chapter 5

Today is my wedding day.

Finally, the long awaited day has finally come.

I’ve been dreading this day all week and at the same time also praying for it to come sooner so I could get it over with and put it behind me.

I sat in the bridal chair in my hotel room as the hairstylist my mother had booked for today worked on my hair, and my makeup was already done.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t hear my mother call out my name until the hair stylist tapped me softly, snapping me back to the present while walking away.

I was already in a bad mood as I woke up earlier than usual today, which was something I never liked doing.

I just needed my best friends to make me feel better. Only them knew how to lift my spirits up.

“Ohh, yes mum, you called me, is there any problem?”I said, looking at her, realizing that I had kept her standing at the door as I was lost in my thoughts.

“Nothing, I just wanted to know if you were done with dressing up," she said while coming closer to take a good look at me”.

A minute later, she started crying, “you look fabulous, Kiana”, My mother said, holding my hands in hers.

“Thank you mum” I said, my lips barely moving. "Where are my friends"?, I asked, still looking at the door.

The door swung open, and in came my best friends. Zoe came rushing to hug me with Asher and Calvin behind.

“Hiii, my love, congratulations!"she said happily while handing me a bouquet of tulip flowers.

“Hiii, Zoe”, I replied, then turned to look and acknowledge Calvin, “I didn’t think you would come”, I said to him.

“We are friends, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. We may have broken up, but we were friends first”.

Zoe and Asher shared a glance, noticing the weird tension in the air.

My mother cleared her throat, making her presence known.

“Hello, Mrs James”, Zoe and Asher said in unison. "Hello Mrs James," Calvin said as he nodded to her.

"Hi guys, I am going to leave you guys to chat," she said as she left the room.

“So have you seen the groom”, Zoe said as she sat down on the bed, Asher still standing and Calvin not moving an inch from his spot.

No, I haven’t seen him yet, I guess I’ll see him when I’am walking down the aisle or at the altar, I said as I stood up to wear my dress.

Looking at everyone in the room, I said, “I would like to change into my dress now. Can everyone please leave the room except Zoe?.

As they all left I broke down crying, while raising up my head to avoid ruining my makeup from crying “I am scared Zoe, what if this life I am getting into is going to turn out to be hell on earth for me”.

“Shhhh, it's okay, you have to remember why you’re doing this in the first place and who you’re doing it for”, she said as she picked up tissue paper from its box, carefully dabbing my tears. “If you still change your mind, I will still support you nonetheless”.

I stopped crying, and checked myself in the mirror, I still looked as good as new, with no smudged makeup, “thank God for waterproof mascara” I said out loud, and Zoe smiled still helping me wipe my tears.

“I’m ready to do this, let's go”, I said while holding hands as we left the room for the wedding hall.

Zoe handed me over to my father as she went to sit down. My dad kept apologizing as soon as he held my hands, I am so so sorry for this.

“It's okay, dad, let's do this”, I replied, wanting to end the event.

As we walked down the aisle, all eyes turned to look at me, I knew I looked good just from their reactions.

I am dressed in a sleek mermaid wedding dress, with a thin strip on one side and small delicate flowers embedded in it. While the rest of the dress gave an elegant look, I felt the cold air from the slit in the gown dress.

The veil, though long was also flowy, I was in love with the veil as it made the dress look even more beautiful.

I took in deep breaths as we walked down the aisle, my feet killing me from the height of the heels, my hands holding the wedding bouquet tight.

I knew it was my husband to be Alexandria Cartwright who had planned this wedding, we reached the end of the aisle and I raised my head up my eyes meeting the most beautiful face I had ever see.

My breath seized for a moment, my God he was handsome, tall, and muscular. He had the jaw that was lined to the Gods, his eyes a deep blue colour that you could get lost in.

With determination on his face, like he won or something, or maybe it was happiness, I just couldn't see through him.

If only he wasn’t so dangerous, I wouldn’t have minded the thought of getting married to him.

My father handed me over to him,and I watched as he went to take a seat beside my mother, who was holding my brother.

I turned to look at Alexandria, who nodded slightly to the priest, giving him the signal to start.

I was lost in thoughts throughout the whole process, with just the wedding vows bringing me back to reality.

Before I knew it, he was saying I do while sliding a diamond ring onto my index finger. Then the priest turned towards me, reciting the same wedding vows, I looked at my parents once again before saying I do and slid the ring unto his finger.

“I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride”, the priest said as he smiled.

I didn’t look forward to it, so we just settled at giving each other a slight peck on the cheek.

Everyone stood up, clapping, happy for us, while in my mind I knew there was no going back, I was trapped, and I forced a smile throughout the wedding as my mind blacked out.

The wedding finally came to an end after a long and exhausting day, then it was time for me to go to my new home.

I braced myself for what was to come as a new wife.

I was no longer Kiana Elizabeth James, but now Mrs. Kiana Elizabeth Cartwright.