The Groom

AVERY

We were now sitting in his black Cadillac car and might I say, lord, I want to live here!

I've never owned an extravagant thing in my entire life. How could I? My parents locked me up, I was deprived of anything in terms of money. If they found something with me that they were very sure they didn't know of, it would be broken, regardless of the amount.

"Are you even listening to me?" He asked and I blinked at him before I shook my head to clear the thoughts.

"Beg your pardon?"

"Damn... Where is your head?" He questioned and I gave him a small smile.

He froze for a second only looking at my face that I thought there was something smudged on it. I raised my hand to clean it and before I could reach it, his hand held my hand swiftly leaving me to gasp at the unexpected move.

His brown eyes darted to the tinted window behind me before he let go of my hand like I was a fire burning his skin out.

"What would I gain by marrying you?"

"I... I can... I can wash and clean and cook. I can do-"

"If I was looking for a maid, I would simply go to the maid's company and hire one. I can't get married to you."

"No... Please. I'm sure I can do everything more than the maids. I beg of you. Please... Help me." I begged rubbing my hands together.

He didn't give me a reply and simply turned his head the other way. The thought of marrying Felix broke my heart. Again, it's falling according to my parent's plans.

Why does it always fall according to their plan? It's very annoying. Tears fell from my eyes and I bit my lips to hold it in.

A sob escaped my lips and I immediately slapped my hand to my mouth. Through my glazy gaze, I saw the man look at me with a raised brow.

God, now I'm messing his car up with my useless cries.

"Sorry for wasting your time," I choked out and without waiting for a reply, I slid out of the car.

I didn't look at him once as I ran away from his car closing the door behind me.

Immediately, I stepped back, the car zoomed off like he had been waiting for my filthy and problematic self to step out of his beautiful car.

Well... Ain't this perfect?

"Who was that?" I heard from behind me and I turned around to see my father. Immediately, fear gripped me as I clutched the side of my dress.

"Father. I-"

"Don't squeeze the cloth so much. All because it's the first extravagant dress you'll wear doesn't mean you should act like you're not from the Roosevelt. Uphold the family honor. What would people think when they see you squeezing your wedding dress? Do you know how much that gown alone was bought? Not to talk of your shoes." He chided with a glare and I immediately let go of my hand.

'They would see I'm angry and only trying to hold back my anger.' I mused with an empty look.

My eyes went down to my dress to see the worst wrinkle ever on the sides. A gasp left my lips. I didn't know I was squeezing the clothes so tight!

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. She's dumb, ugly, foolish, stupid... And so many other things I can't even begin to count them. I guess being poor is your true self. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Wipe that stupid tears off your face before I smack it off your face right this moment."

I blinked to fight back more tears that threatened to fall.

I've heard of it before. It's not the first time neither would it be the last. It doesn't hurt anymore. Stop crying like a wimp!

With another heavy sigh, my father turned on his heels to walk away from me. Once I counted to twenty, I looked up at the sky my eyes meeting the logo of my family instead.

Roosevelt... Acronym RV. I'm not cut out to be rich. Why was I angry? Cause my fiance was having sex with another woman in his dressing room? More of that is definitely coming from where this has come.

"Guess it's time to go get married and be bound to a man I don't love forever. Sweet." I mumbled and stepped on the stairs that led to the reception.

I yanked the door open and kept my head looking at my feet while I played with the ring that was still in my hand.

With a sigh, I walked back to my dressing room where my Mother, Felix Gallardo's mother, and my sister, Eleanor Roosevelt were talking and laughing.

"Where is Felix?" His mother asked and I looked to my mother who returned my stare with a hard long one before I gave a sweet fake smile to Felix's mother, "he's not yet dressed. He said he'll be here when he is fully dressed."

"Tch. That boy and tardiness. Forget it, we will just pray for you after the wedding. Now, chop chop... Let's go to the venue." She replied with a smile and I nodded my head in response.

That's all I've done in my entire life. Do this, do that. A nod for confirmation. Except for my job. I cannot lose that job. Not, after all, I went through to get it...

"Excuse me, ma'am!" Someone called from the entrance and we turned our eyes to her.

"The flowers... Something is wrong with the flowers."

"Flowers?" Mrs. Gallardo repeated and the planner gave her a nod.

"Let's go. Show it to me."

Immediately, my mother jumped and followed after her and of course, Eleanor Roosevelt as well.

I was really glad they didn't stick around. All they would do is taunt me. It's all they've ever done.

•••

"The bride and her father may now enter!" I heard from behind the closed doors. I let out a deep sigh cautiously to brace myself for what is to come because my father was beside me.

However, I immediately snapped my mouth shut when I noticed his look on my face.

"We're going in now. I want you to put on a smile and act like you're the happiest bride alive. Understood?"

A nod.

The heavy doors open to the wedding. For me, they open to my doom.

"Congratulations..."

"She looks so pretty!"

"You look like a fairy..."

Oh please, stop lying. With a face and body like mine, I wouldn't even say I look like an elf. That's being too generous.

Walking down the aisle with my arm around my father's arm is the closest I've ever gotten to him in... More than I can remember.

"What did I tell you to do?" I heard suddenly and I almost jolted off at the hard voice in my ear.

"To smile, Father. Be the happiest bride alive and smile like I mean it." I mumbled. Raising my head, I beamed like an idiot that was more than thrilled to be here at that moment.

'I'm crying on the inside! Help me! Please, anybody! I beg of you!' I so badly wanted to scream out but if I did... That would be disgracing The Roosevelt's family and when I do that, I know this wedding would be my smallest doom. If and only if, my head isn't chopped off.

"Her smile is so graceful."

'I don't want it to be graceful!'

"She looks so happy."

'I don't want to look happy! This is a facade! Can anyone... anyone please look past my facade? Please help me out of this misery.'

"The groom may now enter!"

My heart slammed against my chest. Not from excitement or happiness or nervousness or being married to the love of your life, but from fear. Pure fear that I simply let in.

It's always been with me. My closest friend. My confidante.

"The groom may now enter!" I heard again and I finally looked up. Felix is supposed to be here by now. Walking down the aisle to me.

His unwilling bride.

"The-"

The clergyman's words were cut off by the heavy doors that were pushed open. The doors that led into the wedding ceremony.

My husband is here... At least, to be husband. How ironic, I was just calling him my ex-fiancee.

But unfortunately, I couldn't see his face clearly but I can make out his silhouette from the light that shone behind him.

It's not like I haven't seen his face before. He's a fine man. But he's too good for me. I'm not good enough for him.

I looked back at him when I saw a navy blue suit that seemed familiar. Where did I see that suit? It wasn't what anyone at this venue was wearing not even what Felix's Best Man is wearing.

The code was champagne Gold and blue. The bridal train was to wear a blue dress with Champagne Gold Colored design while the grooms train was to dress in Black suit with blue ties.

Eleanor Roosevelt was my chief bridesmaid, unfortunately. But it's not like I had a say in it. All the bridal train are people I've never interacted with or talked with. I don't know a single face in the crowd.

Only the Roosevelt and the immediate family of the Gallardo.

But that's just by the way.

Felix was to wear white. Definitely not Navy Blue. I squinted my eyes to see him more clearly and I froze when I saw his Rolex golden wristwatch.

That wristwatch...

Immediately, curious whispers filled the room and even I was curious who that was though I had an idea who it might be.

But it can't be him. Why would he come back?

"Who are you?" Someone asked and I blinked at the man.

"What do you mean, who am I? I am, of course, the groom of the wedding."