Page 20 of Plus-Size Bride Forced By the Bratva
“Good.” A faint grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “It’s time.”
My heart sank into my chest, and my breath caught in my throat.
With his elbow locked in mine, Dad walked me down the aisle, our footsteps slow and reverent. I wore the most genuine smile that I could muster as heads turned in my direction. The sea of guests, dressed to impress in their impeccably tailored suits and elegant gowns, wouldn’t take their fuckin’ eyes off me.
I hated being the center of attention, but right now, that was all I was. All eyes were on me, watching my every step. Some stared with admiration; others just sat there with blank expressions and mean faces.
A number of our guests were businessmen, political leaders, and Bratva allies looking like sharks in suits. A low murmur rose within the crowd, especially amongst the ladies. I had no idea what they were gossiping about, and I couldn’t care less.
At the altar ahead, Lev stood poised, resplendent in a black suit and a fancy red tie. His gaze was pinned on me as I approached him with measured strides.
My father handed me over to this cruel man, nodded, and then turned around to leave. I’d never been more heartbroken in my entire life—never felt more defeated.
We stood at the altar, facing each other as the priest began the ceremony. When it was time to exchange vows, mypulse quickened, and I could hear the sound of my pounding heart.
I struggled to repeat those soul-crushing words after the priest, those words that felt more like a spell than a vow. My lips trembled, my heart ached, and my knees quaked where I stood.
Lev’s voice was icy as he recited his vows, sharp as broken glass.
“With the power bestowed on me, I now pronounce you, husband and wife,” the priest declared. “You may now kiss the bride.”
I braced myself for what was about to come next. Lev took my trembling hands and pulled me closer to him. His grip was firm, unyielding, like a silent promise of ownership.
My body stiffened when he reached forward and planted a soft kiss on my lips. For some bizarre reason, a jolt of electricity surged through my veins. This wasn’t disgust or repulsion. No. It was something else. Something darker, something I was too ashamed, too afraid to name.
The crowd erupted into a heavy round of applause, cheering and murmuring amongst themselves.
The kiss was quick but enough to send shivers down my spine. When I reopened my eyes, I met his gaze and saw the small, arrogant smirk he wore.
I smiled for the camera, waving at our well-wishers, and that was when I spotted him in the crowd. Viktor.
He stood there, dressed in black, a flicker of bitterness in his eyes. He looked at me with something between a stare and a glare, and that made my blood run cold.
This wasn’t my fault, and he had no right to pin it on me. I was forced into this; I didn’t have a choice. It was clear from his reaction—his anger and bitterness—that he wasn’t on board with this. I was familiar with the look of betrayal, and Viktor had that plastered all over his face.
It wasn’t my fault that he felt betrayed. He should be mad at his brother, not me. I was the victim here. At this point, the weight of both brothers’ attention was starting to choke the life out of me.
Obviously, this was going to be tougher than I’d thought.
***
Later that evening, the reception unfolded under the night sky, a crescent moon, and a canvas of stars. Overhead, lanterns hung in sweeping lines, bathing the garden in a warm, golden glow.
The light was soft, warm, and flickering against silver platters and crystal glasses. Every toast was a spectacle of wealth and influence, another reminder that I’d become a symbol, not a bride.
My cheeks hurt from all those plastic smiles I forced each time I received a compliment.
“Oh, you’re beautiful.”
“Oh, I like your hair.”
“You’re so pretty.”
Yadda, yadda, yadda. I was so exhausted from faking a smile all damn day. I couldn’t wait for it to end so I could just sleep it off.
Tables stretched across the lawn, adorned with white linen, expensive wine, all manner of delicacies, and polished silver. It was a stunning setting that concealed the ugly truth behind this gathering.
Every burst of laughter or round of applause that spread through the crowd tore at my heart because these people had no idea what I was going through inside. They made jokes and raised glasses in celebration of our union, unaware of how completely off their assumptions were.
