FORCED MARRIAGE TRUE LOVE

Chapter 1

The wedding

The church was packed full of guests. Everywhere was coloured white and blue for the wedding of the only son of the richest man in New York City, Dan Miller, to Lucia Ray. His wedding has been the talk of the town in recent times. Invitations were sent across top TV and radio channels. Everyone in New York City, both the poor and the rich, anticipated this upcoming wedding. The wedding was set to start with a church service by ten o'clock in the morning at the Miracle Center church, which was the biggest church in the city, a ten thousand-capacity building, but before nine o'clock, the church was packed full already of people from far and near, with uncountable people hanging outside as a result of the unavailability of space. Everyone wants to be a witness at the wedding from the time of the couple's entrance into the church till the end. No one wants to be told stories about how the event went.

The people of New York City have waited anxiously to see that lucky girl Dan Miller would take home as a wife.

New York City is ranked top in towns with the most beautiful ladies, of which people from other places have been coming to marry their girls, yet, Dan Miller has never been seen with any girl in that town.

At exactly ten o'clock, the bride and groom stood at the entrance to the church, dancing to the melodious music being sung.

"Oh, we can imagine the bride's happiness for getting married to the wealthiest family." Some people in the congregation said.

Lucia showcased her best dancing steps that day, for that was her happiest day. Her long-trained white wedding gown was something almost all the single ladies in the church admired and wished they were the ones in such a beautiful dress. Dan Miller ensured that he got the most expensive wedding dress for his bride, a dress worth five million dollars.

Everyone sat and listened as the church program commenced and the preacher gave a sermon about marriage life. After the sermon and other necessary programs, the preacher invited the bride and groom to the altar as they exchanged their marriage vows.

Dressed in his black suit, standing at the altar and facing the most beautiful woman he has chosen to start an endless journey of love with, the priest asked,

"Daniel Miller, do you take Lucia Ray to be your lawfully wedded wife, and promise to love her in joy and in pain, in sickness and in health, till death do you path?"

"Yes, I do". Dan Miller answered with so much enthusiasm. He turned to Lucia and asked,

"Lucia Ray, do you accept Dan Miller to be your lawfully wedded husband, in joy and in pain, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

"Yes, I do." She answered.

"Before I pronounce them husband and wife, if anyone here has anything that will hinder them from being declared husband and wife today should say it now, or forever remain silent.

"We're sure there'll be no one having anything to alter this exchange of vows. Dan is a good man" some people mumbled in the background.

Everywhere was silent, no hand was raised.

"Ok, I declare...."

"This marriage is null and void. Dan's marriage to Lucia is null and void". A man who just stepped into the church declared before the priest could finish pronouncing them husband and wife.

The whole congregation was stunned at the man's statement. A murmur arose from the audience, but no one dared to ask the man why, because, with just a phone call, he could get anyone he liked arrested due to his influential status. Even the officiating minister was dumbfounded, he would not want to go against the man's wish, because if he did, his church could also be closed down.

Immediately at the sight of that man from the entrance, Dan knew that his wedding would experience a huge setback.

Lucia's eyes were beginning to turn into an ocean of tears already.

That was not the type of wedding she bargained for.

"Dan already has a lady to marry whose bride price has been paid already. Their wedding is in the next two weeks." The man added.

Different talks were emanating from the background, but no one dared to challenge his utterance.

Dan and Lucia stood and watched people leaving the church one after the other.

Slap! Dan almost fell to the floor from the slap he received from Mr. Ray, Lucia's father.

"You'll surely regret and pay for this nonsense you just did. Mark my words" her father threatened Dan.

He held his daughter's hands alongside her mother and other siblings and raced off to their town.

In less than an hour, the church that was earlier packed full of guests was left with only three people standing, Dan, his father and his mother.

"But you didn't have to do that, Morgan.That was too destructive. You could have found a better way to stop the wedding from the time of planning rather than what you just did now." Mrs. Morgan Miller suggested, feeling bad at how her son was humiliated on his wedding day.

"Quiet! Margaret. To think that you were fully aware of our son's supposed marriage to Clara Dantes to fulfil the terms of the contract, yet, you supported him in getting married to another lady is what disgusts me." Morgan Millar told his wife.

"Dad! Contract? Don't I have the right to make my choice of marriage?" Dan shouted.

"Yes, you have a choice of any other thing, but when it comes to marriage, I'm sorry, you don't have a choice." His father retorted.

"Start planning for your wedding with Clara in the next two weeks to come." He added.

"Never! Dad. I will never marry Clara, not even for a day." Dan yelled in disdain at his father's choice for him.

"Then, be ready to lose all your rights as the heir of the Miller family!"

"You see that contract with Mr. Dantes, you must accomplish it." His father stated.

All Dan's plans to outsmart his father failed. He was fortunate to set his eyes on the contract signed between His father and Mr. Gomez Dantes fifteen years ago.

Mr. Dantes, Morgan Miller's old friend, was at the verge of losing his wife to cancer due to lack of funds. About ten million was needed for her treatment. He ran to Morgan Miller for help.

"Alright, you'll surely get the money."

"Ten million is a very big amount, but well, I can grant whatever amount you need, friend, but with conditions attached." Morgan Miller said.

"Yes, please, anything you suggest is fine by me. All I need is for my wife to be alive." Mr. Dantes replied.

"Good morning, Mr Dantes. I am Barrister Franco. Here's a copy of the agreement between you and my client that requires your signature.

He handed a brown envelope to Mr. Dantes, who was seated beside his dying wife. Mr. Dantes was ever ready to sign the agreement, not minding the content. All he needed was to save his wife. He immediately penned down his signature on the papers.

"You can forward your account details to him now," the barrister said as he left with one copy for his client.

In less than five minutes, his phone beeped with an alert. Mr. Dantes was able to pay for his wife's medical bill to save her life at the expense of his daughter's choice.

As it was contained in the agreement, "If you fail to pay back the loan in three months, your ten-year-old daughter is to get married to my son once she's up to twenty-five years of age."

Both parties concealed the agreement from their children until they were of age to get married.

On seeing the agreement, Dan rushed to plan a wedding with Lucia Ray whom he dated for only three months when his father travelled out for a six-month trip.

"Then, be ready to lose all your rights as the heir of the Miller family!"

Those words kept ringing in Dan's world of imagination. Would he rather lose his inheritance or marry a total stranger against his wish?