I could hear my heart pounding hard inside my chest. My hands were shaking and my stomach was in knots. In just an hour, my life was going to change forever and I didn’t have a say in it. I could hear the noises of people, the sound of the cameras clicking, and the weeps of my mother. For the first time, I felt like an outsider, a burden that my parents had to lift off. No matter how sorry they felt, I could never be able to bring myself to forgive them.

The dress, which was supposed to be my sister’s, was now draped over my body. I never thought I would hate when I will wear the bridal dress, but I do. No matter how beautiful the dress was, it wasn’t mine and I hate it.

I was going to be the substitute bride that people will gossip about. They would laugh at me, say cruel things to me but all I had to do was to absorb, that’s what my Mom told me.

I peered outside the window, finding thousands of reporters all crowded down the road. The Sirius’s sure wanted the wedding to be grand and epic. Well, I guess the wedding would blow their minds off finding a new face hidden under the veil. I could just imagine their faces, all shocked and paled like they saw a ghost.

I turned away from the window and sat on the bed. My fingers wouldn’t stop fidgeting until all this was over. I should jump from here or run away but it would be just wasting time and my energy. No matter how many times I protest, my father won’t soften.

Tears prickled in the back of my eyes, dripping down, lining my cheeks. I had cried enough but then too, the tears won’t stop. My eyes were tired, red, and lifeless. I wiped the tears with the front of my palm, without caring about the makeup. The cold surface of the ring touched my face and I gazed at the ring, my sister’s. I hate it, I hate her.

My sister thought it would be fun to run away from your wedding without even informing anyone. Just for a fashion show, she left her wedding and made me the sheep to handle all these. When I reached to call her an hour ago, I found her room empty. She left a letter and the ring, her fucking engagement ring on top of the paper, and disappeared.

“Mae….” Mom verbalized, standing near the door and looking at me with an I-am-sorry look. I got up because it was time for the bomb to drop. She reached for me but I jerked my arm and shook my head. I could hear her whimper but I wouldn’t care. “I know…I know you hate us….but love, there isn’t any choice” she sobbed, covering her mouth with her hand.

She was always like this- meek, timid, and mellow. She could never go against my father’s decision and I get that but at least she could have tried. She could have argued with him but she did nothing. “You had the choice. You could have argued with him to go for another choice” I gritted my teeth, my anger was flooding all over my nerves. “You never loved me.” I tore away my eyes from her and walked straight.

On my way downstairs, I spotted my Dad. He approached me, his eyes softening as he looked. “Mae…I-I am sorry” he expressed and I could see the tears glistening in his eyes.

“If you are sorry, then stop this from happening Dad!” I snapped and I was begging from inside. He didn’t say anything and I knew he won’t do anything. He reached for my hands but I backed away.

“It’s time, let's go,” he said, getting back to his usual self. I clenched my teeth so hard that it hurts. He reached for my hands and this time he won’t take no for an answer. “Only you can save us” he whispered. Oh yes, I was going to save my family. I was going to save my family’s reputation. Fuck it. It showed he cared more about prestige than his own daughter.

We stood in front of the double doors, waiting for the announcement. I was always looking forward to this moment when I would walk the aisle with my father. It was my most favorite part. Now, I didn’t even care. I didn’t even know what emotions to portray. The media was eagerly waiting inside as well as outside.

The door pulled inward and I gripped my father’s arm tightly. No matter how many times I told myself that it would be okay, I was nervous as hell. Dad, placed his palm on mine, in a way of assuring me. We walked slowly, the music in the background was calm and sweet but I was screaming from inside. I could feel the eyes on me, gawking at me and the low whispers as I passed their seats. I held the bouquet way too tightly and kept my head lowered because I wasn’t ready to face their latches or anything.

We reached the stage and my father let go of my hand and guided me upfront. Slowly tilting my chin up, I gazed at my soon-to-be husband who was going to be my brother-in-law. His blue eyes were transfixed at me. His expression unreadable but I bet he was fuming with anger. After all, his bride was replaced.

Zion Sirius was the leading businessman in A city. He was handsome, rich and a bachelor until now, he was going to be my husband. He didn’t say anything nor was he shocked by my appearance. Did he know all along? I imagined he would create a scene and break off the wedding and I wished it was true but he looked almost neutral as if he didn't care who his bride was.

I turned my head to my side, looking for my father who was sitting with the groom’s parents. The woman in navy blue knee-length dress glared at me, it was his mother– Ruth Sirius. To her left were his father, same eyes and a poker face. I tore my gaze from them and looked down at the lilies in my hand.

Clearing his throat, the priest started the wedding rituals. I wasn’t paying attention to whatever he was saying. I still held a hope that the wedding might get cancelled but the longer the time went, the more I was sure there wasn’t any hope left.

“Mae Shannon Rees, do you take Zion Argun Sirius as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?” the priest asked. The entire hall was silent; no one was saying anything. I could hear myself gulping softly. The priest looked at me with expectant eyes and I felt guilty. I was about to lie in front of him.

Craning my neck, I looked at Zion who was staring at me. I couldn’t even say what was he thinking at the moment. I opened my mouth, feeling my tongue suddenly too heavy, and uttered, “I do.”

The priest then asked the same to Zion and unlike me, he wasted no time and said, “I do.” What was thinking? Does he not cared about my sister? Did he even love her?

“I now announce you as husband and wife!” the priest announced and my heart sank deep in my stomach. “You may now kiss the bride.”

He wouldn’t kiss me, would he? He loved my sister, my sister. I kept reminding myself that he was my sister’s, not mine. I nervously met his eyes and he step closer. His hands reached forward to expose my veil. My heart pounded hard in my chest, feeling it would pop out any moment out of my body. His aqua blue eyes bore into mine and for a moment I was into them. They were striking and as if it could see through yourself. Leaning down, his hot breath hitting my nose, but instead of kissing, he whispered something in my ears that made me lose my footing. “You are the one I wanted.” With that he kissed me, deep but slow.

I didn’t kiss him back, my brain was wrecked. What the hell did he just say? He wanted me? Why? Thousands of questions started flooding into my mind and I couldn’t understand what was happening.

But then I remembered. The night when I first met him. The night of wildness and making mistakes. If I had known he was going to be my brother-in-law, I would have never kissed him.