CHAPTER 5: How could you?

*ALANA*

       I had memorized exhaustive details about the man standing at the altar.

     The details Valentina had provided yet it felt as if I didn’t know him at all.

     Linda had said he was probably pot-bellied and ugly but the man at the alter stood tall and proud.

And even from behind my veil, I was struggling to believe he was the old man Patricia had talked about.

There was nothing old about him.

  As I got closer to the altar, from the side of my eye, I saw Julia sitting on the front row, Eugene was beside her.

I smiled.

Perfect.

  Because of the veil, she didn’t recognize me yet.

But don’t worry Julia, you’re going to recognize me when your father takes off my veil.

         Standing side by side with Manuel Buford, I stole a glance at him. He cut an imposing figure in his black tux.

     He was tall, a big man, broad shouldered and he held himself with a stiff proud posture. He was carelessly handsome.

   Our gazes clashed with a direct hit. His eyes were a striking, stormy gray and remarkably dispassionate.

         I hadn’t had much time to judge him face to face but so far at this altar, he was beyond hard to read.

He was utterly stoic, unemotional,cold.

   And if I had to guess at reading him just then, I’d say he was disinterested to the point of boredom.

      I looked away first. I was deep in my thoughts, but I didn’t miss a beat when I heard my cue.

       “I do.” The words left my lips with no hesitation.

Not so much as a catch in my breath.

His ‘I do’ was indolent to the point of defiance.

   I stole a glance at his face. He was looking at me. His eyelids were at half-mast over his stormy eyes.

As I watched, the boredom on his face turned to belligerence.

I swallowed hard. I’ve lost count of how many times I had swallowed since I met him this morning at the altar.

     I had heard stories about how cold and cruel he was but no one told me just his eyes could make you shiver all over even if I was on a freaking veil.

    I tried to calm down, still trying to assure myself that I could handle him, that I could handle this marriage.

      I was jolted out of my thoughts when the officiator pronounced us man and wife.

        “You may kiss the bride.”

  Stay calm, Alana.

Remember, you aren’t scared of anything anymore!

      I turned to kiss my groom, he closed the distance between us and took off my veil. I had to tilt my head back to look at his face.

Gosh, this man was rakishly handsome and very tall.

  He bent to me, the corner of his mouth twisting down just the tiniest bit.

  His lips looked soft and lush, but his eyes were hard.

     I closed mine, tilting my head up to seal the kiss, in fact, I felt like kissing him so deeply to spite Julia.

  

   But he pulled back as soon as lips touched. It was so brief.

    I blinked my eyes open, seeking his indifference gaze, but he didn’t look at me again. His eyes were on the cheering crowd.

I then turned, a triumphant smile on my face as I spun to Julia’s direction, making sure she saw me properly.

  Her eyes dilated and she and Eugene sprang up to their feet. I didn’t look away, I continued staring and smiling, watching as she blinked, rapidly as if refusing to believe what she was seeing.

Yeah, that was how I had refused to believe seeing her in bed with Eugene!

    Now, look at me, Julia. I just wedded your father. I just became your mother.

The satisfaction, joy and triumph I felt at this moment was indescribable.

Woah, I felt on top of the world. Who knew being mean could feel this amazing.

I was going to be very mean, manipulative, liar, I was going to do anything that would keep me feeling this way! That would keep me feeling on top.

        It seemed she had gone through all stages of disbelief and had finally accepted it was me and now, she was fuming, her fists were clenched, and she was looking around, fighting against causing a scene.

She knew better than anyone how strict her father was so she couldn’t dare cause a scene, her little boyfriend looked confused.

         Manuel placed my hand around his arm and he led me down the aisle, people clapped and cheered and we headed for the door.

I stayed smiling, smiling at all my haters. Even Patricia, Linda and Harold were staring at me confused.

       They definitely thought they had forced me into this and so I should look devastated but I was never going to give anyone the chance of seeing me in the state of devastation ever again.

        The wedding was a private ceremony. Valentina had said only families and few people from the high society were in attendance.

         The wedding reception was held at the big garden at moon Manor. The guests were dining and chatting. My husband barely said anything to me. He just simply held me as we associated with guests, slow danced and drank.

    Throughout the reception, I could tell Julia was all eyes on me, waiting for an opportunity to talk.

     The opportunity came when I retired to a quiet area and sat down because my legs were starting to hurt for being in heels, and I needed to calm my nerves.

   

      “What’s the meaning of this?!”

Hearing that tensed voice made me smile.

I lazily looked up at her. Eugene was standing beside her.

          “Meaning of what?”

          “What are you…how are you…?”

I leaned against the chair with great nonchalance.

            “Married to your father? It just happened.” I shrugged.

           “It doesn’t even make any sense. How did you…someone like you can’t even cross path with my Dad! Talk more of marrying him!”

         “And you said you loved me! But you’ve been planning on marrying Julia’s dad all along? Who even are you?!” Eugene shot at me.

I laughed. “Let me correct something, I never planned on marrying him. You two gave me no choice.”

Julia scoffed. “So…so this is your payback? Your revenge? Do you know who my dad is?”

I nodded. “I do. He’s my husband.”

            “You!” She looked like she was about to pounce on me but then noticed some people not far away.

            “I truly underestimated you. I never thought you could pull such a thing! How could you marry my dad?”

           “You’re not the only one who likes to have fun, Julia. I’m having fun right now, you know.” I taunted.

          “Let me make one thing clear. What happened between us only involves the three of us. You had no right to involve my dad! I don’t know what means you used in getting him. But consider this marriage canceled. I am going to go to my dad right now and make him throw you out like the worthless trash that you are!”