I was forced to marry a monster.
Vegas Theerapanyakun is the heir to his father's empire.
He has the reputation of being a dangerous monster who can bring even grown men to their knees.
And he's about to become my husband.
Our families have been at...
ISTAND IN front of the mirror inside the dress shop and stare at my reflection. I don't even recognize myself in the wedding suit. I look so...different. So grown up.
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"Oh my god, you look gorgeous!" the shop owner exclaims with animated hands. She's a small, older lady with frizzy blonde hair and huge glasses that make her blue eyes look enormous behind the thick lenses. "I knew this one would look great on you," she gushes.
Tears fill my eyes when I glance around the empty room. God, I wish my mother could be here with me. After she passed away, an empty void filled me, hollowing me out from the inside, and I wonder if I'll ever feel unconditional love like that again.
My father was always a stickler for rules and obedience, but my mother...she was more lenient and understanding. She made me smile, made me laugh. She was like a real-life angel on this earth disguised as a human.
And I miss her terribly, especially today.
"Oh, sweetie, don't cry," the woman says, handing me a wad of tissues out of a nearby box. "Weddings are happy occasions!"
I almost roll my eyes. She's so oblivious to my situation that she couldn't even begin to comprehend what I'm going through. This wedding is going to be anything but happy. I'm about to marry a total stranger. Sure, I knew Vegas back when we were kids, but we were just that - children. Many years have passed since we've spoken or even seen each other. I have no idea what happened to him after puberty. For all I know, he could look like a potbelly pig. And smell like one too.
Cringing, I tell the woman, "Okay, I'll take this one." There's no sense in trying any other dresses on. None of them will ever feel perfect to me since I'm being forced to walk down the aisle instead of doing it of my own free will.
"Are you sure? It's the first one you tried on. I'm not saying you don't look stunning, but I have many more styles for you to choose from," she says while pushing her big glasses up the bridge of her tiny nose.
"I'm sure," I tell her with a firm nod. It was the first suit that caught my eye, and honestly, I don't even want to try any others on. It's not like I've been waiting for this day. No, this was sprung on me just a few days ago through a contract that I had to sign. And it felt like signing my life away.
If Papa wouldn't kill me, I'd buy a black wedding suit to suit my mood and feelings towards this arrangement. But I don't need him any more distant and angrier with me than he already is. He's the only family I have left. Love him or leave him. And I guess I'm choosing to love him.
"I don't think I'll need to make any alterations," the woman says as she walks around, feeling the fabric and looking for gaps or flaws. "It's perfect, really. It fits you like a glove."
"Lucky me," I mutter sarcastically.
"Now, it's been in storage for a few months. I'll have it steamed and pressed for you. It will be ready in two days. Is that all right?"
