Choosing His Bride

*Laura’s POV*

We all sat quietly with everyone lost in their own special worlds; we all had one thing in common, though it was fear. Fear of the Knights.

I wanted to know more. I wanted to know if there was anything else we could do instead of sending Annabel off to those people who were scaring the shit out of Mom and Charles.

"Is there something we can do to avert this?" I asked quietly, at the same time avoiding Annabel's gaze.

"Nothing." He replied. He suddenly looked far older than he was a day ago due to worry.

"This is terrible!" Annabel shrieked. "What would we do there, huh? Become his maid? his Mistress? Or what?" 

"You're going to become his wife!" Charles snapped. He's been unknowingly snapping at his baby a lot for the past 2 hours.

"Wife?" Annabel asked incredulously, as if that was the least she was expecting.

"Yes, that's what's stated in the letter, he wants to get married to one of you." He replied coldly, stating the word "wife" like it was some sort of disease. As if he could no longer find comfort in sitting, he stood up and started pacing around the living room.

"That's not bad," Annabel stated with a shrug. "I'll marry him since he's obviously rich." Sly bitch.

"Pheew, thank God!" I whispered to myself, but they all heard. I was totally relieved that at least one of us had agreed to go with them willingly. 

"Annabel, what about Chris?" Mom cried. Oh, I totally forgot.

"He'll get over it" she replied coolly. "Moreover, Laura can have him now." This bitch!

"I can't believe you can be this insensitive, Annabel!" I seethed angrily. "I do not need you dumping your used toys in my drawer!"

"But you were already crushing on him!" She cried in a bat-like voice.

"Used to crush on him! As in crushed- in the past tense!" I snapped back with equal fierceness.

"But you cannot deny the fact that you like-" 

"ENOUGH!" Dad Charles's loud voice boomed over our voices and made us cower in fear. "Now get out of here Laura, and do not come downstairs until I ask for you." Definitely, I always got punished for crimes committed by both of us.

I looked straight into his eyes, then back at Annabel's, and raised my middle fingers to both of them; everyone gasped. Good. Feeling satisfied, I turned on my heels and stomped upstairs towards my room.

When I got to my room, I banged the door shut and slumped on my bed. I could never believe Annabel's guts. The girl's downright evil. I still couldn't believe she'd easily push Chris away and then tell me to go for him after she practically stole him from me two years ago.

I remember the day I took Chris home. He was my date! My very first date! I noticed how Annabel had looked at him, how she had conversed with him, but I didn’t allow myself to think too much about it.

Two weeks later, I was angry at Annabel for stealing my stuff, and I had angrily stomped towards her room. The door was slightly open, so I took it as a sign to walk in unannounced.

And I regretted my action.

I've always regretted walking into that room that day because what I saw broke my heart and scarred me for the rest of my life. Chris and Annabel were in her bed!

And they were going at it. They had both turned to look at me, with her legs still wrapped around his waist. He looked surprised, while she looked angry. They were still naked, and still... joined.

I broke up with Chris that very day, but his relationship with Annabel soared; until now.

This harsh break-up probably serves him right.

***

We were all clustered in the sitting room waiting for the so-called Knights to arrive, and it was putting everyone on edge.

Annabel was dressed in a short black lacy dress with black stiletto heels, the makeup on her face was almost excessive, but it wasn’t my business, she was the one getting married!

I noticed Charles eyed my grey hoodie in distaste, but I didn't care. I had paired it with black leather trousers and black sneakers. I knew I looked horrible but I would do anything so as not to catch the fancy of the so-called Knight.

At exactly 10:35am, the doorbell rang, making Mom and Annabel gasp at the same time. Morons! Charles went for it and walked back seconds later looking as if a vampire had fed off him. Behind him were four handsome Giants, And I'm not really exaggerating!

For a moment, I felt a strange feeling of unease surge over my spine, the room suddenly felt hot, there was this weird sweet smell in the air; it was so strong that it seemed like it was about to consume me. I sucked in a deep breath to keep myself in order when I noticed that two of the Giants were already sitting down, the other two were standing defensively behind the sofa. 

"Mr Newman, I guess you know why we're here." The one sitting closer to where I sat spoke up. Rude. No pleasantries, no nothing. 

Maybe he's the one getting married to Annabel. They would make such a rude couple!

"Yes, we do." Charles answered quietly, his voice coming off shaky, "my daughters have talked about it and come to the conclusion that my eldest daughter, Annabel, will go with you."

"She's a good catch…" The other one drawled; he had this voice that was both authoritative and melodic at the same time. His voice got my attention and made me stare at him for a while. 

He was obviously larger and more handsome than the other one. In fact, he even looked more scary. He had grey eyes that bore into mine as he stared back at me and I felt the weird sensations come back when our eyes met…is he my mate? Never! And then he winked.

Fucking pervert!

"But Mr Newman, I said to one of your daughters, I never asked you to pick my bride." He said, staring intently at Charles. Oh my God! He's the one getting married to Annabel?

"I'm sorry, but she is willing, her sister isn’t," Charles replied; and I swear I saw Annabel smile flirtatiously at the large guy. I wouldn't blame her though, he's hot and he's her future husband.

"Well, I am interested in the unwilling one." The big guy snapped this time. He's not a patient person.

But wait, what?

I looked at my parents to notice they were staring at me in surprise, and there was this look of hatred in Annabel's eyes. It dawned on me.

"W-what?" I stuttered in shock.

"Aye baby girl, I am interested in wedding you and not your sister." The big guy said. I raised my hands, sending my best death glare towards him, but he didn’t pay attention to me as he continued; "And she's coming with us this minute, Jake pick her up!"

“No, no!” I cried, as one of the bulky bodyguards raised me to his shoulders like I didn’t weigh much, and strolled out of the room. I didn’t know how it got to this but I knew my life was fast taking on another turn.