CHAPTER 5: THE GROOM

Wearing my classic aesthetic wedding dress, I stood frozen in the middle of the aisle as everything flashed back in my memory after I saw the familiar face of the man near the altar.

‘It cannot be,’ I murmured in disbelief while my heart was beating wildly in my chest. And as I looked at him, I felt as though time had slowed down. The sweet piece of music in the air earlier was now fading away while everything around us became blurry in my peripheral vision.

However, I couldn’t be wrong. How could I forget that exquisite face? His remarkable face that I dreamed about for several nights after our first encounter on the cruise ship.

It was him. It was indeed Leo King!

And… and he’s the groom?!

But how come? I could clearly remember the face of the man in the picture that Angela showed me. And it was definitely not him!

I was in a daze while my eyes were searching for the man in the picture that my twin sister showed me, thinking that I must be mistaken. That maybe the man standing near the altar was the best man or a closed relative. However, I couldn’t see the same image of the man or anyone that look like him.

‘Does it mean that Angela has a picture of a different man?’ I suspected. Then, my eyes darted again at Leo.

‘So, Leo and Leonardo are the same person.’ I concluded as I swallowed a lump in my throat.

I could feel the cold sweats on my soles while my heartbeat sped up even more at my realization.

'Is destiny playing games with me?' I asked myself, thinking of how unlucky I was to meet him again after our first encounter on the cruise ship. And the thought that he was going to marry my twin sister gave an inexplicable bitter feeling in my heart.

I suddenly hesitated if I would continue with the wedding or if I should just run away as I got worried about the possible consequences of this pretense, knowing he was the man that my twin sister would marry and the same man who took my first kiss.

'And what if he recognized me?' I anxiously questioned myself, recalling the shameful thing I did when I first met him.

My mind was telling me to back out but there was a small voice in my heart who wanted me to proceed.

I was so confused.

Mixed emotions filled my heart.

I only recovered my senses when I heard the voice of my best friend, Janice. She was sitting in a chair, a few meters away from me. I invited her with me since I needed some moral support on this day.

“What’s the matter, bestie?” She asked softly while waving her right hand at me.

I glanced at her and saw the concern in her eyes. So I gave her a gentle smile, reassuring her that I was fine. I didn’t want her to worry even though I was really nervous inside.

Taking a deep breath, I resumed walking down the aisle, ignoring all my worries.

‘So what if he recognized me? I didn’t owe him anything other than his hundred thousand dollars suit.’ I consoled myself.

But thinking of the intimate kiss we shared, I just wished that he would not remember me.

'Well, I was no longer the chubby Ashley he met before. Besides, it’s one year ago already. So, it’s possible that he already forgot about me,’ I silently uttered as I continued walking, convincing myself that everything would be alright.

However, my heart pounded again in my chest as I glanced once more at Leo King, who looked strikingly imposing while his sexy brown eyes were deeply staring at me like they were piercing into my soul.

‘Why is he staring at me like that?’ I mumbled in my mind, bothered that he would recognize me. Nonetheless, I kept my composure, thinking that I should not be affected by his penetrating gaze.

‘Well, it’s probably because I look so lovely today wearing my classic wedding dress. I’m sure he didn’t think that the bride, whom he neglected to meet, looked this beautiful as I do.’ I mumbled delightedly to myself to get rid of my uneasiness.

Then, I averted my eyes from him and occupied myself by observing the surroundings.

I noticed the simple decorations of the wedding venue. Simple, yet classy with those ivory flowers arched on the altar.

My sight also caught a few guests who would witness the wedding. They were all staring at me as I walked down the aisle.

Subsequently, I smiled thinly when my eyes met Sarah, Leo’s mom. She was beaming brightly at me, which gave me a little comfort.

I didn’t believe in the saying, ‘first impression lasts’, but when I first met her yesterday here in Southland, I had a feeling that we would get along well as I could sense that we have the same personality.

Isn’t it funny? I first met the mother-in-law before the groom.

Well, I actually didn’t expect anything from Leo. So for me, there’s no problem at all.

I recalled when Angela mentioned that he was busy with his work. Or he’s really not interested in meeting his bride before their wedding. I assumed.

Anyhow, he made my mission easier for me. I wished he would continue to be indifferent so that everything would go on smoothly as planned.

However, my anxiousness seemed to have increased when my eyes darted to Antonio King, Leonardo’s grandfather. Because, unlike Sarah, he looked formidable in his dark gray suit with his pursed lips and furrowed brows adding to his intimidating aura. So, I immediately took my eyes off of him.

Sarah told me that she would introduce me to him before the wedding ceremony began but he got busy with a phone call. Hence, I did not have the chance to talk to him.

Soon afterward, I reached the end of the aisle where Leo was waiting for me.

I gasped when he held my elbow and assisted me, not expecting his kind gesture.

But as soon as we both stood in the middle, he whispered in my ear, “Relax, I won’t eat you.”

I was shocked for a moment as I did not expect that he would notice my uneasiness. And when I glanced at him, I saw his annoying smirk.

Letting out a deep sigh, I smiled gently as I responded, “That's a relief. I was really worried for a moment. Thanks for sparing me!”

Then, I rolled my eyes at him.

His face suddenly turned sour when he heard my remarks. He was about to respond but the officiant came and started the wedding ceremony.

And as the ceremony continued, I began to relax as Leo didn’t speak anymore. He didn’t even glance at me.

I began to think that he probably didn’t recognize me as he didn’t mention anything about the past and was just silent even after the ceremony ended. But I hadn’t thought he was like the saying ‘the calm before the storm’.

Because as we got in the bridal car, he asked me in a deep cold voice, “You look familiar. Have we met before?”

My heart skipped a few beats, hearing his question. Was he starting to recognize me? So, he was silent the whole time because he was trying to remember me?

‘Then tell him that it’s Ashley, your twin sister. You’re now Angela, remember?’ My inner self suggested.

But no. He shouldn’t know about me having a twin. He shouldn’t know about me.

So, I quickly thought of an answer to his question. And in a snap, I could think of a good response.

“I wish we had met before so that I haven’t mistaken another man as my future husband,” I responded with a frown.

Of course, I was annoyed, thinking that he intentionally sent a photo of another man to my twin sister. What if Angela met that man by chance and approached him, knowing he was Leonardo King?

Leo’s brows furrowed while his jaw clenched. Then he leaned back on his seat.

“I guess I had mistaken you for someone. You sound familiar as well though.” He uttered, glancing at me.

I suddenly pinched my finger. ‘Why do I feel that he’s referring to our encounter on the cruise ship?’ I whispered in my mind.

“You sounded like my mom,” he added before he closed his eyes.

I was aware that it was not a compliment but I breathed a sigh of relief after hearing his remarks. Nevertheless, I didn’t respond anymore. I behaved like Angela before Leo confirmed his suspicion.