Hard of Desire

Chapter 10

Four days flew just like that and today, I am getting married to Declan. That's it, it's time to bid farewell to my single days.

I took the longest shower in the history to calm my nerves and get rid of some tension in me but I don't think it is doing any good. I put on a bathrobe after stepping away from the cold spray and began to towel dry my hair.

I pushed the bathroom door and almost died of a heart attack when I found my best friend standing right in front of the bathroom door. I put a hand on my chest and tried to calm my racing heart.

"Aishah, how many times did I tell you to not sneak up on me like that?" I shrieked walking past her, "When you got here?" I asked her, flopping down on my bed.

Aishah smiled sheepishly at me, "About fifteen minutes ago" She said and sat down next to me, "I was about to knock your bathroom door. You were in there for a very long time Hans! Fishes in the sea are going to die because of your long showers!" She scolded me, narrowing her eyes at me.

I raised my eyebrows at her, "The last time I checked, you were the one who killed three goldfishes" I reminded her.

"That was a long time ago Hans!" She frowned, probably remembering how she killed those poor little goldfishes without feeding them because she was busy with school work, "Anyway, where is your dress? Can I please help you to get ready?" She asked me with so much hope in her eyes so I just nodded with a sigh.

Aishah dolled me up in a record of time. She kept my makeup simple yet elegant. She curled the ends of my hair and worked them into a half updo. She added a beautiful flower crown on my hair before helping me into the dress that Declan brought for me.

When I was finally in my dress, she took a step away from me and scanned me up and down, making sure everything is perfect. Then out of a sudden, she started bouncing up and down in excitement.

"Look how beautiful you look!" She gushed as she dragged me to the huge mirror that hung on the corner of my room. I followed her uninterestedly and saw myself in the mirror.

I have to give credits for Aishah. She did a phenomenal job on my face. A small smile crept to my lips when I looked at my own reflection.

How did she manage to style my hair that way?

I curiously raised my hand to touch my hair only to get it swatted away by Aishah. "Don't touch it!" She shrieked disapprovingly. I just rolled my eyes dramatically at her.

We both turned our heads towards my room door when we heard someone pushing it open. In walked, my mother in so much hurry. She stopped right on her tracks when she noticed me standing in front of the mirror.

She cupped her mouth with her hand and her eyes got misty, "Hanna, you look so beautiful!" My mother's voice broke and literally jogged to me to give me a hug. I hugged her back, running my hand up and down behind her back, comfortingly.

"Mom, I am sorry" I whispered. For the last four days, I managed to dodge away from my parents. I didn't have in me to face them so I avoided them as much as I could.

She pulled back to look at me and nodded her head understandingly. "It is okay, honey," She said placing her hand on my cheeks, "We are sorry too." She added, still cupping my cheek.

We heard a couple of gasps and turned around to look at Clara and another familiar woman who was holding a cute girl in her arms. Clara made her way towards me with a huge smile.

"My son always chooses the best!" She gushed excitedly and gave me a tight hug. My eyebrows rose in confusion, what does that suppose to mean?

Someone cleared their throat and as if on cue, Clara broke away from me. I shifted my eyes to look at the woman who looked very familiar to me.

"Please don't tell me that she forgot me" The woman muttered under her breath and I heard my mother let out a chuckle at that.

"You can't blame her if she does, it's been ten years!" Clara said, grinning.

"Angeline?" I guessed, remembering Declan had an older sister.

"Bingo" Angeline flashed a megawatt smile, "This is my daughter, Mia" She introduced me to the little girl.

"You look so pretty!" Mia giggled looking at me in awe. Everyone in the room laughed heartily at that.

"You look adorable Mia!" I grinned down at her cute face. She was wearing a beautiful pink gown that made her look like a princess.

"Aishah, this dress is for you. We know you will be here so we bought a dress for you" My mom smiled at my best friend and handed her a huge paper bag. "Go get changed!" My mother demanded and Aishah happily walked into the bathroom.

Ten minutes later, Aishah walked out with her makeup and hair done, "Thanks, Carmen! This dress is beautiful!" Aishah twirled around happily.

That's when I really took notice of their dresses. My mother and Clara were donning floor-length pale pink dresses. My mother's dress was styled as a halter neck and Clara's was full-sleeved. Aishah and Angeline were wearing purple knee-length dresses.

Someone knocked on my door and my father walked into my room. He looked dashing as ever, wearing a suit. He held a bouquet of white roses in his hands. He froze on when he saw me and let out an audible gasp.

Everyone parted to give us space when my father finally recollected himself and came to stand in front of me. I looked up at him and saw a teardrop from his eyes. He quickly wiped it away.

"I can't believe my little girl is not so little anymore," He said, hugging me. "You look stunning as always, Hanna" He praised when we broke our hug.

"Thanks, Dad," I said, "I am sorry for saying things when I was angry the other day" I apologized sincerely. My father tsked and shook his head.

"We should get going now" My father urged, looking at his watch.

"Wait, were is the ceremony is going to take place?" I asked and all of them laughed. My father took the only bag I packed for my long stay at Declan's and left the room, glancing at his watch on the way.

Really, it does not funny to me.

"You'll see," Angeline said with what I assumed a mischievous smile, "Declan really spent so much time and effort to make the venue look perfect for the occasion" She grinned.

Soon, all of us got in their respective cars and headed to god knows where. I kept myself busy with my phone. Reading tweets, switching to i********:, and then back to reading tweets.

About twenty painful minutes later, the car finally was pulled into a stop. I let out a sigh and lifted my eyes from my phone screen to look where we are right now.

Declan's house.

I scowled involuntarily and suppressed a groan that is threatening to burst out from my throat any moment from now.

"We'll be waiting inside," My mom said before exiting the car with Aishah hot on my mother's heels.

For a few minutes, it was nothing but painful silence. My father kept throwing worried glances at me via rearview mirror but I pretended to not notice that.

"I am sorry that I am forcing you into this, Hanna," My father said after another painfully silent ten minutes,

"But, I want you to know that I love you more than my life" He added without waiting for my reply, "It's time," He said, looking at his watch

I wished Harry was here.

My dad got down from the car and held my door open. I sighed and got down from the car and grabbed my father's elbow. We both walked towards the garden area.

My eyes widened in astonishment when I found a large greenhouse there. At the entrance of the greenhouse stood my mother and Aishah with tears in their eyes.

I felt myself getting emotional for some reason. This is not what I wanted. This isn't my dream wedding. This isn't complete without my brother.

Once again, I wished for my brother to be my side.

The entrance was beautifully decorated with peonies. If it was someone else's wedding, I'd spent so much time there, taking a lot of pictures with that background.

My mother and Aishah went in as we neared the entrance. I let my eyes indulge in the most extravagant greenhouse that was decorated luxuriously with roses and peonies.

Since it is a private wedding, only some of our closest family members, friends, and business partners were invited. The guests sat on the chic looking wooden bench.

At the end of the greenhouse, there was a stage. The backdrop of the stage was phenomenal. Peonies stacked fully, covering the wall entirely.

My eyes locked his captivating hazel ones. There he stood, looking fine in his custom made tuxedo. His hair was gelled back and combed sleekly. He watched me, never taking his eyes away even for split second. Like he is recording this moment and tattooing it to his brain for eternity.

Everyone turned their head eagerly to look at me and now, I felt nervous. My father patted my shoulders in assurance. I felt everyone's curious gaze on me and I looked down, not meeting anyone's eyes.

I gripped my father's elbow tightly and we started to walk down the pretty red carpet that was scattered with white roses. As I grew closer to him, I let myself lift my gaze to look at Declan. I noticed that he was smiling and looked genuinely happy right now.

I wanted to murder him right now. Butcher him alive into pieces and bury him right here. Heck, I want to murder everyone present here and turn this happy event into a bloody m******e.

I let my eyes stray away from him and noticed the other men that were standing next to him. An older version of Mia, I assumed that he is Angeline's husband, smiled encouragingly at me. Peter, Declan's father, also stood proudly next to Declan, as he watched me walking down the aisle.

I noticed my mother, along with Angeline and Clara sitting at the front. My mother dabbed a tissue under her eyes as she watched me.

In less than two minutes we made it to Declan but it felt like I was walking for more than ten minutes. My father put my hand in Declan's hand when we finally reached the end of the aisle. Then, my father kissed my cheeks and took a step back.

This is it. It is really happening. I am fricking getting married.

Now it feels like my heart is racing. I felt so nervous and I looked at Declan to find him already watching me with a smile on his lips. He tightened the grip around my small hands.

I scowled at him.

Declan smirked at me when I tried to squeeze his hands, to inflict any kind of pain. Of course, it's a futile decision. But it didn't stop me. I continued to squeeze his hands with mighty herculean effort.

I wasn't paying any attention to my surroundings as I was busy squeezing Declan's hands until Declan grinned widely and said "I do".

I blinked, coming back to reality. I stared at Declan in disbelief he took the ring from his father and slid it on my finger.

"Do you Hanna Lowrance, take Declan Wilson as your lawfully wedded husband?" The man asked and I lifted my eyes to look at him. He was watching me, waiting.

I looked around with panicked eyes, trying to locate my parents. When my eyes landed on them, I relaxed a little and noticed their worried faces. Aishah stood next to them, smiling at me encouragingly.

"I..uh" I stuttered nervously, Declan once again tightened his hold on my hand and this time the warning was clear as a day. I yelped softly and whipped my head to meet his captivating eyes and I could almost hear what they were saying.

Do not mess it up.

"I do" My voice cracked a little when I said that. I felt Declan's hand tighten again but this time it felt like he is reassuring me.

I took the ring from my father and sighed before sliding it on Declan's finger. I can literally feel the tension in the air leaving the beautiful greenhouse while everyone clapped joyously. I ould have sworn that I even heard a few relieved breaths escape from people that are around me. I held in a scoff and looked at everyone with a frown on my face.

Okay, what now?

"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride" The man said making me whip my head to look at him incredulously with my jaw slacked to the ground. He looked taken aback by my sudden reaction.

Congratulations, now you're my enemy.

Declan put his hand under my chin and forced my head to turn towards him. I glared at him, daring him to kiss me. Declan smirked and came closer, closing the distance between us. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly and stiffened, preparing for the worst.

My heart beats against my chest loudly and rapidly as I waited for his lips to meet mine. But it never did.

My eyes flew open in shock and surprise when I felt Declan's smiling lips against my forehead. He lingered his sinfully perfect lips there for a few moments and pulled away, looking down at me. An involuntary blush crept up on my cheeks and I had to look away from his captivating hazel brown eyes. It felt like he is staring right into my soul.

I was really glad that he had gone for my forehead rather than my lips. Because it would have been awkward and forced.