Chapter 3
After quickly changing into my Victorian-style dress, I returned home. Jadiel had already smoothed things over with both families, and although I wasn't sure exactly what he'd said, it seemed to have worked out nicely. My mom didn't probe too much, simply applauding me for choosing the right partner.
I let out a couple of awkward laughs, and after a small ceremony at home, Jadiel drove us to the hotel we'd booked well in advance. As the bride, I was ushered into a private lounge to relax.
Kensley, my best friend, made a few comments while fixing my hair. “I told you Eli was trouble, didn't I? He and Birdie have had a thing going on forever, and when I warned you, you just wouldn’t listen, insisting on doing your own thing.”
“Luckily, you wised up at the last moment. I heard Eli even took lessons to impress Birdie with his so-called skills!” The thought made me feel sick.
Thankfully, Marlee, the ceremony officiant, interrupted just in time. Kensley quickly helped me adjust my gown as I headed to the entrance of the main hall. It was the first time I'd be entering as a bride, and to say I wasn't nervous would be a lie. The few minutes of waiting felt unexpectedly long, and the silent hall amplified the sound of my own heartbeat.
I clenched my fist, waiting for the doors to open. Suddenly, a hard shove caught me off guard!
Birdie had somehow snuck up behind me, yanking my arm with force. Her sharp nails left a long scratch, and she shrieked, “Arabella, why are you in a wedding dress at my ceremony? Are you trying to steal Eli from me again?”
Instinctively, I shook off her grip, causing Birdie to stumble back into Eli’s arms. The childish stunt seemed laughable to me.
I frowned at Eli, indicating he should control his guest. But instead of understanding, he approached me with confrontation in his eyes. “Arabella, what are you trying to do? Do you think standing here in a wedding dress means I’m going to marry you?”
I nearly laughed in disbelief. Did these two really think Eli was a prize? Just a washed-up mess, really. Do I look like I need to root through the trash?
With a smirk, I turned away from their theatrics, but Birdie persisted, lunging to grab my dress. “I won’t let you ruin my wedding! You need to leave, now!”
Amidst the chaos, Kensley struggled to shield me from Birdie’s attack, and before we knew it, the doors had opened.
The assembled guests turned their gaze upon us. Birdie, suddenly aware of the attention, quickly shifted her expression. “Uncle, Auntie, look at her! I’m supposed to be your daughter-in-law, but she’s trying to hijack my wedding.”
She faced me directly. “Arabella, I demand you admit here and now that you’re trying to seduce my husband, using your family's influence to force a marriage!”
Eli stood indifferent on the side, offering no defense. The room was mostly filled with his friends and family, and Birdie’s relatives, so there wasn't much point in hiding anything.
But then, a clear, confident male voice echoed through the room. "Who said Arabella is marrying you?”
Eli’s expression shifted instantly from scorn to panic as he recognized the newcomer.
I calmly revealed the truth, watching their stunned faces. “Yes, I'm getting married today, but not to you.”