Arranged Marriage: Beneath The Rumors

Chapter 16: Marriage Ceremony

As Lisa's wedding day approached, she became so withdrawn and despondent that she rarely left her room.

Mera and her mother were ecstatic and content as the day of Lisa's marriage to Lugard drew near.

They had been keeping a close eye on Lisa, trying to figure out if she was planning to escape or plotting something, but they hadn't discovered anything suspicious.

"Tomorrow is your daughter's wedding, Mom," Lisa said, tears swelling in her eyes as she gazed at her mother's photo in her hand.

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll be strong and won't let anyone mistreat me easily. I'll stand up for myself. Even if it's Miller's son, I'll make sure to teach him a lesson. If I die trying, I'll be happy because I'll finally meet you up there and be free from this cruel world. We'll be happy there, I know you won't mistreat me or make me feel bad like the people here did. Dad doesn't even care about me or love me the way he used to. He's selling me off for the sake of friendship and power."

She gazed at her mother's photo, tracing her mother's smiling face and hair. "I love you, Mom, and I miss you very, very much," she whispered, hugging her mother's picture frame before a knocking sound interrupted her.

Lisa sat with a frown on her face. "Who is that?" she wondered.

"The wedding dress has arrived, young miss," the maid announced.

Feeling nervous, Lisa clenched her fist and bit her lip, trying to calm down. "You can come in," she said, placing her mother's pictures back in their original positions and heading to the bathroom to wash her face.

The servants entered and placed the dress on the bed. "Miss, you need to try it on to see if it fits perfectly," they said.

Lisa emerged from the bathroom, wiping her face with a white towel. "Okay," she nodded at the servants.

After trying on the wedding dress, the servants cheered, "Yes, it fits you perfectly. Oh my, I wish I was as beautiful as you. It looks so stunning on you. I'm jealous!"

Everyone was amazed by Lisa's beauty. She looked like an angel descending from heaven. Lisa smiled, thanked them, checked herself in the mirror, and touched the beautiful dress with her hands.

The servants continued to praise her happily.

Meanwhile, outside Lisa's door, Mera stood eavesdropping. She came expecting to find Lisa crying helplessly, but to her surprise, Lisa was not only not crying but also laughing and talking with the servants. They were busy praising her like a goddess. Mera's face turned black with anger, and she stormed out to find her mother.

The day of the wedding arrived, and Lisa felt like she was trapped in a nightmare. She stood in front of the mirror, her heart racing as she gazed at her reflection.

Her servant, Victoria, who was like a mother to her, walked around her, making final adjustments to her wedding dress.

Lisa's wedding gown was a breathtaking, floor-length masterpiece. The ivory silk fabric shimmered in the light, adorned with intricate lace and delicate florals that seemed to dance across the bodice.

The fitted, mermaid silhouette accentuated her slender figure, while the flowing train behind her cascaded like a river of moonlight. A delicate, sparkling tiara rested on her forehead, complementing the subtle sheen of her gown. Her veil, a whisper-thin layer of tulle, framed her face like a misty aura.

"Lisa, stop fidgeting," Victoria said, her voice stern. "You're going to ruin your makeup."

Lisa took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She had never felt so helpless in her life. She was about to marry a man she had never met, a man her family had chosen for her. A man rumored to be an incompetent, ugly beast, with a face and body so disfigured that no one could recognize him.