The Replacement

“Your second daughter has to take her place, we can’t postpone the wedding, it is too late.”

My heart sank immediately I heard that statement, Jessica ran away with the man she loves, leaving me to face the brutal consequences of what she has done. She was supposed to marry Diego De’ Luca so he could cancel father’s debt and save his company, but she chose love over family.

Now, the burden has fallen on my shoulder.

“You can’t back away, you signed the agreement and I won’t have you or any member of your family embarrass me, what do I tell people, that the bride ran away?”

“You can’t even put your family to order Mr Ford, how do you want to manage your company if I revive it? The wedding must hold tomorrow, I don’t care if you have to drag your second daughter to the altar. I am done here.”

I gasped as the realization of what was about to happen hit me, I turned around and hid behind a pillar, watching him walk away, I couldn’t even get a look of his face to know what he looks like. I was supposed to be Jessica’s bridesmaid, but now I’m taking her position as a bride.

I came out of my hiding place immediately I sighted my father.

“Father,” I called out.

“Isabella,” he whispered softly.

“My dearest daughter, I am so sorry this is happening, you have to take Jessica’s place.”

“Trust me, if I could stop this, I would have done that. We are already bankrupt and if I don’t do this, we are going down totally.”

“I am so sorry, my precious daughter. If your mom was alive, she would have bitten off my head if she knows what I am about to do with you.”

I couldn’t say a word, I know he has no other choice. I just nodded my head in agreement to a loveless marriage, I just accepted to marry a man that doesn’t meet up to the standard my fictional boyfriends have set, now I will only get to witness love and romance in books and movies.

The type of love I’ve always dreamed of won’t even have a chance with me, falling in love with a man that will love me so much and do crazy things to show he cares about me will be impossible.

If I was told few weeks ago I will be getting married, I would have thought the person was actually crazy. The fact that I will be the one wearing the gown I picked for my sister made me feel disgusted, it was too late to pick something else.

I will be marrying a man that I don’t even know.