Chapter 5

　　The most anticipated day was finally here, yet the morning felt unreal. The room buzzed with stylists, make up artists, photographers adjusting lenses, assistant moving around with bouquets and fabric.

　　White.

　　Everything was white. White curtains, white roses, white dress.

　　Tessa stared at herself in the mirror, her fingers lightly brushing the delicate lace on her shoulder.

　　Her wedding day.

　　Her lips curved shyly at her reflection. She hadn't seen Tyler since that flirty chat, but she told herself it was normal, he was probably busy with wedding preparations knowing how stressful and chaotic it could be.

　　Then her mind remembered the kiss. Her heart fluttered, her cheeks warmed at the memory of his text.

　　[ "Get your lips ready for me."]

　　She pressed her lips together softly, almost unconsciously.

　　Maybe he wanted today to be special, maybe he wanted their first kiss to be as husband and wife, and the mere thought alone made her chest swell.

　　"It's time." One of the photographers announced. "Is the groom ready?" He asked.

　　"Yes, he'll be in soon." Ciara answered from outside.

　　Tessa's pulse began to race, her heart was beating almost faster than her breath.

　　This was it. Finally.

　　She blushed, eyes fluttering nervously as the door slowly creaked opened.

　　Her breath hitched.

　　The room went quiet.

　　Polished shoes stepped in first.

　　Then a black tailored suit. Broad shoulders. Commanding presence. Aura so magnificent that every present stuttered.

　　Her smile began forming…and…froze.

　　It wasn't Tyler who came in.

　　Her brow knitted together slowly.

　　Grayson Beaumont. Dressed in a groom's suit.

　　Her brain didn't process it immediately. It simply refused.

　　She blinked once. Twice.

　　Maybe she was nervous, maybe her eyes were playing tricks. But he kept walking forward. Calm. Composed. Like he belonged there, like this was his place.

　　Her heart began to pound, but not from excitement.

　　"What .." her voice came out thin. "What are you doing here?" She looked behind her as if waiting for Tyler to come in or if he was hiding behind him.

　　Murmurs about Grayson hotness began to spread through the room, but no one moved to correct anything.

　　Grayson stopped a few steps away from her. His sharp gaze traveled over her, not lustful or soft, it was assessing, possessive, and certain.

　　Her fingers curled against her bouquet. "Why are you here? Where's Tyler?" She asked quickly, voice shaking.

　　"Hi, Miss Tessa Monroe." His voice came out soft, unhurried, with a tiny smirk that was so haunting.

　　Her chest skipped like a nightmare had come for visitation.

　　"Is this some kind of joke?" She looked around but everywhere was silent.

　　Ciara and her parents stepped inside just then, smiling and grinning like something was not wrong. No one looked shocked, nor surprised.

　　"Where is the groom?" She demanded, panic cracking through her tone.

　　The Beaumonts furrowed their brow in confusion.

　　"What are you saying? That's your husband to be." Ciara pointed.

　　"No. No. Where's Tyler?" She raised her voice.

　　Grayson's jaw tightened slightly, but his voice, when he spoke, was calm. "I am the groom."

　　The words didn't register. She let out a small, breathless laugh.

　　"No." She shook her head. "No, you're not. Tyler is the groom." Her throat began to burn. "This is my wedding. To Tyler."

　　Grayson stepped closer, close enough she could see there was no humor in his eyes, only decision, inevitability.

　　"Tyler was never marrying you."

　　The sentence shattered something inside her. Her ears rang, her fingers loosened and the bouquet slipped out of her hand.

　　"What are you saying?" She whispered, her heart beating painfully hard against her ribs. "No." She shook her head again, more frantically. "No, he.."

　　The kiss.

　　She thought, her chest tightened so violently she almost couldn't breathe. She grabbed onto the edge of the dressing table to steady herself.

　　"This is wrong," her voice broke. "This is wrong. Call him. Call Tyler. He's probably late, he always.."

　　"Tessy." Tyler's voice ripped out of the people standing, watching. Her glassy eyes moved and landed on his standing beside Ciara.

　　His face was twisted with worries.

　　Her mind heaved heavily in relief as if the worst prank was finally over.

　　He rushed to her side, grabbed her wrist and turned to Grayson.

　　"Give us some minutes." He said and dragged her out of the room.

　　"What's going on?" Ciara asked Grayson in confusion, but he gave no response, rather he stood stil, calmly, with his hands perfectly tucked in his pocket.

　　"No one has changed." He muttered to himself.

　　***.....

　　"What's going on? Why is your cousin here as the groom?" Tessa asked the moment they got to the hallway, with no one else in sight, waiting for him to explain, immediately wanting him to tell her it was all a misunderstanding.

　　Tyler chuckled. "Cousin? Who said Grayson was my cousin?" He asked.

　　"He.."

　　"Is my brother." He cut in. "My elder brother, same father, same mother."

　　"What?! But..but you never mentioned him."

　　"He's not relevant, and moreover he's barely around so what use it is of mentioning him." He shrugged like it was nothing.

　　Her body shivered. Her brain refused to process, but the one that was her most concern surged through her.

　　"So why is he here?"

　　"C'mon Tessy, were you not told you're marrying a Beaumont?"

　　"Yes I was, I was told I would be marrying Mr.&Mrs. Beaumont's son and the only son I know they has is you."

　　Tyler looked at her for a second then asked. "So, you thought it was me and you that's getting married?"

　　"Yes."

　　"Oh fuck! But we never talked about marriage Tessy, we talked about the wedding, yes, but we never said…" he paused and she saw something like guilt flashed across his eyes. "I never clarified it."

　　Her trembling lips parted, her heart squeezed so painfully she wanted to yell.

　　"I never use the word 'us' because I never wanted you to be uncomfortable." Her cracked voice said. "But you knew."

　　Tears blurred her vision.

　　"You knew it wasn't you I'd be marrying, why didn't you say anything?"

　　"I.. I thought.. it wasn't necessary."

　　She chuckled incredulously. "Not necessary." Her lips quivered, she shook her head taking a step back. "Well, I'm not marrying that man. I would not marry him."

　　"So you agreed to this marriage, because you thought it was with me?"

　　Her jaw dropped in surprise as tears brimmed across her eyes. "You really don't know?" her chest tightened. "You really do not know how I feel about you? How I've loved you? You're asking me that because you really do not know I accepted because it's you?"

　　Tyler's head dropped sadly. He inhaled deeply before replying. "Honestly, Tessy, I would be lying if I say I don't. That I don't know how you feel, that I don't know that you accepted because you thought it was me."

　　He swallowed and looked up at her, looking so sad. "And I would be lying if I say I don't feel the same way about you, but Tessy I can't. I am scared. I don't want to lose you, not for anything. If we date—we could break up, if we marry—we could divorce, and I can't bare that, I can't bare to not have you in my life so I'd rather…keep having you as my dearest best friend."

　　Hot tears dropped down her cheeks.

　　"You love me?"

　　"Of course, I do." He grabbed her shoulders trying to look as sincere as possible.

　　"Yet, you'd let me marry your brother?"

　　"No one cares about me,Tessy. Everyone cares about my brother having the best, but I don't mind as long as I still have you by my side."

　　"Well I do! I won't marry anyone that's not you, no I won't!"

　　Tyler smiled and made to reply when he got interrupted.

　　"Tessa." Laura called from behind, her face was hard with anger. She stepped forward, grabbed Tessa's arm and pulled her closer to herself. "I need to talk to my daughter."

　　She said, her tone hardened towards Tyler.

　　"Sure." He nodded and gave them some privacy.

　　Her eyes glared at him as he walked away. She had heard most of their conversations, and also picked lots of inconsistencies in his words.

　　"Tessa, sweetheart." She called softly.

　　"Mum, I'm not marrying him." She shook her head, tears smearing her make up.

　　Laura gently held her hands. "I'm sorry sweetheart, from what I just saw i realized you didn't know who you were marrying. The moment we told you his family name you immediately accepted and said you knew him."

　　She shook her head. "Well, it's not too late, let's just cancel the wedding."

　　No response.