MARRIED TO HER SISTER'S FIANCE

Mariana can be seen in a room with her sister who is sitting before the mirror dressed in a floor length white gown and a full makeup on her already pretty face,the make-up artist left some minutes ago.

"You look so beautiful sister,I'm so jealous" Mariana said to her sister who only smiled.

"Oh Mariana,you and your sweet tongue,I don't feel anywhere beautiful at all" Alicia said staring at her reflection in the mirror

"Trust me sis,I'm sure Fernando would be swept off his feet when he sees you" Mariana said and the sister smiled once again and just then a message popped up on her screen, Alicia gazed at it for a while before turning off the phone.

"Won't you get dressed?" Alicia suddenly asked, looking at Mariana who is still in her night wear.

"Of course I will, getting dressed is not a problem for me" Mariana said.

The door opened revealing their mother dressed already for the occasion.

"Alicia are you set? The groom and his family are already waiting and Mariana why aren't you dressed yet?" Mrs Gilbert asked looked at her in a scolding way.

"I'm on it!" Mariana said and left the room to her own hotel room and her mum shook her head making Alicia to laugh.

"You should know Mariana by now mum,she's never ready until it's dime minute" Alicia said getting up.

"You are looking so beautiful and I'm very proud of you,still can't believe you are getting married to the most richest and prominent family in New York"her mum gushed.

" I guess I'm lucky" she simply said.

*

Mariana stood before the mirror fully dressed in a beautiful lavender gown, admiring her beauty. She's very beautiful with her long black hair but not as her sister though.

No make up on her face because she doesn't fancy it at all,she believes she's beautiful without it . Her phone suddenly rang and she picked it seeing it's a call from her mum.

MRS GILBERT : COME OVER TO MY HOTEL ROOM NOW!

Mariana was about to ask why but the call ended already. "Why does she wants me to come?" She wondered but she went there anyway.

She got to her parents hotel room and she opened the door, surprisingly she met the groom's parent and her parents all looking so tensed,the tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Close the door behind you Mariana, there's a problem" her mum said and that got her curious but she closed the door nevertheless.

"Alicia is nowhere to be found but she left a note" Mr Gilbert said pointing to the piece of paper on the center table in the room.

Mariana was in shock as she heard that,her sister is missing? The sister she saw one hour ago is missing? She picked up the paper curiously and read;

*Fernando,this letter is for you,I'm sorry to break this to you but I can't get married to you,I love someone else, infact as you are reading this,I'm out of the country already so don't bother to look for me, explain this to our parents and I'm sorry once again *

Mariana finished reading looking so confused as she dropped the letter, everyone was staring at her already,the letter was like a bomb that had been dropped in the room.

"Buh...what about the wedding? So it won't take place anymore?" Mariana asked.

"Of course it will,my son will definitely get married today,I won't allow my reputation get ruined." Mr Lincoln said looking so annoyed.

"But Alicia isn't here,how will the wedding take place without the bride herself ?" Mariana argued and Mr Lincoln looked at Mrs Gilbert who nodded understandingly.

"Mariana,you are going to be the one to get married to Fernando instead,you are replacing Alicia." Her mum said with finality and Mariana couldn't believe her ears,are they playing pranks on her but they looked serious.

"What?" She finally found her voice.

"Yes Mariana" Fernando's mum,Mrs Lincoln confirmed and Mariana looked at them again

"How can you expect me to marry my sister's fiance who is even 9 years older than me and besides I'm just 18,still in my first year in college infact tell me you are joking and all this is nothing but a prank" Mariana said breathing hard already.

" It isn't a prank dear but reality,we need a replacement for Alicia and you are our only option" Mrs Lincoln said and Mariana feel like slapping her

"I've boasted a lot about this wedding,I didn't want people to make mockery of me especially my enemies in the business world that my son's bride to be left him and they will start cooking up rumors,the wedding just have to take place and again nobody recognizes Alicia as his bride to be because they never disclosed their relationship to the world,it was supposed to be revealed today but she's nowhere to be found so if you get introduced as the bride to be, nobody will suspect any foul play" Mr Lincoln explained and Mariana exhaled loudly.

" I just can't" she shook her head almost at the brink of tears.

"Come on Mariana,this is the least we can do for them since Alicia disappointed them" her dad said.

" And don't worry,your marriage to him won't be forever,once Alicia is back to her senses which I know she will come back to soon,you can both get divorced and you live your life"her mum said like it's easy.

Mariana just couldn't believe her parents that moment,they are not even concerned about her own happiness and they are trying to make it seem that she's paying a debt to the Lincoln's as if she's the one that told her sister to run away.

She's well aware that it's because the Lincoln's are rich people and getting married to their family will be advantageous and again her parent company is at the brink of collapsing but getting hooked to the Lincoln's family would boost their company's status. This made her remember three months ago when Alicia first met Fernando.

FLASHBACK,THREE MONTHS AGO

Mariana was in the kitchen helping her mum with the cooking when Alicia came in dressed in a crop top showing off her pierced bellybutton on a mini skirt and a black boots to match.

"My dear,are you just coming?" Mrs Gilbert asked as she left Mariana to continue while she faced Alicia.

"Yes mum , guess who I saw today"

"Who?"

"Fernando Lincoln himself,he approached me and asked of my number" Alicia said grinning and Mariana looked up from what she was doing, suddenly interested in the conversation.

"The Lincoln's son? Please tell me you gave him your number" Mrs Gilbert said.

" Yeah I did"

" That's good then,I think he's interested in you Alicia,you have to grab your copy cos many eyes are on him" Mrs Gilbert said desperately and Mariana shook her head.

" What are you talking about mum? I only said that he collected my number and you are already going too far,hey mum I have a boyfriend" Alicia said getting vexed already

" Be smart Alicia,I didn't raise a dumb child, dating the Lincoln's son is more beneficial than that of your stupid boyfriend who is nowhere influential and besides your dad's company is at the point of collapsing and you getting hooked with him will be a lot to our advantage or what do you think Mariana?" Mrs Gilbert asked turning to her.

" It's up to Alicia mum,I don't know" Mariana said and Alicia gave her a thumbs up.

FLASHBACK ENDS~

A month later,her sister started dating Fernando and he proposed to her just two days ago after dating for two months even though her sister never loved him and now Alicia has left her to marry someone she doesn't even love at a young age.

"You are keeping us waiting, Mariana" her mother reminded and she took a heavy breath.

"Does Fernando knows about next replacing Alicia?" Mariana suddenly asked.

" You don't worry about that,the guests are waiting and we need to dress you up quickly" Mrs Lincoln said.

" Okay...fine,I will get married to Fernando" Mariana said and at that moment she regretted saying that,how will marriage without love be? She didn't know when a tear fell from her eyes.

Few minutes later, Mariana is seen walking down the aisle with her dad beside her with their arms wrapped together,her second hand was clutching a bouquet of flower to herself. She was wearing a white strapless wedding gown and a veil covering her face.

She felt really nervous when she saw everyone's eyes on her,she felt like someone snatching her sister's man and at that moment she felt like running away but her dad was holding unto her tightly.

Finally, they got to the alter where Fernando is and Mariana looked at him,his face was unreadable as he kept a straight face not bothering to look at them. He's looking so breathtaking right now in his ash tuxedo but Mariana isn't in the mood to fantasize.

Her dad finally left and they faced the priest together.

"Shall we?"

*

"Yes I do" Fernando said without hesitation and Mariana wondered why? His he really cool with her replacing his fiancee? He wasn't even surprised to see her when she came to the alter.

The priest turned to Mariana, " Mariana Gilbert,do you take Fernando Lincoln to be your lawfully wedded husband,to have and to hold,from this day forward,for better,for worse,for richer,for poorer,in sickness and in health,until death do you part" the priest asked and Mariana gulped down nervously not knowing what to do say,she looked at Fernando but he was busy staring at his wrist watch, not looking bothered.

"Yes...I...do" she finally said and at that moment, Mariana knew she's in it forever,no turning back.

The rings was shared between them afterwards.

"With the power in still in me,I pronounce you husband and wife, ladies and gentlemen behold our latest couples" the priest said and everyone applauded happily.

"You may now kiss the bride" Mariana looked at Fernando nervously,he's not gonna kiss her right? He wouldn't dare right? He won't dare take away her first kiss right? she was still battling with her own thoughts that she didn't know when Fernando removed the veil from her face and KISSED HER!

Mariana eyes widened immediately.