Substitute bride

SELENA'S POV

"Fetch your sister; we have company," Mother commanded loudly. I heaved a sigh, set down my coffee, and strode from my room with a sense of resignation.

Mother's enthusiasm for this marriage, as if she's struck gold, grates on my nerves.

At last, Gabriella will be gone, escaping Mother's outbursts, leaving me to endure them alone.

I entered Gabriella's room unannounced. She stood there, adorned in an elegant white lace dress that accentuated her figure, a veil draped over her hair, perusing a magazine.

"The guests have arrived," I said. Looking up, I noticed tears glistening in her eyes.

"What's the matter?" I inquired, my voice tinged with worry as I took the magazine from her, scanning the wedding news.

Gabriella exhaled deeply, her attention fixed on the scene beyond the window. "I'm not sure I can go through with this," she confessed softly.

"You must," I insisted, holding her hands for reassurance. "That's easy for you to say; you're not in my shoes," she replied sharply.

"Gabriella, it'll all work out. Mother wouldn't have agreed if they weren't decent folks," I reassured her quietly.

"Come on! You know Mother would do anything for money," Gabriella countered, rising from the bed, hands defiantly on her hips.

"Do you think money is her motive?" I questioned, skepticism creasing my brow.

"What other reason could there be? I don't buy the story about settling Father's debts after his death," she argued.

"We both know Father left a substantial debt to the Evans family," I said, pausing to catch my breath, "and Mother would not have pursued this if they weren't insistent on repayment."

"I just can't do this," Gabriella exclaimed, her frustration echoing as she slammed her hands on the desk.

"Gabby, our entire future lies on this. If you reject this marriage, we'll be ruined. Is that what you want?" I pressed.

"If you're so concerned, why don't you marry him?" She challenged me. My frustration mounted.

"I would if I weren't committed to Derrick," I replied, turning away to hide my turmoil.

"You can't even face me because you know you wouldn't dare," she said softly, and I felt a pang of sympathy for her.

"Gabby, you didn't hesitate to sign the deal with the Evans family. What's changed now?"

"I'm pregnant," she blurted out, stopping me mid-sentence.

"Pregnant? How? With whom?" I bombarded her with questions, her eyes downcast.

"I can't marry him; I'm pregnant with another man's child," she affirmed, cradling her belly.

"Who's the father?" I demanded, still reeling from the shock. She retreated, silent, as I approached.

"Say it," I urged. "Nate," she finally admitted.

"Nate Williams?" I sought confirmation. "Yes, who else?" she replied, sinking onto the bed.

"I can't believe you disregarded Mother's warnings about him," I said, disbelief evident in my tone.

"I love him, Selena. I can't marry that ruthless man that I don't know, especially carrying Nate's child," she declared.

"Nate is no saint either," I countered.

"But at least I love him. I need to leave, to protect my child from this sham of a marriage," she reasoned.

"Seriously, Gabby? How do you plan to pull that off?" I questioned, unable to hide my skepticism at her naive statement.

"As long as you're here, it'll be easier," Gabriella said, her gaze averted.

"I'm lost," I admitted, trying to grasp what Gabriella was implying.

"Just let Mom know I'll be down shortly," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Really?" I said, brightening up at her assurance.

"Yes, now go before I reconsider," she urged, and I enveloped her in a warm embrace.

"You're amazing. I'll be waiting for you," I said, planting a kiss on her forehead before leaving her room.

I spotted Mom downstairs with a couple of men, likely guests. "She'll be down soon," I murmured to her before stepping out of the living room.

*****

"Selena, where on earth is your sister?" Mom demanded as she entered the kitchen.

"I don't know, Mom. She's not downstairs?"

"You know she's not. If she were, I wouldn't be asking. Didn't you say she was coming? So where is she?"

"Mom, please, take a deep breath," I pleaded, hopping off the kitchen counter.

"Don't tell me to relax. The guests and the priests are waiting. Find your sister now; the whispers are starting, and you know how I hate that," she ordered, gesturing towards the door.

"You need to learn some patience," I muttered under my breath.

But Mom was already on her way out. "Gabby!" I called out, entering her room. "Gabby, where are you?"

I looked around, but she was nowhere to be found. I dreaded the worst. My heart pounded as I checked the bathroom, only to be met with emptiness.

"This can't be happening. Gabby!" I cried out, rushing to the window, but she was gone.

I approached her wardrobe, and my breath caught at the sight of her wedding dress still hanging there. "No, Gabby, you can't have..." I trailed off, disbelief washing over me as I clutched the dress.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, only to hear her phone ring from the desk. She left her phone behind. I realized, spotting it on the desk. Then my eyes caught sight of a note.

"I'm sorry, but I had no choice. Take care of Mom and yourself. Love, Gabriella."

I felt tears sting in my eyes as I read her words. "This can't be happening-" "What's all this?" Mom barged in, and I turned to face her with the note in hand.

"She left," I said softly.

"Gabriella?" Mom took the note from me, her voice tinged with frustration. "How could she do this? We had a deal with the Evans. She can't just leave us like this."

"It's clear Gabriella never wanted any part of this," I pointed out.

"Nobody does, but it was necessary to protect us," Mom snapped back. "Now that she's gone, we have no choice. You will marry Aiden Evans in place of your sister," she commanded.

"Never! It's not possible," I protested.

"Nothing is impossible. Either you marry Aiden Evans to save our family's reputation, or you let it be tarnished even further," she said sternly.

"I just can't," I responded, feeling a surge of panic.

"You must," she insisted, looking me straight in the eye.

The thought of betraying Derrick was unbearable. He has my heart. I understand the importance of family, but how can I possibly explain this to Derrick?