Wedding bells

Annabelle took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror one last time. Today was the day she had been both dreading and excited about. She was about to embark on a new chapter of her life, one that was filled with uncertainties and challenges. But most importantly, it was a chapter she had willingly chosen for herself.

As she sat in the room filled with her makeup artist,hairstyle,dresser and photographer. She couldn't see a family face.Annabelle felt a mixture of emotions coursing through her veins. She looked around at the strange faces,She knew that they were just there to carry out their job and get paid. She wished the faces around her were that of family and friends.Deep down, she knew that she needed a moment to herself. She needed to collect her thoughts and brace herself for what was to come.

"Excuse me, everyone," Annabelle said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "I just need a moment alone."

There was a collective understanding in the room as the workers nodded and gave her the space she needed. Annabelle reached into her pocket and felt her phone vibrate. She pulled it out and saw a text message from clary, her best friend. It was a simple message, yet it brought a smile to her face.

"Wishing you all the happiness in the world Annie," the message read, followed by numerous heart and smiley face emojis.

Annabelle's heart swelled with gratitude getting a text from her bestie who cared about her. She quickly wiped away a stray tear that had escaped her eyes and moved on to the next notification on her phone. It was a credit alert from her brother, indicating that he had sent her money. Despite his initial disapproval of her decision to get married, he was still supporting her in his own way.

Her brother's gesture touched her deeply, knowing that he was willing to set aside his reservations for her happiness. She let out a sigh, feeling a mix of guilt and determination fill her heart. She had kept her biological parents in the dark about this marriage, and even her brother wasn't fully supportive. But she had made up her mind, and nothing was going to stop her now.

With renewed strength, Annabelle picked up her phone and dialed Clary's number. Clary was her best friend, her confidante, and the one person who understood her like no one else. The video call connected almost immediately, and Clary's face appeared on the screen. It was evident from her expression that she had been crying, but her tears were tears of joy.

"You look stunning, Annie," Clary exclaimed, her voice filled with emotion.

Annabelle tried to hold back her own tears, not wanting to ruin her carefully applied makeup. She chuckled softly, "Thank you, Clary. I wish you could be here with me right now."

Clary sniffled and wiped her tears away. "I wish I could be there too, but just seeing you like this brings me so much happiness. You deserve all the love and joy in the world."

"Stop it, girl," Annabelle said, her voice filled with both amusement and gratitude. "Don't get me emotional. I don't want my makeup to smudge."

Clary laughed through her tears and nodded. "Alright, I'll stop. But I just want you to know that I am truly ecstatic for you. This is the start of something beautiful."

Just as they were about to continue their conversation, there was a knock at the door. Annabelle quickly bid her best friend goodbye, promising to talk later. She wiped away the remnants of her tears and composed herself as Cindy, her girlfriend and colleague, walked into the room.

Cindy enveloped Annabelle in a warm hug. "You look absolutely breathtaking, babe," she said, excitement evident in her voice.

Annabelle smiled gratefully at her girlfriend. "Thank you, Cindy. I can't believe this day is finally here. Can you believe it?"

Cindy's smile widened. "I knew this day would come. And now it's time. Your Aunt's husband is waiting outside the door to walk you through the aisle."

Annabelle took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of nervousness and excitement. She knew that her decision to enter into a temporary contract marriage was not without its challenges. Her biological parents were unaware of this arrangement, and even her own brother had his doubts. Yet, she was doing this out of love, not for the money or convenience.

As she took her place next to the man who played the role of her Uncle, feeling his reassuring presence, Annabelle marched slowly down the aisle, aware that all eyes were on her. Her heart swelled with determination and hope. She was determined to make her soon-to-be husband fall in love with her before the end of their contract. This was not just a mere business transaction to her. It was a chance for her to make the man she loved fall for her, even if it came in an unconventional way.

As she reached the altar, Annabelle glanced at the man waiting for her. He was her boss,her crush and her secret admirer, someone she had slowly fallen in love with over the time despite him being unaware . But in that moment, she felt a flicker of anticipation and wonder. This was the beginning of a new chapter, and she was ready to embrace it with an open heart and mind.