4.

Lyra ran out of the house like a crazy person with her phone only. The families had already planned everything, including the wedding venue so she knew the wedding venue beforehand.

Lyra took a cab to the wedding venue. Everything was a bit strange than what she had imagined.

The reporters and journalists perching around the venue made Lyra curious about what was happening inside.

Luxurious cars were parked before the venue and important people attended. Lyra is from a middle-class family, they have no connection with influential and wealthy people.

Lyra began to wonder if she was in the right place, she took quick steps into the hall with a frown on her face.

Fortunately, the bride and the groom aren't called out yet.“Lyra, where have you been?”Lyra's mother, Elsa spotted her in between the moving crowd.

“Oh, mother,” Lyra ran towards Elsa, pulling her into an embrace. Elsa jerked for an instant.

“Where did you spend the night? This was the reason I was against throwing a birthday party,” Elsa numbered, worried about her daughter's well-being.

“Hmm…” Lyra stammered, unsure if she should spill the beans or not.

Elsa creased her brows, she understood the expression on her daughter's face.

“We would talk about this, after Piper's marriage,” Elsa scolded with a frown, walking into an inner room.

Lyra followed, “Mum, I am sorry. Erm…I have something to tell you about Piper's wedding ceremony.”

Elsa stopped, and she turned with her glare darted at Lyra.

“I don't want to hear anything contrary to this marriage. She must get married to that influential man. Be prepared, you will be in your wedding dress too,” Elsa said in an authoritative tone.

Elsa is a single mother raising two grown-up ladies on her own.

Elsa didn't want them to end up like her - single and with a runaway spouse after her pregnancy was confirmed. She believes having an arranged marriage for her kids was the right option.

“This my life, mum. I can't get married to a man I haven't set my eyes off. Let's call it off,” Piper interrupted as she walked closer in her white wedding dress.

Piper's puffy eyes and the bags underneath her eyes made Lyra realize she had cried all day.

“Don't panic, you will see your Romeo on the wedding altar,” Elsa said, patting Piper's back.

“I don't want this marriage. I would reject him on the Altar,” Piper commented.

“One of my daughters must get married today else I will hurt myself,” Elsa threatened with her eyes filled with tears, she lowered her gaze to prevent Piper from seeing those watery eyes.

“Lyra, get her ready. It's almost time for the wedding nuptials,” Elsa walked out of the room to take care of other stuff.

Piper broke into tears, ruining her recently applied heavy makeup. “Help me, Lyra. Help me run away, ”Lyra sobbed, pulling off the veil pinned on her head.

Lyra turned away, her lips pursed into a rounded shape.

“I'm sorry, I won't be involved in this,” Lyra said, she paused, taking in a deep breath to continue, “Apply more makeup to cover up those puffy eyes, you need to look great in your wedding dress,” her lips trembled as she lowered her head.

Piper stepped back and threw herself onto a couch, her jaw dropped and her eyes flashed at Lyra in disbelief. “I thought you understood me,” her shaky voice let out.

“Don't be selfish. Mum might hurt herself if the wedding doesn't take place.”

“I don't fucking care about anyone! This is my life, everything is happening too soon. I don't want this,” Piper wailed with her head buried in her hands.

Lyra walked out of the room before the swelling tears in her eyes fell.

For the first time, Lyra couldn't take a stand for her little sister, her hands were practically tied. Calling off the wedding wasn't an option. Piper has to get married as per Elsa's declaration.

Lyra moved to the wedding hall with a tight-lipped smile. She smirked as she noticed the first row on the right-hand side empty which was meant for the groom and his parents.

There was a little hope that the wedding might not take place.

Soon, the bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle, typically paired to buy more time for the groom and his parents who claimed they were on their way.

Lyra rolled her eyes and her forehead crinkled as she sighted Diana among the bridesmaids. “That asshole! She had the gut to come over after having a fling with Liam,” she said beneath her breath, holding her fuming anger with a chuckle.

Elsa distracted Lyra's glare away from the bridesmaids.“Lyra? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to help Piper dress up?”

“Be calm, Mum. Everything would be alright,” Lyra assured with a forced smile.

Elsa took quick steps to the room to check on Piper, the door was locked from inside. She struggled to unlock the door by twisting the door knob.

“Piper? Come out now. Your in-laws are on their way,” Elsa shouted, violently knocking on the door.

Lyra interfered, “Mum, I got this under control.” Elsa made way for Lyra, she twisted the door knob violently to get in.

Elsa received a message on her phone which was from the groom's family. A smile appeared on her face as she read the message from her phone.

“Talk some senses to Piper, the Monroes are here,” Elsa said. She left to give the Monroes a special greeting.

The doorknob broke and the door finally opened. Lyra barged in, her eyes scanning the room. “Piper? Your groom has arrived,” Lyra shouted.

Lyra became uneasy, she couldn't find Piper in the room. Piper's white wedding dress was on the couch and a note was on the mirror stand.

Lyra started searching every hook and nook in case Piper was hiding.

Her eyes fell on the bed covers tied together as a rope against an opened window. Piper has run off.

Lyra slammed her clenched fist against the wall, frowning, “Damn!”

After the conversation they had, Piper still ran away on her wedding day.

Lyra sat on the couch, massaging her temples. How would she tell everyone about the runaway bride? “Calm down, Lyra. Calm down,” she mumbled.

She exhaled deeply, her breath making a puff in the air as she grabbed the note on the mirror stand. “I'm sorry, guys. I can't dump my lover for an unknown man,” she read Piper's written message.

With her lips pressed, she squeezed the note and tossed it against the wall. “What on earth was she thinking? How could she do this to us?” Lyra yelled, her nostrils flaring with anger.

“I need to fix this,” Lyra thought, her stare glued to the white wedding dress on the bed. Without thinking twice, Lyra puts on the wedding dress with a white veil covering her face. She packed her hair just like Piper did.

“I hope no one will find out about this,” Lyra prayed, rubbing her sweaty palms together. She believed she could protect her family's reputation by pretending to be the runaway's bride. By being the Runaway's Replacement.

“Piper. Your Groom is on the altar,” A bridesmaid called out in a low tone. Lyra stood tall, she made firm and precise movements, walking to the wedding hall.

Lyra made her entrance escorted by her Godfather who gave her away to the groom at the altar.

The groom was at the altar, waiting for his bride with a smile plastered on his face. The bride and groom stood in front of the officiant, facing each other and holding hands.

“What took you so long, Love?” The groom said, his tone was sweet and calm.

The groom didn't want to mention his bride's name because he knew nothing about her, not even her name. He's desperate to get married.

All the groom wanted was to have a responsible wife and gain a reputable position in his father's companies.

His voice was a bit familiar to Lyra but she had ignored it.

Lyra ducked her head, facing the floor to prevent the groom from noticing that she wasn't the original bride, Piper.

The wedding officiant spoke, “Do you Mr. Harrison take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in harmony, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold, until you are parted to death?”

Harrison inhaled deeply with a smile, “I do.”

“Could it be that perv?” Lyra thought, unable to raise her head and take a look at his face.

“It can't be! That arrogant fool can't come to my Mum for Piper's hand in marriage and get accepted. Besides he's not the only man with the name Harrison,” Lyra said inwardly.

The wedding officiant turned to Lyra who was in the veil, “Do you, Miss. Hart, take Mr. Harrison to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Lyra slightly raised her head, looking at the sea of faces through the veil. “This is the time to reject this shit, okay?” she thought.

Murmurs filled the room as Lyra refused to talk.“Ermm…” Lyra's heart raced.

Harrison's brows are rugged. He moved closer to her and whispered in her ear, “Say yes, what are you waiting for?”

“I do,” Lyra shouted with her eyes slammed shut. It was too late to back out.

“You can now exchange the rings as a symbol of the promises you made today,” the wedding officiant said.

The best man stretched the wedding ring to Harrison. Harrison gently held Lyra's hand in his. Disapproval gleamed in his eyes as he set an eye on an engagement room on his bride's finger.

Harrison removed the engagement ring and inserted his ring in Lyra's finger and Lyra did the same. Lyra wasn't bothered about her engagement ring, she wanted to toss it into the fire anyway.

The exchanged ring was more like a burden to Lyra but she had to endure.

“Well, now in front of your friends and family and the authority given to me by the state, I pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride,” the wedding officiant's voice became more audible.

The groom pulled her closer, grabbed her by the waist, and pulled up her veil. Their brows cocked in surprise as their eyes met.