Beware of the Bride

Cassian felt nothing as he stood in front of the mirror on his wedding day.

“You don’t look nervous at all.” His cousin Sam piped up jokingly.

He shifted his tie for the third time and reached out for the bottle of perfume. It was arranged by his mother, especially for today.

‘As if that would make a difference’, he thought.

Vivian peeked from the door before sneaking in. She had a bouquet in hands and a very wide smile. Cassian turned around to face the one cousin he actually liked.

“You should have brought something useful.” Cassian takes the flowers anyways.

“Like what brother? Tell me if you need something urgent, i can fetch it.” Sam spoke up. His mouth stuffed with a cupcake he randomly found on the table. He even had the audacity to wink at Cassian.

“Special service just for today.” Sam added, begging for a reaction at this point. But Cassian didn’t spare him a look.

Vivian shook her head at her brother Sam. “I wish you get married too and leave us forever.”

“Why would i leave, Vulture? Isn’t that your fate, baby princess?” Sam retorts back only to be smacked by the flowers Vivian was holding so delicately until now. He seemed delighted by finally getting a reaction.

The siblings left the room shortly after.

Cassian checked the time. The day felt too long.

He recognised the rushed footsteps that echoed in the hallway. His mother was charging right here. The door burst open. Diane entered with a sigh, hands filled with bags he didn’t bother to ask about.

She looked at him, analyzing from top to bottom then nods approvingly.

“At least you are behaving...” she drops the bags on the floor and takes a seat, her legs giving up.

“Is that a compliment?” Cassian responds lazily.

“How are you feeling?” She asks out of the blue, voice calmer than before.

“Such an optional thing to ask.” He replies, cutting through all fluff. He won’t entertain such dramatic nonsense when they basically threatened him to be here.

Diane frowns, not surprised by his lack of enthusiasm.

“I thought you were fine with it, are you going to be like this the whole evening?” she scolded but there was worry underneath.

“You made sure i was fine with it.” He corrects cleanly, taking a seat across her.

“And i’ve learned enough of keeping appearances.” He sniffs the bouquet discarded next to him. “So stop worrying. I’ve faced worse.” he finishes and stood up with one final look at the watch.

“I just want it to end already”, he mutters. Diane heads to the door before him.

“It’s a beginning, Cassian.” She managed to deliver her words of wisdom and makes an exit right away. Cassian couldn’t help but smile as she left. She looked exhausted. She brought this upon herself though. He could’ve married over a call if possible.

Cassian wanted to question this marriage but decided against it. The arrangement itself was no surprise to him. Neither was it a problem. What drove him crazy was the fact that his father didn’t bother to involve him in the actual deal. The series of meetings held, the merger agreement with the Clarks- he was purposely kept out of it all. The Chairman never fails to irk him with his tactics. Cassian shut the thoughts away. Thinking about his father never brought him any joy.

It was time to step in the main venue. As he passed through the overly decorated entrance, Cassian looked nothing like the bored groom he was minutes ago. His stance was practiced, neat. His expressions controlled.

He was flooded with greetings as soon as he entered. People appeared so excited that it seemed fake. He didn’t recognise most of the Clarks. Well, there is no saying if he’ll even recognise the bride. He only met her once.

His thoughts were put on on a hold as the commotion began. It was the bride’s entry.

-

Azalya took a deep breath and walked without looking where she is headed. Her father- Heath Clark and brother Arthur were on either of her side. An emotional moment, only for her.

The smile on her father’s face kept circling her mind. He looked the happiest man today. Arthur looked like he just wants to leave.

She hasn’t figured out what she is supposed to feel. She was already infront of her soon to be husband. Heath murmured something to Cassian, short and unimportant. That gave Azalya a pause before she looked up.

As their eyes met, they were met with the same hollow absence. Both occupied in keeping up the act. A look of mutual understanding passed between them. Brief, almost imaginary.

The wedding rituals were tedious but it ended sooner than she expected. When his hand came at her waist, Azalya didn’t flinch. The cameras snapped. They smiled at each other- so smoothly that it fooled everyone in the room.

When they finally stepped down the suffocating stage, they noticed the circus that kept on around them. Two families with long standing rivalry- smiling and laughing together.

Azalya found herself staring into oblivion after she witnessed the hug between her mother and Diane Orville. That’s definitely a once in a lifetime.

“Congratulations!” Vivian hopped up, hugging the couple.

“I’m so happy, i’m about to cry.” She laughed.

Cassian was about to say something but Heath’s voice came from behind.

“Azalya!” He rushed near her and held her hands. His eyes shone with unmistakable pride.

“Don’t forget your father.” He glanced at Cassian who only smiled, polite and unfazed.

“Why would I?” Azalya hugged her father. At this point she couldn’t tell how much of her own actions were genuine.

Her in-laws kept the interaction brief, which she was thankful for. Soon the festivities dimmed down and it was time to leave with Cassian.

Suddenly, she felt herself nervous again. The crowd was gone, the act was over. She couldn’t predict what’d come next and has no plans of her own.

-

The fancy car made no sound as it moved, leaving them in silence. But neither rushed to break it. Cassian relaxed in his seat, finally loosening his posture. Azalya adjusted her dress so it isn’t all over the place.

It was a long and tiring day. So exhausting that she didn’t even have the liberty to think freely. Now when she sat in the quiet, thoughts flooded in. She kept her eyes focused on the window.

Azalya’s only excuse against this marriage was that she was still young. If she mentioned her job, she’d look too ambitious. If she mentioned things like choice and freedom, she’d look like a fool. Her father seemed adamant. And it was a fate she made peace with a long ago.

The stop at red light gave her a pause. She glanced to her side briefly.

One thing she noticed about Cassian is that he is mostly a quiet person. Or is he? The one meeting they had before marriage was useless. She was forced to sit between the suffocating awkwardness and masked pleasantries of their parents. They didn’t look at each other twice back then.

Her eyes unknowingly scattered towards the rear mirror. Unfortunately, she met his eyes straight. Her hearbeat picked up right away, the contact caught her off guard. At that moment, her bracelet became the most interesting thing. She removed it only to wear again.

Beside her, Cassian remained unmoving. His mind was calmer. The end of the ceremony felt like a burden removed. He hasn’t thought much about what will follow. The idea of a ‘wife’ felt more ridiculous in his mind than it should be.

The only thing he knows about Azalya is her father. Heath Clark is one of the worst man in business. Cassian never dealt with him personally but seeing how he makes his own father loose his calm- that man has some twisted skills.

Therefore he was beyond confused when he heard of this arrangement. Although he still lacks key information to make proper judgement, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the Orvilles have fallen right into Clark’s trap.

The car stopped after a quiet and long journey, Azalya stepped out before she could overthink it. Their was a pause before the door on his side opened. The night air felt cold on her skin. As he walked towards the entrance, she starts moving behind him, her steps unsure.

The new house felt like a compensation for the weak ties. Grand and luxurious. Enough space to never run into each other if they wished. Once inside, Azalya couldn’t help but admire the interior for a while. She has heard Diane Orville was exceptionally good at such things.

New house, new name and a new person, just like that. How was that normal? While she dwelled in her head, Cassian had already stopped somewhere behind her.

When she turned around to face him, she felt the silence again. And this time it wasn’t comfortable. The space that she was awing over a second ago, suddenly felt smaller.

Cassian only stared back at her, still refusing to acknowledge. But Azalya didn’t have the patience to wait for it. So she spoke first.