The Message

3: The Message

“You’ve been wearing that face since morning,” my stepmother snapped. “Anyone would think you’re being forced into this marriage.” 

“ It feels like I am being forced…” I whispered 

“ What did you just say ?” 

My step mother , my two step sisters , Eliana and Mario alongside my father all ganged up against me in the dining table, just to scold me because I didn’t put on the act  they wanted for the guest .  

“Nothing ….I am happy “ 

My father stood near the door with his arms folded. “Then why do you look like someone just died?”

“I’m just nervous,” I answered. “It’s normal, Brides get nervous before their big day .” My eyes searched through the window for Maya , I needed her to bail me out of this situation but she was probably somewhere stuffing food in her face . 

Eliana scoffed. “Nervous? Please. People get nervous and excited. You just look miserable.”

“That’s not true,” I said.

“Everyone is outside celebrating,” my stepmother added. “Your in-laws are here. The guests are here. Music is playing. And you’re inside sulking like a child.”

“I’m not sulking,” I said, my voice shaking. “I just needed some air.”

“You always need something,” Mario chimed in. “Always with the drama.”

I looked at my father. “Daddy, I said I’m just nervous.”

He shook his head. “You should be grateful. Do you know how many girls would kill to be in your place?”

Before I could speak again, Eliana  smiled sweetly and said, “We should actually rush the ceremony. Levi and I have a business meeting in Paris in two days..I have been planning this trip for days , it’s our first trip together as a couple …” 

“ You guys are not even dating yet …” I said in my head . .

My heart squeezed.

Mario  laughed. .” You’re the perfect match for him anyway. Same class. Same level. Both working. He deserves a woman who actually has a life… not someone who dropped out and is waiting to be saved.”

My ears rang, I didn’t need a seer to tell me that she was referring to me . 

I stood up slowly. “Excuse me.”

My stepmother frowned. “Where are you going?”

“To greet the guests,” I said.

I walked out before anyone could stop me.

But instead of turning toward the party…

I turned toward my room.

The moment I shut the door, the tears fell.

I tried to breathe. I tried to stay strong.

But this marriage…

It felt wrong, everything felt wrong like I was being forced and pushed into something i didn’t want to do but what could I do to stop it ? I was the useless daughter , the only way I could be of use to my family was this marriage.

I burst into another fresh tears but my phone kept on beeping nonstop, someone was texting over and over again . 

I wiped my face and picked it up.

Unknown Number: Don’t marry Tommy.

My heart skipped.

I typed back.

Me: Who is this?

There was no reply, I was about to start typing again when another  message came in.

Unknown Number: You deserve better than a man who is using you.

Then a link dropped under it.

My hands were shaking as I tapped it.

The first thing that loaded was a voice recording.

Tommy’s voice, He was on the phone with someone. 

“I don’t even like her that much. I’m only marrying her because our parents want it. And her father’s connections will help my business, I feel pity for her …Nobody would want to marry someone like her , I mean …She’s pathetic “ 

My breath caught and I covered my mouth with my palms , I was surprised, Tommy always showed how nonchalant he was but he always claimed to love me . 

Another recording played.

“She’s too quiet. Too boring. I can cheat anytime and she’ll still stay. She has nowhere else to go, There is nothing she can do to stop the marriage …She’s mine “

My knees weakened.

Pictures followed.

Tommy in another woman’s apartment.

Tommy holding another woman’s waist.

Tommy kissing another woman.

My vision blurred, I was trying my best not to cry, I was trying but my fragile heart couldn’t take it . 

More messages kept on coming in , It was too much for me to handle , I tossed my phone on my bed , I didn’t want to look at it again . .

I tried to stand up but my  legs gave out, I fell back onto the bed and broke down.

I was trapped in a loveless marriage before it even began, The thought of being in a marriage that I can’t walk out of because of my family made me sick and it made me even more sick that Tommy felt this way about me , Tommy was cheating on me after dating him for a year, I never looked at another man , I was loyal to him up until this night yet …Tommy was sleeping with several women making a fool out of me . 

A knock came at my door.

I didn’t answer.

The doorbell downstairs suddenly rang.

I wiped my face quickly and walked out of my room like a ghost.

“ Who is there ?” 

“ Are you hiding from your own party , Little puppy” 

My heart immediately sank and I sighed in pain . 

“ Levi ….” 

I reached for the door and he was standing there with wine in his hands , two glasses  of wine . 

The moment he saw my face, his expression changed.

“Why are you crying?” he asked immediately.

My lips trembled.

I looked up at him and whispered,

“Tommy is cheating on me “ 

“ What ?” He stared at me trying to make sense out of what I said . 

“ I don’t want to marry him …Levi …I don’t want to marry him “ I burst out crying and Levi rushed inside my room and shut the door , he dropped the glass of wine and he rushed to where i was , He squat to get to my level , wiping my tears , I curled in his arms . 

We stayed like that for a while , I held on to Levi like my life depended on it , when we slowly pull out of the hug , Our eyes met and he said .

“ You don’t deserve this….” 

I didn’t know when I said it but my lips moved. 

“ Levi ..Kiss me “ 

He looked at me like he was yearning for it too , like he was holding himself back . 

“ Ariana …If I start , I won’t be able to control myself, You’re getting married to my brother “