Alex arrived at the registry five minutes to the time they were going to be joined. He was dressed in a blue suit, the colour of it matched with his eyes.
Festus and Jane arrived next. They will be the witnesses to the union. It wasn't like it was real but Alex wanted it to appear real as much as he could so that his grandfather wouldn't detect any abnormality.
Jane gave Alex a hug and he in turn, planted a featherlight kiss on her temple. She seemed to be happy that Alex was finally going to settle down.
"I'm so happy for you Alex" Jane chimed, she went back and stood by Festus' side, and the two lovers linked their fingers together.
"Thank you Jane," Alex responded. He glanced at Festus and he later winked at him, indicating Jane Knows nothing about his marriage was a contract one.
Alex kept glancing at his wristwatch. Two minutes left, Ella arrived dressed in a white wedding dress.
She was brought to the registry by Alex chauffeur. He had met with Ella an hour earlier and drove her to a boutique where wedding accessories are sold.
Ella got dressed and had her hair styled into a beautiful bun. She looked splendid and gorgeous with her bouquet of flowers in her hand.
The diamond earrings she had on were glittering and her white beautiful skin was looking attractive and sweet.
Ella had sobbed on her way to the registry. Thank goodness, her makeup was waterproof.
As she arrived at the registry, she sobered up. That's enough, she's not going to sob again, at least not before anyone.
When she's in the comfort of her bedroom, she can sob as much as she can and Clean her tears, then step out with a smile.
She took a few steps to where Alex stood, waiting for her. She saw Festus and didn't look in his direction.
He knew about her recent breakup. Seeing her getting married to Alex, he would see her through the eyes of an indecent woman or better still a gold digger.
No one knows exactly why she was getting married to this arrogant brat. But she knows, her mother was the reason.
She was doing it for her mother. She was doing it and in exchange, to see her healthy again.
Alex took her hand, with a poker face. He must admit that Ella looked different in her looks that morning.
She looked like a fairy Princess going to be married to her charming prince. He felt attracted to her. He had always known she was a beautiful woman.
But he had never thought she looked like a beauty goddess. Even Lisa, his most favoured girlfriend cannot be compared to her in terms of beauty and attractiveness.
Together, they both walked into the registry and we're joined as man and wife. The documents were signed and from that moment, they were pronounced husband and wife.
Jane was not comfortable with the looks on the face of the bride. She had always known, all her life, that a woman is happiest on her wedding.
The smiles, excitement and happiness cannot be hidden and it will reflect on everyone around her, her smiles would be contagious.
But Ella, Alex's wife , looked moody. She seemed to have sobbed, considering her slightly puffy face.
Isn't she happy to be married to Alex? The latter is a man many women would happily want to be married to, they will be eager to have their last name as Foster.
"Why is Alex's wife looking unhappy?" Jane whispered. She cannot hide her curiosity to herself and Festus should be able to explain since he and Alex are best of friends.
"How am I supposed to know?" Festus whispered back. He hadn't told Jane the reason for his friend's sudden marriage.
Jane fell silent.
As the couple were going to walk out of the registry, Alex whispered beneath his breath "Can you at least put on some smiles? It wasn't like I dragged you like a horse to the river"
Ella became furious. Put on a smile huh, what right does he have to tell her that? She wasn't going to smile and there's nothing he can do about it.
"I will not smile. If you are not comfortable with it, let's get back and divorced now" Ella snapped at him.
Alex glanced at her in rage. What kind of stubborn idiot had he married? His facial expression was cold. He felt like yelling at her but he decided to be quiet.
Festus had seen the expression on Alex's face and knew they both had argued. He sighed, how will these two people cope with each other for another 365 days?
Alex is arrogant and always thinks he is right. Ella is stubborn and wouldn't let anyone trample on her right and dignity.
"Congratulations Mrs Foster" Jane chimed, walking over to Ella and hugged her.
That was when Ella just realised that she was going to be referred to as Mrs Foster henceforth till one year will roll by.
She smiled for the first time since she arrived at the registry and hugged Jane. She had seen the woman with Festus and knew she was his woman.
"Thank you so much" she responded but as quickly as the smile came, it disappeared.
There were a few snapshots and before everyone, Alex withdrew his hand and placed it in his pants pocket. The action appeared violent as if he was angry.
Festus and Jane followed Ella to the car that conveyed her while Alex returned to his white Lexus and his chauffeur drove him away.
Ella left also as Festus and Jane got into the black Lexus and zoomed off. There were many questions in Jane's mind, but wouldn't Festus say she's too inquisitive?
"Is Ella pregnant?" She asked. It is clear that they both don't love each other. Why did they decide to be married?
"No. Alex hadn't even had sex with her" Festus replied simply. He doesn't know how to cope with these two people for another year.
Alex is his best friend and Ella is like a friend as well. He finds himself in the middle, he doesn't want Ella to be cheated and he doesn't want Ella to disrespect Alex.
"Then why…" Jane was going to ask another question when Festus interrupted her "can we talk about something else please?"
Ella was driven to Alex Mansion. When she got there, she stepped into the house and wondered if she's in paradise.