Chapter 25 Chapter 26
Darius POV
Here I am standing in the groom's waiting room. While my uncle helps me knot my tie. This is really happening, today I will become a married man.
I wish I could be happy about it, the more I think about it the more I'm starting to regret why I let Clyde persuade me into doing this.
The fool didn't even come to the wedding. Said he couldn't make it and all that bullshit. "Are you nervous?" My uncle asked, his tone monotone.
He of all people should know I'm anything but nervous for the wedding. "No." I gave him a simple reply.
Nathan knocked, popping his head into the room without opening the door fully. "The wedding starts in thirty minutes, Alpha." He informed us.
I nodded my head, not knowing what to respond to him with. Okay fine, I admit maybe I'm a tiny tweeny bit nervous. Just that, I mean who wouldn't be nervous on their wedding day.
To think that just last night, I was on a date with Iris. She liked the flowers a lot but didn't say that. But the admiration in her eyes said it all.
She wanted to talk about my wedding and all of that but I didn't let her. I didn't want anything to ruin the atmosphere yesterday, we ate our food and chatted a little.
We didn't say anything about her wedding either, I didn't want to think about it. "Is there anything else you need my assistance with?" My uncle asked.
"Nothing." I replied.
"You know you can walk away from this wedding and nobody would question you right," he said looking at me with one of his hands in his pocket.
I thought about what he said, he was right. I could walk out and not get questioned but I didn't want to, I haven't finished yet with the Smith family.
"I'm okay." I said and he nodded his head, removing his hand from his pocket and seating down on the chair.
"Ohh there is my soon to be son-in-law." Leonard beamed stepping into the room.
I groaned mentally, why did he have to come here. "Good afternoon," my uncle greeted him.
"Ohh you are here too. Sorry, I didn't see you when I came in. I was too excited to see my handsome son." Leonard responded with sarcasm evident in his tone.
This bastard still thinks people can't see the devil under all that facade. "It's fine." My uncle said, clenching and unclenching his jaw.
"How are you Darius?" Leonard asked, coming closer to me. "Are you excited for the wedding? I bet you can't wait to see your bride. Don't worry you will get to see her soon." He continued.
Fuck, can this man just shut the hell up? He talks too much. Like I give two fucks about the bride.
"Fine." I replied softly, not bothering to answer his other question.
"Yeah, I can see that. I will send someone to call you in about five to ten minutes when the wedding is about to start." Leonard smiled at me, turning around and leaving the room.
As soon as the door closed behind me, my uncle and I released a sigh of relief. "I was starting to wonder how long I can hold myself before punching him in the face." My uncle hissed.
"Thought I was the only one. It's like he doesn't even know how irritating his voice is and don't even get me started on that fake smile of his." I spat.
"You should calm down Darius, he is going to be your father-in-law soon." My uncle teased, smirking at me.
"Father-in-law my foot. I don't think I will be able to cope with him though. He is too fake for my liking." I groaned.
"Well buddy, take that off your mind for now. You have to go outside very soon." He said walking closer to me and patting me on the shoulder.
"Yeah, you are right. I shouldn't let him affect me too much." I replied, inhaling and exhaling to calm myself down.
A knock sounded on the door.
"Come in." I said to the person. A man in maybe his mid twenties walked in, who I presume to be a staff member. "I was told to come get the groom." He mumbled, bowing his head.
"It's time." My uncle whispered leaving the room.
"Lead the way." I said to the guy and we left him together. As we were walking, I couldn't hear anything except the sound of my patent leather oxfords shoes.
Finally we got to the altar, everybody was already seated waiting for the groom and bride to exchange vows.
I stepped onto the altar, bowing my head slightly to greet the pastor. Nathan stood on guard at the entrance of the hall, his gaze mirroring my uncle's approving ones.
This was it, there is no turning back now. After the vows, I will be legally binded to someone I don't want. Should I just walk away from the wedding?
No, you are not a coward. You are Darius fucking Acrux. And I have never been nor ever will be a coward. We can easily get divorced whenever I want to.
I glanced at my wristwatch, the ceremony should have started but the bride isn't here yet. Maybe she backed away from the wedding after all but if that's the case I won't go easy on the Smith family.
I refused to be stood up on the altar with hundreds of people present. Loud gasps erupted through the hall and I glanced up at the cause of commotion.
Leonard was walking the bride towards us. My gaze trailed from the end of her dress up to the beautiful necklace adorning her neck.
I might not like the bride but I have got to admit the necklace looks really nice. Then my eyes went to her face and I froze.
That isn't Vickie, that is definitely Iris. I have never failed to recognize her even though she and her sister were Identical.
Vickie has a small mole right above her right eye. I didn't even need to check for the mole to know she isn't Vickie.
My heart thudding in my chest, Iris is the only one capable of doing this to me.