Chapter 2 - A disastrous choice

Alexandra’s heart jumped into her mouth as she staggered back, pulling Kevin behind her instantly. They could hurt her but not Kevin.

“Is he your lover?” Charlotte's sinister voice came from behind them. “Did you pick him from the gutter or what? How can someone stink this much?” She added, covering her nose.

The whip circled around her arm before she could even talk. 

“I asked you a question, Alexandra Gary.” Robert reminded her, raising the whip again.

Alexandra pressed her lips again, closing her eyes as she stood firmly before Kevin. He could go ahead to kill her if that would make him happy.

“Sieze the lover since she doesn't want to talk.” Charlotte suggested, walking towards Robert.

Alexandra's eyes snapped open instantly. “Don't touch him!” She yelled, pushing Kevin behind her.

Seize him,” Robert ordered the bodyguards who walked briskly towards him.

Alexandra quickly blocked them. “No! No! Don't touch him!” 

But they shoved her aside, grabbing Kevin tightly like a criminal and gagging his mouth in a matter of seconds.

Alexandra rushed towards Robert, falling to her knees as tears fell freely from her eyes. “Father, ple-please let him go.” 

“How dare you bring your lover to the mansion?” Melissa hissed, grabbing her hair. “Do you wish to drag Gary's name to the mud?” 

“Mother, please, he has nothing to do with this.” Alexandra cried, struggling to free her hair.

“Are you sure? Isn't he the reason you refused to marry Bryan?” Charlotte asked, hitting the hammer on the nail.

“No…no,” Alexandra shook her head, crawling on her knees. “Father! Mother! It's not because of him, I just don't love Bryan.” 

“Love?” Melissa repeated, grabbing her hair tighter. “That's a luxury you can't afford.”

Alexandra's tears fell heavily. “Can't… can't I really afford it?” She sobbed under her breath when suddenly something clicked in her mind.

“Father, why don't you allow Charlotte to marry Bryan? She had always loved him since childhood.” 

Melissa's hand came in contact sharply with her face as she shoved her to the floor. “Have you gone insane? Can't you see that your sister is still young?” 

Alexandra turned sharply to Charlotte, kowtowing continuously. “You wanted me to kowtow to you, remember? You can tell them how much you love Bryan and let me be with Kevin. Please, I'm begging you.” 

“I can let go of him if that's what you want?” Robert suddenly said, squatting to her level on the floor. 

Alexandra's eyes suddenly lit up. “Really?” 

“That's if you marry Bryan,” he said, brushing her hair softly. “You want to save your lover and I need to save my company. I hope you don't think father is wicked?” 

Alexandra's heart stuttered, her face going pale. What was she thinking that he would save her?

“You don't want to?” Robert asked, rising to his feet. “Then you leave me with no other choice. Beat him to death.” He instructed the bodyguards.

Alexandra's stomach dropped, colour draining out of her face as she watched them toss Kevin to the floor and stomp on him like a sack of potatoes. His innocent brown eyes were staring at her, calling her and begging her to save him.

“I'll marry Bryan,” Alexandra blurted, her eyes swimming with tears.

“That's my girl,” Robert clapped, turning to the maids. “Take her to dress up.” 

“Father, you… you promised to let him go.” Alexandra’s voice cracked as she pointed at Kevin who was still stomped on.

“You didn't accept my offer when I asked you to, remember?” He snickered, turning back to the maids. “What are you waiting for? Drag her away.”

“Father! Mother! Charlotte! Please!!!” She called helplessly as she was dragged away but they didn't care about her… they never did.

***

Hours later, Alexandra dragged her heavy feet towards the altar heavily dressed in a white wedding gown. The marks on her body have been neatly concealed with makeup.

Her heart was heavy as she stared at Bryan, her supposed husband who stood slightly slugged at the altar. Was she never going to have her happy ending in this life? 

“The bride is here!” A sharp voice announced as everyone's eyes shifted to her direction.

“Smile if you don't want to receive your lover's corpse tomorrow morning,” Robert threatened her slowly, a wide smile on his face as he walked beside her.

Alexandra forced a smile onto her face, lowering her eyes to avoid the stares from the crowd.

We arrived at the altar in seconds and Robert placed my hand onto Bryan's hand before stepping aside.

“Charlotte, we're finally getting married.” Bryan said, patting Alexandra's hand gently.

His voice was loud enough for the whole crowd to hear through the hall into murmurs. He was obviously drunk yet they dragged him to the altar.

“Silence!” the voice from earlier ordered and the room fell into silence instantly.

“Alexandra Gary, Do you take Bryan White as your lawfully wedded husband?” The priest asked, staring at Alexandra.

She set her lips in a hard line, swallowing the urge to throw away the veil and yell a NO!!! at the priest but Kevin was still in Robert’s possession.

“Yes, I do.” She whispered, uncertain of her own voice.

The priest turned towards Bryan. “Bryan White, do you take Alexandra Gary as your lawfully wedded wife?” 

Bryan nodded with a smile. “I will always take Charlotte as my wife.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd again.

“Who's Charlotte?”

“Isn't that the second daughter of the Gary's?”

“Does that mean she stole her younger sister's wedding?”

“How disgusting of her?”

“Does she think Mr. White would love her for that?”

“The new couples can now exchange rings,” the priest said, stretching out two rings.

Bryan grabbed it quickly and slid into her left hand. “I'm so happy, you're finally my wife.” he gushed, forcing tears rushing down Alexandra's eyes.

She wasn't Charlotte. Even the ring could testify it because it was too big for her fingers but she wiped off her tears, sliding his ring into his fingers. “I'm happy too, Bry-Bryan.” she lied, her heart shattering into a thousand pieces over and over again.

“You may now kiss the bride,” the priest's voice came again.

Alexandra didn't move as Bryan lifted his veil and slammed his cold lips onto hers.