Ariana Jones
This is it, the day came. The day of my marriage, probably the day of my doom. I was going to marry a man I didn't know anything about and it was happening just a day after my mother announced that I had to marry to save Mr. Smith's business.
I didn't know anything; what I knew was just that it was a Church wedding and no guest would be present except his parents and my parents. It's not that I was expecting anyone there, I barely knew anyone, nor I had any friends. And also, no one knew about the wedding.
I was wearing a simple white gown with a lace design at the upper part of the gown which was chosen by my mother. I was not even taken for shopping for my own wedding. I would have admired the beauty of the gown but my mind was clouded with the thoughts of my life after the wedding.
I walk down the aisle with Mr. Smith by my side. I never wanted this. I always wished that my father walk me down the aisle. But that's not possible. With my father in my mind, I moved forward. Tears started brimming in my eyes but I refused to let them out because I vowed to myself that I would not cry because I had already cried a lot.
I stood at the altar, my head hung low. I slightly raised my eyes to look at the man to whom I was about to tie the knot. And as I looked at him my breath hitched; in front of me was standing the most handsome man I had ever seen. I could see the dark brown color of his beautiful eyes, his dark brown hair neatly combed back and his sharp jawline.. but I saw his jaw clenching, and then it hit me, his face was emotionless; he was glaring at me which made me immediately lowered my eyes.
He seemed angry, but why? If he was against this marriage then why he agreed? He didn't seem like anyone who would agree to do anything against his will.
"Do you Xavier Knight take Ariana Jones as your lawful wife." The priest asked him and I looked up at him to find him looking at me, I lowered my eyes again. After a few seconds, he said: " I do".
"Do you Ariana Jones take Xavier Knight as your lawful husband." I immediately said "I do" because I wanted to get over with it and it's not that I have a choice. And then the wedding rings were exchanged.
"In the presence of God and your family, I now pronounce you husband and wife. May God bless you"
"You may now kiss the bride"
My heart started beating at a faster rate as if it's going to come out. He was going to kiss me which made me nervous. I started to get panic but to my relief, he took my hand in his and kissed the back of it. I flinched under his touch, his touch gave me tingles in my body, the sensation I felt was something I had never experienced before.
He let go of my hand and without uttering a word, he walked out of the church. I took moved down the altar.
A middle-aged couple came to me whom I assumed were my husband's parents because of similar features. The lady embraced me into a tight hug. "Oh my God, you are so beautiful, Ariana. You have your father's eyes. You have grown up in a beautiful lady." The tears I had been holding back began to appear again when my father's name came up. Did she know my father?
"No dear, don't cry I know you are missing your father but don't worry his blessings are always with you," The old man said as he came and hugged me from the side. I usually get alarmed when someone touches me but their touch gave me warmth. It was new to me.
"I am Rupert Knight and this lovely lady here is my wife Myla Knight and we are your father and mother-in-law. And to bring you out from confusion, let me tell you, we and your father were best friends since college, we studied together."
I nodded my head in understanding. Then Mr. Knight handed me a black box "Ariana this is for you. Your father wanted us to give this to you at your wedding, he gave this to us .. before…you know…" He said the last part sadly. I immediately understood because I didn't want to recall it.
Upon opening the box, my eyes went wide; inside the box, there was a beautiful silver neck chain. I touched it and looked up at Mr. And Mrs. Knight with teary eyes. I know I vowed not to cry but the gift from my father made me remember my father and his absence had been eating me alive.
Mrs. Knight gave me a consoling hug and I hugged her back.
"My dear, your father was a jewelry maker, he used to work in a jewelry store and he carved this beautiful piece with his own hands just for you," Mrs. Knight said.
"Thank you, Mr. And Mrs. Knight, this means a lot to me, you gave me the most precious gift of my life," I said in a broken voice.
"Oh. Don't thank us, it was made for you and from now on please call us mom and dad, you are now our daughter, today we have got a daughter we never had." Mr. Knight said, patting my head with his hand. I nodded my head.
My mom came towards me and hugged me which I know she did to show my in-laws that she cared about me.
"Behave yourself there," She whispered in my ear and pulled away.
Scarlet my sister was looking at me with disgust. And as of Mr. Smith, his face showed nothing, same emotionless.
I looked away since I didn't want to have any connection with them anymore. They had hurt me enough. Hope now, they would not do it to me anymore. Mrs. Knight took my hand in hers and smiled at me then took me out of the church.