THE WEDDING 1

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Edward couldn't believe that his grandfather could threaten him because of his assets. He stood frozen, his fists tight, his grandfather's threat still ringing in the air.

Just then, quick footsteps came through the door.

Edward's mother and Mr wellington's daughter in law, Eliza, rushed in, her silk dress flowing as she went. She had heard their heated quarell from outside the door.

"Father, don't you think that's too much. she said, stepping between them, her hand on Edward's arm. "Threats on freezing his accounts and assets?"

Mr. Wellington snorted. "He caused a scandal. He needs to learn what responsibility is."

Eliza eyes dimmed. She knew her father in law, once he stood his ground, he wasn't going back on it.

"Responsibility is not forcing two people to marry because of a photo on the internet! Father, Edward is right. You can't do this. Who knows if that child kira did this whole scandal herself ??You can't just decide your grandson's fate in this way father!"

Mr. Wellington didn't bulge. He sat back down heavily in his leather chair, like a king on his territory.

"Eliza, dear. This is not your business. This is company matters."

"It IS my business! He is MY son and his marital life is not company matters father" Eliza's voice shook pleadingly.

There was a heavy silence in the room for a while. Mr wellington picked up his pipe from the side table next to him and a lighter. He took his time in lighting it up and afterwards took a long drag. He looked straight towards Edward.

"Get ready for your wedding in two days young man". He said lazily.

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*INT. DICKENS MANSION - CELESTE'S BEDROOM - 6:30 PM*

   Celeste sat on her bed,dazed,angry,frustrated.She shook her leg and furiously let out a loud scream.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh.....

She checked the trending news on the site again and her hold on her phone tightened.

BBC BREAKING: *WELLINGTON & DICKENS ANNOUNCE SECRET ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN EDWARD WELLINGTON AND KIRA DICKENS- WEDDING IN TWO DAYS*

 She threw her phone across the room and it smashed against the wall,the remains scattering across the room.

Celeste grabbed a handful of her hair as if to tear it out her head.

“NO! NO NO NO!”She kept repeating.

Earlier she had come across the press conference the wellington had released online and news about the upcoming wedding in two days.

#WellingtonDickensWedding

"#Kira and EDWARD WELLINGTON — the most eligible billionaire in London — engaged."

“HOW?! HOW?!”

She stood up, pacing, dragging her hair.

Her plan — HER PERFECT PLAN.

She had done everything!

  That evening in Grandpa Dicken's birthday,she had planned everything perfectly......

In Kira’s own room at The Corinthia, she had already paid Mr. Henderson —a old fat, perverted and greedy investor  20,000 pounds to wait naked on Kira’s bed.

She had tipped off that stupid server  to spike kira's drink, just a little, make her dizzy”_ — and after he did it, she sent him off. Gave him 50,000 pounds and put him on a train out of London that same night. Account loaded and no trace.

She had personally called the reporters that night— “Go to Room 406  at The Corinthia, 11 PM, you’ll get a scandal that involves the Dickens family.”

Everything was perfect!

So how — HOW — did Kira end up with Edward instead? How did the reporters end up going to Edward’s room, Room 409, instead of Kira’s room,Room 406 ? How did Kira — that .... that, that nobody — end up about to become Mrs. Edward Wellington?

“The scandal should have been with Henderson that old bastard! It should have been that old man!” she screamed, grabbing a vase from her table and smashing it against the wall.

SHATTER!

“This was supposed to be her disgrace! Not her engagement! NOT HER ENGAGEMENT!”

She dragged out her hair in frustration, her perfect makeup now smeared with tears,her lipstick and hair ruined. She kicked her vanity, bottles falling everywhere.

Her plan had fired. Backfired strongly.

And now, Kira — the girl she hated most — was about to become the most envied woman in London.

And she could do nothing.

***

Like two minutes,two days passed quickly in the blink of an eye.The long awaited days for the two dignitary family to be joined finally came.Just like mr wellington had wanted,there was only a few guests as it was a private wedding,but a lot of media.

Kira sat alone in the small waiting room.

The white dress was tight and heavy on her body,The wellingtons had sent it over just the night before. Her makeup was light , her hair was done and she looked utterly angelic but she was so nervous,her palms were sweating and her hands would not stop shaking.She stared at the floor all through.

She could hear the low murmurs of people from the wedding hall next door. Twenty people or there about. All here to watch her marry a man who they thought were engaged to her about six months ago.

The door opened.

A man in a black suit — one of Mr. Wellington's officials — peeped in. "Miss Dickens. It's time."

Her heart dropped.

She stood up slowly. Her legs felt like jelly. She held her small bouquet so tight her knuckles turned white and shakingly walked out of the room towards the hall.

At the entrance of the hall, Grandpa Dickens was waiting for her.

When he saw her, his eyes turned red.

"Oh, my Kira," he whispered. You look very beautiful.His voice was soft.

Kira wanted to cry,she felt has been feeling guilty for the trouble she had caused him.

"No tears my love".Grandpa cooed and she then held it in.

Grandpa took her hand. Hers was ice cold and his was warm. "I'm here. I will walk you, okay?"

She nodded.

The big doors opened.

Every guest head turned towards the door as Grandpa Dickens and kira walked in.

Edward was standing at the altar,he was wearing a black tux and had his hair styled differently.He looked every bit a perfect groom,handsome and a grand outfit, but his face was tight. He wasn't looking bright at all. His jaw was locked and his eyes dark and empty. He stared straight ahead, like he was forced to be there.

The moment Kira saw his face, chills ran down her entire body and her heart skipped.

Grandpa looked at her and walked her down the aisle slowly. Each step felt heavier. Kira couldn't breathe freely at all.

They stopped in front of Edward and Grandpa Dickens placed Kira's hand in Edward's. Edward's hand was cold.Very cold.

After Grandpa Dickens handed over his grand daughter,he walked back to his seat besides his old friend now becoming his inlaw,Mr wellington.

The priest stepped onto the podium to proceed with the vows as soon as possible.

Mr wellington had specifically asked that the wedding be brief,according to him so that the guest wouldn't have to sit for long.But the main reason was that he feared his grandson might do something regrettable if the wedding took a lot of his(Edward's)time.

The priest cleared his voice and began, His voice echoing in the silent hall.

"Kira Dickens, do you take Edward Wellington to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold,to love,cherish and respect,in sickness and in health ,for better or worse till death do you part ..."The priest asked.

Kira's voice was a whisper, "I... I do."

"Edward Wellington, do you take Kira Dickens to be your lawfully wedded wife,to have and to hold,to love cherish and respect,in sickness and in health,for better or worse,till death do you part..."The priest question came again,but directed at Edward.

There was a long pause. Edward's face was tighter now.

"I do," he finally said flatly.There was no emotion. Like he was signing a business paper.

"Let the rings be bought forward.The priest announced.

A young assistant stepped forward with the two sparkly and golden rings resting on a padded case.

The ring was presented to the couples.

"You may exchange wedding rings"The priest said.

Kira picked Edward's ring with shaky fingers and slipped it on quickly before she got clumsy.

Then it was Edward's turn.

He picked up the golden ring and took Kira's left hand — a bit roughly— and forced the ring down her finger.

It scraped her skin and it hurt. Kira flinched hard.

Unknowing to the guests, who thought it was a romantic moment and had started clapping, Edward was hurting her on purpose.

Kira looked up at him, eyes wide with pain.

And for a moment, their eyes locked.

And then she saw it clearly.

The extreme hate he had for her in his eyes. Pure, cold and undisguised Perhaps disgust too.

She shivered.

She was now Mrs. Wellington.