Force Marriage

Daisy Bartman's POV

Wearing a white and gold wedding dress, I walked across the maroon carpet to the altar. The altar was adorned with rustic elements, including a wooden archway covered in wildflowers and vines, and a collection of wooden chairs for guests to sit on. i'm with my father by embracing his arm. I was pounding and lowered my head which was already wearing a white veil that partially covered my face, at least it could hide my nervous face, even though I was very scared.

How come? I'm going to marry my sister's future husband. Richard Marx Willis is a man who is very charming but has an arrogant, dominant, cruel, selfish nature, and maybe there are still many things that I will know after this. I was forced to marry him to replace my sister, to save both sides of the family from the embarrassment, and I don't know if this marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime, or there might even be a divorce….I can't think straight right now, the chaos that surrounds me is haunted by fear, afraid of what will happen next.

"Daisy..."

I heard my father's voice which made me immediately wake up from my reverie. I stopped right in front of Richard who looked at me so coldly, there wasn't even a happy expression at all. I could see him even though I left my glasses in the room because we were less than a meter apart. There was not the slightest smile, but he still looked handsome and dignified. God, how could such a perfect being have the heart of a devil? I should be happy because I got a handsome man, like in fairy tales, movies, and dramas, but what I feel is just scared and awkward.

Richard held out his hand to me, I took it gently. this feels weird, this is the first time he's holding my hand, and I can feel his hands are not tense, not sweaty, he's just doing this unexpected marriage as usual. He pulled me to stand beside him, facing the priest. Oh, okay. the unexpected wedding will start. I try to stay calm and realize that this is not a dream.

"We can start," said Richard in his baritone voice, sounding so sexy.

I bowed my head, listening to the priest recite the sacred words for our marriage. I keep pounding, my mind is everywhere. thinking about where is my sister, why did she leave without thinking about the consequences daddy would have to suffer? Or maybe she had imagined that I would be her successor so she didn't hesitate to leave? But she know all Richard wanted was her, not me!

"Daisy, would you marry Richard Marx Willis?" asked the priest, breaking the reverie.

"I do," I said softly against my dry lips.

The priest who was wearing a black tuxedo nodded, then looked at Richard.

"Richard Marx Willis, are you willing to marry Daisy Bartman?"

I kept my head down, and I slowly heard it, his voice was firm. "I do."

"Come follow me, you must face each other," said the priest. My breath feels short, I feel like I'm running out of oxygen because of this nervousness. my hands even trembled and slowly I raised my head until my eyes met Richard's hazel blue eyes which were so intensely staring at me. Oh my God. that handsome face and beautiful eyes seemed to undermine my faith, but I soon realized that I was just a substitute bride for him, I don't know if he likes this wedding or not. I started imagining what he would do to me in the future.

"I…. Richard Marx Willis, take you, Daisy Bartman to be my wife, to own and care for each other from now on forever. When it is hard or happy... rich or poor... And when it is healthy or sick...always love and respect one another, until death does us part, according to God's holy law, and this is my very sincere promise," said Richard with a focused gaze on me and our fingers intertwined.

I took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. I followed the priest who led me to say the vows of marriage.

"I ... Daisy Bartman, take you, Richard Marx Willis to be my husband, to own and care for each other from now on forever. When it is hard or happy ... rich or poor ... And when it is healthy or sick..always love and respect one another, until death does us part, according to God's holy law, and this is my very sincere promise," I said softly, then breathed a sigh of relief. I was silent, still not expecting I said those sacred words today even though I think is this real? I'm a wife now, the wife of my sister's future husband.

The priest legalized this marriage, deciding that we were husband and wife.

Richard suddenly pulled me so that our faces were so close, then he pressed the nape of my neck and advanced his face until our lips met. ah, I closed my eyes, felt his lips touching my dry lips, and I even smelled his face. Hmm, this is beautiful, makes me wonder if he's attracted to me so kiss me. but the beauty was soon gone when he ended our kiss. okay, I don't want to be too confident now, maybe he kissed me just as a formality!

___

Author's POV ...

Irina was on the plane, with Ferdinand who was her boyfriend. the reddish-black-haired girl stared out the window, imagining that her family would surely be disappointed by her running away on her wedding day.

"I've prepared a place to live for us in Mexico," said Ferdinand.

"Will it be safe for us?" asked Irina without looking up.

"Of course. Richard's people won't be able to find us." Ferdinand answered, then took Irina's hand with a smile. "You don't need to worry anymore. You are free from that crazy man... We will start a new life in Mexico," he continued.

"I am worried about my family…., especially my dad," Irina said with tears in her eyes, remembering her father's wrinkled face. "He must be confused... He will be in big trouble," she continued.

"I know how you feel… You must be sure that your family can handle this matter….you can't sacrifice, you can't sacrifice your happiness for them... You have the right to choose who you will marry," said Ferdinand with full confidence. "Your dad will find a solution to rise from adversity without having to get help from Richard. it's like when he started his career from scratch, then he will find it difficult to be able to achieve glory again. Everything needs a process... Not with instant success by selling you to Richard. That's cruel!"

"But I was also cruel by embarrassing him….he must also be confused to face Richard who is angry because I ran away," said Irina. "Richard will be angry, maybe even hold a grudge... I'm afraid he will destroy my family!"

Ferdinand exhaled roughly, then looked at Irina seriously. "Then what do you want now? you want to go back to him, marry him while everything is already falling apart. We are already on the plane... We are about to start a new life that I have prepared...do you want to spoil my plans too?"

"Ferdinand, I didn't mean that!" Irina exclaimed in frustration. she shook her head crying. "I... I just..."

"Here I also make sacrifices, Irina," said Ferdinand frowning. "I left my family too... It's only for you because I love you...I know you are sad to leave your family, but please don't always show it to me... It makes me feel that you don't like being with me... My sacrifice is in vain," he continued, then turned his head away.

Irina immediately turned to Ferdinand and grabbed his arm. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset you. I appreciate your sacrifice, I like being with you..."

Ferdinand just kept silent with his eyes straight ahead.

"Well… We started everything from scratch. We have to support each other, be there for each other….that's what we have to do now," Irina said nervously, afraid to see Ferdinand's attitude.

Ferdinand turned to Irina, then stroked her cheek. "You know I love you so much. I will do anything to be with you," he said.

Irina nodded with a smile. "I love you too. I will try to calm down and forget about their problems," she continued.

Ferdinand smiled warmly, then put his arm around Irina.

Irina was silent, crying again because she couldn't stop thinking about what happened to her family. she begins to be haunted by guilt, feeling that her happiness with Ferdinand was a disaster for her family. But, she couldn't just go back to her family, she was afraid of Richard and his family's response to her actions, and she also didn't want to disappoint Ferdinand. this is like a dilemma that will eat away at her life, making her can't live in peace.

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