005

Inaya’s POV

My eyes looked at everyone in the hallway, who were patiently awaiting my response.

Whatever I do now will change my life, I don’t know if it’s for the better or the worse but I knew I wasn’t ready for that life. I needed to choose between my ego and my Mother’s life.

I clenched my teeth, “Get the doctor for Mother and get the stylist for me.”

“Inaya, I’m sorry,” Mother broke down in tears, “Forgive me, I’m sorry.”

“I understand,” I smiled halfheartedly at her, “I have a condition.”

“What?” Father hurriedly asked. I guess he didn’t want me to change my mind.

“Instead of a white wedding dress, I want a black wedding dress.” A white wedding dress signifies my happiness, but I wasn’t happy; I was mourning inside.

“Is it a wedding or a funeral?” Father questioned furiously.

“I have given my condition,” I said in a low tone.

Deep down, I wanted Father to disagree so I would be able to go back to my normal life, but things didn’t turn out that way. “Have a black ball gown and veil delivered in the next twenty minutes.”

“I will be in Karisa’s room,” I said and walked away.

I came to Karisa’s room because I didn’t want to wake my friends up, they must be very tired and wouldn’t even be sober enough to understand a thing.

I sat in front of the mirror as the stylist dressed me. I felt empty inside; this wasn’t what I wanted, this wasn’t what I planned for myself. I promise you Karisa, when I see you, I will beat you for ruining my life.

I looked in front of the mirror when they were done. I’m not going to lie, but the makeup was on point. I didn’t recognize myself in the black sleeveless ball gown; it complemented my skin. Not going to lie, I looked beautiful but I was empty and unrecognizable to myself.

“I hope you will forgive me,” I lifted my head and saw Mother standing behind me in the mirror.

“You can never do wrong in my eyes,” I smiled at her through the mirror, “Let’s go downstairs before we become emotional.”

“You really do have your way, everyone will be surprised to see you with a black dress, the first bride to wear a black dress,” Mother laughed to lighten the mood.

“They will think it’s Karisa wearing a black dress, she is about to be the talk of the town,” I laughed lightly as I stood up.

I didn’t want Mother to be bothered by me, so I kept a forced smile on my face. “You look beautiful,” She complimented as she dropped the veil over my face.

“Aren’t your friends coming?” Mother handed me the bouquet of roses.

“Let them rest, they aren’t sober enough for this, and I will tell them everything when they wake up.” I hugged her before I led the way out of the room.

Whispers danced around the garden as I walked beside Father, “A black gown? You will be the talk of the town,” Father whispered to me with amusement.

“Not me, Karisa,” I replied sternly, I wasn’t smiling with him.

Father placed my hand on a man’s hand whom I assumed to be Beckham Henderson when we got to the altar.

I was told not to raise my head, I was told not to speak too much so he wouldn’t notice that it wasn’t Karisa under the veil.

I haven’t even seen his face but I already hate his perfume. Mr Beckham has to change that perfume, it reminded me so much of that annoying man. I can’t inhale that perfume in school and still come home to that same perfume.

“I thought my bride would wear a beautiful white gown, but a black gown, you really do surprise me, and it looks angelic,” Mr Beckham laughed lightly.

I rolled my eyes physically. Poor man must really like Karisa. I wonder what he will do when he realizes that I’m not Karisa.

I paused my lip under my veil. That voice was very familiar; I hadn’t met Beckham before, but I was sure I had heard his voice before. I was so sure I had heard it, I don’t know where I had heard that voice, but I was so sure about it.

I tried to take a peek, but he was tall and I couldn’t afford to raise my head higher than this. I nodded my head to everything the priest was saying even though I wasn’t listening.

“Mr Beckham Henderson, do you take Miss Karisa Valentino as your lawful wedded wife?” The priest asked.

Beckham answered in a calm voice as he put the ring on my finger. I looked at the ring with pitiful eyes. It was a beautiful ring but it wasn’t with the rightful owner.

I scoffed mentally, “Mrs Karisa Valentino, do you take Mr Beckham Henderson as your lawful wedded husband?” The priest asked.

I was hesitant, I looked around hoping Karisa would come running down to stop the wedding, “Mrs Karisa?” The priest called again.

“I….. I… do,” I answered, and my shaking hands put the ring on Beckham’s finger.

“Are you good?” Beckham asked out of concern, “Did you drink?”

I shook my head to both questions. No matter how I tried to think about it this voice sounded like pain to my ears. It was oddly familiar.

“The exchange of the ring and the vows are done, now the bride and the groom may share their first kiss,” The priest said and the crowd cheered.

My heart stopped, and my body began to shake out of fear. I was never scared but this was the big reveal I feared. “What will happen? What will people say? What will Mr Beckham do? What will the Hendersons do? We are already married but still,”

Those words played in my head as Mr Beckham’s hand drew closer to remove the veil. I shut my eyes tight as both hands held my dress by the side waiting for Mr Beckham’s reaction.

The cool evening breeze hit my face which meant Mr Beckham had opened my veil, “Inaya….” That voice calling my name was already engraved in my head.

I have started hearing things, I laughed at myself as I opened my eyes.

The laughter immediately wiped off my face, “Sir?”