Fake Marriage, Real Baby

Regina Flynn

Who gets married for revenge? Me, that’s who.

I adjusted the straps of my white ornated wedding dress for what felt like the hundredth time, my hands shaky as I did. I was going to see Ryder Steele, my husband-to-be, at the alter in a few minutes and I couldn’t even control my racing heart. How was I supposed to live with him as his wife?

“Reg, this is just crazy,” Chelsea grunted, “You can’t live with that cold hearted monster! He’ll hurt you!”

I frowned, still standing in front of the mirror in the dressing room. I sighed heavily, put on my best fake smile and turned to look at Chelsea Miller. She was sitted a few feets away from me on a comfortable velvet-covered armchair.

She had that condescending smug smile on. It was for me, she would always give me that ‘I know your deepest darkest secrets’ smile every time she felt I was doing something all wrong.

“Ryder Steele doesn’t deserve to be alive. The world needs to see the kind of person he really is and only I can do that,” I said under my breath as I turned to look at the mirror again one last time.

There was no going back now. The wedding ceremony was starting in less than twenty minutes and I was ready. As I looked back into the mirror, the woman staring back at me seemed like a stranger. My face was painted with layers of makeup, my strawberry blonde hair was pulled back tightly, and my body was weighed down by heavy silks and diamonds.

I wondered how I had ended up making this decision. The decision to enter a life long commitment with the man who ruined my family. Ryder Steele. A name I had always loathed and somehow feared.

He was the cause of my father’s death three years ago. He made my father a criminal, framed him for illegal real estate investing and market manipulation. He made him lose everything which ultimately led to his death. Ryder Steele was a murder, a heartless conman and I was going to be the end of him.

I heard Chelsea sigh, “You look good, by the way,” she paused, “And as your best friend, I support you. I just hope you don’t end up regretting this,”

I glanced at Chelsea through the mirror, she still had that smug smile on those beautiful lips of hers. I managed a weak smile, but my inside were turning to jelly and, I felt like screaming.

“Say something!” Chelsea huffed dramatically, adjusting her glasses.

Today, she wasn’t wearing black plastic ones. They didn’t have a prescription—her vision was perfect. But she claimed they made her face look slimmer and sexier.

I personally thought men who didn’t approach her because of the glasses— or lack thereof—didn’t deserve her. Chelsea was gorgeous, with her dark brown hair curling effortlessly around her shoulders. Her eyes matched the color of her hair perfectly, and the bright fire-engine-red lipstick she loved to wear did magical things to her lips.

She was in a black maxi black dress that stopped mid thigh with a pair of black heels.

I fidgeted when I heard a slight knock on the door, then came a feminine voice, “The ceremony is starting soon. We need the bride,”

Without hesitation, I slowly walked across the room, my dress rustling gently as I moved.

“Hey!” Chelsea’s voice rattled me and I stopped by the door, “Even though I can’t be the bridesmaid at your wedding, you have to be the bridesmaid at mine,”

“Get a man first,” I snapped with a soft smile before stepping out of the room and into the quiet and dimly lit hallway.

As my footsteps echoed, I could also hear my heart thumping in my chest. My mouth suddenly went dry at the thought that Chelsea and I had vowed to be each other’s bridesmaids since we were eight. It was like a friendship pact but once again Ryder Steele ruined that too.

He insisted on having his cousin, Ashley Morgan be my bridesmaid. How controlling could a man be to actually choose your own bridesmaids for your own wedding?

I couldn’t refuse because I knew I needed to be obedient to him until I was at least into his life fully. I didn’t want him to see me as a threat. But I knew that as soon as I got what I wanted, I wouldn’t let him control me.

Unknowingly, I had let him control me for the past three years. After what he did to my family three years ago, I started looking into every aspect of his life, anything that could implicate him or at least prove that he was behind what happened to my father.

But Ryder Steele was as discreet as he was cunning. He kept his illegal dealings private, only people who were close to him could be able to get anything on him.

But now, it was as if he was finally willing to go down by inviting me into his home. He was making a terrible mistake. He doesn’t know I know about what he did to my family. That alone gave me the upper hand.

As I walked further down the hallway, lost in thought, I didn't notice the person approaching in the dimly lit hallway until we collided. A bag fell to the floor, spilling it’s content.

My eyes snapped up to meet an irritated gaze. It was a woman who I immediately recognized as Ashley, Ryder’s cousin. She was somewhat short, her long black hair flowing over her shoulders. She had a cute button nose and full lips that were painted in hot red gloss.

She was wearing a long satiny red gown that flowed effortlessly to the ground. Obviously, her plan was to steal the spotlight from the bride. The problem wasn’t just her outfit though, she definitely looked different from the last time I saw her at the dress fitting a week ago.

It might be the makeup. She was wearing tons of it, including fake lashes so long they looked like a dead butterfly antennae.

“I’m sorry,” I said, jerking my chin as I tried to pick up her belongings that were scattered all over the place.

She shot me a saucy grin, “I’ll pick it up myself. You need to get to the aisle. Your mum is waiting. I’ll join you in a bit,”

Ashley went on her knees and started picking up the items on the floor and as she did, my eyes caught sight of a shiny earring or was it a ring? I wasn’t quite sure so I ignored, mumbled a quick “thank you” and walked further towards the wedding reception.

I took another deep breath and steadied myself as I entered the beautifully decorated reception hall. Hundreds of eyes turned to me as I walked towards my mother who was waiting to walk me down the aisle. Everyone was smiling, but I had never felt more alone in my life.

As I walked down the aisle, I couldn't help but take in the sight of the beautiful wedding venue. The room was adorned with flower decorations in my favorite colors—which I was sure I never mentioned to anyone.

The soft glow of fairy lights casted a warm and magical atmosphere over the entire room. The soft music filled the air, adding to the overall ambiance of the event. It was a perfect setting for a wedding, and yet I couldn't help but feel a pang of unease as I approached Ryder Steele.

There was no doubt that Ryder Steele was gorgeous. Not just hot, but please-God-don’t-let-me-lose-my-mind-from-just-staring-at-him hot!

Jaded green eyes, perfectly shaped cheekbones. He had broad, muscled shoulders and a trim waist. His hair was brown with dark-blond highlights. He was in a neat black suit and a pair of nicely polished shoes.

His gaze bore into my hazel eyes even though his eyes were cold and distant. With a smile, my mother let go of my hand and placed it in Ryder’s. The touch sent a shiver down my spine and for a moment I questioned if I was really doing the right thing by getting married to this gorgeous monster.

My heart sank to my stomach. This was it, this was really happening.

The officiant began to speak, the words blending together as I struggled to steady my racing thoughts. As the vows were exchanged, I silently prayed that everything would be over soon.

As the officiant gestured for the ring bearer to open the ring box, I watched as the lid slowly lifted... but to my surprise, only one ring was inside.

Mine was missing. My breath immediately caught in my throat as gasps filled the room. And in that moment, my mind raced to my encounter with Ashley earlier. I definitely saw a ring in her bag. Or was it an earring? Maybe it was all a coincidence or could she have….?