Chapter 6 Advising Victoria (Two)

• “I don’t know. He’s a billionaire and he’s handsome, at least from the pictures I’ve seen. What more should a girl want from a man?” Victoria asked, regaining her composure and tossing her hair.
• “A total stranger?”
• “Don’t come spitting your sanctimonious and self-righteous crap at me. You’re just jealous, that’s all. Besides, he’s not a total stranger. We’ve talked on the phone before and he was very nice.” Victoria said, every trace that she had been crying just minutes ago gone, including her tears.
• “Okay, I’m out. I’ll be in my old room, and I’ll be at your wedding tomorrow, but what I would not do is sit here and have you talk to me like crap.” Carol informed her sister, standing up from the bed and proceeding to walk out.
• “Wait!” Victoria called out after her. “Please come back. I’m sorry for saying that. It’s just that I feel so miserable. All my horrible friends refused to come down for the wedding. I’ll pay them back, mind you. Fake lots, all of them!” She screeched and burst into tears again.
• “Well, I can’t exactly say that I blame them. The world does not revolve around you like mom and dad have made you believe, you know. Plus your attitude kinda sucks. When did you inform them about the wedding?”
• “Um, three days ago,” Victoria replied sheepishly and Carol shook her head.
• “Anyway, you can do it without them, I guess. There’s me and a bunch of other old ladies who are mom’s friends. By the way, that reminds me, I bought a dress for my chief bridesmaid duties. Here, let me show it to you.” Carol said and brought out the dress for her sister to examine.
• “Eeew!” Victoria exclaimed, wrinkling her dainty nose at the dress before standing up to go to her wardrobe. She held out a super expensive-looking pink dress that was studded with gemstones for her sister to examine.
• “Sebastian bought it and the wedding dress for me to wear. He also bought me so many other things, or rather, his dad did. Oh, he’s coming by this evening, so get ready to meet him and be wowed.”
• “Well, your mood sure changes fast,” Carol commented drily. Just minutes ago, you were crying because you did not want to marry him, and now, you’re gushing about all the things he got for you.”
• “Yeah. I guess I have you to thank for that. I was just feeling lonely and sad about how alone I was, what with those traitors I call friends. Besides, I was wondering what I was doing entering into a marriage in which I am not in love with and barely know my husband to be, but I’ve thought about it and I now realize that love will come later. The best thing is that I’m well taken care of, and that’s all that matters.” Victoria said, but something in her voice told Carol that all this was false bravado.
• “You can still call off the wedding, you know. It’s not too late. Personally, I think that love is very important for any marriage to work.”
• “Call off my wedding to a billionaire and risk being the subject of ridicule everywhere? I think not.”
• “Victoria, no one cares whether you’re married or not.”
• “My friends all know I’m getting married to a super-rich guy. I guess that is why they’re jealous and do not want to come to the wedding. Not to talk of how embarrassing it would be for mom and dad after they have invited practically everyone they know. Anyway, why are you so particular about me quitting the wedding? How on earth is it any of your business? Damn, I knew that many people would be jealous, but I did not think that my sister would be one of them.”
• “You’re right. I’m sorry. So can I see the wedding dress?”
• “Sure, you may,” Victoria replied and then went to the wardrobe again to bring out the wedding dress. Carol ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ over it as any good sister should, even though she did not for the life of her understand why anyone would want to get married to someone they had not yet met in real life.
• “Anyway, I hardly slept last night as I had to work late to cover up for my absence this weekend. So, I’m going to go to my room to get some shut-eye.”
• “Uh-huh. Later.”
• Once she was in her old room, Carol sank gratefully into her bed and sighed. Maybe it would all work out for her sister. Different strokes for different folks and all that. Victoria was a spoilt brat and a confirmed pain in the ass, but she was her sister and Carol loved her in her own way, even though she could be incredibly self-centered. If it didn’t work out well, her sister could always leave the marriage. With this thought on her mind, Carol closed her eyes and within a few minutes, she fell soundly asleep.