Marriage with 'The Beast'

Chapter 10 - Engagement Party.

Vanessa's P.O.V

"I really like this place, its beautiful as it is, and with the decor it'll be majestic." Tyson's mother said, and I couldn't agree more. This was the sixth hall we'd seen for the engagement and this was the first one she seemed to like even a little.

"Sarah, what do you think?" I'd been trying desperately to get her to say something since she came from Mason's penthouse but she hasn't said anything, at first it angered me, but now I'm worried for her. What could've happened? Mason can't be that bad, Tyson is a dream, they are brothers after all!

I felt strong, warm arms envelope me from behind. Tyson placed a kiss on my cheek, "I missed you." he whispered.
"I missed you too, how was work?"
"Eh, better than yesterday. Is this the one?"
"I hope so." I turned around to face him, "Is your brother nice?" I asked him in all seriousness.
"Well, he's... Mason."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"He's a workaholic, and he's a bit rough around the edges. He needs the right woman to change him, just like all the Wilson men. I think your sister has that, but only the two of them really know."

Sarah's P.O.V

I tried to eat this morning, but a lump in my throat got in the way. Every time I tried to speak, I could feel my throat close up and restrain me to breath. It had been two days since I'd been back, and I hadn't said a thing to Vanessa. It might have been the tears burning at the back of my eyes, wanting to fall. And usually, everyone tells me its good to cry and let everything out, but not in this situation. I had to hold strong, at least for Vanessa.

The anger was beginning to wear off, but I didn't want it to. I didn't want to have to deal with the feeling of utter betrayal after. "Sarah, please talk to me. What happened?" I've been trying to block Vanessa out completely, but  I could hear the desperation in her voice. My moment of weakness came as she looked me directly in the eyes. I took her by the hand and weakly lead her to our bedroom. I left the light off so only the light sun rays leaked through the thin curtains and took a seat on my bed with her beside me. Having her beside me was reassuring as I started with the biggest lie of my life.

"He sounds great, so what's wrong with him?" She asked at the end.
"Nothing." I muttered.
"You wouldn't be acting this way if there was nothing wrong with him."
I bit my lip, trying to think of a reason, "There's nothing wrong him, he's just not the one. And  I know we've had this conversation before. I guess I was just hoping that there would be more. I would feel something stronger with the person I was going to marry."
I could see the guilt on Vanessa's face, and immediately felt better about not telling her the truth about what happened with Mason. If she felt bad about this, she would definitely call off the wedding if she knew. "But don't worry, he really is nice. Maybe I'll fall in love with him with time." I reassured her, swallowing down the sob in my throat while saying the last sentence, knowing that it would never happen. "Most arranged marriages start with strangers, and grow into love after. I'll just be a part of one of them." I smiled and hugged her.

After a long day of buying our engagement dresses and accessories, we made the last stop at a jewelry store of dad's old friends.
Taking a deep breath I walked in with my sister and our parents. "Congratulations girls!" Mrs. Brar squealed running over to give us hugs. "Thank you." We smiled to her. She pulled us over to the men's wedding bands. Vanessa picked out a dual tone band. Solid twenty-two carat gold with a silver plate in the middle. It was beautiful in its simplest form.
"What about this one?" Mom pointed to a gold band with half a ring of diamonds circling it. My eye caught on one two rows back. It had an unusual design of a solid gold band curving towards the middle where a square diamond sat. I had no intention on picking out a band for Mason, which is why I put it in my mom's hand to deal with, but.."I like this one." I pointed to it.