“You are looking so beautiful, just like a Princess” Grace said as she entered the room and saw me.
“Thank you” I forced a smile.
Today is the day when I am going to name my entire life to Ansell.
The wedding was and is forced. I would have never married him after knowing his real face. But circumstances left me with no choice than to embrace what life is giving me.
I got to see the glimpse of old Ansell the day we went to taste the cake but from the other day he went back to his rude and cold self. Last night he came with lots of blood on his shirt which scared the hell of me.
I am not sure how I going to deal with him the rest of my days.
The only hope with which I am going forward is that maybe once in a while I will meet my old Ansell in him which is still alive somewhere. Maybe sometime he will listen to me.
My parents can’t attend the wedding as my father wasn’t feeling well so mom took him to the hospital last night. Now he is fine but he is still admitted.
I wanted to delay the wedding and go to my parents but Ansell was not ready to buy any excuse. He wants to marry me today and has promised to take me there in the evening once we are married.
I am not sure now whom he is going to invite as a witness my side.
I don’t any though.
Suddenly Ansell stepped inside from nowhere which took me by surprise.
Grace along with the girls who did my makeup left us alone while Ansell froze to his place as his eyes fall on me.
Hid eyes were filled with awe he was looking at me as if I was the most breathtaking sight to behold. There was such tenderness and kindness in his eyes which is very rare to witness.
He have two personalities for sure and in the morning I don’t know which one he is going to opt for.
My eyes moved down his attire and I found him wearing the finely tailored tuxedo. The crisp white shirt beneath held the same design as my wedding dress. The suit fit him perfectly, accentuating his tall and confident stature. His hair was neatly combed, beard was light which highlighted his strong jawline.
Slowly he stepped towards me with a small smile on his lips. His hand cupped my cheek as he started down in my eyes intently.
“You are looking exquisitely beautiful, Nara”he spoke. “More beautiful than I imagined ” he placed a kiss on my forehead. “Your radiance is lightening up the whole room” he smiled.
I looked back at him with no emotions. He knows the reality of our relationship and I don’t need to pretend anything at least in front of him. I am tired of pretending.
“But there is one thing missing from your face” his thumb slowly caressed my cheek. “Your smile, which could fail any make up”
I gulped but still couldn’t muster enough courage to curve my lips upward.
“And I don’t want my bride to be so sad on her wedding day” he smiled. “So I think that this is the best time to give her wedding gift which could escort her to me”
My eyebrows drew in confusion as I couldn’t get what he was saying but another second he stepped aside revealing the face of William.
“William?”
My eyes widened in surprise and I ran to him hugging him tightly, he hugged me back with equal intensity.
“I am waiting outside, bring her out” Ansell said before walking out and leaving us alone.
“How are you?”
I pulled back slightly as I asked him and found that he was not smiling, not even a bit. His eyes were emotionless and almost dead.
“What happened? Are you fine?’ I shook him.”You should be happy that you are free now ”
“At what cost?’ he finally spoke.
His eyes looking down at me and my body froze just like his.
“Your capacity has brought my freedom. I don’t want it” he said, “I would have preferred staying there for the rest of my days than to hand over you to him. Why you did that, Nara? Do you think you have grown up so much? I could see in your eyes you are not happy with this relationship. I don’t care about the consequences but I am ready to fight him till my last breath if you…’
Please William” I cut him off. “I don’t think that there is any way out of this. You yourself said that one of has to burn and it is the best if I stays here because he will not hurt me that much ‘ I gasped for air. “And… And.. you know that I always liked him. What if he turned out to be like that after a normal wedding?”
“I would have killed him” he stated, his eyes looking like stone, his fist tightened and jaw clenched.
It broke my heart to see how badly he has been broken when he was not at fault. He seems to suffer a lot more than me and I know that he would never share it with me or anyone else.
“Believe me, I am fine and I want this” I said with choked throat but he doesn’t seem to convinced. “And you didn’t even tell me how I am looking” I complained trying to lighten the environment.
“Zombie like always!’ he chided.
And I chuckled hugging him once again. He has always teased me calling Zombie even when I am at my best. I always used to get irritated by this word but today if felt so good that it flushed my heart with happiness.
We pulled apart when we heard a gentle knock on the floor. Grace was standing there with a bouquet in her hand.
“Sir is waiting for you” she told me and handed the bouquet to me before leaving.
“Fulfill your obligation of being my brother” I said as I offered him my arm.
He gave me a long took still not ready to take me to the path which could lead my life to hell and captivity but I requested him with my eyes because I know that one more word from my mouth and my eyes will start leaking. He sighed defeatedly before hooking his arm in mine and walking ahead.
As we came out of the room and entered the hall all eyes turned to us
Ansell once again looked at me as if he was seeing me for the first time. He wasn’t even blinking as his eyes fixed on my face.
William’s body stiffened beside me which caught my attention and my gaze drew to him. I found his jaw tightly clenched, his fist closed, and his body as hard as a board. My eyes moved to Desy and I found staring her at William with sympathy and apology in her eyes.
Ansell thought that it would be difficult for Desy to face William but there it is other way round.
“Come, I can’t wait any longer” Ansell said.
We took a few more steps ahead and the lawyer opened the wedding papers which were adorned with golden borders.
I knew that William was not in a favour of this relationship from the beginning and the twist that has taken in our lives has practically made him hate this. Instead of giving my hand to Ansell he just unhooked his arm and stood beside me without looking at anyone. I know he wanted to strangle Ansell to death but was keeping himself under control for me.
In excitement Ansell wrapped one of his arm on my waist and grabbed the pen from the other. He was the first one to sign the wedding papers and after he was done by he gave the pen to me.
I gulped and my fingers trembled as I took the pen.
Though I have seen the old Ansell in him but I am well aware about his OCD which will surely make my life a hell.
He will cage me in this house when I wanted to fly high in the sky.
I shivered as the breath caught in my throat. I know there is no going back because he will not take even a second in killing my brother right in front of me if I changed my decision.
Gulping down my emotions and gathering the courage and took the pen from him. The lawyer told there I needed to sign the papers while I already knew it.
Before signing my captivity papers I looked at William for the last time and found him staring away, unwilling to see this ordeal from his own eyes. He was staring at the door which was wide open as if he was waiting for some miracle to happen and stop all this but now all my hope have been shattered and I have accepted my face.
Ansell nudged me bringing my attention back to the papers. My vision blurred by my tears as I looked down at them.
Grabbing the pen tightly in between my fingers I placed it on the paper only to be halted by a feminine voice that called.
“Ansell”
Our head moved up to the door where I saw an old womanly figure but the face was not clearly visible because she was standing at the opposite side of the light.
But what left the mouth of Ansell and Desy left me stunned.
“Mother?”