attempt to hold me. I held onto my bouquet as though it could contain the weight of my sadness. My expression read so much uncertainty and confusion as I walked gently to the altar where Robert stood elegantly. He smiled brightly on seeing me with his tailored, black blazers that suited perfectly with his white.

“I will make sure I work twice as much so that I can pay off this goddamn debt,” I said, reassuring and encouraging myself as I walked closer. Robert stood totally lost in his admiration. I didn't look like the girl he saw just an hour ago.

My porcelain skin glowed subtly under the rays of light. My dark, long hair cascaded down my back in loose waves. Gracing the venue with my beauty.

As I stood face to face with him, he drew me closer to himself, staring at me intensely, his breath spreading all over my face as he bent closely and whispered to my ears. I felt goose bumps all over me as his hands were wrapped around my waist.

""You need to smile, so people won't get the wrong idea,""

We locked eyes, and I suddenly felt awkward for the first time since we had been together. I smiled graciously as I felt my dimple on the side deepen. As I held onto the paper on which the vows were written boldly for me to recite, it felt like the most difficult task ever.

"How could I recite something so beautiful to someone I hate with each passing hour?"

""I will love you for the rest of my life. Even when the days are dreary and the nights are scary, I will walk on life's path with you, spending forever together until death do us a part.""

Robert said his vows effortlessly, his eyes beaming brightly in a way that made me wonder if he genuinely meant those words.

“Does he truly want to spend the rest of his life with me? No! My father was a bait to marry him; it can't be. There's something they are not telling me.”

After the exchange of vows, we walked down the altar holding hands. My heart ached; his touch was irritating. I tried pulling it out, but he held on to it tightly as a lady walked towards us. She looked elegant in the oxblood-pencilled gown with a front slit that cut through from her thigh downwards. She covered her exposed shoulders with a silky black shawl. I grasped; it was Victoria Lud; she's the snake venom Emily talked about during our drive.

Emily gave me a heads-up about Victoria Lud. She loves wealth and spends extravagantly. She's been married and divorced twice and is now in a relationship with a senator's son who is twice younger than her. As she walked closer to our direction, Robert's expression changed. He got stiffly at the spot, and his grip on my hands tightened; his eyes spoke of hate as his expression changed.

“Oh no?” I whispered to myself in fear as I remembered Emily's words and her expressionless face as she spoke about them. "Victoria and Robert are mortal enemies; they are rivals in business and share different personal traits.""

“How on earth do I excuse myself when Robert was holding on so tight to me, like he needed me to stay by his side?” I thought as I glanced at Robert, whose eyes were fixed on Victoria.

""Look who we have here! " The long-lost son of James Lud."" She had a smirk on her face as she stood face to face with us.