Against the Tide

Chapter 3 - A Marriage of Convenience

The soft hum of conversation and the scent of fresh flowers filled the modest chapel, but the air was thick with tension. Isabella sat quietly in the bridal suite, her breathing shallow, her hands trembling as she tried to adjust her veil. She looked beautiful despite her frailty, her once-vibrant energy now dulled by the weight of her illness. Lily stood by her side, her eyes filled with worry as she helped her mother get ready.

"Mom, are you sure you want to do this today? You look... you should be resting," Lily said, her voice barely a whisper.

Isabella smiled weakly, reaching for her daughter's hand. "I'm fine, sweetheart. This has to happen now. We don't have much time left, and I need to know you'll be taken care of."

Lily bit her lip, fighting back tears. She knew what her mother meant, but it didn't make the situation any easier to accept. Today was supposed to be a celebration, but it felt more like a forced obligation, a ticking clock looming over them all.

The chapel doors opened slightly, and Evelyn slipped inside. Her eyes flicked toward the empty space where Gregory should have been. "Has anyone heard from Gregory?" she asked, her voice tight with frustration.

Lily crossed her arms, her patience wearing thin. "No. He's late, and Mom's not in any condition to wait."

Isabella winced, clearly trying to hide her disappointment. "I'm sure he'll be here soon," she said softly, thought the uncertainty in her voice was impossible to miss.

Evelyn stepped outside, her phone in hand, frustration growing with each unanswered call. Moments later, Gregory's assistant, Matthew, appeared, his expression tense. "I'm trying to reach him. He said he had a meeting, but he should've been done by now."

"Meeting?" Lily muttered under her breath, her irritation boiling over. "Of course."

Nearly an hour later, the heavy wooden doors of the chapel creaked open, and Gregory finally strolled in, wearing a crisp suit and an indifferent expression. He barely acknowledged anyone as he approached the altar.

"Sorry I'm late," Gregory said, his voice flat. "Had to finish up some business."

Lily's eyes flared with anger. "Business? You made my mother wait an hour on her wedding day for business?"

Gregory shot her a sideways glance, his patience already wearing thin. "I had things to take care of. This isn't exactly my dream wedding, either."

"You think I wanted this?" Lily hissed, her voice rising. "This whole thing is a mess, and you're making it worse!"

Isabella, struggling to stand, gave them both a weak smile, trying to defuse the situation. "Please, not today. Let's just get through this."

As they took their places, Isabella, with great effort, rose from her chair, her delicate figure almost too frail for the moment. She smiled bravely at the small gathering of Evelyn's closest family and friends, each of whom wore expressions ranging from pity to confusion. Lily's eyes filled with tears as she saw her mother muster every ounce of strength to walk down the aisle.

You look beautiful, Mom," Lily whispered, her voice catching as she tried to hold back the flood of emotions.

Isabella squeezed her daughter's hand as they walked slowly toward Gregory, who stood at the front, his face a mask of indifference. He forced a smile, but it was hollow, as though he were simply going through the motions.

The ceremony was brief, but it felt endless to Lily, who couldn't shake the resentment she felt toward Gregory. The words "I do" echoed in her ears like a bitter reminder of how wrong this all was.

After the ceremony, they left the chapel and made their way to Gregory's house. It was supposed to be their new home, but to Lily, it felt cold and unwelcoming. Gregory, without so much as a glance toward Isabella and Lily, walked straight inside, heading to his room without a word. He changed into casual clothes and, without saying goodbye, left for work again.

Lily stared at the door as it slammed shut behind him, her fists clenched. The disrespect he was showing to her mother was too much to bear. Isabella sat quietly, her energy spent, while Evelyn tried to keep up a light conversation, pretending everything was fine.

Hours passed, and eventually, Lily and Isabella returned to their own home. Isabella, too weak to stay awake any longer, went straight to bed. The house was eerily quiet, and as Lily sat by her mother's bedside, she couldn't help but feel a deep sadness wash over her. This was supposed to be a day of new beginnings, but instead, it felt like an ending — a cold, harsh reality setting in.

Late that night, a knock sounded at the door. Lily, who had been lying in bed unable to sleep, went to open it. Gregory stood there, his face unreadable, as though he had already forgotten the events of the day. He stepped inside without saying a word, brushing past her.

"Did you have a good day at work?" Lily asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Gregory paused, his back to her. "Look, I don't expect you to understand, but I have responsibilities. I can't just drop everything."

"Responsibilities? You mean more important than your new wife? More important than my mom?" Lily's voice wavered, anger bubbling beneath the surface.

Gregory turned to face her, his expression hard. "This isn't about feelings, Lily. It's about doing what needs to be done."

Lily's heart sank, her frustration boiling over. She wanted to scream at him, to tell him how much his indifference hurt, how much her mother deserved better. But instead, she bit her tongue, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

"You're a coward," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You don't care about anyone but yourself."

Gregory's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He turned and headed toward his room, the tension between them thick and suffocating.

Lily stood there for a moment, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She felt the tears coming, but she held them back until she was safely in her room, away from Gregory's cold presence. She let the tears fall, muffling her sobs into her pillow as the weight of the day crashed down on her.

Why did it have to be like this? Why did her life have to unravel in such a cruel way? As she cried herself to sleep, Lily couldn't help but wonder if things would ever get better — or if this was just the beginning of a much darker path.