Chapter 27: Welcome to hell, dear wife.
Chapter 27: Welcome to hell, dear wife.
~A MONTH LATER~
It was the Saturday morning of Amelia’s wedding with James, and everyone was busy doing one thing or the other.
James was at his mansion with his father and friend, Tina. They were helping him look very good for his wedding.
James didn’t have many male friends, so Charles hired some of his friends' sons to act like the friends of the groom.
Amelia, on the other hand, was scrolling through her phone as she sat in Charles’ apartment. The news about her wedding was everywhere on the internet. This made her so nervous.
Helen was next to her, watching closely what the makeup artist was doing. Helen had been so bent on making Amelia look so beautiful on her wedding day.
She had also made sure that she got other things like, making the whole city know about the wedding so that women could stay away from James, the hall and church that was going to be used for the wedding, and many more, prepared.
The makeup artist stopped working on Amelia’s face and asked her to check herself out in the mirror in front of her.
Amelia raised her head and stared into the mirror. She couldn’t recognize herself anymore. She had never thought she would look so perfect her whole life.
Her face was slightly contoured, smokey eyes, and her lips were covered with nude lipsticks. Her hair was weaved in casual, yet beautiful braids. It was as a crown on top of her head.
“This is beautiful! Do you like it?” Helen asked her, and she bounced her head and divulged a feeble smile.
“I do, Ma’am.”
She stood up and walked to where her bright white, gorgeous wedding gown was hung. It was a strapless ball gown, with a V-neck, and was made of a stretchy material. The dress covered the mannequin, down to the feet.
As she stared at the gown, her hands began to quiver. Helen noticed how nervous she was, so she walked up to her and held her hand in hers.
“Are you scared?” She asked, and Amelia gulped and nodded.
“You don’t have to be scared, Amelia. I know this is one of the biggest days in your life, and you are very nervous. But, you don’t have to worry about anything. Everything will be fine. You will get married to my son and you two will have beautiful and handsome kids.”
Helen seemed like excited as she spoke, while Amelia on the other hand was still not calm.
After James agreed to marry her and let her resume work again, all thanks to his mother, he had been very cold to her. It was worse compared to when she first started working with him.
He wouldn’t talk to her nor even look at her. She began to worry if he would ever touch her, talkless of sleeping with her so that they could bear children.
Helen asked the artist to help Amelia with her dress. Helen’s phone began to vibrate in her hand. It was Charles calling.
“Your Father-in-law is calling. Let me quickly talk to him,” Helen said to Amelia and stepped aside.
“Hey, Charles. What’s up?”
“Are you done with Amelia? We are headed to the church now.”
“Really?” She turned to look at Amelia and saw she had worn her dress already. The artist was helping her adjust her dress.
“She is almost done. Don’t worry, we will be there soon.”
“Okay. I’ll hang up now.”
“Wait, Charles!” She hastily pronounced and an awkward silence set in afterward.
“Helen, we have things to do. There’s no time to do this right now.”
Helen gulped and bounced her head. “Okay. We’ll talk later.”
“Okay.”
He hung up, and she turned to look at Amelia, who was staring at her, looking so beautiful. The sad look on Helen’s face disappeared, and she beamed widely.
“God! James will be so shocked to see how beautiful you are! Damn! You are so cute!”
Helen walked up to her and lifted her cheeks with her thumb slightly. Amelia giggled and lowered her head shyly.
“You think so?”
“Of course I do!” Helen knitted her brows. “Trust me, James has a soft spot for beautiful women. And you’re very beautiful, Amelia. I’m so glad you are his wife!”
She shifted her gaze from Amelia and looked at the makeup artist.
“We should start heading to the church. The groom will be close to the venue by now.”
They all headed out of the house and led the way to where the black Mercedes Benz prepared by Freddie was parked. There was a driver sitting for them in the car.
They all got in, and he drove them down to the church.
***
A solemn classical love song played as the church gate opened up for Amelia’s entry.
Next to her, on her right hand side was Freddie, dressed in an expensive black Tuxedo. His hair was neatly shaved, and was dyed in black.
As they both walked down the aisle, people from the congregation threw flower petals on them.
Amelia’s heart was thumping very hard against her chest as she walked.
The three-inches silver heel-shoes and the heavy dress she wore made it difficult for her to walk fast. So, she took her steps pretty slow, lifting her dress slightly with her left hand.
She lifted her head as they drew closer to the altar, and she saw James in front.
His eyes were on her as she walked up to him. His expression was cold and mean. He wasn’t so shocked by her beauty as Helen thought.
When Amelia saw the way James glared at her, she wished she could run back out of the church, and escape him for good. But she couldn’t.
Her uncle stood next to her, smiling widely like it was the happiest day of his life.
In the congregation was Ava, Hudson, Tina, James’ family and friends, and many others. Ava was shedding tears, feeling so hurt to see Amelia snatching what belonged to her.
Hudson tried to console Ava by hugging her to his side.
“Stop crying because of that rude fool. He isn’t good for you anyway.”
“Don’t talk about him like that, Hudson. I love that man, and why I am not ruining everything is because of Dad,” She mumbled.
“So you are just going to give up, right?”
“Never! This is just the beginning!”
Amelia got to the altar, and Freddie walked away from her. He proceeded to the front chairs provided for the parents of the couples.
Amelia lowered her head as she stood in front of James. She was too scared to look him in the face.
The priest began his speech shortly,
“James Parker and Amelia Cooper, have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?”
James scoffed and looked at Amelia. He said inside of him, ‘This isn’t wholeheartedly! I’m doing it because of my mother.’
“Yes,” He mumbled, and Amelia raised her head and looked at him.
“Yes,” She also said.
“James Parker, do you take Amelia Cooper as your lawfully wedded wife? To love and cherish her till death do you part?”
He divulged a smirk and moved closer to her. Amelia couldn’t stop fidgeting, her heart kept thumping against her chest.
It was all happening so fast. She was getting married to the great billionaire, James Parker!
He moved his face to her ear and the murmuring of the congregation that watched filled the air.
“What is he doing? Why didn’t he answer the priest?”
“Are you sure you don’t want to run now? Before I say yes to that vow, this is your last chance to escape from hell,” He whispered in her ear, and she swallowed hard.
“I can’t run away. I have to do this for my uncle. I will never say no to him. I’m ready to go through hell.”
James arched one of his brows and stepped back. He looked at the Priest and nodded.
“Yes. Till death do us part.”
Amelia raised her head and looked at him. The way he looked at her scared the shit out of her. If only she could say no to her uncle and herself, but she couldn’t.
“The same goes to you, Amelia Cooper. Do you take James Parker as your lawfully wedded husband, to love, cherish and take care of the beautiful kids you’ll give to him, till death do you part?”
The crowd giggled at the additional phrase the priest added to the vows.
“They are sure going to have beautiful kids. They look so cute together!” James’ mother yelled, and the crowd cheered happily.
‘Kids? Kids for James Parker?’ Amelia thought in terror.
‘Kids my foot. She is yet to take care of herself!’ James yelled inside his head.
Amelia fiddled her fingers and slowly bounced her head. “Yes. Till death do us part.” NôvelDrama.Org holds © this.
“Is there anybody in this congregation that objects to this marriage? Speak now or forever hold your peace.” The Priest said to the congregation, and everyone began to look around, even Amelia.
Suddenly, the church gates opened, and Elena walked into the church. Amelia’s eyes widened when she saw Elena at the church gate.
‘Is she against this marriage? Why would she be?’
“Sorry! You can go on!” Elena said to the priest in a loud tone and hurriedly walked to the chairs at the back of the congregation.
Amelia let out a sigh of relief and smiled faintly. She thought the only friend she had was against her happiness.
“It’s time to wear the rings on each other,” The priest said, and the best man stepped forward with the rings.
James took one of them and stretched his hand out his hand to Amelia. He wore the ring on her left hand, ring finger. And she did the same to him too.
“From today henceforth, you are no more called Amelia Cooper, but Amelia Parker! I declare you husband and wife! You may kiss your bride!”
The congregation stood up and started clapping. Amelia gulped and looked at James, who didn’t make any attempt to move.
‘Kissing is a bad idea! I kissed him once, and I’m still suffering for it! I’m standing here because of it!’ Amelia thought fearfully.
James suddenly made the move and leaned closer to her. Amelia’s eyes popped wide open as he grabbed her neck and pulled her in.
“Oh my God!!!” The cheering continued.
He moved his face very close to hers, and she closed her eyes very tight. She could see another doom piling up.
He was so close that she could feel his fresh breath on her face. It caused little tingling feelings on her skin.
“Why are your eyes closed? You think I’ll kiss you again? It’s never going to happen.”
The crowd began to clap as they thought their lips touched already.
He let go of her neck after some minutes, and she opened her eyes and exhaled softly.
“Welcome to hell, dear wife.”