#CHAPTER 11

The voices managed to open my eyes from a long rest, there was no one but the man who was walking towards me while buttoning his sleeve shirt.

'Are you okay Aletta?' he said with a smile

I nodded and got off the bed to stand in front of him. He held both my shoulders and said that everything was ready only the bride was not. Let me be fully aware that today is the most unpleasant day for me, his smile signaled victory and I couldn't do anything about it. Linda's presence forced him out of the room, it felt like a dream when Linda came with the intention of helping me get ready. After I cleaned my body, Linda showed me the wedding dress that was already available. I let out a long sigh wishing this day would never happen forever.

"Are you still feeling dizzy?"

"No, what happened to me Linda?"

"The doctor said you needs to rest"

"And he still let this marriage happen without thinking about my condition?"

"I'm so sorry miss"

"Yes, no one can argue with that annoying man. I understand, it's not your fault Linda"

"Let me help you to change your clothes"

"Thank you"

The door opened, a man shouted happily seeing me in such a beautiful dress. Tom! Reynand's favorite designer came in to see me still a makeup-less mess with long wavy hair.

'You're sooo beautifull, it looks like it needs a little touch of my hands to create an extraordinary masterpiece, may I help you to do your makeup and style your beautiful hair Miss Aletta'

I was still half confused could only smile and nod slowly. I let him work the way he should, it wasn't wrong of Reynand to entrust Tom as the man behind our wedding because he could make me look different and dazzling. I look at my reflection in the mirror, feeling like a stranger I don't recognize. Tom put a beautiful final flourish on my hair, looking like glittering pearls and flowers.

I recognized his prowess in creating something so alluring and he made me look like a queen ready to be matched with her king down the aisle. Happy? Seriously, I still feel like a bird released from a golden cage but with my feet tied. I can only walk as I wish in a narrow space but not fly. Linda looked happy to see that I was fully prepared to come out to make my vows with Reynand, could it be that I ran away from all this beauty that was strangling my neck? I'm having trouble breathing!

I walked out of the room, following their footsteps. Walking down the stairs and leaving every pair of eyes in awe, I didn't expect Reynand to invite so many guests. I had to put a smile on my face as I made my way to the palaminan, Tom, who was my father's replacement, led me to the garden. Reynand stood and smiled happily as he watched me walk through the path filled with roses everywhere.

He looked at me like when we were at the café, I felt my chest getting tight my eyes had started to glaze over. When he said the pledge of a lifetime I wanted to cry hard, I wished I could wake up from this nightmare. Unfortunately now I have officially become his wife in one year! The time that will not feel can change my status according to his wishes.

***

No one noticed the commotion outside the gates of Reynand's residence, as several burly men blocked James from entering and thwarted the wedding ceremony. No matter how James forced his way in the result was the same, he did not hesitate to fight with the guards although in the end he lost because he had to fight six people under Reynand's orders. The crimes that people never smelled made Reynand more powerful and exposed the weaknesses of James, who was none other than his own brother.

James fell to the floor with blood flowing from the corner of his lips, the guards did not hesitate to make him even weaker and unconscious and then dragged him to a place like an empty building that was uninhabited. Inside this luxurious house the guests were expressing their happiness, some people seemed to be busy talking to Reynand and I just stayed silent because my legs were getting cramped. My cheeks ached from smiling all the time at the special guests Reynand had invited on his wedding day, I looked for a way to get away from the crowd.

I'm still looking for someone who promised to take me away but it seems like it's just my hallucination, Reynand came to hug me intimately in front of his guests and led me to a middle-aged, narrow-eyed man who spoke in Dutch. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I could only smile and wait for Reynand to interpret what they were talking about. Everything was going the way Reynand wanted, marrying me and making my life even more of a mess! I was tired of standing all day facing the guests surrounding the two of us. While he was still busy with his guests I escaped to my room, how indifferent I was to the lavish party attended by nobles and people he considered important, I just wanted to see my father and someone else.

I shut myself up in the balcony of my room until nightfall deliberately leaving the wedding party that I never dreamed of before, wiping away every tear that I couldn't hold back anymore, finally this wedding party took place without me. I should have embarrassed him by not attending this wedding, but instead I was in his arms. I was sitting on the floor leaning my head against the glass wall and still in my wedding dress.

The sound of footsteps that became more and more obvious was definitely Reynand. I didn't want to look at him and didn't want to say anything about the relationship that wasn't supposed to happen, I preferred to stay silent until he half-kneeled by my side and extended his hand. Maybe I looked so messed up tonight that I managed to ignore the man who was still waiting for me to take his hand, look at him lovingly and then satisfy his lust. I could hear his breathing and his face turned expressionless looking at me sharply, maybe he wanted to punish me like he used to do before.

"Get up, you'll be sleeping in my room tonight"

"Can you leave me alone for awhile? I don't want to sleep with you"

"Of course, as your wish Mrs. Alexi, I will not touch you not tonight"

"I don't believe a word you say"

"Whatever, get up don't piss me off"

He grasped my arm roughly until I stood up and dragged me into his room, I tried to release my hand but it was futile because his grip was too strong. Reynand continued to hold my hand and the look in his eyes showed annoyance, when our eyes met what I felt was so much anger.

"You shouldn't have left our wedding party Aletta dear, because now you're all mine! Mine!"

I honestly hated hearing his words that seemed to make me make the wrong choice in regretting marrying Reynand. On our first night as husband and wife Reynand left me alone in a large room full of bridal decorations. I don't know where he went and I don't want to care too much about him, thinking about him only adds to the pain in my heart. A rude man like Reynand will never be able to understand a woman's heart, after he really left I chose to be on guard and not sleep until morning came. Just lying on such a big bed alone in such a quiet room, what I feared after today might happen in the future. But one thing is for sure, I still want to get out of this house immediately and forget all the things that have happened to me. As for now, I can only be patient until I get back what I was aiming for before setting foot out of this terrible palace.