Chapter 1 THE WEDDING

• Alvira looked at the make up artist who was beautiful her face. Today is the day which she will be getting married to a man who she doesn't know anything about.
• She vividly remember how her father broke the news of her engagement to Luca Colton a very ruthless and powerful business man who she knows nothing about.
• The date, venue and contract for the wedding had all been set by her father and her soon to be husband.
• She wasn't consulted for anything, not even the type of dress she would wear for her wedding.
• She didn't have a chance when it came to her father after all.
• She was weak, vulnerable and powerless when it came to Marco, her father.
• She had no option than to marry Luca, all because of her father's selfish gain from Luca.
• She wasn't going to be happy in the marriage, she knew that but what could she do
• ?
• If she tried running away, her dad was capable of tracking down her wherever she was and bringing her back even less than twenty four hours.
• She felt hopeless and helpless.
• All the same, she was getting married to Luca Colton.
• She had it in mind to filling a divorce at their first month of marriage but if Luca or her father didn't want it, then no court would sign it.
• That was how freaking influential they were.
• Alvira couldn't escape marrying Luca, she knew that she was trapped.
• She had barely slept last night from all the stress preparing from my freaking wedd...'
• She was forcefully getting married to the worst kind of man anyone could think of.
• She had cried myself to sleep countless times because of this day, she had begged but what could anyone do if their father was as strict as hell and could trade their life just for money?
• As much as she didn't want to show up, she still didn't have it in me to elope.
• She was too scared to and couldn't disappoint her mom too.
• Her mom had begged her to go through with the engagement and then the marriage to avoid her father's wrath.
• She was reluctant at first because she always wanted to marry someone that she loved but she later gave up seeing that she had no chance if she contended with my father.
• "I own you!"
• He would always say to her with authority and it kept her wondering if she was actually his daughter to or just a property or object that he bought.
• She fiddled nervously with her white wedding dress as she tried to quickly wear her wedding dress.
• It was about 8:05 am and the wedding was to commence by 8:30am.
• What sort of a bride was she?
• "You look so perfect and beautiful ma'am." The makeup artist complimented and she forced herself to smile.
• She put on her shoe and walked downstairs to join her driver in the car.
• ••
• Alvira finally got to the wedding venue after her dad had yelled angrily at her of which she had blocked out and maneuvering there way to get there in six minutes.
• They were having a church wedding and the venue was a really big cathedral.
• She had never set foot in here before.
• She was just told the specific location of the church.
• Hee father did all the planning, leaving her completely out.
• The church was filled with lots of people the moment they walked in, those she knew and those she didn't all waiting.
• The moment they knew she stepped in, with her father holding my hand, everyone stood up and all attention was on her.
• She looked up at her supposed husband to be who stood far at the altar with the priest standing behind him.
• She haven't seen him ever since their engagement which was five months ago.
• He looked different, a lot more mature with the extra beards and all.
• His Jawline had gotten sharper over the years and if she was honest with myself, he sure did look a lot more handsome than the last time She saw seen him.
• She then became upset.
• All the while she had my focus on him, he didn't even spare her a glance. How arrogant?
• He looked away, straight up and from his expression, he looked terribly bored.
• They were just even starting the wedding ceremony.
• Was she boring him already?
• A frown was visible on her face from all that'd been going through my head.
• Her father gave me a light nudge at her side, calling my attention.
• He looked at her in concern.
• "Are you okay sweetie?" Her dad said out in a low whisper in the midst of the loud sounds of various instruments.
• "Yeah, yea I am fine"
• she replied after reading his lips and regained back my composure.
• She plastered a fake smile. Once again.
• She looked over at Luca again but he was hell bent on ignoring her presence, even in the presence of hundreds of people.
• If he was going to ignore her, then she'd show him that she was better at his own game.
• It was immature of her but she was angry.
• What sort of groom was he?
• For other couples, when the bride comes walking down the isle, it was a thing of joy for both the bride and the groom. Most times, the groom would have a smile plastered on his face with anticipation. What on earth was this punk being all proud and arrogant for?
• Oh, She get they didn't actually have a thing for each other but there was a thing called pretending. It existed.
• For the fact this was their damn wedding, they could equally have put up an act for the time being.
• She rolled my eyes at him, glaring at him.
• When they finally got all the way up to where Luca stood and her father handed over my hand to Luca's awaiting one before patting my hand in Luca's then left for his seat my mom had reserved for him . Luca took it from there and slowly led me to the priest.
• It was now time to say our wedding vows..
• She said mine almost enthusiastically..
• It was his turn to say his and the way he took the oath murdered every form of fervor in her and probably buried it six feet underneath the ground.
• She glared at him..
• 'What was wrong with him?'
• He probably knew that she was glaring at him because he turned and for the first time in thirty minutes, he looked at her.
• He looked angry but in a way, it was obvious he was trying so much to conceal it.
• The moment he read her expression, he quirked his brows and tilted his head a bit like he was daring me to do something about his the way he was acting.
• There was some kind of aura that screamed authority about him.
• His poise, his looks, if she was the little girl she used to be, I would probably be cowering right now.
• He kept his gaze on me and she started getting uneasy.
• Now, she totally preferred he didn't look at me because she was gradually getting nervous with the way he stared directly at me with that frown.
• She couldn't know what went through his mind and it made her more uneasy, knowing she was just probably the center of it all.
• "I now pronounce you husband and wife.
• You may now kiss your bride"
• The priest's voice boomed throughout the cathedral, calling her out of my trail of thoughts.
• 'Wait.
• You may now what??'
• She had totally forgotten this aspect of the wedding rituals.
• She looked up at Luca in nervousness and he was slowly descending down to my level.
• He didn't close his eyes but he stared directly at her.
• Her heart beat hiked up.
• She panicked looking I him, figuring out a way to get out of this predicament.
• He had just pecked the side of her lip, claiming it was a kiss and he retreated.
• The whole congregation of people burst into a fit of clapping and hooting, all rejoicing with the newly wedded couple.
• To worsen it all he gave everyone a smile, for the first time he smiled, a fake one of which she wasn't included so they could actually buy the act he actually kissed his bride.
• Alvira looked at him so confused.
• If he could be so cold on our wedding day then how bad was he going to be in their actual marriage?
• She knew she had never bought the idea of us getting married but there was nothing they could actually do, so the thing now was to make it work out.
• Even if they just ended up as just friends, It was fine.
• He walked away to their reserved seat, leaving het on the altar and she just had to follow immediately behind him if she didn't want things to look awkward while he couldn't care less.
• Every other thing at the ceremony went in a blur.
• Alvira was bored even at her own wedding.
• Luca had continued from where he had stopped in ignoring her and she had no option than to sit where she was beside him.
• No communication, no nothing.
• Finally, they closed in the church. A lot of people had left and they had to go home too. No, scratch that, his house but right after they took some photos.
• She didn't have it in me to follow her.
• To her, he was a complete stranger and he didn't relent in reminding her every single second that passed by.
• There was no reception.
• Her father scratched that out.
• To him it was waste of money.
• To him also, they just needed to go straight to the point and they had just done that by doing the church wedding.
• She wasn't in total agreement though. Like they were in the twenty first century. Who did a wedding without a reception??
• She sighed.
• We had taken pictures already.
• Luca had it few while Alvira took most of it with her family.
• They made her feel alive.
• About an hour later, they were done with everything.
• Her family were all seated in one of their family cars and were about to take off.
• Seeing them leave her with him was something she wasn't about accepting.
• For the first time, she tugged on Luca's suit to get his attention.
• "Please can I spend the night at my family's? I will head to yours first thing tomorrow morning. please"
• Her request came out as more of a plead.
• Seeing his scowl directed at her made it turn to a plead.
• 'Like what on earth did he have on her?'
• He narrowed his brows and frowned deeper.
• "No. That is not happening on my watch" his really deep voice sent chills of fear into her.
• She swallowed..
• Thinking maybe he would change his mind but then he turned around and walked away.
• Tears pricked her eyes but she quickly blinked them away.
• He was so mean.
• I tried walking to another direction, away from him but an aggressive car honk startled her and she spined around to see where it came from.
• Luca looked at her from the window of his black with a questioning look.
• It then dawned on hee we were actually supposed to be going to his house right now.
• She slowly walked till she got to his car.
• She climbed into it and sat on the black soft leather of the seat.
• He was driving.
• She wonder why
• She rolled her eyes.
• She knew that he has had tons of drivers working for him, so he driving at all, especially on his wedding day was definitely a deliberate action .
• She stared out the window all through the ride.
• ••
• "Get down."
• She noticed the car had stopped.
• Luca had parked his car at the parking space in front of his house.
• ALVIRA got down and slowly looked around her new environment.
• His house was exquisite.
• Couldn't say it was a mansion exactly but it was superb, coupled with the fact he probably built it for just himself.
• He left her and walked inside, not like she was expecting something better anyway.
• Alvira finally got inside and he was standing in the living area, staring right at me.
• "Come. I will show you to your room." He said.
• He went ahead and Alvira followed him.
• He showed her to her room, he went ahead and showed her the kitchen, the dining, living area and that was all.
• He left her and went wherever he was going in his house.
• 'How was I going to live my whole life with someone like him?' She asked herself.
• She entered into the bathroom, turned on the shower and stood under it.
• She needed to cool my head.
• After she was done bathing she went into the walk in closet, already filled with her clothes and more.
• She changed into a yellow sun dress and combed her wet hair.
• She walked round my new room, exploring every corner.
• It was beautiful but nothing compared to her room at home. She still missed my room, I missed home already.
• She sat on my soft big bed, feeling bored already.
• She dialed her sister's number and she picked on the very first ring.
• "Hey big sis!" Her sister Mara sang through the phone, causing her to reluctantly smile.
• "Hey."
• "Why are you sounding like that? Wait.
• Are you on your period??! Cos you needed to see your face today. You were looking all cranky..
• it was so hilarious!-" Her sister laughed.
• Alvira ended the call and threw her phone on her bed.
• She didn't know why she called her in the first place.
• She needed someone to talk to and not someone laugh her misery in her face.
• She slumped on her bed.
• She was hungry but didn't have appetite to eat.
• Alvira closed her eyes and rubbed her temple.
• It wasn't up to ten minutes before she drifted off to sleep in the comfort of her bed.