The day arrived. I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. The wedding dress was beautiful, a pristine white gown with delicate lace and intricate beadwork. But I felt like an imposter wearing it. This wasn't a fairy tale; it was a nightmare.
The door opened and Silvia walked in, her expression a mix of curiosity and smug satisfaction. "You look… lovely," she said, her voice laced with insincerity."
I forced a smile. "Thank you, Silvia."
She stepped closer, adjusting the veil on my head. "Are you ready to become Mrs. Ambrose?"
I swallowed hard, trying to suppress the rising panic. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Silvia's eyes gleamed with a hint of malice. "Remember, Katie, this is your duty. Don't embarrass the family."
"I won't," I replied, my voice barely a whisper.
With a final smirk, Silvia left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. This was it. There was no turning back now.
The ceremony was a blur. I walked down the aisle, my father's arm stiffly supporting me. The guests turned to look, their faces a mix of curiosity and pity. My eyes sought out Richard who stood at the altar, his expression unreadable. He looked every bit the part of a distinguished groom, but his eyes revealed nothing.
As I reached the altar, my father placed my hand in Richard's. His grip was firm, almost possessive. The priest began to speak, but his words seemed distant, muffled by the pounding of my heart.
"Do you, Richard Ambrose, take Kathryn Stanford to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Richard's eyes widened in surprise. He glanced at James, his best man, but said nothing. "I do," he replied, his voice steady despite the confusion in his eyes.
"And do you, Kathryn Stanford, take Richard Ambrose to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
The rest of the ceremony passed a haze. Vows were exchanged, rings placed on fingers, and finally, the priest declared us husband and wife. Richard leaned in, his lips brushing mine in a chaste kiss that felt more like a formality than a declaration of love.
As we turned to face the guests, applause filled the air. I forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil within me. Richard's hand tightened around mine, a silent reminder of the new reality I had to accept.
The reception was a grand affair, filled with laughter, music, and dancing. I moved through the crowd like a ghost, exchanging polite pleasantries and accepting congratulations with a forced smile. Richard was always by my side, the perfect picture of a devoted husband, but we rarely spoke.
Finally, as the evening began to wind down, Richard tightened his grip on my hand and leaned in close to my ear like he was about to say something, I moved in close to hear him. "We have to leave now." He said firmly as he looked at his best man James who just gave him an affirming nod. "Okay." I muttered the words barely leaving my mouth.
As we moved through the crowd, Richard's aunt approached us, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Leaving already for the honeymoon are we?" she teased. "Bali, isn't it? How exciting!"
Richard managed a tight smile. "Yes Aunt Margaret. We have an early flight."
She patted his arm, laughing. "Enjoy yourselves, darlings!"
We left the reception amidst a flurry of goodbyes and well-wishes. The drive to the airport was silent, Richard's jaw clenched in a way that made my stomach churn. I dared not speak, fearing his reaction.
The flight to Bali was equally silent. Richard remained distant, his thoughts a mystery. I tried to focus on the beautiful destination ahead, but my mind was clouded with dread.
When we finally arrived at the hotel and entered our suite, I could feel the tension radiating from Richar. I turned to him, hesitating before speaking. "I could take the couch, if you prefer. You can take the bed."
Before I could finish, Richard's eyes flashed in anger. "Don't bother," he snapped. "You shouldn't think much of this marriage, Kathry. It was only done to please my grandfather. I never thought I would be deceived like this."
I took a step back, my heart pounding. "Deceived? What do you mean?"
He scoffed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Don't play innocent. You took your sister's place, didn't you? Trying to trap me in this marriage because you won't be getting an inheritance from your father. You're a fraud, Kathryn. This marriage is only on paper.
His words cut deep, tears stinging my eyes."Richard, It's not like that–"
But he was already storming out of the room. I I rushed after him but he left the suite before I could reach him. Defeated, I returned to the room, sinking onto the couch. The weight of his accusations pressed down on me, I felt a tear slip down my cheek.
I would wait for him. I had to explain, to make him understand. But as the minutes turned into hours, exhaustion overtook me, and I drifted into a restless sleep, haunted by the fear of what lay ahead.
***
In the early hours of the morning, a loud knock jolted me awake. My heart raced as I stumbled to the door, opening it to find Richard standing there, his expression unreadable.
"We need to talk," he said, his voice cold and distant.
My heart sank as I braced myself for whatever came next.