1 Chapter 01...Bells

She sat in front of the large mirror in her room staring straight ahead. Even though she was looking at herself, her eyes were vacant. She was feeling empty. Not sad, not happy but empty.

She glanced at the sparkling white dress on her bed. The loud voices and music from outside distracted her. There was panic, argument, yelling, and laughter. Not again, she thought and rolled her eyes.

Her wedding was everyone could talk about. Not that she was complaining, she had every right to but her mother told her she would be fine and she believed her.

What scared her the most was the lie she had to tell, in front of everyone in the church; For better or worse.

She knew the worst would come first, she had nothing in common with the man she would be spending her eternity with. She doesn't even know him in the first place. She had seen him just once and it was four years ago, at her sister's wedding. She had gushed over him from afar and could not deny the fact that he was hot and extremely gorgeous but the idea of having to live with him was horrifying. Jasper was who she loved.

Her phone vibrated and she quickly picked it up. The message was short. I hate you Bi*ch.

She shook her head. She deserved it. She deserved every insult Jasper sent her way. She understood why he was upset. He was very much in love with her and she was too but here she was, getting ready for marriage with someone else. Someone she barely knows.

She couldn't even explain it to herself and talk less of Jasper. It doesn't even make sense so why would she even try? What would she tell him? Oh Jasper, I love you but I have to be in an arranged marriage with the son of my father's childhood friend. Forgive me for I am sorry. She scoffed.

"Oh my God Joanna!!.. What in the bloody hell are you doing!" Her elder sister Evelyn gasped as she busted into the room.

"Eve..." She signed but Evelyn would not hear of it.

"Mother, mother! Come right away!" She yelled as she ran out of the room and in seconds brought their mother along with her.

"Anna come on. You promised me you would be ready. Your father is already waiting for you. We need to be at the church" Her mother fused over her.

"I told you to not let her be by herself" Evelyn complained."But you didn't listen".

"Just help me with the dress and stop fuming," Their mom said.

"Ouch. Easy!" Joanna swatted her sister's hand as she tightened the corset painfully on her belly.

"Hey you both, you need to stop your fight. Let hurry" Their mum cautioned.

"Angelina, are you done?" Their father yelled for their mum behind the door.

"Almost!" She yelled back as she finished applying the touches of makeup on Joanna's face.

"Tada!!" Evelyn clapped as she turned Joanna to face the mirror.

Joanna looked at the sight in front of her and she smiled. She looked extremely beautiful. Her 21 years of age never knew she had such curves. Her cleavage was a bit exposed and her hips were wider. This was better than the look she hoped to see at her wedding but the circumstances changed and she was not happy.

She was marrying someone else and not Jasper.

"Hey, you will be fine, I promise. You are lucky you've seen David, I have never seen Michael before but look, we are happy. We even have little Jared" Evelyn smiled at her little sister.

"Evelyn, go and let your Dad know we are ready," Angelina said and Evelyn nodded, leaving Joanna and their mum alone.

"Anna darling," Her mum started holding her hands "You don't have to do this if you are not up to it" Joanna looked at her mum, knowing she didn't mean it. How could she even say no when she was dressed and David together with his family were at the church waiting? She could not let them down.

Joanna knew her parents were good people and wanted the best for them. They paired Evelyn and Micheal together and it worked. The pair had been married for four years and were still very much in love. She hoped hers too will and she will learn to love David.

"No Mother, I can and I will do it". She smiled.

"You know why you are doing this right? David is a good man and he will take care of you"

"I know" Joanna nodded.

Her father and David's father were childhood friends and business partners. They thought binding their children in marriage would make their bond stronger. Micheal was David's elder brother and he married her sister. Now it was her turn. If at all she knew she would be paired too, she wouldn't have dated Jasper.

She let her mum bring down the transparent veil to cover her face and led her outside to her Father and some of her relatives.

"You look so beautiful" Her father whispered proudly in her ears and opened the car door for her while her mum passed her the flower. It was a bunch of lilies and roses.

This is it Joanna breathed as the church came into view. She had been there too many times before and always loved the way it looked. The people in their colorful dresses, the couple, and the cake. The cake was the best part.

"Hey, you will be fine alright?" Her father rubbed her hand. Joanna nodded and then realized that she had clenched her knuckles. She was terrified and all she wanted was to run away. She did not understand why she had to get married.

Joanna knew of the wedding just a month ago and she couldn't object. Her mother was being dramatic and she knew she had to do it or her mother would not let her be but looking at the church and knowing it was where her fate would be decided, she realized it was a hard decision and she should never have allowed her mother to brainwash her.