Chapter 24 The announcement
Dahlia.
Ideally, due to the fact that my parents stayed in different states, we had planned two weddings.
The first wedding which was basically just reciting the vows, exchanging the rings, sharing the kiss, and cutting the cake was supposed to happen in Goldville, in the city where I grew up in, where, I was supposed to settle in with Jason.
And the second venue was supposed to be in Silverdale, it was also called the Capital, a more popular name among the locals. That's where my Mom and her family were based.
That second part of the wedding was supposed to be more like the reception, with guests, champagne, cuisines, dances, and music.
I had arranged everything. The venue had been booked, reservations made, and menus tailored for the guests.
From Goldville to the Capital, or Silverdale, it was estimated at roughly about two hours of driving.
But with a flight, it was just a couple of minutes, thirty, at most. I had already organised their flights. The guests flying from Goldville to the Capital were to be flown by private jets, two in my name, and three hired. I had also prepared that.
But after learning about Jason's plans, I had already requested my Mom to cancel everything on my behalf.
Jason and Sofia could marry in Goldville, but they were not about to spend a cent of my money in Silverdale, that is, if they would still be in the mood to celebrate after I unleashed my claws on them.
So, after my meeting with Freya, to avoid making my father and Sofia and Gwen suspicious, I decided to go back home. Well, that's if you could even call it that.
And just like the other day, I found them in the lounge room, laughing over cups of coffee and some insider jokes, and the three effortlessly painted a portrait of family and warmth. How sweet!
When they saw me, they frozen in place, seemingly displeased by my intrusion. But unlike the other time, I didn't want to exchange words with them. I was in a very good mood, after all.
I also wanted them to savour that moment, I wanted them to laugh, relax, and rejoice. It was probably the last time they were going to be so carefree, after all.
" Dahlia? Tomorrow is your wedding day! Is everything ready? You had me worried. I was about to give you a call." After snapping out of it, my father expressed, his words coated by a thin layer of concern.
To an outsider, to anyone who didn't know the vicious plans that those three had for me, his tone would have passed as a concerned father, but to me, who was fully aware of everything that they were planning, I understood perfectly well why he was worried.
His favourite daughter was about to get married, after all. And since I was the one doing the preparations, he had to make sure that everything was set. And just from his tone, I could tell how much he cared for her, for his illegitimate daughter.
" Don't worry, Father." I whispered, wearing a sweet smile that perfectly masked the sarcasm in my tone.
" Everything is ready. Everything is perfect, too." I added, my tone light with excitement, my eyes twinkling with joy, mimicking those of a happy bride who was about to tie the note.
Well, those words might have been fake, but my smile, and the expression on my face, they were all genuine. I was genuinely excited, and I was an eager bride. I couldn't wait to tie the knot with Dalton, after all.
" I had a meeting with the wedding planner earlier in the day. We have gone through the entire plan, and everything is in place."
" The officiant was sent a reminder. And yeah, your little girl in about to get married, " My voice was soft and light, barely above a whisper, and as my words landed, I watched with concealed mockery as his composure faltered. For a brief second, there was a flicker of guilt in his eyes, but it was gone as soon as it came.
He didn't even have it in him to look remorseful. Towards me, his heart was cold and frozen. To give Sofia the best wedding, to give her a heiress status, he was willing to do anything, even ruining my life. Luckily, I already knew what they were planning for me, and I was not about to let it happen.
"You also need to sleep early, father. You will be the bride's father, after all. You can't work me down aisle with puffed eyes." I teased, but my voice didn't come as playful as I had intended.
Walking me down the aisle? That simple sentence was like a hot dagger, buried deep inside my heart, charring my soul with vicious intensity.
' When you grow up, I will walk you down the aisle. You will make the most beautiful bride, ever. And I will be the happiest, clutching your gloved fingers, leading you to your waiting groom. ' A particular scene replayed itself in my mind. It happened years ago, and yet, those words were still fresh in my mind...
My father and I used to watch movies over the weekend. It was mostly animated movies, and on one of those nights, we happened to watch a beautiful animated wedding. The bride had been so beautiful, and the groom, even more striking.
I had instantly pictured myself in the cartoon's place, wearing a beautiful white gown while walking down the aisle, towards Jason.
I had also pictured my father, holding my hand, as he led me towards the groom. And as if he was reading my mind, my father had said those exact words, and for years, all through my relationship with Jason, I had looked forward to that fairytale like moment.
And now that we were there, my father was going to walk someone down the aisle, and that person wasn't going to be me..
Jason was going to wait for someone, wearing an expectant smile, but that person wasn't going to be me, like I had always dreamed of.
Sofia was going to be the bride.
Jason's and my father's betrayal stung more than anything, and for that, I was going to make sure that they paid.
" Yes! You will make the most beautiful bride, Dahlia. I am looking forward to walking you down the aisle " After snapping out if his daze, ky Dad added, frantically and the fact that there were no ripples of guilt in his voice broke something in me.
He looked okay, excited, like a person who couldn't wait. But in reality, he was mocking me in his heart, probably calling me stupid and delusional.
He wasn't aware that I was very informed of their plans, after all.
" Well, I have to make a beautiful bride, and I can't do so without getting enough sleep, can I?" I asked, forcing a smile, and he nodded a little too enthusiastically. He couldn't even wait to get rid of me.
" Initially, I had not intended to invite these two. But since they are now a part of your life, Sofia and Gwen can attend my wedding ." I whispered, a magnonimois smile plastered over my lips, and the sneers that curved their lips weren't masked from my sight.
It was not like they needed my invitation to attend the wedding, anyway. They practically owned the whole event, after all and in their eyes, I was just a clueless fool, walking into a trap without knowing. If only they knew.
" Of course, thank you for being considerate, Dhalia. Sofia and..." He started, but he was stopped by a pop-up announcement in the huge flat screen TV,
It was from a popular business channel in the country,
" And, the popular billionaire is finally tying the knot. "
" The youngest genius in the country, a business mogul, and the country's most eligible bachelor, Dalton Riggs, is finally tying the knot."
" And the bride........"