C2 The wedding

Maria:

I have always had this sweet wedding fantasy of getting married to my heartthrob, I had always pictured how beautiful my wedding gown was going to be, how happy I was going to be, and how my father was going to be standing beside me and walking me down the aisle with a bouquet of beautiful flowers in my hands.

Yes, I did have a fairytale Princess Wedding fantasy. But not in reality….

I felt a knot in my stomach that refused to go away no matter how hard I tried to calm down. I just got married today and hell yes, it was the most horrible day of my life, looking at my supposed wedding gown, I felt like reaping out every strand of the fabric of the wedding gown, but I dared not, or else I had two thousand dollars to pay the beauty shop I had rented the gown from earlier this week.

But my encounter with Daniel Thompson had loosened my anxiety a little. While I waited side by side with Daniel as the supposed wedding was over, I received quite a lot of glares. Because everyone was surprised like I was about Daniel Thompson. He was more handsome than expected.

Should I say he was breathtaking….

“Hello Sister, you look ravishing today I must say. How are you taking your life right now? Huh, I look even more pretty than you. Too bad I am not the bride, but the bride's sister.”

I turned to hear a familiar voice. Diana, my half-sister. She has been a pain in my life for years now. I have always wished for a sister when I was little but turns out what God gave me instead was an enemy in an angel form. “Diana, please I do not have the time for this today. Let me be.”

Her expression changed immediately to a meek face. “Awwn darling sister, you didn't have to marry him if you didn't want to. She said sarcastically, also getting her glare at Daniel. But oh I remember what you have to lose if you hadn't pushed on with the wedding.” She said the last part in a whisper.

I immediately remembered the deal I had made with Diana and Lucia, my stepmother, last week when I came to meet my father for my mother's medical bills. It was something I was never going to forget in a hurry.

I had just gotten back from the hospital and the document I was given stated the total amount of my mother's medical expenses. A whopping sum of fifty thousand dollars, where was I going to get it in such a short period? Even if I had to work five jobs a day, I wasn't going to get the money.

The only solution I had was to meet my father, Matthew Falconer to help. I walked into my father’s mansion holding a piece of medical document in my hands. I looked around at the house I had once loved and lived in. But all I could feel was disgust.

My father sat with his wife, my stepmother, enjoying themselves in the living room while I have been struggling for many years to fend for myself since he divorced my mom and abandoned us.

“Dad please can I borrow fifty thousand dollars, Mom has kidney dialysis. please I need to pay for these medical bills, or else Mom won’t be treated. She’s in so much pain. I can not afford this amount of money and you know I don’t have anywhere to get it. Please, Father.” I begged my father with tears in my eyes. He felt reluctant to give me the money because of my stepmother Lucia.

“You’re shameless. You come here to beg for our money! How pathetic.” Lucia fired at me.

I sighed, this is not the first time Lucia has called me names. Every time I come to ask my father for assistance, She makes him decline my request. “I am not begging, I am only asking my father. Do not worry if it’s to pay back I will. I will work every penny.”

“Okay, maybe we should just give her the money. It’s her mother and she’s sick Lucia. This is a life we are talking about.” My father said to Lucia.

“Oh my goodness Matthew, you still have feelings for your ex wife right? After all these many years Matthew. After all, we’ve been through. Do I need to remind you that this is your family now? Without me Matthew you would have had nothing!” Lucia replied, acting up and heartbroken.

Diana had barged in, as she heard the bickering between her mother and my dad. “Awwn, my pathetic loser sister is here. It can only be you causing Mom and Dad to have issues this fine morning. Let me guess you’ve come to beg again for money right? When would your drama end Maria? Bearing the same last name as you is just so annoying.”

I immediately stood up to walk out, I didn’t want to have another episode with Diana. “ I don’t have time for this today at all. Coming here was a mistake, I should have already known you people wouldn’t be of help to me.”

“Wait, Maria, we will give you the money,” Diana had said, holding my wrist.

“What! What, why would you give her the money? Are you suddenly out of your mind with your father?” Lucia queried.

“Mother, calm down. I ain’t done. I didn’t tell her I would give her anything for free.” Diana explained.

Oh yeah, I already knew there was no possible way Diana would just suddenly turn a new leaf towards me, I knew there was a reason. “What’s the price, Diana?” I said looking straight into her eyes.

“We will give you the money only if you marry Daniel Thompson in my place.” Diana bloated out.

“What?!” I yelled sharply.

Lucia became very happy after hearing this. “Oh wow amazing, My daughter is so smart. I always knew you got that from me and not your father, that’s a wonderful idea.”

“Daniel Thompson. Diana? The illegitimate son of the Thompson family, the ruthless-hearted cold-blooded demon in human form, the one in jail right now? Is this how much you hate me?” I asked sorrowfully.

“Yes Maria, the sick lunatic son of the Thompson family. He’s a dirtbag and a good-for-nothing loser. I can’t be known to be his wife, Maria, I’m too perfect for that. That’s why I can’t marry him.” Diana said scornfully while folding her arms.

“That’s right Maria, my daughter is too precious for that. But you on the other hand have nothing to live for.” Lucia concluded.

I turned to face my father waiting to hear his reply on all of this. He was lost in thoughts and was already cornered. I knew he couldn't speak against the two of them.

“Matthew, Maria is also your daughter, in case it slipped your mind. The Thompsons said your daughter, He never chose which one. Maria can be the one to marry Daniel Thompson.” Lucia chipped in immediately.

I was already getting fed up. “No way, I can’t marry him. No, I won't marry Daniel Thompson. You have no right to plague my life.”

“Do you want us to pay for your mother’s medical bills or not Maria? Because it’s obviously in your hands now. We have given you a bright and easy way. Marry the Man or forget about saving your mother.” Diana pressed.

Everyone was already looking and waiting for my reply.

I was devastated, I didn’t have a choice. I can’t lose my mother, she's the only person that keeps me going. Losing her was going to destroy my heart.

“Fine. I will marry Daniel Thompson.” I said defeatedly.

***************

I knew it was going to be hard to get the medical expenses from my father, but I never imagined it would get to the extent that I would have to marry a total stranger.

Bringing my thoughts back to the present, Diana snapped her fingers twice at my face. “Hello, Earth to Maria, Earth to Maria! Don't think too much darling, But look at the bright side, huh, I'm giving you an amazing opportunity and life. The Thompson family you are marrying into is a powerful, strong, and influential people.”

If Daniel Thompson wasn't the person everyone knew him to be, I could swear Diana would have immediately gotten married instead because the look she had on her face was filled with lust, it was obvious she was trying to keep herself in check.

Daniel just kept a straight face with no expression, not wanting to be part of the family drama I guess. I had wanted to speak back to Diana but was interrupted by Daniel who I had thought didn't care about our conversation.

“You know staring lustfully at a married man is a crime that can get you sued by my wife. I don't think my wife is comfortable with you being this close to me. Or are you wifey?”