Chapter 5

• Inaya’s POV
• My eyes looked at everyone in the hallway, who were patiently awaiting my response.
• Whatever I do now will change my life, I don’t know if it’s for the better or the worse but I knew I wasn’t ready for that life. I needed to choose between my ego and my Mother’s life.
• I clenched my teeth, “Get the doctor for Mother and get the stylist for me.”
• “Inaya, I’m sorry,” Mother broke down in tears, “Forgive me, I’m sorry.”
• “I understand,” I smiled halfheartedly at her, “I have a condition.”
• “What?” Father hurriedly asked. I guess he didn’t want me to change my mind.
• “Instead of a white wedding dress, I want a black wedding dress.” A white wedding dress signifies my happiness, but I wasn’t happy; I was mourning inside.
• “Is it a wedding or a funeral?” Father questioned furiously.
• “I have given my condition,” I said in a low tone.
• Deep down, I wanted Father to disagree so I would be able to go back to my normal life, but things didn’t turn out that way. “Have a black ball gown and veil delivered in the next twenty minutes.”
• “I will be in Karisa’s room,” I said and walked away.
• I came to Karisa’s room because I didn’t want to wake my friends up, they must be very tired and wouldn’t even be sober enough to understand a thing.
• I sat in front of the mirror as the stylist dressed me. I felt empty inside; this wasn’t what I wanted, this wasn’t what I planned for myself. I promise you Karisa, when I see you, I will beat you for ruining my life.
• I looked in front of the mirror when they were done. I’m not going to lie, but the makeup was on point. I didn’t recognize myself in the black sleeveless ball gown; it complemented my skin. Not going to lie, I looked beautiful but I was empty and unrecognizable to myself.
• “I hope you will forgive me,” I lifted my head and saw Mother standing behind me in the mirror.
• “You can never do wrong in my eyes,” I smiled at her through the mirror, “Let’s go downstairs before we become emotional.”
• “You really do have your way, everyone will be surprised to see you with a black dress, the first bride to wear a black dress,” Mother laughed to lighten the mood.
• “They will think it’s Karisa wearing a black dress, she is about to be the talk of the town,” I laughed lightly as I stood up.
• I didn’t want Mother to be bothered by me, so I kept a forced smile on my face. “You look beautiful,” She complimented as she dropped the veil over my face.
• “Aren’t your friends coming?” Mother handed me the bouquet of roses.
• “Let them rest, they aren’t sober enough for this, and I will tell them everything when they wake up.” I hugged her before I led the way out of the room.
• Whispers danced around the garden as I walked beside Father, “A black gown? You will be the talk of the town,” Father whispered to me with amusement.
• “Not me, Karisa,” I replied sternly, I wasn’t smiling with him.
• Father placed my hand on a man’s hand whom I assumed to be Beckham Henderson when we got to the altar.
• I was told not to raise my head, I was told not to speak too much so he wouldn’t notice that it wasn’t Karisa under the veil.
• I haven’t even seen his face but I already hate his perfume. Mr Beckham has to change that perfume, it reminded me so much of that annoying man. I can’t inhale that perfume in school and still come home to that same perfume.
• “I thought my bride would wear a beautiful white gown, but a black gown, you really do surprise me, and it looks angelic,” Mr Beckham laughed lightly.
• I rolled my eyes physically. Poor man must really like Karisa. I wonder what he will do when he realizes that I’m not Karisa.
• I paused my lip under my veil. That voice was very familiar; I hadn’t met Beckham before, but I was sure I had heard his voice before. I was so sure I had heard it, I don’t know where I had heard that voice, but I was so sure about it.
• I tried to take a peek, but he was tall and I couldn’t afford to raise my head higher than this. I nodded my head to everything the priest was saying even though I wasn’t listening.
• “Mr Beckham Henderson, do you take Miss Karisa Valentino as your lawful wedded wife?” The priest asked.
• Beckham answered in a calm voice as he put the ring on my finger. I looked at the ring with pitiful eyes. It was a beautiful ring but it wasn’t with the rightful owner.
• I scoffed mentally, “Mrs Karisa Valentino, do you take Mr Beckham Henderson as your lawful wedded husband?” The priest asked.
• I was hesitant, I looked around hoping Karisa would come running down to stop the wedding, “Mrs Karisa?” The priest called again.
• “I….. I… do,” I answered, and my shaking hands put the ring on Beckham’s finger.
• “Are you good?” Beckham asked out of concern, “Did you drink?”
• I shook my head to both questions. No matter how I tried to think about it this voice sounded like pain to my ears. It was oddly familiar.
• “The exchange of the ring and the vows are done, now the bride and the groom may share their first kiss,” The priest said and the crowd cheered.
• My heart stopped, and my body began to shake out of fear. I was never scared but this was the big reveal I feared. “What will happen? What will people say? What will Mr Beckham do? What will the Hendersons do? We are already married but still,”
• Those words played in my head as Mr Beckham’s hand drew closer to remove the veil. I shut my eyes tight as both hands held my dress by the side waiting for Mr Beckham’s reaction.
• The cool evening breeze hit my face which meant Mr Beckham had opened my veil, “Inaya….” That voice calling my name was already engraved in my head.
• I have started hearing things, I laughed at myself as I opened my eyes.
• The laughter immediately wiped off my face, “Sir?”