His substitute bride

The Catholic Church, Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.

27th of January, 2022. 10:30am

The church is filled with people, both men and women, all dressed beautifully. The interior is well decorated with balloons and beautiful chandelier lights, hanging on the ceiling. Everyone has smiles on their faces, expressing how they feel about whichever event is going on.

The priest stands on the podium behind the altar, awaiting the arrival of the bride and the groom who are about to get married. The door suddenly opened, and the early morning sun penetrated the church. A beautiful young lady stands at the doorway. She is wearing a beautiful white wedding gown which has the back sweeping the floor, a white veil covering her face, and a bunch of flowers held tightly in her hands.

Standing along the aisle, is a young man dressed in a black suit. He has an exciting smile on his face. He looks like he is the groom.

The crowd cheers and applauds as he strides down to the doorway, holding out his hand to the bride, not letting that sweet smile off his face. It takes a few minutes before the bride finally lifts her hand and places it carefully on his palm.

"You look beautiful, as always," He smiles at her, leading her down the aisle and straight to the altar, where the priest has been waiting for them. The crowds keep clapping and cheering for them.

The marriage rites kick off afterward.

"Do you, Mr. Jeffrey Ramos, take miss Helen Perez as your lovely and legally wedded wife? To love and to hold, to cherish and to care for, in sickness and in health, till death do you apart?" The priest asks with a smile dancing on his lips.

"Yes, priest," The groom replies boldly with a satisfactory smile on his face. Then the priest turns to the bride.

"Do you, Miss Helen Perez, take Mr. Jeffrey Ramos as your lovely and legally wedded husband? To love and to cherish, to hold and to care for, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, till death do you apart?" The priest asks the bride and her grip tightens around the flower she's holding. She looks extremely nervous and it's obvious on her body, even if her face is covered with the veil.

For minutes, silence assumed the air as everyone awaits her reply.

"Helen, why aren't you answering?" Jeffrey leans in on her and whispers in her ear, bringing her back to reality.

"Ye...yes, I do," She replies with a trace of nervousness resounding in her voice.

"By the power vested in me, I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride," The priest says.

Jeffrey holds the tip of the veil and unveils her face, but he freezes on the spot at the sight he beholds. Standing in front of him is the most beautiful young lady anyone would not get tired of staring at. Her pair of brown round eyes, her soft cheeks, her light skin, and her pink small heart-shaped lips makes her the most perfect woman, but still, Jeffrey looks like he just saw a ghost.