You could hear a pin drop.
Eliana, my sweet sister, would be causing a scandal with her news. The worst type of scandal in the upper class and nobility circles.
Affairs and babies born out of wedlock.
Sebastian had gone pale, my parents were reeling from this news and the Dumonts? Well it seems that even they did not know this last little titbit.
Mirabelle walks towards them, “You’re pregnant?! A child born out of wedlock, how shameful!” She shrieks and I could tell this upset her incredibly. “I knew there was something about you that I didn’t like.”
Eliana throws her head back and laughs, or rather cackles, “Mirabelle, there will be no scandal. Robert and I will wed before the child is born. Then you will finally be rid of me.”
I do not think I have ever heard my sister speak in such an acid tone, especially not towards Mirabelle Dumont. I could feel the shame radiating from where my parents were seated.Mirabelle goes completely red in her face, “You-”
“Mother, you knew about this?” Sebastian finally speaks up and looks towards his parents. My eyes flicker to his voice and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He maintains his composure, but the hurt in his eyes was evident, something I think Eliana did not care to notice. Mirabelle shakes her head, “I found out about the affair yesterday, the pregnancy is new.” She answers her son, her face dropping as she took in his expression.
Sebastian scoffs then looks towards my sister, “How long were you going to keep at this?” He asks Eliana, “And you, uncle Robert, sleeping with your nephew's fiancée as if we were in some sort of bad soap opera. What were the both of you looking to gain from this?" Sebastian was livid, but how he was keeping calm when his fiancee and uncle were just exposed was beyond my recognition.
My eyes went towards my parents and saw the anger in their expression. Eliana had always been the golden girl, the lady set to marry into a prominent family and uphold the Wiltshire name. Now she would bring nothing to the family but scandal, something my mother absolutely despised.
Robert suddenly spoke up, making us all turn in his direction, “I have been urging Eliana for months to come clean and call off your engagement.” He says, taking Eliana’s hand in his, “We fell in love during my visits last spring when I had helped with the Spring Ball. I am sorry this has hurt you, Sebastian, but the truth needed to come out. This is why I went to my brother and Mirabelle before an even bigger scandal engulfs the family name.”
Oh, snap. The Spring Ball was in April of last year, it was now September the following year with an Autumn wedding scheduled. My sister has been cheating on Sebastian for over a year now. Why had she said yes to him in June when she was in love with Robert?
Sebastian strides towards the door, but my father calls him back and stands up, looking deeply ashamed. “Mirabelle, Spencer, I am deeply sorry for this insult Eliana has caused to your family. She has undoubtedly tainted both our names, but we know in order to avoid an even bigger scandal, Eliana would have to wed Robert.” He says we all knew this would have to happen, even I did and I despised the upper-class rule and regulations. I might be the rebellious heir, but I knew how to toe the line.
Spencer nods, “Indeed, she will. But now with that out of the way, what will come of Sebastian’s supposed marriage? Our family’s name will be left tainted because of this.” He gestures towards Robert and Eliana.
Sebastian scoffs again, “I will not be getting married, father-”
“But you must. If the public finds out about Eliana and Robert, we will be pariahs in our circles.” Mirabelle says shaking her head and looking dismayed, then her eyes flicker towards me. “Unless…”
Unless? Unless what, Mirabelle?! The look in her eyes softens as she takes me in with a warm smile, Then she gets out of the armchair she was seated in and walks towards me, pulling me out of my seat.
“Unless we find a replacement.”
It took me a few seconds to register what she had just said. A replacement bride. ME??
Horrified, I look towards her, “Excuse me? A replacement?” I ask, my voice a high pitched wobble then I look about the room.Sebastian regards me then looks away.
My parents nod, and look towards one another, their minds made up.Spencer stares at me but I could see him putting the pieces together in his mind.Eliana and Robert both stared at me, dumbfounded.Mirabelle an elated ball of joy.“Yes, it’s perfect. We could tell the press that Sebastian and Elena were always together, and they got it confused because the girls are twins. IF everyone sticks to this story, we should be okay.” Spencer responds, a grin crosses his face as he stands up and walks towards his son. “This needs to be done, Sebastian.”
“Very well,” Sebastian says and stomps out of the room, then we hear the front door open then slam shut.
Was I just offered up as a pawn to appease families and social circles?
“Uhm, excuse me. Did anyone think to ask me how I felt about this?” I suddenly spoke up, having found my voice. They all turn towards me and I see my mother staring daggers before she walks over to me.
“Honey, this needs to be done. Your sister has insulted the Dumonts and we, as Whiltshires, need to make this right. Unfortunately, you do not have a choice in the matter. This marriage will be arranged and go ahead as scheduled.”My mother, always caring about appearance more than me. What else did I expect?
I sigh and my bottom lip trembles, then I look towards my sister who had an apologetic look in her eyes. “I cannot do this, I’m sorry.” I finally say and storm out of the parlour to the surprise of everyone present.
Running up the stairs to my room, I hear my name being called behind me but I refuse to look back. This can’t be happening! I just got accepted into Uni! I had Nicholas, I had a life planned for myself separate from the Wiltshire circles! They could not force me to marry, and to Sebastian at that. I despised the man, now I would be forced to marry him.
I slam my bedroom door then fall onto my four-poster as tears stream down my face.
How would I tell Nicholas that I could no longer be with him because I would be forced into an arranged marriage to a self-centred, egotistical CEO?
A knock at my bedroom door draws me out of my reverie. I knew I wouldn’t be able to hide in here forever. “Elena?” came the voice of my father. This made me frown. He hardly ever came into my room. I would have expected it to be mother or Eliana to run after me.Not the head of our family.“Come in, father,” I called out, then I sat up, straightening myself out as a lady should. He then opens the door and pokes his head in. “May I come in?”I nod and grab a tissue from my bedside table to dab my eyes with. Did he honestly expect me to tell him he could not enter my room?My father takes a seat on my bed and takes my hand in his, “Elena, I do not wish for you to go through with this marriage.” he starts abruptly, causing me to stare at him in surprise. Didn’t he just agree with everyone downstairs?“What do you mean by that, father? You just agreed with everyone downstairs that I should g
“This one looks beautiful, Elena!”Can you guess where I am right now? What a way to spend a peaceful Sunday.Currently swaddled in lace and silk, my mother and Mirabelle had kidnapped me so we could go hunting for a wedding dress. “Why can’t I just wear Eliana’s?” I had asked, and both of them looked like I had spat in their faces.Okay, then.So here I was, being a doll to my mother and Mirabelle. After trying on at least 10 more dresses, I started losing my temper.“Let me find my own dress, mother. Give me a few minutes,” I say in an exasperated tone to the surprise of the two ladies with me. If this was going to be my wedding, I might as well choose the damn dress since I didn’t get to choose the groom.I walk into the back section of London Bride Couture and sigh. This wasn’t how I pictured myself when I eventually had to choose a wedding dress. I thought I would be a lot happ
I spin around at the voice behind me and look straight into the eyes of Sebastian. Anger flared in his honey-coloured eyes as he took in the scene before him; Nicholas cupping my cheeks and my arms around his waist.I feel the anger radiating off Nicholas when he lets go of me and faces Sebastian, “We were just saying our goodbyes. There is no reason to be rude, Sebastian.” He says, meeting Sebastian’s angry stare.Wait, why the heck was he so angry, anyway?Stepping forward, I walk towards my supposed fiance and meet his gaze, “Nicholas was my intended before they forced me to marry you, Sebastian. I am saying goodbye to him, that is all.” I say to him and he peers down at me.“Irrelevant. I will not have another Eliana as my betrothed. You will go with me right this instant as we need to discuss a few things regarding our pending marriage.” He says and turns on his heel, “I don’t like to be kept wait
After fixing up my makeup, I leave the confines of my bedroom and walk downstairs. Might as well strike the iron while it’s hot. My mother’s words are still ringing in my ears as I descend the stairs. Could I be the wife to Sebastian as she was to my father?I spot Sebastian’s back and he turns around as soon as he hears the clicking of my heels. At this vantage point, I had to admit that he looked exceptionally handsome; raven hair that was a little long with a fringe that fell in his eyes. His facial hair was a medium stubble beard trimmed to perfection. Tall, yet broad and muscular. Think of Chris Evans.He looks up at me and an unfamiliar expression crosses his face when he takes in my stony expression. Was he going to try and intimidate or insult me again?I come to a stop in front of him, “Sebastian,” I say and he holds out his hand, palm up.“Walk with me, Elena. I think there are a few things we need to discuss,
1am - The morning of my wedding day.My mother and Mirabelle have been fussing over everything all week and it was driving me crazy. They had my walk-in closet cleaned out yesterday and they delivered my clothes to Sebastian’s villa in Kensington. My home from tomorrow.Heck, from today.I haven’t been able to sleep a wink because of nerves. Sebastian and I have been keeping our distance from one another since our kiss in his office, not that I mind! He threw me for a loop with that kiss, and I haven’t been able to think straight since it happened. At our rehearsal dinner, we were amiable, but as soon as it ended we went our separate ways. We barely made eye contact, and I think Sebastian was as awkward as I was.Rolling around under my covers, I sigh in frustration and decide to give up.The public had suspected something had happened, but the news outlets were too scared to report anything bad about the Dumonts. So now they were
A flutter at my bedroom door gets my attention, and I see Mirabelle saunter in with a beaming smile on her face. This makes me want to break down, and I felt light at the same time; everyone is expecting me to be okay with this, but I am not. I know this needed to be done, but yet again I am everyone’s second choice.“Elena, darling!” she exclaims, taking in my wedding attire with her eyes filling up with unshed tears. “You look beautiful, my dear. This dress altogether compliments your body well.”I genuinely smile at her compliment. Ever since I found out she preferred me to my sister, I have been seeing a different side to her. She certainly wanted me to be with Sebastian, but cared about my happiness as well and felt it lay with her son.In the weeks leading up to the wedding, Mirabelle and I spent a great deal of time together. She explained what they would demand of me as a Dumont wife and how the public would look upon me as Mr
I keep my eyes straight ahead as the oak doors swing open and gulp down a breath of anxiety. This was it, I was getting married to the arrogant CEO Sebastian Dumont and there was no turning back. My wedding procession had started, now it would be my turn to enter. The attendees stood up as my father and I appeared at the doorway and I felt myself flush; the cathedral was packed with people I did not know. These were obviously people invited when Eliana would have married Sebastian, people of noble blood and prominent in high society. “Don’t trip, Elena. Don’t trip.” I repeat over and over in my head, willing my self-confidence to come forward as we stride down the aisle. Keeping my head forward and feeling thankful for the veil covering my face, I see Sebastian waiting for me at the altar and my heart beats faster. Why did this man have to look so dashing in a classic charcoal grey three-piece Armani suit? His mouth was a thin
I hold on to Sebastian’s arm as he leads me inside Dumont Hall. I notice that all our guests have arrived before us and frowned. Did Sebastian tell his chauffeur to take us the long way around or something?Seeing all these people here made me start to freeze up again, and I grip Sebastian’s arm tightly. He stares down at me, “Is something the matter?” He asks in that uppity tone of his and I roll my eyes into oblivion, “Just nerves,” I admit, but refuse to make eye contact with him, not after what transpired in the limousine.“Well, I am afraid you will have to get used to the public eye, petite pâquerette. You are my wife now, so all eyes will be on you from now on, Lady Dumont.” Sebastian says with a smirk and my heart skips a beat at his impeccable French. Of course, his family had their roots in France.DumontBut why did he refer to me as a little daisy? I was very far from deli