Chapter Fourteen
I nervously fiddled with my fingers as the hairstylist added the accessories to my hair. I was already in my dress and my make up was done. (Hair and dress above)
Today's the day. The day I marry Nathan Graham. No one bothered to help me shop for my dress after that day. They were just busy with the rest of the wedding preparations. They excluded me from nearly everything. I don't even know what flavor the cake was.
Oliver was the ring bearer, Hailey and Julia were my bridesmaids. The best man was Jacob and I had no maid of honor. Neither Julia nor Hailey deserved it.
Somehow we managed to plan the wedding in a week even with Hailey and Christopher insisting that we hold on. I knew they just wanted time to find a loophole in the contract so Hailey would be Nathan's wife. I wasn't sure about how I felt about Hailey marrying Nathan. It would definitely hurt me. I've gotten close to Nathan and begun to lean on him for support, I don't think I'll be able to let him go just yet.
I'm actually happy to be his bride and Oliver's stepmother.
There was a knock on the door and Sophia poked her head in. "You look beautiful, Alyssa." She said, stepping into the room. "Ready to get married?"
I nodded with a deep sigh. I'm ready. I think.
She guided me out of the dressing room to the entrance of the chapel of the hotel we were having the wedding at, the reception will be in the garden. Hailey and Julia were already inside standing at their positions, Cassy was seated in one of the pews, Christopher and Rebecca were also seated as well as Nathan's parents.
I was walking down the aisle alone. I didn't want Christopher walking me, he would spend he entire walk telling me how I didn't deserve what I was getting and that the only reason I was getting married to Nathan was because of a contract. He'd probably say that to make me back out which was something I didn't want to do.
I knew the main reason we were getting married was because of the contract but I think there's something between us. Maybe it was just me reading into everything too much but I believe Nathan and I have a... a connection or something.
The music started and I forced my legs to move. Through the veil, I could see everyone standing, staring at me. I clutched the bouquet of roses tightly. Why are they staring at me? Is there something wrong with my dress?
It's your wedding, you're the bride, they have to stare at you. I reminded myself.
I looked straight ahead, my eyes meeting Nathan who looked sharp in his navy blue suit, guess the both of us didn't want to wear traditional colors. Beside him was Jacob in a black suit and the rest of his groomsmen.
Hailey stood in her revealing red bridesmaid dress, glaring angrily at me. She looked so close to doing something drastic but knowing her family, she was warned to behave. Julia was next to her wearing a more modest dress. She wasn't giving me a nasty look like I expected, instead she was looking admiringly at my dress. I for sure thought she'd be doing the same thing as Hailey.
I reached the end of the aisle, taking Nathan's hand. Immediately, I started having those goosebumps and the butterflies in my stomach started flying. How does he manage to do that everyone he touches me?
The priest started his sermon but I was too busy staring at Nathan to focus. His hair was left in it's usual curls to fall around his face and his grey eyes sparkled even more.
"Nathan Graham," I tuned in, knowing what was coming next. "do you take Alyssa Camille Jordan to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do." I heard him say without hesitation.
"And do you, Alyssa Camille Jordan, take Nathan Graham to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" He asked me.
I could feel all eyes on me, even a few glared. This was it. No going back. The moment I say 'I do' Nathan and I would be married. I wouldn't be Alyssa Jordan anymore, I'd become Alyssa Graham, I'd have a son, Oliver and a husband.
Am I really ready for this?
"I..." I took a deep breath. "I do."
The priest gave me a short nod and called for the rings. After we exchanged them, he announced. "I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride."
Finally, what I've been waiting for.
Nathan pulled the veil over my head and pulled me closer to attached our lips. I quickly cupped the back of his neck to deepen it a little before we pulled away. The crowd of over five hundred people cheered for us, some more than others as me made our way out of the chapel.
"That was something." Nathan commented once we were alone.
We had a few minutes before the reception which I was thankful for. We were just taking our sweet time walking through the hallways of the hotel.
"Yeah, it was crazy." I said.
He chuckled. "You look beautiful, Love."
My cheeks flushed. He called me 'love'. "Thank you."
"Your dress, it isn't white."
I began to panic inwardly. Did he want me to wear white? It was the traditional color after all.
"I like it. It suits you." He continued.
I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. "Thanks. I like you suit."
"This old thing?" He gestured to it playfully.
My eyes caught the tag under the collar and I pulled it off. "Old, huh?" I said sarcastically.
His eyebrows raised at the sight of it. "Okay, maybe it's not so old."
We both laughed. There was a comfortable silence until his phone rang from his pocket. He glanced at the screen and sighed.
"I'm sorry, I have to take this, it's work." Then he left without letting me say anything.
I just wandered around until I realized that I was lost. I could hear footsteps behind me as if someone was following me. I kept walking even when the passages got darker and lonelier.
Suddenly, I was pushed to the wall, my back hitting it hard. When I opened my eyes, I saw Hailey but what really got my attention was the knife in her hands.
"Hailey, what're you doing?" I asked in a voice barely above a whisper. Her other arm was pushing on my neck so I could barely breathe.
"Shut the fuck up you lowly whore!" She was whispering, not wanting to draw attention to us. She held the knife to my throat with a devilish smile. "You think you've won, huh? You got Nathan to marry you, now you think you're something. Well you're not. Daddy says if you die suddenly, Nathan would have to marry me but he doesn't want to kill you for some reason so I'll do it."
She pressed the knife harder on my neck. I hissed, feeling my skin break.
So this is it, she gonna kill me. I thought. Just when I was finding my happiness again.
"HAILEY!!" A voice screamed. "Let her go right now!"
"Why, Mom?! She took everything from me, this is supposed to be my wedding, not hers!" Hailey raised her voice as well, turning to look at her mother but still holding me against the wall.
"You know you can't kill her, Hailey." Rebecca, stated sternly. I never thought I'd be happy to see her.
"Once she's gone, I'll have my man back."
"Hailey, we'll find a way to solve this."
"When?! Should she get pregnant for him first?" Then she glared harder. "If she already isn't."
I felt the wind leave my body as she dug her fist into my stomach. Thank God it was just her fist, not the knife.
"Hailey, that's enough, let's go before someone notices we're gone." Thankfully, Hailey agreed and left me doubled over, clutching my stomach which I was sure was bruised.
Before they left, Rebecca shot me a warning glare. "If anyone hears about this, you're dead."
I was able to push through the pain and get closer to the garden entrance. I looked a bit pale no doubt. Where Hailey hit must've been really important for me to be feeling this horrible. I feel like I'm going to throw up and faint at the same time.
"God, Alyssa, what happened to you?" It was Sophia, Nathan's Mom.
She came to my side, supporting me and helped me to my suite. She placed me on the bed, allowing me to collect myself a bit.
"Is that blood on your neck?" She shrieked. "How did this happen? Why are you so pale?"
"The chain must've cut me." I croaked out, gesturing to the gold chain around my neck.
"You look sick."
"Maybe I ate something bad this morning." I offered, hoping she'd accept that as an excuse.
"Let's get that cut cleaned up." She went into the en suite and got a dampened towel.
She first removed the necklace then dabbed the cut gently. According to her, it was only half an inch long and was already healing so I didn't have to worry. She gave me some water to help with the nausea and stayed till she was satisfied with how I looked.
"Are you sure you're alright, Alyssa?" She asked for the fifth time.
Stop asking Sophia, please. You're making it much harder to lie to you.
"Yes, I'll be fine. Maybe I was just overwhelmed." I lied smoothly. "I don't want to hold up the reception, we should get down there."
"Are you sure? You can talk to me if there's anything wrong."
I almost burst into tears. "I'm okay, really."
She nodded, unsure. "Take your time, I'll be right outside waiting for you when you're ready."
She stepped out of the room, leaving me to feel guilty for lying. Why is lying to her so hard? I even find it difficult to lie to Nathan. Even during our date when he asked how I really got sent to the hospital.
******
"Okay." He thought for a while. "How did you really get those bruises that took you to the hospital?"
"What?" I was shocked that he even asked that.
"Somethings just don't add up, that's all. If I recall correctly, I helped you get away from those guys a few weeks before the incident."
"I told you I was attacked on my way from work." I said defensively.
As I spoke something was eating me up from inside. Guilt. Why was I feeling guilty about this? I lie to people all the time, this should be no different.
"If you were hurt that bad on your way from work then you wouldn't have been able to get home, especially not on foot." He pointed out intelligently.
"I guess it was the adrenaline pumping." Worst excuse ever.
"Or you lied to the police." His eyes locked on me. It felt like he was staring into my soul.
"I didn't lie to anyone. That's what happened."
He shrugged, still not believing me. "I guess only the investigation would tell."
"You trust me, right?" He nodded. "Then trust me when I say that I'm not lying to you."
Another lie.
******
I hate that I have to lie to so many people, Cassy, Sophia, Nathan. I'm lying to all of them. But if I tell the truth, I could put us all in danger. I don't want the only people who show me care to get hurt because of me. If I have to lie to protect them, then I will.
I finally got myself out of the room and let her lead me to where Nathan was waiting for me.
"Are you alright?" He asked concernedly, his British accent becoming thicker. "Mum said you weren't feeling well."
When did she have time to...? You know what, nevermind. "I'm fine, I was just overwhelmed."
"Sure?"
"Positive." I replied with a fake bright smile. "Stop worrying and let's go."
He held out his arm for me to take then we went in as Mr and Mrs Graham.