Chapter 4

SKY POV

Now you know how I ended up marrying my sister’s fiancée.

For the next 5 days, I locked horns with my parents and the rest of the world over the idea of marrying Samantha’s fiancée. Not only was it disgustingly humiliating and revolting, but it was also a big insult to my late sister and everything she has worked hard on while she was still around. Although I was inclined to go down trying, I gave up eventually, because I was fighting a losing battle and I was not on the winning side.

As soon as my mom opened her mouth, then screamed into my face that I should have been the one to die in that accident, at least Samantha would be around to make this family proud, and then proceeded to stomp off crying, I hung my head between my shoulders and surrendered. The look of pure disappointment on my dad’s face was a nail in the coffin. 

Of course, the public had their own opinion as well. I tell you, as soon as we left that fancy restaurant, the word of our wedding spread like wildfire because I was marrying none, Kayden Wolf. That’s how he was called, and he liked it. He was known as ‘THE BEAST’ in the business world. Because no one could ever match him. At 23, he mounted the throne and steered his family business on a clear path where it held a bright future. Pacific Glass Real Estate was now on the tip of everyone’s tongue. All because of him. And when he fell with none but the national wifey and the heir to Campbell Atlantic, the whole world went wild.

 He closed deals that were deemed impossible and carved his name into the history books. He rose through the ranks until he sat up there, where he was untouchable, respected by old and young, rich and poor. And now that he was going to acquire Campbell Atlantic, and me, I am sure he was going to be more than beastly. He was that kind of a man you would kill to be his servant, just so you could have a look at his perfect ocean blue eyes that pierced you to the soul.

I get that he was all handsome and shit, but he wasn’t the one I wanted. He wasn’t mine to wed, and I knew all of this was just to make me miserable and drown me in sorrow, to remind me that it could have been HER sitting here with a pearl white smile, and a beautiful face that shames the whole universe. Not me.

“You are going to make a beautiful bride.” The stylist said when she realized my eyes were glossy again. I sniffled and wiped my tears hurriedly, then faced down on my lap.

“Thank you,” I replied, feeling so drained and wanting nothing but to curl up in a ball and die.

“Everyone is jealous of you. You are marrying Kayden, for crying out loud. I would be berserk if I were you.” She gushed dreamily, and I could tell right away she was fantasizing about her and Kayden together at the altar.  At least she wasn’t a troll. For the past few days, I got fed up with being called all kinds of names. As the youngest daughter of Atlanta’s real estate emperor, people did know things about me, and I hated that mainly because of how bad my name was dragged. And now, my parents just gave them tickets to sit in the front row as I crawled through the mud they cooked for me. 

We chatted softly and soon, she was done. I should have been enthralled, but I felt like I could run away and leave him standing there at the altar and never come back. My parents’ wrath was something I had grown immune to, at least I would be my own person and not some slave wife trapped in a scam of a marriage, a business deal.

“It’s time.” I wish it wasn’t. I turned back to look at the maître d at the entrance of the dressing room. For all my life, I had always dreamed of being married in the church, but here I was, in a hotel and ready to walk the aisle, all by myself. Life was really cruel as it gets.

I gathered my bouquet and headed to the door, then stood over the railing that overlooked the giant hall below. It was buzzing, with people in fancy suits and tuxedos, but what was most sickening was the sight of the paparazzi that had swarmed up. I was lost in my world when his blue eyes darted upwards, and the smile on his face quickly turned into a deep frown. Of all people that hated me, Kayden Wolf took the trophy.

His penetrating gaze unglued me from where I was, and I headed for the stairs. As soon as I took one step down, the tears I have been holding up came streaming down my face. And for the first time, I fell in love with the veil that was covering my face. The cameras turned to look at the bride, and the uproar lulled to soft murmurs as the music poured from the speakers. I kept my face glued on the altar, not wanting to face anyone or anything because inside, I was breaking.

People wore bright smiles, and others whispered behind their palms while casting me disgusted glances. I kept going, one foot in front of the other. And at long last, I arrived at the altar where he took my hand gently. He was so gentle that I nearly jumped out of my skin. It was almost unbelievable. He stared at me with his blue eyes, and I felt the solid ground I was standing on grumbling.

When he reached for my veil, I shook my head slightly, hoping that he would understand. But of course, making me miserable was his only purpose in life. Now he did not just lift it, he made sure to yank it from my face revealing my fresh-tear-covered face. The smirk on his face was sickening.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here on this special day, to witness the joining of two lives. These two separate people have chosen this special place and time to be married to each other. The decision to marry is not entered lightly but rather undertaken with great consideration and respect for both the other person and oneself. You as friends and families can celebrate with Kayden and Skylar in the making of this important…”

“Sir, with all due respect, can you make it quick. I want her to be my wife quickly.” My chest clenched quickly at those words. While the whole audience fell into fits of laughter, a great wave of sadness washed over me, even when he turned to give me a dazzling smile.

He didn’t want vows, because they were not necessary. To him, I was just a business transaction, like any others he had settled before. So taking an oath of a lifelong commitment to someone he resented didn’t seem like a good idea. I felt it. More than anything, I felt it in my soul, every inch of my life.

~~~

 WOLF POV

“With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” 

Fuckin’ finally. It was done!

 I leaned to her and nearly puked when she looked at me with those puppy eyes. Instead of kissing her on the lips, I kissed her cheek and then beamed at her. She nodded softly at me before turning to face the audience, and then tried with all her might to put up a strong façade and smile at everyone.

Cheers broke as we took off from the altar, hand in hand. And everything about her felt so wrong. Hell, she was every damn thing that was wrong with America itself. And to call her my fuckin’ WIFE was nothing but a slap in the face. I am sure Samantha was turning in her grave.

If only she was here. My beautiful Sammy with the eyes of an angel! This day was supposed to be hers; she was supposed to be the one walking beside me. Not this…

“Can I not go to the reception?” Skylar called out, pulling me from my little bubble of happiness. If I didn’t hate her before, now I felt like clawing her eyes out and playing marbles with them.

“And why is that?” This was the first time I said anything to her. Literally the first I bothered opening my mouth to speak with her.

“I just… I know you’d rather be anywhere than sitting here and pretending to be a happy newlywed. So let’s save us both from the misery.” Her eyes were once again glossy, and I was shocked. Mostly by her audacity and bravery.

“You don’t understand the situation, do you?” I turned to look at her fully then twirled my hand to gesture for our car door to be opened. We were still in front of the paparazzi, so I had to put up my act,

“You are in no position to make any demands. We are in this position because you selfishly killed Samantha for God knows why, and had it not been for your rapacity, I wouldn't be here, and neither would you. So you are going to keep your little mouth shut, then sit back because that's what you should do.” Her face scrunched up in a pained look, and I didn’t give two shits. They always say the truth hurts; now I know how!

Everything I said was nothing but bitter truth. For whatever little mission she had on, she was probably cracking balls beneath those crocodile tears.

I took her hand and literally shoved her into the backseat of the, before climbing behind her. 

The ride back to the Smith Manor was filled with her silent cries and sniffles. If you were to give me a whole iron fence and tell me to bite it or sit in this car listening to the sound of her cries, I would gladly devour that fence!

But then again, she was my wife. Can life get more annoying?