CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48 VANESSA’S REGRET

*ALORA*

The congregation started to clap as we walked out of the church, I managed to paste a fake smile on my face, nodding to people I knew were smiling to my face, but I was already dissecting every minute of the ceremony, my dress and the prospects of the success of this marriage.

We would be the topic of coffee mornings all over the capital for days, weeks to come.

When we emerged from the church, all my thoughts scattered. A barrage of press awaited us, the camera flashed almost blinding me, and a huge cheering crowd had gathered across the road.

I smiled and waved at everyone.

After a few minutes, Caden led me down the steps of the huge cathedral and to a waiting car, handing me carefully into the back seat before joining me.

As we pulled away, I saw the rest of the wedding guests start to spill out of the church into the heaving crowds.

I realized I was shaking like a leaf.

I had so many questions, I glanced at Caden and he was leaning against the head rest with his eyes closed.

Why was he being so distanced?

Hanks was driving, and Oscar was sitting on the passenger’s seat.

I tapped on the passenger’s seat.

“Oscar, my cellphone.”

He stretched it to me.

I needed to see the news about me.

My eyes dilated seeing the trending news.

#LOCAD was trending at number one.

I can’t believe they already had a name for us already.

As I read through the news, it felt as if my eyes were about to bulge out of their sockets.

I turned to face Caden.”You...you’re the CEO of Ford Group?”

His eyes opened and he glanced at me.

“But...how...I thought your only job was working as a bodyguard under Mason?”

“That...that is more like a hobby.” He replied.

I frowned.”A billionaire likes becoming someone’s bodyguard as an hobby?” I didn’t believe that.

He shrugged.

I didn’t want to push it for now because I had other questions.

“Did you really get into an accident?”

He lifted up his hand that had the cast on it and swung it a few times.”No. I made that up so people could have a good reason why your groom was more than two hours late.”

He eyed me.”Where’s your groom, Alora?”

I swallowed, feeling ashamed.

“Can you admit now that it was pretty stupid of you to agree to marry him?”

God, he was not going easy on me at all but I admitted.”Yeah, it was stupid.”

“You admit you were stupid.”

“Yeah, I was stupid. But don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful you saved me from the public disgrace but why? Why did you replace my groom?”

We had drove through the expensive suburb of a street now, pulling up outside impressive gates.

It was the resort that was booked for the reception.

The garden of the resort was where we’d receive guests.

Caden ignored me and leaned against the headrest again, closing his eyes.

The car pulled up in a gravel courtyard surrounded with flowering trees which kept it secluded and private. An impressive array of vintage cars was lined up on one side and despite myself, my interest was piqued, I had always loved old cars.

Caden got down from the car and walked off without waiting for me.

Oscar came around and open the door for me.

Staff in pristine black and white uniforms were waiting for us at the top of the steps.

“Mrs Margret here will show you to your suite. Go freshen up, the guests will be arriving at the back of the house where a wedding Marquee has been erected for the reception."

I nodded and walked off.

While I got to my suite, I slumped on the bed in exhaustion.

Then I sat up.

I couldn’t understand Caden.

Why would he come over to save me like a prince and then act all cold to me?

He was the owner of the popular and successful Ford Group?

Why didn’t he tell me? Why did he keep his identity as CEO from the public?

Why did he choose to reveal it now?

I was suddenly curious to know about him, I couldn’t get all information about him online.

And since he was being cranky toward me, I didn’t know how to ask when I see.

Heck, what was going to happen to us now?

Damon and I had originally planned to not do anything that married couple did during the period of our marriage.

We would not live together, we’d barely see each other.

But now, I should push on with that arrangement with Caden, right?

A knock sounded on my door.

“Alora, it’s me, mom.”

“Come in.”

My mom and Joan walked in.

My mom still had a guilty look on her face.

“Rita has been apologizing profusely, she couldn’t even bear to attend the reception, she asked me to apologize to you on behalf of her son.”

I rolled my eyes.

Oh Damon.

You had better not show up in front of me again.

Scumbag.

He had even used his mother’s upcoming surgery which was true by the way, to convince me that this was a good idea.

And then what?

He stood me up?!

“Crisis has been averted, he can go burn in hell.”

“I’m really sorry, my dear. I really thought he was a good man. By the way, who is that?”

I knew what my mom was trying to ask but I pretended not to get it.

“Who is what?”

“That man, you know, your new groom. Who is he to you?”

What do I even say?

My first love?

The boy who made me run to another continent to complete my studies.

And then became my bodyguard?

And now, I’m finding out he’s a CEO.

I sighed and said instead.”He’s my friend.”

“A friend? Why didn’t you tell me you had such a friend? If you had told me, I wouldn’t have been running around trying to find the perfect man for you. That man already has everything. He’s handsome, hot, rich, he’s every woman’s dream.”

“I know right.”Joan agreed.

I stared at the two of them, incredulously.

“Don’t get any ideas, mom. He just decided to save me from losing face today.”

“You think anyone can just decide to come replace a runaway groom?”My mom asked.

Joan added.”I was also having the same thought. He might have done it because he loves her.”

“Stop it, you two.”I warned.

“I already like him.” My mom cooed.

“That’s how you liked Damon and chose him for me.”I teased.

My mom shook her head.”This is different. I have a very good feeling about Caden Ford. He’d make a good husband for you.”

I rolled my eyes.

Does she expect me to trust her feelings now?

******************

Vanessa threw her glass against the table and it shattered.

She couldn’t believe how today had turned out. She was still watching the live recording of Alora’s wedding ceremony.

It was going perfectly well. The guests had just finished dining, dancing, now they were watching a firework display.

People on the internet were already calling it a wedding of the century.

The couple were already labeled as the nation’s sweetheart.

She had wanted Alora to be humiliated; how did things turn out so differently?

“Damn it!” Vanessa screamed.

Damon stood by the side.

He had been trying to get her to calm down but he couldn’t.

What even annoyed Vanessa more was that the man who had wedded Alora now was a very wealthy man.

A man a lot of people had wanted to know and meet.

It irked her to know that she had met this man before, Alora had introduced him as her bodyguard.

Vanessa’s fist clenched.

If she had known who that man really was, she’d tried to seduce him instead.

Her father had once talked about wanting to meet the CEO of Ford’s Group.

It would have made her father so fucking proud if she were the one who married Caden Ford.

Now, she had literally given Alora the chance to marry him on a silver platter.

She turned and glared at Damon.

“You! I should have let her marry you! Ugh!” She yelled.

Damon had been pretty surprised when Vanessa approached him last night. And after two rounds of mind-blowing sex, she had gotten him to agree to what she wanted.

Damon had always thought he was a man of morals and dignity but Vanessa had succeeded in manipulating him, promising to put him on many business opportunities if he agreed to be with her instead of Alora.

“I...I thought you wanted to be with me.”

Vanessa scoffed.”Why would I want to be with you? You’re not even my type. I just wanted Alora humiliated and since that didn’t work, you’re completely useless to me now. Get out!”

Damon panicked.

Vanessa angrily grabbed his shoes and threw them at him.

“GET OUT!”

“But what about the business deals you promised me?”

“Business deals my foot. Maxwell, Bones.”

Two men ran in.

“Get this fool out of here!”

Damon was then dragged away.

Vanessa felt like breaking everything in her house.

Why was dealing with Alora so hard?!

**************

Meanwhile another household were also losing their minds seeing today’s news.

The Steele’s household.

Matilda, Bennett, and Albert couldn’t believe their eyes.

“Caden owns Ford Group.”

When Bennett recalled how he had gone to Ford Group multiple times to beg for an investment, he winced.

Matilda was feeling so pissed.

When Caden’s name was cleared, she had a feeling that he might come fight for the family’s property so she tried to have him killed.

She didn’t succeed, she also knew that one of the men was caught and until today, no one knows what happened to that man.

When Albert had told her that he had no intentions of reaching out to Caden, she had decided to let Caden live.

She had believed that there was no way Caden would be a threat anymore.

But she never expected that Caden would end up building a company that would surpass Steele Group.

Albert on the other hand was already feeling regretful about disowning Caden. He should have had faith in him, after all he had taken after his mother in a lot of features.

His mother was a very smart woman. Ever since Bennett took over the family’s business. The company’s stock kept falling and falling.

If Caden could create such a successful company in five years, Albert could only think about the wonders he would have done for Steele Group.

Was it too late to reach out to his son now?