Strange Game

Chapter 1

She is to married today- Angie still couldn't believe it- and she didn't even know who her groom is. The marriage was decided two days ago and Papa didn't even give her chance to speak her decision, if she is given the chance to have a decision. But she is in awe that her trousseau is finish in record time and her wedding gown is marvelous. At least her step-mother wouldn't allow her to shame the family going to her own wedding wearing old gown. The white-cream gown actually complimented her milky skin and has a pearl-encrusted bodice and trims with soft laces while the flimsy skirt flare out from the bodice like waterfall, layered severally with gauze. The bodice is sewn with thick lace and it covers half of her neck while the full sleeve adorn with pearl-button.

The only way she protested from this sudden wedding is by adding a thick sash of black satin, hugging her waist and tied into a big ribbon. The Madame who is helping her, complaints that Angie is going to her wedding, not to a funeral, but she ignores the woman and stood staring lifelessly towards the tall mirror. Oh, she knew she is no longer Papa's apple of the eyes but this is too much, to thrust her into an unknown stranger life by trading her for money to pay step-mother's excess spending.

"Why not Papa married off your step-daughter or make your useless step-sons do some work?" She had yelled to Papa the moment the news arrives to her through the mention step-daughter and the mention step-daughter gasp in horror.

"Oh no Papa, I can't marry that old man. I've better future than her who is already on the shelf. Please don't make me marry that old man."

"An old man, no less!" She screech at Papa, no longer caring to whom she screams at, her life was at stake and she bloody well might do some cursing.

"Don't you dare yell at me young lady? Have a care to what will happen to us if you don't marry." Papa has scolded and Papa never raises his voice at her. Stun, she press her lip and glare at him.

"I actually don’t care what happen to us. I might as well be a pauper than paying for this woman debt." She turns the blast of her dagger glare to the woman who had caused her this misery.

"Watch your tongue Angelyn! Remember that it was I who raise you up to be a proper lady." Angie snorted unladylike way.

"I remember well that it is I who actually raise me up, no thanks to you. If it is you who raise me up, I would be spoilt and useless like your children."

"Angie! Victoria wouldn't like hearing you speaking like that."

"You have no right to call my name the moment you decide to sell me to an ancient old man and you have absolutely no right to speak Mama's name -God bless her that she wouldn't live to witness this today- no right whatsoever the moment you married to this viper!" Angie still felt the slap Papa has given to her until this moment. Somehow she is still force to marry and now the viper and her children are filling their belly with food at home.

Angie pull away from the fussing Madame and walk out, a thought appear in her mind. 'Oh, I will protest as much as I can. I will not let that viper has the all satisfaction.' She strode purposely to the groom room, ignoring the look people gave her and push open the door to the groom's room. Her groom, an old man of late fifties -he is really an old man when she thought step-sister is just lying to hurt her- turn to her from the mirror and rise his brow while the groom's men quickly rise to their feat in her presence and looking dash awkward.

"Gentlemen." She nods at them and award her groom another intense stare-match.

"My friends, if you will excuse us. I think the bride has something to say." The groom's men clear out of the room in record time, murmuring their congratulation to her and bowing and nonsense. "Come in child, I was expecting you." She wince at the irony of truth the old man speak but she close the door silently behind her and walk towards the window where she could see the guests mingle around the garden below before they are admitted into the chapel.