There is a mild warning I would like to give. Readers discretion advised.

The photo is the dress she choose to wear, you will know when you will read it. Please go ahead and enjoy the ride..

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

Present

"Cassandra...?" He looked at her shocked. Truth to be told she was shocked too. It might be true she was busy in her own thoughts when the wedding started but he was nowhere to be found, it confused her for a bit then she thought it might be, because of Catherine.

She stared at him, he was looking good in his grey tuxedo. His hair set and his green eyes matched with his dark green tie. But those eyes seemed different. What happened since she was away?

"Yes" Her words sounded cold enough to freeze him. He tried to think of what to say before closing his eyes. She stared at him blankly.

"I...... I am sorry" Jeremy gulped down painfully.

Cassandra looked away, her face turned cold, as much as she wanted to be angry at him. He was never at fault. She knows they put him in a difficult situation. She hummed not answering anything neither asking but her pain considerably dulled.

"Why are you here?" He asked again but she stayed silent for a while.

"Why can't I be here? Her defensive mode kicked in.

"That's not what I mean" Jeremy sighed, talking to her was becoming difficult.

"I mean why are you wearing that?" He asked, staring at her. So that she could see his sincerity.

"Shouldn't you be happy?" She asked, mocking him.

"No, I don't have anything to do with her" his words sound painful. She stared at him as much as she wanted to ask what happened. She holds back which he noticed. She looked away for a while composing herself.

Austin looked at them as their awkward conversation continued on.

"I don't know what exactly happened but she ran away" Jeremy's eyes widened.

"And I got married in her place" Cassandra sighed. She should just record these words so she can replay whenever anyone asks her the same damn question.

"I need to talk to my daughter Jeremy? Can I?" her mother's voice held a sharp edge. Jeremy's posture turned cold.

"We are talking Mrs.Walmart" He tried to be as polite as he could.

"She needs to change her dress for the reception" her mother grit her teeth trying not to flat out glare at him. 'It's fine' she mouthed him. She bent down, removing her shoe.

"Cassandra.," Jeremy called her before her mother could drag her away.

"You are looking beautiful," He said.

"Yeah" Austin nodded his head. She for the first time smiled normally without any hidden emotions. A beautiful glowing smile.

"Let's go" Mrs. Walmart dragged her away, her hand gripped her wrist pain shot through her hand. She went behind the church.

"What are you doing? Didn't I tell you not to say a word about this arrangement?" She snapped at her. Cassandra pulled her hand away.

"I didn't hear you saying that" She rolled her eyes raising her eyebrow. Carina glared at her, it's true she did not clarify the condition that did not mean she could blurt out the fact that she is not Catherine.

"You will pay for this" Carina feel her anger flared.

"I am already paying," she mocked her mother. It's not that her life can take any more bad turns. Oh! if only she knew how much worse it would get.

"Let me rephrase it for you that this should be only between us" she snapped in reply.

"Except us, three people already know this" Cassandra smirked, getting on her mother's nerve. This was giving her an emotional relief.

"Have you forgotten that I still have those papers?" Carina asked. She chuckled at her mother's word.

"Oh! I am scared" Cassandra looked down at her mother.

"What do you think? How much damage will Walmart enterprises take if the fact that I am not Catherine goes out?"

"What will happen if people get to know about this farce? How many shares will drop? How much loss will Walmart take?" She asked her, smirking.

"If you think I married because I have no other options than sorry to disappoint you but I think this through" it's true she felt drawn at first. She never in her nightmare wanted to marry him. The man who hated her with his core. She will be better off being forgotten but if she is going to get played. They will pay. If she is going down she will take them down with her.

Carina looked at her in shock. She was nothing like the girl, who she threw out of the house.

"You won't talk to me like that" She glared at her.

"Does it actually matter how I talk to you?" Cassandra asked, raising her eyebrows.

"You know if you want to hold that over my head then you need to quietly progress through the wedding and that's fine by me" Carina smirked.

A pang of pain crunch her stomach, she looks at her for a while and sighed.

"Let's get this over with," She said coldly and walked inside the dressing room closing the door. She locked it and turned to see herself in her sister's wedding dress again. She closed her eyes trying to keep her emotions in check.

Cassandra removed the veil from her hair messing up her hairstyle. She slowly opened the chain of her dress and let the dress fall. Someone gasped, she abruptly turned to look at the same girl who said sorry before. She was staring at her waist.

"How did that happen?" She asked. Cassandra looked down to see a purple patch on her waist. She slowly touched her waist hissing at the pain.

"I was about to fall when someone grabbed my waist to break the fall" she lied looking down.

"Do you want to ice that?" The girl asked.

"Yeah thanks" she looked at the girl who opened the fridge which she did not notice before and grabbed a pack of ice. She slowly patted the ice around her bruise.

"What's your name?" She asked after a while.

"Angela, but you can call me Angel," she said smiling brightly.

"I am sorry, I should not have snapped at that time" she sighed.

"It's fine, I know we were being rude," Angel shook her head.

"Do you want me to cover it with makeup?" Angel asked her. She shakes her head.

"No thanks, I will freshen up," she said walking to the attached bathroom. She washed her face dapping it with a towel.

Angel gave her a natural make up. She looked at her in the mirror.

"Make it dark" Angela blinked her eyes confused.

"But you asked me to keep it light" that's what she said when she visited their salon.

"Now I am asking you too" Angela did as she asked her. It feels like not only her attitude but taste also changed. She darkened her makeup, keeping it natural though.

"Can't you use red lipstick?" Cassandra asked. Angela shakes her head.

"The basics of bridal make is to keep your face as natural as possible. But if you need a red touch up, I can use a soft peach lipstick" Angela said. Cassandra shakes her head.

"Use dark red" she ordered. Angela did as her customer asked her, this time she liked how she looked.

"You are looking beautiful" Angela squeals after finishing touch.

She smiled at her. Now time for the dress.

Angela went and bought out a dress. It was a beautiful peach coloured knee-length dress that gave a soft look and it's beautiful. But her eyes stuck on the red coloured dress.

"I will wear that," she said, grabbing the dress before Angela could protest. Wearing red on the day of the wedding is considered being bold. Something Catherine will definitely not wear.

The dress fit her perfectly. Her hair falls down in soft curls hiding her shoulder. This feels uncomfortable.

"You know I should not be saying this but is not it a bit too bold," Angela said. She took a deep breath calming her nerves and smiled at her.

"Thanks for helping" Cassandra turned to give herself a last look. She looked like someone else. But that someone is not Catherine with that satisfaction. She took a seat, closing her eyes.

Jeremy stood there with Austin as her mother dragged her off.

"Why was she in a wedding dress?" Jeremy asked Austin. He shrugged his shoulder. It's not like he knows anything about that.

"How long do you know her?" Jeremy tried to continue.

"Long enough" Austin's vague answer shut him off totally. He walked away. Jeremy looked around the crowd, some people stare at him then turn around. He needs to find Coltrane.

"Coltrane?" Jeremy called him. Coltrane was talking to some of the businessmen. He excused himself.

They stand far away from the crowd. Some people already went to the reception hall.

"Why is Cassandra...." Jeremy trailed off as he saw him clenching his fist.

"Coltrane??" He snapped him back to reality.

"Ask her why she did that?" Jeremy said. Coltrane stared at him coldly.

"Do you actually think I will hear her bullshit?" Coltrane chuckled coldly.

"You will," Jeremy said with the same coldness.

"I don't want to talk about it," He said, walking off.

Jeremy sighed.

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

Past...

Cassandra looked up before following Jeremy out of the cafeteria. They reached their classroom before time. She looked at the last row for a suitable seat. Almost all of their subjects are same.

"I was wondering, something" he whispered right in her ear. She jumped kicking his leg, he stumbled grabbing her hand which made her fall on top of him.

"What the heck were you thinking?" Jeremy groaned dusting his hands off.

"Who told you to whisper?" Cassandra snapped standing up then helped him up. He dusted himself.

She walked straight for the last seat of the first row.

"I am taking this seat," she said. Jeremy rolled his eyes before taking the seat right beside her.

"So?" She said.

"What do you want to know?" Cassandra asked.

"I think your sister is getting bullied," he sighed.

"Why do you think like that?" Cassandra asked nonchalantly. It's none of her business whether Catherine is getting bullied or not.

"She was shaking like a leaf when those girls approached us," Jeremy said, staring ahead. He usually hates weak girls who cannot take care of themselves.

"Why don't you try and help her?" He asked, raising his eyebrow.

"You could have helped her too. But you kept listening, Can I ask why?" She smirked.

"I don't want to get involved in a girl's fight," he said.

"So, if it was a guy you would have stepped in," Cassandra asked. Jeremy remains silent thinking about it in that way.

"I might have," he answered.

"Hm," she hummed.

"Cassandra Walmart?" Mr.McCarthy called her. She stood up, the lunch break is not over yet.

"Your father is here to see you. Meet him at the office" she stands there frozen.

"What is it?" Jeremy asked, confused at her sudden change in behaviour. She forced a smile at him before stiffly walking out of the room. He felt something was wrong so he followed her out of the room.

"Do you want me to come?" Jeremy asked. She shakes her head.

"No it's fine" Cassandra did not wait for his reply but rushed off.

Coltrane and Catherine were talking when they noticed Jeremy who was looking in a different direction.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Coltrane was the first one to ask.

"Waiting for Cassandra" he replied which left Catherine and Coltrane confused.

"Where is she?" Coltrane asked.

"Her father was here to see her" Catherine gasped hearing his words. That's when Jeremy noticed something.

"Doesn't he want to see you too?" Jeremy asked her. She shakes her head.

"Why don't you wait for her in the classroom?" Coltrane said. Jeremy nodded his head but the uneasiness did not go away.

"We will see you later," Coltrane said, walking off. Catherine followed.

Cassandra ran from the class to the office and her heartbeat fastened.

"You are on time" She stares at the man with blankness as if she doesn't know how to react. She knows what will happen now.

Her mouth twitched upwards into a beautiful smile, "What can I do for you father?"

"I did not know you would enroll in the same school," her father glared at her coldly, she flinched.

"We need to talk about this" Her father looked at the time. She rolled her eyes, he must be counting how much time he wasted on her.

"I want you out of this school today itself. It's the first day most people would not know you" he said. She glared at him.

"I will not, I like this school" she refused as angry tears filled her eyes.

"It's not up for discussion," he said coldly. Grabbing her hand dragging her out of the school. Her eyes filled tears.

He stares at her blankly after a while his face softened, "You will attend another school"

"I don't want to attend another school," she yelled.

"Stop making a scene," he said coldly. She flinched shutting up immediately.

"Get out" her father ordered as he followed her inside the house. Cassandra rushed up to her room only to hear her Grandma's voice.

"Carson..."

The next day she woke up anxious. Her eyes puffed up.

"Casey?" A loud voice called her.

"Huh?" She blinked her eyes and stared at the wrinkled old lady.

"Hurry up, get dressed and eat your breakfast or you will be late" the old lady scolded her softly. She blinked her eyes wondering if she heard something wrong.

"But father..." she trailed off when her grandmother gave her a soft smile.

"I talked to him and settled everything. Don't worry about it" Grandma smiled softly at her, she smiled as tears filled her eyes. She hugged her tightly.

"I love you" Cassandra kissed her cheeks running upstairs to grab her bag hearing her grandma's laugh.

"I love you too sweetie" a tear trailed down her face.

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

Present.

Angela was shocked seeing her shaking and sobbing.

"Ms.Wal...." she stopped herself.

"Mrs Mayor?" She called her. She jerked up from her dream. Cassandra blinked her eyes as she came back to reality. She touched her cheeks feeling wet. Thank god the makeup was waterproof. Angela retouches her face, not asking about her strange behaviour. She was grateful for that.

"Are you alright?" Angela asked softly, holding her face.

"Yes," she smiled at her reassuringly. There was a knock on the door.

'It's time to face reality again' she opened the door. It was almost evening. She looked at him, he had changed into formal grey pants with a black shirt. His tie was matched with his eyes.

Coltrane stares at her shocked as anger flashed through his eyes.

"What the hell are you wearing?" He asked. Angela was standing behind her who jumped hearing raw anger in his voice.

"Dress" she replied sarcastically. The softness she showed earlier vanished.

"Change it," he ordered.

"Not gonna happen" Cassandra rolled her eyes, channelling him.

"Oh! It's gonna happened" He pushed her inside the room. Angela shakes, she had heard how cold and cruel Coltrane Flynn Mayer is. But seeing him like this makes her shiver. He is not even kind to his newly wedded wife.

"You" Angela flinched standing straight.

"Get out" his cold voice makes her shiver. Cassandra turned to look at the poor girl signalling her to get out.

"Change into that" he ordered her signalling at the dress behind her.

"Who the hell are you to order me?" She glared at him. He moved forward but she stood there cold and rigid. He hand went on her naked shoulder. She tensed up. He grabbed the off-shoulder piece and tore it.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing?" Cassandra yelled at him holding her dress, stopping it from sliding down.

"Let go" Coltrane grabbed her hand, almost pulling her out of the dressing room in her half-naked dress. As much as she felt humiliated, she is going to let him have it.

"Okay," she let go of the dress which fell down from her shoulder till her upper abdomen showing off her brassiere. The moment she did this, his anger flared.

Coltrane again pushed her inside then pulled her in his arms. His hand went around her.

"What the...?" before she could ask anything. He opened her brassiere. She gasped.

Slap...

She slapped him right across his face. His head turned.

He glared at her with hatred, "Change in that dress before I continue, what I was doing" he grit his teeth walking out and slammed the door behind. She slides down the wall closing her eyes to collect her thoughts.

She counted up to 10 then stood up wearing that peach colour dress. Angela came inside the room scared at what she might see.

"Sir send me in," She said as Cassandra looked at her.

"Pull my hair in a bun," she said, sitting down on the chair. Angela did as she asked her.

Cassandra opened the door to see him standing there, the last person she wanted to see. She kept her face cold void of any emotion. Coltrane did not bother either, keeping their distance, they walked up to the reception hall. He suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Don't make any scene" he warned her.

"Isn't it already a scene going on in your life?" She smirked. His grip tightened, she flinched; this is the same hand he was gripping before and then her mother. She snatched her hand away.

"Don't touch me" she snapped.

"We will see about that" he forcefully grabbed her hand.

She struggled in his arm, biting her lip to control the winch. She tried to release him from his grip but he only held her tighter.

"Have you forgotten about Catherine already?" She mocked.

He glared at her with hatred and the pain in her hand became unbearable.

"How could I? You are standing right in front of me, love" he smirked coldly pulling her closer.

"Now I understand why she ran away. Anyone would if you treat them like this" she chuckled coldly. His smirk dropped as he glared at her.

He grabbed her shoulder and breathed down on her neck, pressing a kiss. She pushed him away.

"Keep talking and the consequence will be deadly" His cold voice makes her almost shiver. She glared at him without showing any sign of fear.

"Do you...." she was about to say something when he covered her lips with his. This time, she bit his tongue and blood filled her mouth, he immediately moved away from her. But what mostly unnerved him was her eyes.

After that, they keep their distance greeting all the guests.

After some stupid speeches from people she does not know, they cut the cake. She avoided the dancing part.

She kept her face devoid of emotions as he forced a smile at everyone who congratulated them.

There was an after-party but it got cancelled, much to her relief. This was getting beyond annoying.

She threw her flowers in the air on the opposite side of the crowd of people. She turned to see it landed on Jeremy's hand. He seemed confused looking at her, she shrugged her shoulders.

They walked out of the hall into the car.

She sat beside him as the driver started the car. The entire ride was silent.

"I have kept up with this farce long enough. Stop the car" She called out to the driver.

"The car is not going to stop" Coltrane gritted his teeth glaring at her.

"Why?" She glared at him. He smirked covering the distance between them. She looked at him blankly.

"We need to celebrate the wedding, darling," he said mockingly.

"I don't give a fuck about this wedding" she spat those words.

"You should have thought about it before putting that ring on," He snapped holding her elbow. He hovered over her. She struggled to get away from him. He grabbed her cheeks pressing his lips. He bites her lips, sucking on her lower lip. Tears filled her eyes.

"You married me. So, you will stay with me in Catherine's place till she returns" He whispered in her ears giving a light lick. She pushed him on his chest. The moment his grip slacked she turned around and slapped him across his face. He did not say anything but his face merged in anger as glare outside, his fist clenched.

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

Thank you for reading dear readers.

Here I rewrite this chapter. It's almost 3.5k . Yeah a long chapter.

Do tell me you thought and comment..

Until next time..