Not Mine

8

Carla

I looked at myself in the mirror. It was looking beautiful or should I say, the dress I was wearing was beautiful?

"You will be the most beautiful bride," I heard Nina's voice, which was filled with excitement.

We were here dress shopping. I would have picked up a random dress but Nina practically dragged me to the store. And here I was trying all types of wedding dresses.

All of them were so beautiful and expensive. I would probably take three months to pay for one gown. The prices are exorbitant. The dress I was currently wearing was more or less over twenty thousand dollars. I don't think I need such an expensive dress for a fake wedding.

"Let's try something nicer. If you could up the price a bit," Nina said to the store staff, who was helping us with the dresses.

"Mrs. Beckett, I think I like this dress. Let's just get this and be done." I suggested being as polite as I could. I couldn't afford a more expensive dress and I wouldn't let someone else and definitely not my future mother-in-law get me the dress for my wedding.

"Oh shut up. I know this dress is nowhere near to 'the one,' so just do as I say," she said and moved to one of the dress racks.

I gather the dress in my hands and walked back to the couch where Sarah was sitting. She looked least bothered as she was busy checking out her phone.

"You've got to stop her," I said as I stood in front of her. She lazily looked up and me and kept her phone aside and folded her arms across her chest.

"You think I like it when my mother is searching for an expensive gown for you? It is supposed to be Pearl's yet here you are, wearing what is supposed to be her's." She said venomously.

She was right. I mean it is supposed to be Pearl's. But I couldn't help it. I didn't want to hurt Nina. It was her dying wish. It would be wrong, wouldn't it? Of the few months she has left, she wants to see her son get married to me and not the love of his life.

"You are right but please stop her, I don't want to invest in a dress I will be wearing for my fake wedding. I don't want any of this," I pleaded to her.

Sarah has been really cold and distant towards me lately. I understand why but she still shouldn't hate me for something that is not my fault. She is very mean and hurtful. I can't even say anything to her because she is the daughter of my client or should I say, soon-to-be sister-in-law.

"Try this," Nina came back with a dress in her hand for me to try out before I could persuade Sarah into talking to her.

"Mrs. Beckett, I really like this dress. I wanna wear this for the wedding," I said and forced a smile, only hoping she would listen to me.

"I want you to try this, young woman," she said as glared at me. The lady who was helping us took the dress from her hands and guided me to the changing room.

I stripped out of the dress I was wearing and she picked it up and hanged it back on the hanger. She took the other dress out and helped me get into it.

I turned towards the mirror as I looked at my reflection while the lady zipped the dress up. It was indeed extremely beautiful. It was a mermaid-style gown and flared at the bottom. It hugged my curves and accentuated them. It fit perfectly.

I have never felt so beautiful before. The dress was completely lace and was a tiny bit off whitish.

"You look absolutely beautiful," the lady said as she looked at me through the mirror.

"I've seen a lot of people try this particular dress but it has never looked so gorgeous on anyone. Most of them who tried it couldn't even afford it yet, they would come to the store to try this extremely rare design." She said through her smile.

"Just one moment," she said and turned around. She picked up something and placed it on the side table. She moved her fingers through my hair, brushing them, and wrapped it in a loose low bun. She let a few strands of my hair out and left a few strands out. My hair was short but if you were skilled, you could pull it into a bun.

She added some earrings and hooked up a veil onto my hair. She had asked me to close my eyes sometime when she was doing my hair.

"Now open your eyes," she said and I opened my eyes to see a completely different person. I looked unrecognizable. I couldn't help but admire myself. I know I'm the not most beautiful one but today, this dress and jewelry, made me feel special.

She held the back of my dress and helped me walk out to show my dress to Nina and a least bothered Sarah.

As soon as I came into their visual, Nina jumped from the couch and made her way towards me. She held my hands in hers as tears gathered at the corner of her eyes.

"You look gorgeous. You will be the most beautiful bride Aeden will ever come across," she said as she wiped a teardrop that slipped from one of her eyes.

I looked at her blankly but I knew the turmoil I was feeling inside. I may look beautiful but Aeden will never notice that because I'm not the woman of his life.

"We are getting this dress," Nina announced before I could even protest.

I insisted on paying but she didn't let me. I couldn't help but feel like shit. I was just proving Sarah's point of me being a gold digger. And Nina didn't even let me get the slightest clue of how much the dress cost.

I kept the box that had the dress in it in the closet. I sat down on my bed as I looked at my phone's unread messages.

It was all from Aeden. I was ignoring him for a couple of days. He tried to talk to me and has been calling and texting me, but I didn't dare to open his messages or answer his calls after he touched me.

I even stopped going to Nina's house after my confrontation with Sarah. If Nina asked why I didn't visit her, I would either brush off the question or blamed it on my work.

That day, Aeden did come home to talk about our contract but one thing lead to another and we couldn't discuss that.

I was probably just overthinking with Aeden and everything and I just needed to stop that.

I know it's a short one. Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow.

Also, don't forget to follow my Instagram for some of the sneak peeks and pictures of the cast.