Chapter 2

I woke up to the beautiful fragrance of hot ginseng tea. My body was filled with immense peace and joy. The stranger was gone, though, but he left a beautiful message.

I didn't regret the rump with the stranger last night. I didn't want to lose my pride to some man I didn't know before, but I just did to some other man I also didn't know before. I am just so perplexed.

I returned home to the unyielding chatter. My parents were fuming, and surprisingly, they welcomed me with open arms. Maybe they thought I ran away before because of some parents I have. I got to my room to find a sparkling white Cinderella wedding gown on my bed with some letters. They were well wishes from the neighbors, and they were so touching that I thought I was going to cry. The next minute, I was in the shower, cleansing off the bad things I had done in a single night. It wasn't easy to forget a rumor like that; if the billionaire turned out well, I'd have myself to blame.

As I walked into my house, my parents took me by surprise. I thought I was going to get a huge scolding, but surprisingly, they just checked if I was alright. Maybe they thought I ran away—such pushovers. After a while, I ran to my room to get prepared. People were coming to this wedding, and I couldn't help but be anxious as to how they knew about it. Maybe I was the only one left to find out a day before the big day.

Upon opening the door, the sight of a brand new Cinderella wedding gown crossed my mind. It was beautiful and expensive, judging from the material used. There were a lot of letters on the bed; all were from the neighbors who I had helped out. They were busy and weren't able to come, so they passed their regards through the letters. Their words were so touching that tears escaped from my eyes. They also sent money to me for upkeep and all that.

After washing up and having my makeup done, I was off to the event center. The billionaire had brought the Pope to the center instead of us going to the church. What a rich man he is. With a dry and witty smile, I entered the car sitting behind my mother, who kept showing off her face to everyone on her social media with the hashtag The young shall grow.

The event center was beautiful, but surprisingly, it was the perfect color I had in mind. Maybe my mom knew a little too much about me than she should. My dad was prepared to take me to the alter, holding out his hands for me to grab onto. Am I fit for this kind of thing?

I looked around, witnessing the happy faces of the people there. They were all dressed in expensive clothes, and their jewelry was off the chart. Pretty tempting, I'd say. Avery had finished his walk to the alter and was waiting for my father to bring me up to meet him. I looked at my father, who spoke to me with his eyes alone. From the look he begged me to play along, he begged me to take his hands and walk up to the damn alter and get married to the damn billionaire I just met yesterday.

"Let's go, Father," I spat out, positioning my arms in his while holding the white and red flowers my mom had passed me. Usually, flowers are too white for weddings, but this man had a strange taste. Keeping up the fake smile, I could see various men and women all happy that I was getting married, or was it the billionaire they were cheering for?

The altar felt like a stage to me. My father left me at the altar with the charming billionaire Avery, who was staring at me like I was some chick he was going to have in his bed for dinner. Or maybe he was? The Pope kept on checking the period and finally commenced the vow-tying ritual.

He was still staring at me like I was some prized possession he wanted to keep in his house to add to his collection. I started to rethink. What if he maltreated me? Was I going to be a full-time housewife? Was money going to give me the happiness I deserved? Is love really necessary to get married?

I froze as they asked me to take the sapphire ring out of the case. "Are you alright?" he asked, bringing me back to reality. "I'm fine," I said, taking the ring. The Pope didn't care about my reactions; judging from his behavior, he had been hired for this moment to continue regardless. Somehow, he was.

"Will you, Avery Brooks, take Miss Taylor Reed as your wife? in health and wealth, in times of sickness and stress, and situations of life and death?" the pope declared.

"Yes, I do," he replied, taking my hands and wearing the ring on them. This was wrong for me. I was going out of my comfort zone to impress my parents, who did nothing but keep me in the darkness all my life. I would be a fool to accept such a request, though I was forced to.

"Will you, Taylor Reed, take Sir Avery Brooks as your husband, in health and wealth, in times of sickness and stress, and situations of life and death?" the Pope said, looking at me. I looked at my parents, who gave me a thumbs up, indicating a positive reply. The guests were anxious; they were in suspense. What would be my next move? Will I make it, or will I break it?

I needed to make my decision now, in front of the population. In front of his parents, my parents, and their most blissful friends. I have no other choice.

"I refuse".