Maya's POV
Such a waste
I closed my eyes slowly, allowing my hands to trace my wedding gown on my body.
Perfection
The gown clung to my body like it was made for me which was strange considering I hadn't even cared enough to choose it. I just told Mom to give me hers.
I couldn't care less about this wedding. But after wearing the dress, it feels real now. The dress radiates love I know I won't get from the stranger waiting at the altar.
I look around me. I could really use a chair right now. My legs are giving me away, and even the air feels tight. I could barely breathe. This isn't my dream, it will be my prison.
"It's time, Maya."
My father's voice is calm, almost gentle…as if he isn't about to trade my future for his business.
A sigh slips through my lips
"Do you really have to take it this far Dad?" I look at his blue eyes searching for an answer I know won't come out of his mouth.
My hand gripped my wedding bouquet tightly till I could hear some wilting. Instead of answering me, he
stood by my side releasing my grip.
"Don't ruin your bouquet, love"
"Answer me, Dad!"
"I'm sorry Maya, you know what's at stake here"
Yeah, your stocks and the inheritance.
"Let's go, Maya, we don't wanna keep the groom and the guests waiting.
"You mean the groom that I don't know?"
The sound of the door opening made me flinch. I opened my mouth slightly, breathing in and out to calm my nerves but it didn't, it only made my chest tighter. The fear of the unknown was killing me. I looked at my father with contempt and rolled my veil down.
How on earth am I walking down the aisle without knowing who is waiting for me at the altar?
My heartbeat was loud and fast. My eyes wandered around looking at the guest who was smiling at me. Ignorance truly is bliss.
I raised my head, trying to compose myself but my inner child was screaming afraid to see the groom my father had hired just hours before my wedding. I looked at my bouquet and my memory reverted to the previous day.
What do you mean he was arrested?!" I heard my father, Louis Martins, yelling over the phone from the other room.
"Fuck!" His voice thundered as something crashed… I guessed he'd kicked the flower vase. A second later, I heard the TV come on. My heart sank when I caught the words on the screen: Ty Brooks arrested for hitting an elderly woman while drunk driving.
"That fucker was supposed to be getting married to my daughter tomorrow!" Dad's voice cracked with rage.
As soon as the call ended he rushed out.
I quickly hurried out after calling my friend who was a journalist.
"Dad, what's gonna happen now? I know how much this wedding meant to you but we're gonna have to call it off."
I glanced at Mom, hoping she would back me up, but she stayed quiet. That stung more than I wanted to admit. She never went against him.
"Call it off? C'mon Maya, you know that's impossible."
My heart skipped.
Now, this is my chance. "Yes, Dad! We have to call the wedding off. I know it would affect your business and other things, but would you prefer me getting married to someone like that? He hit an old woman! And I'm sure you know the full story, even though it hasn't been released yet."
"Full story? What am I missing here, Maya?" Mom asked.
I swallowed, heat burning my face. "He had a woman in his car who was blowing his fucking dick off while he was driving."
"What?!" Mom gasped. "But it was reported that he was drunk driving?"
"Well, they omitted that part."
"That's disgusting." She frowned in disgust.
"Enough about that son of a bitch," Dad cut in. "Let's forget about him for now. You will be getting married tomorrow as planned."
I froze. "What!" My head spun. "You want me to get married tomorrow even when the groom just got arrested?"
"Honey…" Mom's voice was low, cautious, almost pleading. "I think it might be better if we call off the wedding."
"Call off the wedding? After everything? You must be kidding, right?" Dad snapped. "This is the only chance I'm getting after 26 years of disappointing my dad, and you want me to blow it? Do you know how proud he was when I told him Maya was getting married?"
Mom looked down. I knew why…her father-in-law was her nightmare. He never approved of her for Dad, and 26 years later, he still hadn't.
"I know how much your dad's approval means to you, I do but, Dad, this is my life too," I shot back.
"And I decide how you live it, Maya. You will be getting married tomorrow." His voice was cold and sharp. Commanding.
Disappointment weighed heavily on me, my shoulders slumped. For one tiny moment when the news broke, I thought maybe …just maybe I'd be free. But how could I forget who my father was? I'd never escape him.
"Can I just get a break from you once? I'm sick and tired of you!" The words flew out before I could stop them.
"What did you say to me?!" His glare cut through me.
"I said I'm sick and tired of you, Dad! You know I didn't even wanna get married in the first place. I don't want this life!"
"You don't want this life, but you enjoyed this life that I gave you."
"I didn't ask you to bring me into it."
"But you're here! And I gave you everything …which cost me everything, Maya. It even cost me my family. I had to leave my family to be with your mother. I worked tirelessly to give you this life. So you better watch what you say to me, young lady."
Mom held my hand, whispering, "It's okay, baby."
For mom's sake, I stayed quiet.
I nodded my head to her. Forcing a smile.
Dad's tone shifted, bitter but steady. "I arranged your wedding for mutual business benefit, and of course to get into my father's business. But now that things are like this, plans have changed. I'm cutting all ties with his family. But the wedding will go as planned."
My stomach dropped. "But how?" Mom asked.
He looked at us both, calm and certain.
"I'm gonna hire a groom to save face tomorrow."