CHAPTER 2: Replacement Bride

Aria’s POV

“No.”

It came out before I could stop it, and my father stared at me like I had insulted him or something.

I shook my head, stepping back. “No, I can’t do that.”

“You can,” he said.

“I won't,” I replied quickly.

I can’t marry Nathan. Heck, I don’t even know him well and to top it off he is my sister’s fiancé.

“This is not my wedding,” I said. “I am not Alexa.”

My mother stood up from the bed, and she looked at me with pleading eyes.

“Aria, please,” she said softly. “Just listen first.”

“No,” I said again. “There is nothing to listen to. I can’t marry someone I don’t love.”

The word love felt strange in my mouth, I’ve never been romantically involved with anyone.

My father’s face stayed the same, “This is not about love,” he said.

I stared at him. “Then what is it about?”

“Helping your family, it’s your duty Aria” He replied.

My chest felt tight, “This is not fair” I said. “She left, this has nothing to do with me”

“And you will fix it,” he said.

I blinked. “Fix it?” Was he serious?

“Yes.”

I scoffed, like it was that simple.

He’s crazy, they’ve all lost it.

“Aria, just do it for today, it will calm things down a bit.” My mother said.

“Just until we find Alexa” she adds, cupping my face to look at her.

I shook my head slowly.

“I said no.”

My father spoke again, his voice was louder now. He was trying to make me fold but he forgot one thing I’m not like this other daughter.

“I am your father, you must do whatever I say”

“I am not doing this,” I said again. He can’t make me get married against my will, that’s insane.

My mother held my hand, Her grip was tight.

“Please” she whispered. “Just do this.”

I looked at her and she had tears in her eyes.

“For me” she said. How can she expect me to say no to her? With tears in her eyes?

I really hate the fact that she’s making me do this, she’s the only one who has power over me. Unlike my father, she treated both Alexa and me equally.

“Please don’t make me do this” I said “Can’t we just find her, I’ll help look I swear. She is the one who left, don’t punish me like this.”

I’d give anything to get out of this, I wish Liam were here he would know what to do.

“She’s gone,” she said.

“So that’s it?” I asked. “You replaced her with me?”

“Don’t you even care where your daughter is?” I added.

She did not answer.

I pulled my hand away slowly looking at the room full of people who expected me to just go along with this.

I could hear people downstairs laughing and talking like nothing was wrong as if this wedding was still going to happen.

And now I was meant to be the bride. How on earth do they expect me to marry my sister's fiancé?

I turned my head and my eyes landed on him.

Nathan.

He stood near the door just watching everything

unfold without saying anything, he was watching me intensely.

Not to my surprise he had not said a word since all this started and behind him was Sophia staring at the wedding dress on the bed.

I looked back at Nathan and our eyes met but he did not look away and something about that made my stomach twist.

Say something, I thought. Anything, tell them no and how this is wrong but he said nothing.

He just kept looking at me then my father stepped forward.

“This is not up for discussion anymore” he said.

“It is decided.”

My chest tightened.

“You can’t decide that for me,” I said.

“I just did,” he replied.

I looked at this man in disbelief. What type of father does not care or give a shit that his daughter is missing?

“This is my life and I have every right to decide who I want to get married to,” I said firmly.

“And this is your family,” he answered.

“Tell the guests there has been a small change.” My father said to one of my cousins.

A small change? I almost laughed.

This was not small, my father single handedly altered my life by deciding to marry me off.

I turned quickly.

“Stop saying it like that” I said.

My father looked at me again, his eyes were hard.

“You are overreacting.”

I let out a scoff.

“Overreacting?” I repeated. “You want me to marry someone I don’t even know properly and you think I am overreacting?”

“You know him enough,” he said.

“I don’t” I replied. “I don’t love him. I don’t want him.” I argued back looking directly at Nathan, he didn’t say anything but his gaze never shifted from me.

“Aria please,” my mother said, grabbing my arm.

My hands curled into fists.

“This is wrong,” I said.

“Say something,” I continued. I looked at Nathan again with pleading eyes.

“If you don’t want this, say it” I said.

He watched me for a few seconds then spoke.

“I have no problem with it.”

“No problem?” I repeated.

His expression did not change.

“This changes nothing for me” he said leaning on the door frame.

My mind was spinning and I shook my head slowly, this is either some sick prank or everyone has gone completely insane.

“This is crazy, you’re crazy" I whispered.

“This is not right, you can’t do this” I said again.

“Enough Aria!” My father said, stepping closer to me. He towered over me, I mean he is taller than me after all.

“You will go into that bathroom, put on the dress, and get ready. I give you ten minutes” He said angrily before walking off.

“Please, for us just do this.” my mother said squeezing my shoulders before walking away.

I sat in the bed alone wondering what the fuck I was meant to do.

Take my sister's place and marry Nathan?

Ultimately I decided to put on the dress and try my best to get Nathan to change his mind.

After putting on the dress I stood before the mirror just examining myself. Here I was in my sister's wedding dress about to walk down the aisle and marry my sister's fiancé.

If he didn’t give a shit that my sister was missing I doubt he would care about me.

I took a deep breath. I had to talk to Nathan. My dad wouldn't listen and my mom was too scared to do anything. But Nathan was the one who was supposed to marry my sister. He had a say in this, right? He can’t really want to marry me.

I walked out of the room. The hallway was empty, but I could hear people talking downstairs. I went toward the groom’s room where I knew the men stayed before the wedding.

I saw Nathan standing by the window. He was alone wearing a black suit that looked really expensive. He was tall and looked handsome.

Handsome? Are you crazy Aria?? Get it together girl.

"Nathan," I said.

My voice sounded so tiny. He turned around slowly. He didn't look surprised to see me.

"Aria,” he said. His voice was calm.

"We need to talk," I said. I walked closer to him putting on my best brave girl act. "You can’t do this. You know it’s wrong. You were supposed to marry Alexa."

Nathan didn't move. He didn't even blink. "As far as I know Alexa isn't here."

"I know she isn't here!" I said. I was getting mad. "But that doesn't mean you can just marry me instead. I’m not her. I don’t love you, and you don’t love me. Why would you want a wife who does not even like you?"

He raised a brow.

Nathan stepped toward me. He was way taller than me. Damn, he smelled so good, focus Aria.

Remember why you are here.

"Love has nothing to do with this Aria," he said. "This is a deal. Your father promised me a Hayes daughter”

"But I’m a person, you can’t just decide to marry me now that my sister is not here. You have never said a word to me!" I felt like I was talking to a brick wall. "Please, Nathan. Just tell them you won't do it. They’ll listen to you. If you say no, I’ll be free from this."

He did not reply, he just kept staring at me.

Nathan reached out. I thought he was going to touch my face, but he just fixed the strap of my dress on my shoulder.

"I don't walk away from deals, Aria," he whispered. "A bride is a bride, I don’t care which sister I get to marry. It doesn't matter."

“If you go through with this wedding I’ll make you regret it I swear”

He smirked, “I love a challenge.”

With that he walked away leaving me, how dare he? I bet he did not even love Alexa.

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts to murder Nathan.

“Miss, your mother sent me to get you. The wedding is about to start" a worker says.

My heart dropped, this was it I was about to become Nathan Cross's wife.