Vanity

Bella

“You are now my wife, and I would appreciate it if you followed everything I have mentioned.” He replied again.

I stood still, like I was frozen because I realized I had signed the contract without reading. I didn't even bother going through what I scribbled my signature on.

“When would I get my copy of the contract papers?” I asked coldly, and he turned to me.

“And what…what would you need that for?” he asked, ignoring my question.

“Tell me if I will get my copy or not…” I retorted fiercely. I had nothing to lose anymore. I didn't read what was on those papers and after placing my signatures, the only favor I could do myself was reading it.

He was surprised at my reply. I mean, I looked timid. It almost felt like I could not speak if I had nothing to offer other than the name of being his wife or being called Mrs Blackwood.

“You'll get it after the Court marriage tomorrow,” he smirked, taking wide steps towards me.

“Court marriage? Valerie… She will find out,” I replied as I felt my heart falling into my chest, my fingers crossed as they became ice-cold.

Alexander chuckled like he had no manners “This is no secret marriage! If I'm making you mind, then the whole world must know,” he mentioned confidently.

“I didn't want to break her like this,” I wept.

“Really? Break? You are annoyingly innocent, but I just have one thing to tell you—It's all vanity!” He paused and looked around his mansion.

“Prepare for the wedding tomorrow, and I'll be back by morning,” he ordered after snapping his hands and working out.

I let out a heavy sigh, but I still felt like I was carrying multiple burdens on my back—burdens I had to let go.

There was nothing left to hide as it was. My condition was critical, and honestly, it was the only way I could save myself.

I didn't know how she was going to take it, or if it was going to change the good person she was.

“Vanity?” I muttered again, and how loud it sounded when it came from Alexander's mouth.

It felt like there was something I had no idea about, but when I scanned the past again, and again…I found nothing.

Valeria probably ignored me because I was dealing with so many problems. I mean, it was mostly at that stage that people cut people off.

Right?

It all brought me to why I was feeling bad about it. What worse thing could she hear than the fact that I was carrying Alexander's unborn child.

Till this moment, it felt like I had just got married to a stranger—the stranger you didn't know their names, you just saw them.

Fear gripped me as I took myself around the parts of the house I felt comfortable to enter.

I thought so hard about the decision I had to make concerning telling Alexander we were expecting a baby.

I imagined a lot in a split of seconds.

“What if Alex gets angry and his anger approaches him, having to make me get an abortion?”

“What if he denies that the unborn child I was carrying wasn't his..?”

“What if he maltreated my child?”

“What if I get ruined by Valerie?”

These thoughts sprinted through my head till I pushed through the main entrance of the bedroom.

Yes, there was a main entrance. It felt like a building for a business, not a home. The luxury was immaculate, but it was filled with emptiness.

“Mrs. Blackwood. I have been waiting for you,” the maid uttered, holding a couple of dresses and their hangers.

I snapped out of my thoughts and stared around, “Yes, I'm sorry about that. I was trying to do some things,” I replied, ignoring how awkward I sounded.

The dresses were complicated. Even if I wanted to try something of that sort, I knew it didn't have to be this wedding. It wasn't something to be happy for.

“I need something simple and comfortable. I don't need all of that,” I uttered, trying to give them a good mix of different impressions. I wasn't sure how it was going to go, but I had to do so to avoid any more problems.

“Alright, ma. We will sort out a dress before the early hours of tomorrow,” the maid replied succinctly as she crossed her hands in front and looked down.

I gave a vivid expression before she left the room. Immediately she left the room, I closed the door and I searched the entire room.

I was nervous and desperate. There had to be something I could find before tomorrow morning. I searched cautiously, but after about three hours, I saw nothing.

I was devastated, and I fell to the floor crying,“ I wish I hadn't even gone out that night to spend everything I had. I wish my father didn't die, leaving all the loans to me,” I cried bitterly, struggling to catch my breath as I looked at the time.

It was midnight.

I sniffed and struggled to pick myself up to freshen up so I could get some rest. I started looking at the brighter side of it—I wouldn't have to pay those loans. They were so much for me.

While I took a hot shower, I paused. I heard someone banging on the door. I was feeling frightened, but I suddenly remembered that it was the Blackwood Mansion.

Without thinking twice, I pulled the door open while I was fully covered in a bathroom robe.

I thought it was one of the mansion workers or the maid who attended to me. I thought the dress was ready and there was nothing more I was going to do than to accept what she brought.

I was shocked. It wasn't the maid, or the mansion workers.

As I opened the door, Alexander fell into my hands reeking of alcohol.

I was stunned, yet afraid because he mentioned he wasn't coming back tonight.

“I–I almost thought there was no one at home. I forgot that I'm a newlywed, and that I had to be with my wife tonight.”

Even when he was drunk, he only stammered, but tried to stand erect. He knew his environment, and it seemed like he was used to drinking and being all by himself.

I moved away, “I will get you a drink to help with your hangover tomorrow and maybe something you want to eat,” I replied, still moving away.

He took wide strides that he was very close to me. Unfortunately, I couldn't move backwards anymore because I reached a wall.

“Why would you want to get a drink or food to eat when you're here? I could eat you out, Bella. You are my wife, you are my hangover.”

He moved closer, and it made me confused. I was trapped because I had no idea about what I could do.