Chapter 1 - The Runway Bride
1461 Words
"Impossible, this..." a girl covered her face with both hands. She sat on the floor after slamming her phone against the wall. Just now, with her own eyes. She saw a video recording his fiance making in love with a beautiful woman hotly in the apartment room, which she knew was owned by James, her future husband. They will be getting married in two days.
"Natalie, Natalie!" She ignored calls from her mother. It hurt as if a dagger had stabbed into her heart. She feels like leaving this world as soon as possible.
Natalie Spencer, a 23-year-old girl, feels heartache because of her future husband's betrayal. Marriage is based on an arranged marriage between both parents. Natalie, who initially refused, finally agreed after meeting James Hill, 30, the sole heir of the Hill company. Natalie fell in love at first sight, while James also agreed to the matchmaking plan.
"Fool, how could he also love me, who he'd only known for a few weeks?"
"Wake up, Natalie; he's handsome, rich, famous. How could he fall in love with a little girl like you." Natalie laughed as she looked up at the ceiling. Tears kept flowing from the corners of her beautiful eyes.
"It's excruciating to be betrayed; it feels tight and like dying. Why, why should you lie to me. What's my fault? If you don't love me, why agree to this arranged marriage. I don't need fake love."
"How dare he?"
"Natalie baby?!" a call-back voice was heard from outside.
'What should I do?' a question swirled in her head and pounded her brain.
"Okay, if that's what you want James Oliver Hill. I'll play your game. You can hurt my heart, I can destroy your good name."
Natalie rose from her seat to brush her hair and wipe her tears.
"Na...." Natalie's mother, Anne, nearly fell forward when Natalie suddenly opened the door.
"Mom." Natalie called in her hoarse voice.
"Honey what's wrong? Why is your face so wrinkled? Did you just cry?" Anne traced Natalie's face and was confused because her daughter's eyes were puffy.
"There isn't any."
"Don't lie, Natalie."
"Nothing, Mom."
I can see something is wrong with your current state. Don't you want to get married?" guessed Anne.
"It's possible, only ten percent of the preparations have been made, and the invitations have also been distributed. What will happen if this marriage fails?"
"We're not forcing you, dear; Mommy and your Daddy will accept this proposal if you want to accept it without coercion. We want the best for you. We don't want you to be sad because of this matchmaking."
"No, Mom. I'm just a little scared." Natalie lie.
"Afraid?"
Natalie nodded.
"Tell Mommy, what are you afraid of dear?"
Natalie looked down, not daring to look her mother in the eye. She was afraid that her lie would be exposed.
"Hey…, what's wrong? Tell me," Anne was confused by Natalie's very different attitude from this morning. The girl was very cheerful when she checked her schedule for today's activities. This afternoon, she will go to the boutique for the final fitting of her wedding dress.
Natalie shook her head, but then tears rolled down her smooth cheeks.
"Honey," Anne took Natalie's body and patted Natalie's back to strengthen her. Natalie's tears broke instantly. The sobs sounded very sad. For a while, Anne did not dare to ask any questions. Give Natalie time to express her worries and hope her daughter will come clean with her about what is going on.
Natalie wept in her mother's arms for a long time, leaving her mother's dress wet on the back of her shoulders. The girl stopped crying when she was relieved enough to let her anger out.
"Feel better?" Anne grabbed the tissue box and gave it to Natalie.
"Thanks, Mom." Natalie wiped her face, and the snot ran down her nose.
"Do you wanna talk?" Anne asked softly.
"I-I'm just scared. It's too soon and I..."
"Tell me honey, Mommy will help you."
"Mom," Natalie called hesitantly.
Anne cupped Natalie's face and stroked her blonde hair; the girl's green eyes brimmed with tears. Anne didn't make a sound but looked at Natalie fondly. It's as if those eyes say, 'Mommy is always there for you, honey. Trust me, whatever happens, Mommy will support you.'
"Mom, whatever I do. Mommy will support me?"
"Of course."
"Mommy trust me?"
"Absolutely. "
"If I do something wrong. Mommy will forgive me?"
"Why not? Mommy believes in all your decisions. You've never done anything that disappointed us. And Mommy really does. If what you're doing is the right thing." Anne is trying to cheer Natalie. Her instincts told her something had happened. But she couldn't guess what the problem was? Anne patiently waited for her daughter to talk to her and complain about her problems.
"Thanks, Mom."
"Would you like to go for a wedding dress fitting?"
"Sure, Mom. This is my dream wedding."
Everything has to be perfect." Natalie faked a smile, her thorns already controlling her heart.
"In two days you will be a wife, Mommy can't believe that time is going by so fast."
"I'm sorry, Mom."
"Sorry for what? We're just glad you agreed to this arrangement. James is a perfect match to be your husband dear."
"Hopefully, Mom."
***
Two days later.
"James, you look very handsome today."
"Please, Mom. Don't praise me too much. I've always been handsome." said James, boasting.
"You brat, Mommy praises you sincerely. Your aura looks different. Today your good looks are different."
"Never mind, Feli. Don't bother him."
"Mark." James's mother, Felicia, snorted in annoyance that her husband had joined in protesting her attitude.
"Listen, James. Starting today, don't repeat what you did in the past. Don't hurt Natalie, if that happens. Then we will take back all the facility's that we will give you." Felicia threatened.
"Relax, Mom. I don't really love Natalie yet. But she is beautiful and attractive. I think I'll fall in love with her soon."
"Good, don't mess with the other girls out there. Especially Sarah, watch out if you ever get in touch with her again!"
"I promise, I'll stop, Mom."
"Alright, let's go to the altar. It's about time, the event will take place soon."
"Okay."
James looks dashing in a gray suit. Her brown hair was slicked back. He walked briskly past the invited guests, several business associates, college friends, and close family sitting neatly in the front row.
James was relieved that Sarah didn't come after these few days of insisting on witnessing his marriage to Natalie. The woman wept bitterly at their last meeting. Begged to annul his marriage to Natalie.
"James," Brandon patted the dreamy James on the shoulder.
"This is the ring." Brandon gave her a black velvet box. Contains the ring she ordered a few weeks ago according to Natalie's taste and finger size.
"Oh," James took the box and pocketed it in his coat.
Ten minutes had passed, but the bride-to-be had not yet arrived.
'Probably stuck in traffic.' James thought.
When his heart is restless, at the end of the red carpet. Dean appeared holding Natalie, who was covered by a veil. The little girl walked hand in hand with her father towards the altar.
Unknowingly, Dean and Natalie were already in front of James.
"James, I leave my daughter to you. She is still very young; love and make her happy. Never hurt her." Dean held out Natalie's hand to James.
James smiled; Natalie looked beautiful behind the veil. Today he admired her beauty. "Don't worry, Mr. Spencer. I promise to love and cherish her for the rest of my life."
"Honey, be happy." whispered Dean to his daughter.
Natalie just nodded.
The pastor immediately read a blessing prayer for the bride and groom.
"James Oliver Hill, will you accept Natalie Spencer as your wife in good times and bad. In health and in sickness, until death do us part?"
"Yes, I do."
"Natalie Spencer, will you accept James Oliver Hill as your husband in good times and bad. In health and in sickness, until death do us part?"
Natalie was silent.
James looked at Natalie's face intently; he couldn't quite clearly see the look in her eyes which was full of hatred.
"Miss Natalie Spencer, would you mind..."
"I don't." Natalie let go of James' hand. She removed the veil over her face, "I can't marry you." Natalie said with a defiant look.
James gasped, "What do you mean?"
"I can't marry you." Natalie took a few steps back and then gathered the tail of her dress in her hands. The girl came down from the altar through the line of guests and ran to a taxi.
"Wait, Natalie!"
- Writer
