Chapter 3
Isabella Marie
"Uh, this is for me?" I asked Kareen.
"Yes, Miss Marie," she replied.
A frigging wedding dress?
"But, I, uh, I think it's not appropriate for me to wear that."
I mean, it's supposed to be only the bride wearing something like that.
"Of course it is, Miss Marie. It's a tradition."
That word again! It was really beginning to get on my nerves. I was
seriously nearing the point where I’d consider telling her that I couldn't care
less about their stupid, meaningless traditions.
But after refusing the weird request of being waxed, I didn't feel
like refusing another tradition would be nice. After all, I've been met by
nothing but kindness since I arrived here. Fake kindness, I knew, but still …
"Okay," I sighed.
The dress needed a little work to fit properly, since it was a
little loose in the waist and chest area, but other than that, it looked and
felt perfect.
Looking at myself in the mirror – I just couldn't
take it. I looked like a bride, and I didn't like it. It wasn't my wedding, it
was my brother's. In my opinion, it wasn’t fair for me to be wearing this; only
the bride was supposed to wear something as beautiful as this.
I wanted out of the dress.
And that was what I did.
As hard as she tried to hide how displeased she was, I could still
see it on Kareen's face that she wasn't happy with me refusing to keep the
dress on. It just felt wrong, and I had to do it. She just had to get over it.
I wore my silver dress that was brought to me from my room as I’d
requested, and only then did I feel like I was wearing something appropriate.
Looking in the mirror, it felt right.
Kareen was about to say something when we heard a knock. She said
something loudly in Arabic that I supposed was directing the person to come in,
because that was what happened shortly thereafter. A young girl entered and
smiled at me, which I returned before she spoke with Kareen. The conversation
went back and forth and I didn't like the fact that I wasn't aware of what they
were talking about, but I was pretty sure I heard the word 'Ameera' more than
one time. It seemed like it was her name from the way she was saying it and
Kareen was responding.
When the girl left, Kareen informed me that she should go get ready
for the wedding and see if Alica needed her to do anything.
Seems like my brother was really pronouncing his fiancée's
name wrongly, since it seemed way different when Kareen said it.
"Sure," I nodded. "Wait, I wanted to ask," I
paused and Kareen smiled, "Is your name is really Kareen?"
"Yes, of course, Miss Marie," she replied. "But, if
I may ask, why are you asking that?"
"Well, nothing. It's just that I heard that girl calling you
Ameera more than once, so I thought it was your name. I think I was mistaken."
"Oh, it's alright. Ameera is my title, though."
Title?
I think Kareen was able to see the confusion on my face because she
explained, "Ameera means Princess, Miss Marie."
My eyes widened at her words. Princess? Kareen was a princess?
She just helped me dress, for God's sake! I thought she was, er, the help or
something.
"Uh … You're a princess?" I asked in a low voice.
"Yes." She smiled.
"Wow!"
"Uh, why is that so hard to believe?"
"Um, I'm sorry, it's just that-" what to say?
"I thought that I still hadn't met any of the royal family yet, is
all." Good escape, Marie.
Confusion appeared on Kareen's face as she frowned. "No one
met you at the airport?" she asked in a shock.
"No, there were about ten guys there waiting for us," I
told her.
"Oh, you scared me for a second," she sighed a sigh of
relief, and I frowned. "All of those were princes, Miss Marie, so you’ve
already met a lot of the royal family."
My eyes widened even more and my eyebrows shot up. All of those men
were princes? And they were waiting for us? The beautiful guy is a prince? Of
course he is. He's too handsome not to be.
And he gave me roses.
I blushed at the memory, and I think I was dazed as well for a
moment, but another question came to my mind that I had to ask.
"All of those men were your brothers?"
There were over ten!
"Oh, no, they were my cousins. I only have three brothers and
they are studying abroad."
"They won't attend their sister's wedding?"
"Alica? Alica is not our sister, she's our cousin."
"But I thought you said you're a princess, and so they
are!"
"Anyone in the whole kingdom with my last name is a prince or
a princess, Miss Marie. That is, if they are not the king or his wife," she
explained.
"Oh!" I went silent as it registered in my mind what she’d
just said. "It was – nice of them. And you too, Kareen,
helping me and all," I said awkwardly.
"It was our pleasure, Miss Marie."
"Please, call me Marie."
"Sure," she smiled. "I'll be calling you Ameera soon
anyway." With a wink and her confusing words, Kareen left me before I
could ask what she’d meant by that.
~BK~
More princesses came to entertain me before the ceremony started. They
were as nice as Kareen, and tried so hard to make small talk, which I tried to
keep going so as not to be rude. But I would never forget the looks on their
faces when they saw the dress I was wearing. They tried to hide it, but I was
always able to read people, and they weren't so hard to read.
They made me feel as if my dress wasn't good enough just by their
confused and disapproving looks.
Their dresses were really pretty and I was sure they were expensive,
but mine was no less pretty – or cheap; I paid over seven grand for the thing. But honestly, I
didn't care; they just had to live with it, like Kareen did. They were wearing
colored dresses, not wedding dresses like they wanted me to wear – why
should I be any different?
When it was time to start the ceremony, I was sent to a different
room with the girls. They then put some kind of robe over me that was white and
covered with pearls and golden decorations. There was a hoodie attached to it
that they put on my head as well.
I was worried about it messing up my hair but
they assured me it wouldn't. I was convinced when they put on robes as well, but
they were black with no decorations on them, and completely covered them –
their faces as well.
I hated that I didn't know what was going to happen after that as
we waited for what I didn't know, while hearing the sound of drums and other
musical instruments coming from outside.
Why didn't I google this before we came?
The doors were opened and I was met by a room that was being opened
at the same time. Standing in it was a group of women that mirrored the group I
was standing with, other than the first one was wearing a white wedding dress with
a robe on top of it just like the one I was wearing.
I immediately knew she was my brother's bride. I wished I could see her face, but it was completely covered just like the rest of the women.
Weirdly, it made me feel exposed for some reason.
From our side, and as the music got louder, another door was
opened, revealing a huge number of men. In front of them was my brother,
dressed in one of those white gelbabs all of the guys were wearing, along with
the white in red thing over his head.
I bit my lip not to laugh because he looked so funny, and the
thought 'the things we do for love' came once more into my head. When
his eyes met mine, I mouthed, 'What on earth are you wearing?' and he
mouthed back, 'Shut up!' trying to stifle his own laugh. I guess he had caved
for their traditions, but he was the groom, so he should; I was merely the soon-to-be-sister-in-law.
No big deal.
My eyes drifted to the man standing beside him. My breath was
caught in my throat when I realized he was the green-eyed prince. He was even
more handsome than yesterday, if that was possible. So very handsome, it hurt. A
smile was decorating his face as he gazed at me with so many things I wasn't
able to read, emotions that I had a strong feeling were directed at me.
For a moment or two, and as I looked at him, I think I forgot what
he was. But it wasn't long before I remembered exactly what he represented, and
looked away.
The wedding started as we were standing there with a team of male
dancers that were wearing gelbabs as well, only a bit different from the
rest of men. They were really good at what they did, and their voices were nice
as they sang together while they moved around in a fascinating way, even if I
couldn't understand what they were saying.
Whenever my eyes caught the green-eyed prince I found his on me. He'd
smile and I'd look away, but not long after I'd look again, and find him with
the same smile and warm look.
When the dancers retreated, I watched as Japer went to where Alica
was standing and stood beside her. She hooked her arm with his when he offered
it, and I smiled as I saw the adoration in my brother eyes as he looked at her
hidden form.
When my eyes on their own went back to glance at him, he
wasn't there. I found him to be standing right beside me, offering me his arm
just like Jasper had done with his bride. I stared at it for a few moments
before I hooked my arm with his, a strange feeling consuming me – a
feeling I couldn't put my finger on.
Maybe it was fear. I had feared his kind all of my life, so it was
only believable that I’d feel fear being so close to one of them.
He directed me to walk to the other side, opposite from where the
men had come, and from there we entered a bigger hall. It was obvious that it was
where we would sit since it was full of fancy tables with fancy chairs around them.Two nice sets of chairs dominated a higher area in the corner.
They looked more
like thrones rather than just fancy chairs, and I thought for sure that they
were to be where the king and queen would sit.
My thoughts were proved wrong right away when the prince directed
me to them as well as Jasper and Alica. We turned to face everyone after we
stood by the thrones, and the women stood by the tables where the men had stayed
behind by the huge door we’d come from.
Music with drums and other instruments filled the place around us
as we stood there, arms still linked and smiles filling Jasper’s and the prince's
faces, as well as mine. If Alica was smiling too I couldn't see it, but I had a
feeling she was.
When that song ended, Green-eyes smiled before letting me go and
walking away with Jasper. Once they left, the door was closed and more lights
filled the room as well as more music.
Suddenly, there was no hint of a single man, they just disappeared,
all of them – along with every black robe in sight.
It seemed that I was standing in a very different place from the
one I was just in not two minutes ago. The women that filled the hall could be
easily mistaken for models and celebrities. Well, I know they could really be celebrities, given this was a royal
wedding after all, but I was talking about their clothes. Their dresses
belonged in a fashion magazine; they were perfect. Their makeup, their hair and
accessories – everything was just perfect.
I found hands on my collar, unbuttoning the only button that held
my robe together and helping me out of it. I realized it was Kareen and as
weird as it was, I felt a sense of longing when I saw her. It was just so nice
to see a familiar face.
I smiled as I thanked her, my eyes traveling right away to the form
beside me. A smile formed on my lips when I saw a girl taking off Alica's robe,
revealing a lovely dark-haired and pale-skinned beautiful girl.
Her robe was off almost the same second mine was, too. And at this
moment I heard the strangest noises coming from in front of me – the
women.
My hand caught my cross right away as fear crept into my heart at
the sound that seemed like screams. I looked at them with wide eyes and a shocked
expression as those noises they were making went on for what seemed like ages.
As much as it frightened me, I couldn't deny that it sounded somehow musical.
"Marie." Hands held my own and immediately I was soothed
by the nice grip they had on mine. I looked at the owner to find the beautiful
thief who’d stolen my brother's heart smiling brightly at me. I was easily able
to see her brown eyes dancing with the happiness filing them. "I've heard
so much about you." She pulled me into her body and hugged me tightly; you
could never imagine someone as small as her could have such strength to hug
this hard.
"Alica, I'm so happy to finally meet you," I said once we
pulled back.
If you only knew what I’d told my brother when I heard about you …
"Me, too. You have no idea." Her smile was brilliant.
"But before anything else, I need you to call me Alice, the way you’re
pronouncing my name is as weird as how your brother says it," she
chuckled.
Her words made me blush and giggle at the same time, and right then
I believed Jasper's words when he told me that I too would fall in love with
her. She was already making her way into my heart.
It was crazy …
"Alice it is," I told her, finding myself in her arms as
she hugged me one more time.
"Thank you, Marie," she whispered. "I can never
thank you enough. I'll always owe you with my life."
The distance between my eyebrows shrunk as I frowned. I thought she
was making a huge deal of me coming to the wedding. It was my brother's wedding
after all; I wouldn't miss it for the world.
When she pulled away again, she spoke before I could reply to her.
"I'm sorry you didn't like the dress I picked out for you. It was really
the best of the best, and I wish I’d known more about what you'd prefer." She
seemed genuine about her apology and it made me feel like poop.
I noticed that Alice was full of energy and had a very light
spirit, because again before I could reply, she spoke again, "Oh, my God!
Mazen looked so precious as he stood beside you. I think it's the very first
time I’ve ever seen shyness in my brother's eyes," she giggled.
Mazen?
Green-eyed prince?
Shyness?
Not able to reply once more, this time I was cut off by Kareen
whispering to us that we needed to sit down.
I can't lie, I had no idea that something as simple as a chair could
make you feel the way this throne was making me feel. It was really nice that
the groom's sister was so important like that for them.
My thoughts kept drifting to Mazen and the way I felt with his closeness.
I thought I was able to understand all the fuss about me then. Since they
treated the bride's brothers that way, they surely treated the groom's sister
the same – that was why I was so important, right?
Women started dancing in groups as a small stage across from us was
filled by no more than five women singing together in the sweetest voices. It
was amazing, and I was once more disappointed I couldn't understand any of it.
Alice took me to some of the tables and introduced me to princess
after a princess, and a former queen as well. I learned it was Kareen's mother
who’d given her title to her sister-in-law (her brother-in-law's wife) when her
husband died, the sister-in-law that was now my brother’s mother-in-law.
The queen gave me a polite smile but didn't say anything. I didn't
want to think of it as she didn't like me, because maybe she didn't speak
English, is all.
It was confusing as to why I was to sit on a throne while the queen
sat just like anyone else at one of the tables. I didn't think much of it;
their traditions were giving me a headache.
After we ate wonderful food and drank amazing drinks, I noticed women
putting on their robes. I knew then that the wedding party was coming to an end.
It just felt so weird that my brother had spent so little time with his bride,
and seriously, it was kind of unfair.
Talking with Alice was so easy. She made it feel like it was the
easiest thing in the world by telling me that we were going to be best friends.
I really liked the sound of that. I was never able to feel that pull toward
some girl to become my best friend; Jasper was my best friend and all I needed.
However, I knew that it was just a matter of days before I’d leave and if it
wasn't for the fact that Jasper might bring her to the US, I might not see her
again at all.
I had to ask her if she was annoyed by the fact that she’d
celebrated her wedding alone. She told me that she was celebrating it with
every important person in her family and her friends, and later she'll have
Jasper to celebrate their union for the rest of their lives.
I thought it was sweet.
I was surprised to see the doors being opened before Alice or I had
a chance to put on our robes. I mean, weren't we supposed to wear them when men
were around? Wasn't that the tradition? Everyone else was wearing one!
My surprise turned into confusion when I saw that only Jasper and
Green-eyes had entered the hall, and the doors were immediately closed behind
them.
They stood in the same place they were before they’d left, and then
two women holding small boxes that seemed like the kind you’d put jewelry into stood
beside them.
Green-eyes offered me his hand and I took it. He pulled me up so I
was standing and I noticed with the corner of my eye as Jasper did the same
with Alice.
One box after another was opened, holding so much jewelry – as I’d
expected – inside of them. All of it was placed on my fingers, wrists, neck and
even waist.
I felt as if the blood was going to burst out of my cheeks as my
blush deepened more and more with every piece of jewelry Green-eyes put on me.
I was almost covered with gold and diamonds when he was finished. Only my ring
finger had yet to be filled. I appreciated the fact that he hadn't put anything
on it; it would be beyond inappropriate.
When he was finished, one woman after another came to us and pinned
my dress with a small bow that was attached to no less than a diamond.
A real diamond.
It wasn't like I had never worn diamonds before, but I’d never even
seen this amount of diamonds before in my life. They were all on me, pinned to
my dress, making my body so heavy that I was sure it'd be hard to walk.
I couldn't deny that this was the most generous act I’d ever
received in my whole life. I couldn't stop smiling.
Soon, we were covered with our robes again, but this time when we
left the room, it was my arm hooked with Jasper's, not Green-eyes.
Green eyes was with Alice.
We walked a little ways, followed by Kareen who was holding the
empty boxes in her hands, then we entered an elevator that carried us up two
floors. Kareen guided us to a door and we followed her when she entered.
We were in a huge bedroom that was open to what seemed like a
living room, and in the corner was a door that I assumed led to the bathroom.
All of the furniture looked magical, just like the kind you’d see in movies
that were filmed in mansions or castles. Wait …
"Is this a mansion?" I asked Jasper once Kareen put the
boxes on the dresser and left.
Jasper offered me a small smile, "I thought you knew, Marie;
we've been in the king's palace since we arrived."
"No way!" I said. "I thought we were in a hotel or
something."
"Well, we used the back gates since the ones in the front were
busy."
I didn't know what busy meant with busy and I wasn't going
to ask. I had a more important question to ask. "Why are you with me and
not with your wife?"
He sighed, "She's not my wife yet. Soon." He nodded.
"Do you need help with those?" he asked, pointing at the diamonds
around my dress.
"I'm to sleep in here?"
"Yes, Princess."
I smiled, "Please."
I went to stand by the dresser and opened one of the boxes. Jasper
stood beside me and started helping me with unpinning the bows.
"You know that I love you, Marie, don't you?" he asked
when we were almost done.
I looked at his reflection in the mirror and replied, "I do."
I smiled.
"Do you love me, too?" he asked.
"Of course I do!"
Why was he asking me that?
"Marie – I, uh …"
"What is it?" Worry touched my heart at the expression on
his face.
"Do you want to keep those on?" He touched the back of my
necklaces.
"No, take them off," I told him as I started to take off
the rings and bracelets as well.
I turned around when I was only in the robe over my dress and my
necklace that held my cross charm. I gazed into his suddenly-filled-with-sadness
eyes.
"Jasper?"
"Marie, there is something you need to do–"
My brother was cut off by the sound of a knock, before the door was opened and
an elderly man gazing at the floor entered.
"You ready?" the man asked.
I looked at Jasper with confusion when he replied with a 'yes' then
guided me to sit on the sofa beside him, across from the man who was sitting in
one of the armchairs.
"Sign here, Benty," the man said as he opened the thick
folder in his hands.
I looked down at the pages, but I couldn't read anything. It wasn't
in English or Spanish, the only two languages I could speak, but there was a
small picture of me on one side of the top of the page, and on the other side
was a picture of – Green-eyes.
What on earth?
"Jasper?"
"Sign the papers, Marie." His eyes glistened with unshed
tears. "Please," he begged.
"What are these about?" My voice cracked for some reason,
as if I was already aware of what it was, but still not able to believe it.
"It's your marriage contract to Alice's brother."
~BK~
Benty = My Child / My Daughter.
Ameera = Princess.
~The amount of gold offered to the bride is real, more than the listed above with pics, I just got bored in the middle and stopped linking pics. Blah ... :/
I LOVED IT!! I LOVED IT!! I LOVED IT!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how awesome this story is turning out to be! And its just starting!!!!
KEEP WRITING ROSE!! :D
I LOVE YOU!!
xoxo
M
That motherfucker!!!!! I hope B kick his ass... That prick sold her for god sake!
ReplyDelete*waiting impatiently to read more*
Marianela
wowwwwwww!!! I would totally kick his ass! hahaha
ReplyDeleteOh my god. I don't even want to imagine how pissed she will be at Jasper. I can't wait to see more EB interaction! As always a great chapter! Can't wait for the next one :DD
ReplyDeleteOH WOW I LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteOmg I now only have a chance to catch up and Wow! I LOVE IT ...I know poor jasper didnt sold bella but that most likely the Prince had to marry first....man! ROSY this storykeeps getting better and better I can't wait for the next chapter Awesome job
ReplyDeleteI had a feeling this is where it was going... very rude of Jasper not to say anything... FYI, if it looks like a wedding dress, it is a wedding dress.
ReplyDeleteOMG
ReplyDeleteI can't express what I'm feeling right now
This chapter was just wooooowwww
Please tell us when you will post again!
I love yous story
Is the most interesting story that I'm reading now!
Please post soon!
Wow! I love it!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat story and very original.
Good work!
I don't believe Jasper had the nerve to do this to his own sis, knowing fully well how independent she is. I hope she gives him hell! No way! Whether it was an imposition - for instance he cld only marry Alice if Mazen got married too, he should have explained to Bella, and maybe just maybe she cld hv accepted it. The way it is, it's unpardonable, unacceptable at.all! A betrayal from the only person in the whole world she trusted. Ugh ...
ReplyDeleteWell, dear girl, see how good you are? You're making us react to your story as if ... as if this was real and not fiction! LOL
Congratulations, you're doing very well.
Sooo ... let's see what's coming out of this creative head of yours!
Go girl!
OMG!!! This is my first time reading this kind of story and I love it!! But Wtf was Jasper thinking?! Please continue and update very soon pls!!!!! =D
ReplyDeleteGorgeous chapter but why us Jasper signing her away without her consent beforehand ? Was that a condition for marrying Alica?
ReplyDeleteOMFG!!! can't say I didn't see that coming... But really Jasper... ***SMH***
ReplyDeleteI wonder what could have pushed him to do something so extreme... Bella was innocently lured into something so deceptive... and worst by her own brother... the one last person who was supposed to be there for her and protect her... my guess is that maybe some sorta trade was required... But seriously Jasper... are you that much of a selfish asshat... to care more about your happiness and completely disregard Bellas... geez that's not cool at all... I know and sensed that he was feeling remorseful... But he could've at least given her a heads up... that type of betrayal is heart breaking... I hope that there's a good enough reason for what he did to her... although I must mention... that Alice telling Bella that Mazen being shy has me intrigued... I won't lie... it's a messed up situation... But Let's keep fingers crossed Bella makes the best out of her situation with the Green eyed Prince ;)
Rose... you FREAKIN ROCK... this story is so captivating and has had me hooked right from the start... I need more chps!!!!
♡♡♡♡♡
I LOVE this story.Cant wait for an update.
ReplyDeleteHoly WOW!!! Another awesome chappie and now the good stuff is happening! Can't wait to see her reaction!
ReplyDeleteWow!! My heart is racing.. I can't wait for more... love this!
ReplyDeleteOh the rat fucker shit bastard, he sells his sister to a monster killer life brain sucker ! I just got vomit in my throat ! The only way Bella Marie has to escape now is to die.
ReplyDeleteThis is really intriguing. I'm interested to find out why no one told Bella what was to happen.
ReplyDelete