Bella POV
Bella sucked in a breath and took a step forward into the cathedral, her eyes absently scanning the crowd for familiar faces. They landed on Gina, who stared back at her blankly, her jealousy and disgust evident in her hostile expression.
Looking away, she slowly put one foot in front of the other, moving slowly towards the altar like Bridget instructed.
She switched her focus to the groom and saw him spot a small smile while subtly checking his watch. It still surprised her how calm and pretentious he could be, after what happened the previous night.
"I saw you with a woman earlier on," she had mentioned the previous night, right after the engagement party.
"So?" His tone was expressionless, and Bella frowned slightly.
"You were kissing and rubbing each other," she pointed out, surprised at Austen's nonchalance.
He looked at her for a moment and sighed, dropping his phone. "Bella, you do realize this is not real, right? So, you can't dictate what I can and cannot do."
"But... you're... we..." she stuttered, lost for words. Was he trying to say, "
As if reading her thoughts, he shrugged and said, "You can be with other men if you want, you know."
Now, she stared back at him and tried to smile as she walked on, posing for the unsuspecting guests armed with cameras and notebooks.
Finally, she reached the altar and heaved a sigh of despair as the bridal train let go of the gown, and Austen clasped her hand with urgency.
Immediately after the priest made the sign of the cross, which she dutifully performed, and began to speak, Bella tuned her brain towards her father's current condition. With the deposit Austen made, he was wheeled into the surgery room. Happy tears immediately pooled in her eyes.
With nothing else to do, she glanced back at the priest, a dark man with full beards who was speaking intently on marriage vows. She sighed and tuned out again, focusing instead on counting the bulbs of the high ceiling chandeliers.
After a while, he beckoned to the soon-to-be couple and made them kneel to receive blessings. Unlike in the movies, he skipped the part about exchanging personal vows, and moved straight to the exchange of wedding rings.
Of course, he turned to the groom first and asked,
"Austen Trevor, do you take Isabella Williams to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love and to hold, to cherish and to protect, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"
The whole church went dead silent, and Bella glanced at the man who almost hit her. The entitled, arrogant, and unfairly handsome man she barely knew. The man she was about to sign a marriage contract with.
"Yes," he answered immediately, smiling at the crowd. For effect.
"Isabella Williams, do you take Austen Trevor to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love and to hold, to cherish and to protect, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"
She nearly shook her head. Apart from 'lawfully wedded wife' and the riches part, nothing else held any weight. She was about to defy her beliefs and enter a contract marriage for money.
Her value and freedom, bought by money and fame, are sure to end in separation. Bella felt my spirits dampen.
"Miss Bella?" She heard her name, thankfully not the full version, and turned to look at the priest, who was still waiting for a response.
"What? Yes, I take Austen to be my husband," she faintly responded, feeling a bitter taste in her mouth as the crowd erupted in applause.
The priest grinned and lifted up his hands, "With no further delay, I pronounce you husband and wife. Thanks be to God."
The man continued, oblivious to the sin involved in keeping up the sham, "You may now kiss the bride."
She froze up instantly and widened her eyes but before she could respond, Austen leaned over and pecked her softly on the lips. The same mouth he used to slobber saliva all over another woman barely twelve hours ago.
As they dished out congratulations, Bella smiled softly and tried to avoid the eyes of her former employers. From experience, she knew they felt like strangling her but instead Gina and her came over with fake smiles plastered on their faces.
"Congrats, darling," the red-haired woman said as she enveloped her in a hug. Feeling uncomfortable, she pushed back, but the woman held on.
"Just don't forget your place. You're a mere cook, and when he tires of you, we'll be here." She let go of me, still holding a perfect smile.
Feeling the pressure, Bella walked away to where Austen stood, still talking, and put on the best forlorn face of a new bride who needed to be with her groom.
"Honey, let's go take a few pictures," she boldly suggested, holding his hand while glancing over to smile at the men.
"Thank you for coming. You understand we have to…," She trailed off, layering on the sweetness she reserved for dealing with children.
"Yes of course. It's your big day," one of the men responded, urging them to move along. As they walked away, he called out, "Everyone of us is happy now, Austen."
They took a few pictures, and by the end of it, Bella's cheeks hurt and the end of her four-inch heels had begun to bite into her feet. She hated acting.
A Ferrari drove into the hall, stopping right where she stood with her husband. He made a show of grinning as he opened the passenger door for her, bending to plant another quick peck on her lips before getting into the driver seat.
Out of habit, she buckled up and waved at the crowd as Austen revved up the engine and drove us away.
"I'll transfer a part of the money to your account tomorrow," He said curtly, putting a black shade over his eyes as he turned into a high fenced building.
Bella nodded eagerly, and turned to smile at the private jet waiting for their arrival. From where she sat, being the Mrs. of a billionaire did not look bad at all.