Inaya's POV

"What do you mean the bride disappeared from the house?!!" Father yelled at everyone in the room, "Weren't you supposed to be looking after her? Why do we even pay you such an amount if you can't do your work," Father yelled at Karisa's bodyguard.

"I'm sorry sir," Karisa's bodyguard apologized with her head lowered.

"How does that make sense? Not one security saw her leave this house," Father said to no one in particular.

"Father, instead......."

Father folded his hands in front of my face, "Inaya, please not now."

I nodded my head and kept my mouth shut, I just wanted to give a suggestion.

"Let's check the CCTV," Alex, my self-centered, annoying older brother, said from nowhere.

"That was what I was trying to say," I muttered under my breath.

"Y'all better pray someone kidnapped her," Father glared at Karisa's bodyguard before he walked out of the room.

I nonchalantly watched the CCTV footage with everyone. Deep down, I knew there was no way someone would kidnap Karisa from the house; she must have been somewhere inside the house.

From the footage, we could see Karisa leaving the house by herself, she drove out of the compound using Alex's car.

Alex pointed at the big screen, "She drove out with one of my cars and that's why no one knew she left."

"Mr Valentino," An unknown man called, "Mr Beckham has arrived and they are asking for the bride?"

Father nodded his head, "We will be right down."

Mother held Father's arms in tears, "Honey, what do we do?"

Alex sighed miserably, "Karisa removed my car tracker, she left it at home, now we can't track her."

"Inform the guest that there will be a three-hour delay, make up any believable reason, and in the meantime, secretly dispatch security to search the entire city, turn every single stone until you find her," Father said and walked away.

Alex grabbed my wrist and dragged me to an empty room, "Have you gone mad!!" I yelled as I freed myself from his hold.

"According to the CCTV, you were the last person to see her. What did you tell my sister to make her run away?" Alex spat his usual nonsense.

"You are older than me, so behave like one before I lose it," I warned, "Don't go around spewing nonsense, else you might lose your tongue."

"You know I can't stand you, I wish I can kill you right here and right now," Alex gritted as he showed me his fist, "I will make sure you leave this house soon, I will make sure to ruin you the way your prostitute of your Mother ruined this family."

"Alex!!" I fumed, "That's enough."

Alex burst into laughter, "I told you never to raise your voice at me."

I hated Alex because he hated me, ever since I could remember he had tried to make things difficult for me. I always ignored him and this time I will ignore him too.

I glared at him with tears in my eyes before I walked to my room. I was about to open the door to my room when I heard laughter coming from inside, I wiped the tears off my eyes and entered the room like nothing happened.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked Eveline, Hayes, and Keona with a smile on my face.

"I brought pregnancy kits, painkillers after abortion, snacks, and pads for you," Hayes raised the bag, and I took it from him.

I might have a lot of family issues but being with these people makes up for it.

"Thank you, that's why I love you and I will marry you," I laughed as I looked at the contents inside the bag. "How do you know this is the product I use?"

"I have seen it a lot of times," Hayes said as he pointed at the pads on my dressing table, "I will set the date, ma'am."

"Shouldn't we be heading down for the wedding?" Keona asked.

"The bride is nowhere to be found," Eveline answered on my behalf.

"What? How? Why did she run away? What's going to happen now?" Keona asked a lot of questions at once.

"I don't know," I took the bottle of liquor from Hayes' hand and drank from the bottle, "The wedding might be called off."

"Is your Father the type to do that?" Keona asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

"Let's let the adults handle this one," I passed the bottle of liquor to Eveline, "There is no need for us to go down for the wedding, let's just have fun up here."

"Aren't you taking the test again?" Keona asked as she pushed her glasses up.

"Later, but for now, baby, let's get drunk," I winked at Keona as I brought out a bottle of alcohol from under my bed. "We don't have to do much tonight, no smoking, just alcohol."

LED lights were on, music turned on to the highest volume, and alcohol in our hands as we danced the night away while awaiting the return of the bride.

I opened my eyes when I felt someone tapping me, "Mom?" I sat up on the floor, "What are you doing here?"

I looked around the room, my friends were sleeping on the bed, five empty bottles were on the floor, and the music was turned off.

"Your dad wants to see you," I nodded my head. I was about to stand on my feet when I fell back to the floor.

Mother handed me a bottle of water before she helped me up on my feet, "Is Karisa back?" I questioned and Mother shook her head, "Why does Father want to see me?"

"I don't know, let's go before you wake your friends up," I glanced at them before I walked out of the room.

The members of our household were panicking when I entered Father's reading room, "Why did she run away?" One of our relatives asked Father.

"Now our head will be in shame," Another said and I rolled my eyes.

I wasn't interested in this drama. Karisa had a boyfriend; she could have told everyone instead of agreeing to this wedding. Now she is causing us such drama.

"Father you sent for me," I said, making my presence known to everyone.

"Inaya," Father sighed, "You are close to her, do you know where she might be?"

I shook my head. I looked at the wall clock. "It's been four hours already. Shouldn't you inform the guest of the situation?"

"Inaya, an alliance like this comes once in a blue moon, I just can't get rid of it," Father explained.

I wasn't interested in hearing any of this. I just want to be back in my room today and think of how to get rid of Professor Marcel.

"Brother, how about we proceed with the marriage?" One of the relatives said with excitement in his eyes.

"But the bride isn't here," Father sank into his chair.

"Then we can replace the bride," Slyness dripped out of our relatives' tone.

"You want someone else to take my Karisa's place at the altar?" Father rose from the chair.

"You should do what is right," His eyes brightened as he stared at Father.

"What are you saying?" I know I shouldn't interfere in adult affairs but what the fuck, "Uncle, how can you even think that way? Let's just cancel the wedding and whenever Karisa returns you will know what....."

"You shouldn't speak when elders are speaking," Alex interrupted me arrogantly.

"Alex, how many times have I....."

"Inaya," Father mumbled, I stopped whatever I was going to say to that lunatic Alex and turned to look at him with confusion.

This wasn't the way Father normally called my name. I knew something was wrong and watched patiently to understand what was wrong.

"Chloe, you should get Inaya dressed in the bridal gown, she will take Karisa's place at the altar tonight."

Inaya's POV

"Dad!

Father!!

Honey!!" Alex, Mother, and I called at the same time.

Those were the words I never expected to hear from my Father's mouth.

"I can't let this alliance go," Father stated with authority, "Never."

A gloomy look made its way to Mother's face, "How can you ask my younger daughter to marry her sister's husband?"

"Beckham isn't Karisa's husband," Father explained to Mother.

"Have you forgotten they already......"

"That's enough!!" Father yelled shutting Mother up, "I have made my decision and that's final."

"Father I cannot get married to a man I know nothing about," I disagreed with Father's decision.

"When you get married to him, you will know him," I burst into laughter.

"I have never listened to you before so I won't do that today," I made myself loud and clear. Getting married at this point in my life was a NO, and getting married to the man my sister was arranged to be married to was a bigger NO.

"Inaya can never get married to Beckham Henderson," Alex yelled. Obviously, he doesn't want me to be more powerful than him, so he won't agree, and I hate the fact that I was going to support him today.

"If you don't marry him then I will cut off everything and render you penniless," Father threatened.

I giggled mentally, I wasn't the right person to threaten, "Do you think I care?"

I have enough money in my slush fund to take care of me for years. Mother wouldn't let me go penniless, Karisa would never do that, and Alex would provide for me as long as I don't have access to this family wealth.

Father locked eyes with me and said to Mother, "You have one hour to convince your daughter."

"I will be in my room, excuse me," I said and walked away from Father's reading room.

I didn't want to wake my friends up so I went to Karisa's room. I searched around the room for any clues, but there was nothing. I called but it kept taking me to voicemail.

This wasn't the plan, I have to think of something real fast because only the almighty knows what Father may do next.

"Inaya," Mother called calmly and I dropped my phone to give her my full attention.

"Mother, why did you come here? Shouldn't you inform the guest of the situation?" I held her hand and led her to sit on the bed.

"Inaya," Mother touched my face with love, "Have I ever asked you for anything?"

I think I knew where this was going, I shook my head, "Mother please don't ask me to marry a stranger."

"Inaya," I stood up from the bed and I saw sadness in her eyes, I couldn't bear to look at her, "If they leave here today then our heads will be hung in shame, it will be difficult to gain face in society and nobody knows what Mr Henry Henderson will do."

I wasn't going to fall for this, "Mother please don't involve me, Father will take care of his business."

"I understand but what of everything I have built over the years, what of everything your biological mother built for you before she died?" I felt my mother closely behind me, "Would you let that go down the drain?"

I can't destroy my life by being married to this man. I know nothing about him; he could have a disability, he could have mental health issues, he could be a drunk or an abuser.

"I don't want to hurt you, but you should know you raised a selfish daughter who doesn't know how to sacrifice for others. I'm sorry," I apologized and walked out of the room without sparing her a glance.

"Inaya!!" Mother yelled in the hallway. I ignored her and continued walking. "Then you leave me no choice." I turned to see what she was talking about.

My soul almost left my body when I saw Mother place a knife to her wrist, "You have to choose today."

"Mother!!!" I yelled and it brought some attention to us.

"Chloe!! What madness is this?" One of our relatives asked.

"I just want my daughter to choose, or else I will kill myself right here and right now." Tears rolled down Mother's eyes.

I'm sure Father made her do this; there was no way Mother would try to manipulate me this way. What did Father tell her to convince her?

"Mother, we already talked about this," I furrowed my brow as I took sluggish steps towards her, "You don't need to act this way."

"You shouldn't tell me how to act," Mother said, "I just want you to fulfill just one thing for me, it will give you a very happy life, I'm your mother I will never make the wrong choice for you."

"It wasn't about the wrong choice, I'm not ready to be married, that's too much on me," I couldn't even tell her that I might be pregnant.

"Okay then," I guess you have made your choice, "I don't deserve to live if I can't give my daughter a better life."

Everything happened so fast that the next thing we saw was blood dripping from Mother's wrist, "Mom, what have you done?"

"Honey," Father ran to hold Mother in his arms, "Call the doctor."

"Don't..." Mom held Father's shirt weakly, "Don't.... Let... me just die."

"Mom!" I yelled, "You are losing blood."

"When..... I die, please allow my Inaya to bury me, allow my Inaya to be at the front carrying my coffin," Tears rolled down Mother's face.

"Get any doctor!!!" Alex yelled to no one in particular.

"Allow me to die," Mother cried, "At least I will die knowing my daughter loved me."

Why was she like that? I'm sure Father put her up to this. Why was he doing this? If it were Father in this situation, I wouldn't even bat an eye, but it was Mother, I can't allow anything to happen to her.

"What are you doing standing there? Make a decision!" Father shouted as if his life depended on it.

Inaya's POV

My eyes looked at everyone in the hallway, who were patiently awaiting my response.

Whatever I do now will change my life, I don't know if it's for the better or the worse but I knew I wasn't ready for that life. I needed to choose between my ego and my Mother's life.

I clenched my teeth, "Get the doctor for Mother and get the stylist for me."

"Inaya, I'm sorry," Mother broke down in tears, "Forgive me, I'm sorry."

"I understand," I smiled halfheartedly at her, "I have a condition."

"What?" Father hurriedly asked. I guess he didn't want me to change my mind.

"Instead of a white wedding dress, I want a black wedding dress." A white wedding dress signifies my happiness, but I wasn't happy; I was mourning inside.

"Is it a wedding or a funeral?" Father questioned furiously.

"I have given my condition," I said in a low tone.

Deep down, I wanted Father to disagree so I would be able to go back to my normal life, but things didn't turn out that way. "Have a black ball gown and veil delivered in the next twenty minutes."

"I will be in Karisa's room," I said and walked away.

I came to Karisa's room because I didn't want to wake my friends up, they must be very tired and wouldn't even be sober enough to understand a thing.

I sat in front of the mirror as the stylist dressed me. I felt empty inside; this wasn't what I wanted, this wasn't what I planned for myself. I promise you Karisa, when I see you, I will beat you for ruining my life.

I looked in front of the mirror when they were done. I'm not going to lie, but the makeup was on point. I didn't recognize myself in the black sleeveless ball gown; it complemented my skin. Not going to lie, I looked beautiful but I was empty and unrecognizable to myself.

"I hope you will forgive me," I lifted my head and saw Mother standing behind me in the mirror.

"You can never do wrong in my eyes," I smiled at her through the mirror, "Let's go downstairs before we become emotional."

"You really do have your way, everyone will be surprised to see you with a black dress, the first bride to wear a black dress," Mother laughed to lighten the mood.

"They will think it's Karisa wearing a black dress, she is about to be the talk of the town," I laughed lightly as I stood up.

I didn't want Mother to be bothered by me, so I kept a forced smile on my face. "You look beautiful," She complimented as she dropped the veil over my face.

"Aren't your friends coming?" Mother handed me the bouquet of roses.

"Let them rest, they aren't sober enough for this, and I will tell them everything when they wake up." I hugged her before I led the way out of the room.

Whispers danced around the garden as I walked beside Father, "A black gown? You will be the talk of the town," Father whispered to me with amusement.

"Not me, Karisa," I replied sternly, I wasn't smiling with him.

Father placed my hand on a man's hand whom I assumed to be Beckham Henderson when we got to the altar.

I was told not to raise my head, I was told not to speak too much so he wouldn't notice that it wasn't Karisa under the veil.

I haven't even seen his face but I already hate his perfume. Mr Beckham has to change that perfume, it reminded me so much of that annoying man. I can't inhale that perfume in school and still come home to that same perfume.

"I thought my bride would wear a beautiful white gown, but a black gown, you really do surprise me, and it looks angelic," Mr Beckham laughed lightly.

I rolled my eyes physically. Poor man must really like Karisa. I wonder what he will do when he realizes that I'm not Karisa.

I paused my lip under my veil. That voice was very familiar; I hadn't met Beckham before, but I was sure I had heard his voice before. I was so sure I had heard it, I don't know where I had heard that voice, but I was so sure about it.

I tried to take a peek, but he was tall and I couldn't afford to raise my head higher than this. I nodded my head to everything the priest was saying even though I wasn't listening.

"Mr Beckham Henderson, do you take Miss Karisa Valentino as your lawful wedded wife?" The priest asked.

Beckham answered in a calm voice as he put the ring on my finger. I looked at the ring with pitiful eyes. It was a beautiful ring but it wasn't with the rightful owner.

I scoffed mentally, "Mrs Karisa Valentino, do you take Mr Beckham Henderson as your lawful wedded husband?" The priest asked.

I was hesitant, I looked around hoping Karisa would come running down to stop the wedding, "Mrs Karisa?" The priest called again.

"I..... I... do," I answered, and my shaking hands put the ring on Beckham's finger.

"Are you good?" Beckham asked out of concern, "Did you drink?"

I shook my head to both questions. No matter how I tried to think about it this voice sounded like pain to my ears. It was oddly familiar.

"The exchange of the ring and the vows are done, now the bride and the groom may share their first kiss," The priest said and the crowd cheered.

My heart stopped, and my body began to shake out of fear. I was never scared but this was the big reveal I feared. "What will happen? What will people say? What will Mr Beckham do? What will the Hendersons do? We are already married but still,"

Those words played in my head as Mr Beckham's hand drew closer to remove the veil. I shut my eyes tight as both hands held my dress by the side waiting for Mr Beckham's reaction.

The cool evening breeze hit my face which meant Mr Beckham had opened my veil, "Inaya...." That voice calling my name was already engraved in my head.

I have started hearing things, I laughed at myself as I opened my eyes.

The laughter immediately wiped off my face, "Sir?"