The Bride’s Replacement

”Coming right away mother. Don worry, everything will fine, ”she replied then hanged up the phone.

Aldo and Lisa stared at her waiting for her to say something but she didn .

Lisa ran out of patience and decided to ask.

”What happened? ”she asked in a concerned voice.

”I don know yet but all I know is that my sister ran away from home since yesterday and her phone is also off and no one can get to her, ”she responded calmly.

”I need to go home, ”she announced.

Lisa didn know what to tell her. She had to rehearse for the other days audition or more of a music competition and here she was talking about home.

”But Angel… ”

Lisa began.

”I know what you want to say Lisa but mother is worried,I should go but I will be back before tomorrows competition. ”

She jumped in before Lisa could finish her statement.

Lisa didn bother to argue with her.After all,it was pretty difficult to get her to change her mind once she decided on something.

Calistas worry was now how she would get to Canada so fast and back before tomorrow night…and of what help would she be to her mother.

”Is everything in my purse?…my case? ”she asked.

”Yes Angel…but how will you get home and back so fast? ”

Lisa poured her worry instantly.

”I have no idea either… ”

Calista responded massaging her temples.She couldn afford to miss the semi finals and she couldn perform knowing that her mother was worried to death.

All this while, Jameson was standing there but none of the girls could remember that.They were all carried in their own thoughts.

He thought he should be Angels saviour yet again.

”Can I be of any help? ”

He asked calmly.

Calista turned to him and stared at him before talking.

”I need to get to Canada tonight and settle some issue then come back tomorrow… ”she spoke.

”I can help you with that… ”Aldo declared proudly.

”How..? ”

She asked curtly,her gaze glaring at his handsome face.

”You can use my private jet to get home then I will come get you in tomorrow evening. ”

He offered.

Calista couldn even think about rejecting such an offer. It was a chance and she wouldn loose it for anything.

”Your cost? ”she asked plainly.

”I would do anything for this Angel, ”Aldo teased her.

Despite the teasing,she was very glad that she would fly home,sort the score and come back.

She stepped forward and hugged him tightly in appreciation.Little did they know that a paparazzi had taken a photo of them hugging.

”Thank you so much Aldo… ”

She appreciated him again.

”Of course Angel…come with me.I will take you to my jet and my pilot will take you home. ”

He spoke.

Calista nodded and followed behind him.They reached a place where a beautiful white jet rested.Aldo spoke to a man who was in a white uniform.

Calista could guess that he was the pilot.

In less than a minute later,he approached her again.

”All set…have a wonderful flight home, ” he wished her with a warm smile on.

Calista smiled back at him abit shyly.

”Thanks again…I won forget this favor of yours, ”

She answered with the same smile on.

She turned to Lisa and spoke…

”I will get to you as soon as things settle, ”she assured her.

”I will be waiting for your call Angel… ”she responded.

She then started walking towards the jet that was already ready to fly.

”Your contact?… ”he asked with the same seductive smile on.

”You have a Fiancee… ”she responded curtly.

Aldo chuckled before he could respond.

”I know that but how will I know the time you need to be picked up? ”

Calista smiled in a bit of embarrassment. How could she even just think of that?

They exchanged their contacts and she bordered the flight.

In an hour,the jet landed in Montreal, Calistas home city.It was great for her that the jet landed right at the compound in her home.

The house looked cooler as if there was no wedding going to take place the following night.

She rushed to the house,there were some relatives and some friends at the house.It wasn such a great house but it was good and huge enough for Calista,her mother and her sister.

She saw her mother at the stairs and she walked towards her.

”Mother… ”she called hesitantly.

She actually got a bad feeling about her arrival here. She suddenly felt like she should not have come at all. Something was just going to be off.

Ishaani Kapoor turned to her daughter with a warm smile.She took her hand and led her upstairs in a rush.

She took her to her room and locked the door after them.

Ishaani hugged her daughter tightly, tears washing down her face.

”Am very glad you came baby. I just don know what to do. ”

Ishaani spoke.

”What happened mother?…where did she say she was going to? ”Calista asked her mother.

”I have no idea but she left this letter… addressed to you, ”Ishaani spoke.

She went to the table near the bed and took the later and handed it to Calista.

The letter was in a pure white envelope with an unbroken red seal. A leaf seal,that was her sisters seal.

On the envelope,there was a sentence written in red ink…

To my baby sister, Serenity.

She read the sentence again and again.It was really her sisters handwriting. She wanted to open it and read it but she was afraid of what she would see in there.

”I couldn wait for you to get here so that I may know whats in there so please open it, ”urged Ishaani.

Calista teared the envelope apart and took the white sheet that was neatly folded.She unfolded it keenly.

Her eyes landed on the eight sentences in black ink….

By the time you get this later,I will be far away

from my baby sister and home.

Its not easy for me go away from you and

mother but I can stay either.

Remember what I always tell you,your beauty

and talent will take you to places.

Am sorry for everything you will be going

through because if my decision to leave.

Hope you forgive your big sister.

Take care of yourself and mum.

I will miss you both so much.

I love you.

IZARA

Even their mother always called them with their first name but they called each other with their second name…Izara, Serenity.

Calista read the later again and again.She couldn believe what she was reading and she couldn understand why she couldn believe it.

Her sister had always been bold and doing as she pleased anytime she felt like.

She took her phone and dialed Skylars number but it did not go through.

She kept on trying but nothing changed.

She got angry and hit the phone against the wall.The screen broke into small pieces.

She read the later again and something dawned to her.

What would she go through now that she left?

First she had to cancel the wedding.

”Mother, we have to cancel the wedding,ASAP and Maverick has to know that Izara is missing, ”she spoke.

Ishaani could see that her daughter was even more confused than she was.

”You know that Maverick won listen to us… ”she answered.

”Have you even told him that his bride is missing? ” she asked in confusion.

Why on earth would he not listen?…If the wedding was not cancelled yet then who was going to marry him?

”I haven but how do you even think that I could tell him?…you know how Maverick is. He might cost us our reputation…I can afford that, ”Ishaani responded.

”So who on earth do you think will take Izaras place? ”she asked in rage.

It was not fair for the man.Ofcourse he had used force until he was engaged to Izara and maybe thats the reason she ran away…she didn love him and how would she marry a man she didn like?

Ishaani moved closer to her and grasped her shoulders.

”You have to save your mother Angel, ”she spoke.

Calista was dumbfounded.How was she supposed to do that?

Ishaani could see the confusion in her daughters eyes.Her eyes watered and tears flew down her cheeks.As a mother,she knew what her daughter would go through when she married that monster but she had no option left.

”Marry Maverick…. ”she declared.

Silence.

Shock. Disbelief. Pain. Confusion. Betrayal..are just a few things that Calista felt at the same moment.

She least expected that from her mother.She raised her hand and pushed her mothers hands from her shoulders.

”What are you saying mother? ”she finally found the voice to ask her.

”Yes baby….please marry Maverick and save your mother from the embarrassment she would face, ”Ishaani insisted.

Calista felt like she would die of shock and betrayal.