Chapter 1: Nothernham Chapel where it begins
The Chapel seats are filled with the wealthiest and most influential people in Northenham. The enagagement between the Colberts and Greens, The two most powerful families, is something that made rounds in the news for months. Some reporters call it the formidable alliance, with one Family controlling Politics and the other controlling the agricultural sector in the whole of Northenham
It's almost time for the processions to start and Renae is nowhere to be seen. My tummy is a ball of nerves, my palm sweating and my red silk dress feeling tighter than it should be as Mrs Moreen Colbert's eyes keeps darting to me every now and then. I tremble when anyone looks at me not because I'm anti social but because I feel like if they look enough, they'll come to know what I'd done before coming here.
" The guests seem to be growing impatient" My brother, Nathan announces when he comes into the waiting room
My Dad pinches his forehead clearly frustrated and annoyed, "I'll go call your mother again" and with that he steps out of the room.
Mrs Moreen turns to me again with an impatient smile on her face this time "How old are you sweetheart" she asks
I fidget with the decorative ring on my finger "I'm twen. . . twenty one" I manage to say despite my lump in my throat.
"Pefect" she says
Dad walks into the room but before He can give another excuse, Mrs Moreen announces that I'll be replacing my sister at the altar. My face falls in horror and I instinctively go over to my Dad and hide behind him. I didn't want to get married and most certainly not to Stephen Colbert, the man my sister was betrothed to. He was ruthless in his approach to the matters of life, he desired perfection and I was nothing close to perfect but my sister on the other hand was raised to be his perfect wife. I could already see my life as a deserted lonely wife play in front of me and I didn’t want that for myself. I remember my mum's constant reminder " Never take what belongs to your sister cause if you do, I'll never forgive you"
Those words replaying in my head washes me with guilt, I didn't want my mum to detest me more than she already did.
My Dad shakes his head in protest.
"Sally cannot replace Renae. The deal was a marriage between Renae and Stephen, not Sally. Sally is still young and has not been trained to be a proper wife yet" Daddy puts his arm around my shoulder and gives me a reassuring squeeze.
Mrs Moreen still seems unmoved, she whispers something to her assistant before turning to Dad
" We had every thing prepared already but your wife insisted on having the glam done at home, The wedding procession is suppose to start in 10 minutes but the said bride is not here" She frowns and crosses her arms over her chest
"I have everything under control, Moreen" Dad says, his voice tight
She scoffs "Do you?, then where is your eldest daughter?"
"Not here" she answers before Dad can say a word, "Colberts have a reputation of keeping to time and that will not change today. Your daughter might be "young" but she's still an eligible candidate, my son is only thirteen years older than she is and that's not a problem"
I flinch at the mention of the age difference
" I assure you tha . . "
"Why the delay when there's a bride here" Mr Thompson Colbert, Stephen's Grandad enters the room. He's in a tailored burundy suit, his grey hair tied tightly at his nape and he has a cane beside him to support his steps, behind him is Mrs Moreen's assistant wheeling in a beautiful wedding dress, it looked like it was handmade for a fairy, not me. My heart drops to my stomach.
Dad opens his mouth to protest but decides against it when Mr Thompson shoots him a glare. Mr Thompson might've handed over his power to his Grandson a long time ago but his eyes still commanded authority. He still had power over the people of Northenham despite being weak and old.
"The agreement was that a daughter of your family marries my boy and Sally is also a legitimate child of your family, so why can't she marry my boy?" Mr Thompson says calmly
I look at my father desperately hoping that he'll have something to stay but he stays silent, his face a mask of defeat, I turn to look at Nathan who has been silent the entire time but he looks away. This is my fate?
"Being a wife is not hard, she'll mold into into it" a smile plays on his face
And just like that, I'm in a white dress walking down the aisle instead of my sister.
The wedding goes by in a blur and nervous wrecks keep exploding in my tummy from time to time, I want to throw up while saying my vows but I have to keep it together and avoid Stephen's emotionless gaze the entire time.
"You may kiss the bride" the priest announces and my cheeks heat up, I know I look as red as a tomato but that doesn't stop Stephen from pulling me closer by my waist and giving me a quick kiss on the lips.
I can't tell how he's feeling at the moment, marrying me instead of my sister but I know I'm feeling sick right now. If he's pissed, he's not showing it. His face is a mask of nothingness but those eyes still sends chill down my spine.
After the ceremony ends, I immediately go back to the waiting room for an alone time but I walk into Mum pacing the room and Renae sitting in tears, The look of betrayal on her face guts me.
"Mum, Renae, I. . . I . . ca. . . " a sharp slap cuts through the air, my right cheek burns from the intense pain
"You cunning fox" she tries to slap me again but my Dad enters the room just in time to stop her and I hide behind him
"What is wrong with you Gisele?" He yells at mum before turning to assess the damage done to my face, "You've gone too far?"
Mum scoffs "I've gone too far?, your cunning daughter is the reason why her sister was late for the wedding"
She continues "I never wanted this child but you forced me to keep her and look, she destroyed my daughter's wedding"
Dad turns to me with a questioning look, I say nothing but shake my head in disagreement, locked in tears spilling down my face.
"She poisoned her sister, she poisoned her sister so she could replace her and have her life" Mum's accusing fingers point straight at me