Chapter 2

Judging from his expression, Declan did not want to get married to the daughter of Lord Rowland's rich friend.

Over the last couple of weeks, he had been forced to go on ridiculous dates with her, what his grandpa had referred to as "getting to know each other".

Patricia seemed uninterested too, and very much irritated by him, just like the rest of his family. They had managed to finally hold a good conversation on their last date, where they both admitted that they were sick of the decision to get married.

Declan took one last turn before the full-length mirror that leaned against the wall. As he looked up, he could not miss Daniel's face behind him. It wore a smirk as usual.

"See who's getting married today", Daniel began with a tone heavily laced with sarcasm. Declan let out a small smile, with his eyes on the ground.

He would not look Daniel in the face. For some unknown reason, he was intimidated by his brother. He was more learned, smarter, and even more handsome than he was, all the perks of having a good life from the start of life.

"I'm sure you feel like this marriage is going to offer you a place in this family, Declan", Daniel continued. "You may get married to Patricia, but you better know that marrying her is not enough. She didn't grow up a hopeless pauper like you.

She grew up in affluence", he paused and steadied his gaze at Declan now. "How in the world do you intend to make her happy? I'm sure she's already irritated by your stuttering self and your pitiful lifestyle".

Declan finally looked up at his brother. Daniel sure did look good in a tux. Who knew that he would dress up so well to attend a wedding he did not want to hold?

"I realy don't want this marriage either", he finally spoke for the first time. "Patricia deserves a good guy like you to take care of her".

"Of course she does, and that's why you don't deserve to be the one to seal this merger. And on this note, I promise you that I would eventually get what is rightfully mine", Daniel said with a note of finality and made his way out.

Declan followed soon after. The event was about to begin and everybody was waiting.

It was a small outdoor ceremony, obviously, one that was planned hurriedly. The guests were mostly family and very close friends.

Declan took his stand at the altar and waited anxiously for his bride. Daniel stood behind him as his best man and the tension between them was thick enough to be sliced with a knife.

He looked around. Lord Rowland sat in the front row.

A familiar face caught his attention. It was Mary, his nanny from childhood. When their eyes met, she gave him a warm smile that he returned.

Patricia walking down the aisle with her dad was so basic. Declan was not fascinated at all by it all. He had imagined this scenario in his head, with someone he loved, and now this forced arrangement.

"Here comes our bride", Daniel whispered sarcastically. "Or should I say, my bride?" He let out a small laugh and stood upright again.

Declan was fuming but there was nothing he could do at this moment. For once, he was in the spotlight and he would not want to mess it up or embarrass his family.

When the priest started speaking, Declan finally took a long look at Patricia. Her face was pale and her eyes were full. She was not enjoying herself. When their eyes met, he looked away. His eyes returned to her soon enough.

She was a beautiful girl, not deserving to entertain a marriage she didn't wasn't to. He wanted to assure her that everything would be fine. He was softening. He knew he would eventually like her.

"Is there anyone here, who would not want this two to be joined in holy matrimony? Speak now or forever hold your peace", the priest finally asked the guests.

For the first few seconds, everywhere was pin-drop silent. "I have something to say", Paul, Patricia's father finally spoke. There was a small stir from the guests as everyone turned to him. Lord Rowland seemed the most confused.

"Speak on sir", the priest motioned him to talk. Paul cleared his throat and looked straight at Declan. "I won't let my daughter ruin her life by getting married to a bastard", he blurted out abruptly. Declan could feel his heart do a flip-flop.

Lord Rowland started at Peter in amazement. There was some sort of confusion from the guests, which was expected.

"What the hell are you on about Paul?" Lord Rowland asked, his eyes red with anger already.

"I did my research well, Rowland. A mouth-watering business merger was not going to make me act stupidly.

I did all my research and I found out that your boy here is a bastard indeed", Paul replied, turning fully to Lord Rowland. "How could you do this to me, Rowland? Is this a sort of deceit to dupe me?" He asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about and I would not have you disrespect my family on this day", Lord Rowland finally spoke up. "Declan is a son in this family, and I would not have deceived you because of a busine…"

"Prove it Rowland", Paul interrupted. "Prove that he's really an heir in this family.

"How can you even ask that? All these people here are family and they know that Declan is the first child of my son", Lord Rowland seemed confused at this point.

He was tensed, everyone could tell. The guests were fixated on him and this was bad for what he represented. Daniel who was in a way, enjoying the sudden turn of events, walked up to his grandpa.

"Mary is here", he whispered to Lord Rowland. "I invited her, as she holds a place in his heart as his nanny when he was a child".

"Send for her immediately", Lord Rowland commanded.

Mary seemed uncomfortable, in a way, looking like she was keeping something away from him, but Pa Rowland was not a greenhorn. He sensed that something was wrong.

"You nursed this child right from the day he was born, and you believe that he's my son's biological son, right?" Lord Rowland asked, anticipating a relieving answer from all this mess.

Mary was hesitant to answer. Her eyes darted back and forth, and she soon gave him a pleading look, as if she was asking for his forgiveness for something she was about to do.

"Yes, I nursed this child from his birth", she finally spoke up, her voice was soft but noticeably tensed. "But he's not a biological son in this family". There was a little uproar in the crowd as everyone was shaken with surprise, including Declan.

"What are you talking about?" Lord Rowland asked. He was not having all of this.

He was going to get to the root of the matter.

"I was in the hospital on the day of the delivery. Before my boss's wife could put to bed, another woman had had a son already, but she died on the spot", Mary began narrating.

Everyone listened with rapt attention. "My boss took pity on the little boy that was born and took an instant decision to raise the boy like his son.

The adoption process began immediately, while his wife was already birthing her child", Mary continued.

"But two babies were born on that day. We know this. We saw them when we came to the hospital", Lord Rowland seemed the most confused about everything that was unfolding.

"Only a son was born that day. I was forced to lie that they were two babies", she paused and looked at Declan and Daniel. "Only Daniel was born on that day, Declan is an adopted child", she said with a tone of finality.

The guests were chattering endlessly. Lord Rowland looked so pissed. He gave Declan an angry look and was speechless for what seemed to be forever.