C2 The Wedding

The next morning, Bruno woke up startled, suffering from a terrible hangover. He heard sobbing next to him, and it all came back to him. That foolish girl had drugged him to get into his bed. He couldn't understand why she had chosen to give herself to him in such a way.

Nicole hadn't been able to sleep after what happened. Fear paralyzed her, and she had decided not to leave the room. If anyone found out, they might think she had sought out what had happened. The man beside her woke up. She had kept her back turned to him all night, but when she looked, she noticed he was watching her. Finally, she could see the face of the inhuman beast who had taken her by force.

He looked at her with anger, just as he was about to say something, the door opened. Her sister Sondra entered with several reporters. Nicole knew her sister couldn't stand her, but she didn't believe she was capable of doing this to her.

Bruno, furious by instinct, tried to cover the girl's face with the sheet. He knew it was too late; the reporters had already taken several photos of her. He rudely pushed past the redhead and the reporters.

"Who do you think you are, invading my privacy like this?" he shouted in anger.

The tone he used to say this alarmed the journalists, indicating that a big problem was looming if they didn't leave immediately. Sondra left the room along with them, a big smile on her face.

Nicole couldn't stop crying, which frustrated Bruno.

"Can you stop crying? I'm tired of your game. You had everything planned perfectly, the only thing left is for you to play the victim. Get out of here immediately, or I won't be responsible."

"I didn't plan this. Like you, I don't know what happened. I think my sister planned it," Nicole replied.

"GET OUT!" he shouted, completely beside himself. He didn't want to see her again.

Leandro was awakened by the noises in the adjacent room. Daylight was streaming through the window, and he was about to look at the love of his life, who lay in his arms. But he saw a blonde head instead and immediately sat up. He didn't know who this girl was; clearly, she wasn't Nicole.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked, confused.

"Same here! How dare you take Bruno's place?" Shelsy angrily retorted.

Both fell silent, not wanting to be discovered. Who the hell was making so much noise in the other room? They couldn't believe they had made a mistake.

Later, in his office, Bruno called his assistant to investigate and stop the publication of those photos. He was discussing it with her when suddenly the door to his office swung open, and Noah Williams, a friend of his father's, stormed in, completely furious.

"Mr. Williams, what brings you here?" he asked curiously. Mr. Williams was a polite and respectful man, although it was clear from his face that he wasn't having a good day.

"I can't say it's a pleasure to see you, Bruno. I've come to demand that you be held accountable for my daughter Nicole's reputation. They have subjected me to the worst embarrassment."

He threw a scandalous newspaper onto his desk, and Bruno paled as he observed that on the front page were pictures of him in bed with the girl. He thought they were really quick to publish that kind of news.

They knew he would try to prevent it from being published. He never thought that girl would be the daughter of one of his father's friends, and not just any friend, but his best friend. He didn't know the girls because he wasn't accustomed to attending the gatherings.

“Je comprends parfaitement votre mécontentement, Monsieur Williams, permettez-moi de vous expliquer.” Dit-il en essayant d'attirer l'attention de l'homme.

“Il n'y a rien à expliquer, la réputation de ma fille a été ternie et tu dois réparer les dommages que tu as causés, ces images se trouvent partout.”

He was going to answer when his father came in, from the look on his face he was not happy at all, that little girl had indeed put it together, he crossed his hands over his chest totally exasperated.

—I hope that Noah has already told you what you deserve son, I imagine that you are willing to solve this in the best way.

—And according to you, that way will be by marrying your stubborn daughter. —He said angrily as he recalled what had happened.

—Son, I don't know what you were thinking to do what you've done. —René rubbed his hair with both hands, unable to look his friend in the face.

—Father, it's not what it seems. That girl drugged me and sneaked into my room. To make matters worse, she conspired with the press to damage my reputation.

—Enough! I won't allow you to speak about my daughter like that. I don't know what tricks you used to get her into bed. —He was restraining himself from punching Bruno. How dare he speak about his daughter in such a way.

—Noah, based on our years of friendship, I assure you that my son will handle your daughter appropriately. —His son needed to learn a lesson.

After arguing for hours, Bruno reluctantly agreed to marry what he considered a deranged woman. After all, it had been his first time, but he would never forgive her for what she had done to trap him. He swore to make her pay every day.

A month later, the newspapers announced the upcoming wedding of the most eligible bachelor, finally settling down at the age of thirty. He would be marrying Andrea Nicole Williams, a nineteen-year-old girl and the youngest daughter of technology magnate Noah Williams. Bruno threw his phone aside after reading the news.

The wedding day had arrived, much to their dismay. Their parents had organized a grandiose wedding. Standing at the altar, Bruno watched as Nicole approached, her arm linked with her father's. He couldn't deny that she looked spectacular in her bridal attire.

As a man, he couldn't help but notice that she was beautiful. Her face radiated with immensely blue eyes, and her long, dark hair contrasted with her fair skin. However, that didn't change the fact that she was cold and calculating. He would have to tread carefully to avoid falling into her clutches.

Nicole couldn't hide her sadness. Her parents hadn't asked her if she wanted to get married; they simply forced her into it. It was the saddest day of her life. She looked at her future husband standing at the altar.

She couldn't deny that he was handsome. She noticed that he was tall, and his black hair accentuated the intense blue of his eyes. She thought that many would desire his body and face, at least for a Sunday afternoon. However, that didn't change the fact that he was unbelievably stupid.

Her mother had chosen the dress for her. It was beautiful, white, adorned with hundreds of small crystals. In short, it was a dream turned into a dress. The Leones had insisted on taking full charge of the celebration.

Standing at the altar, Nicole prayed to God that something would happen to prevent the wedding from taking place, but her pleas were in vain. Bruno remained indifferent throughout the whole ordeal.

During the vows, they said whatever came to their minds. Nicole thought it was the saddest and coldest ceremony she had ever attended. Too bad it was her own wedding.

Sondra realized that her plan had gone awry. Nicole was supposed to be marrying Leandro, not that man who she found very attractive. She couldn't believe her luck. She liked Bruno and wanted him for herself. He was handsome and wealthy, and her sister didn't deserve someone like him.

The party was extravagant. Bruno's mother had chosen the decorations with excellent taste. Nicole felt uncomfortable with so many strangers approaching her to offer their congratulations.

The couple danced the bridal waltz merely to appease their parents and to silence the gossip that mattered so much to them. Bruno held her tightly by the waist, so tight that she felt like she couldn't breathe. He leaned in close to her ear and spoke in that gravelly voice that unsettled her just by hearing it.

—Don't get any illusions with me. I assure you that your torment begins today. I promise you that I will make you pay dearly for what you did to me. —After saying that, he laughed in a way that sent shivers down her spine.

She began to cry, for a moment she had the urge to run away and escape. But she restrained herself when she thought about her parents. Bruno wiped away her tears with his fingers, giving the impression of being tender.

Nicole knew he was only doing it for appearances. Anyone watching would think she was crying out of joy, how far from the truth that was.