Chapter 1: Just Before the Wedding

ANNA DELGADO STOOD nervously in a lavish room. She's all alone in her long, flowy white dress; her hair in an elegant bun, with two strands framing the sides of her face. She tries to calm herself by breathing slowly.

All her life, Anna has imagined her wedding day to be a joyous occasion. She'd be nervous, she had said, but her happiness would be greater.

Her childhood friend, Dalton had agreed with her, joking that he would grace her wedding as her flowerboy, throwing petals on unsuspecting guests, and dumping the rest of the basket on her head.

They had laughed back then. But as she steadies herself alone in that room, she can't help but note that no one is laughing now. Her wedding day, and not a single joyful sound. She fought back tears at this thought.

Outside, she can hear people's quick footsteps, and tense voices. Before, she was quite firm with her decision, but now, she can't help but wonder if this is even all worth it.

The groom, her groom, is nowhere to be found. Already an hour since the supposed start of their wedding, and not even the groom's shadow is in sight.

Dalton Guevarra was Anna's childhood friend. They had been inseparable when they were young, and continued their friendship over the years even when they went to different schools for college.

They would hang out regularly, and they would talk for hours on end about their lives, and their future. Anna smiled bitterly when she remembered how Dalton repeated his flowerboy role on her wedding.

He had said back then that he would be the happiest guy when that day comes. Except for her groom, she had said, he'd be the happiest and luckiest man out of all of them.

Dalton had smiled fondly and told her that their children would be the best of friends, just like they are. Anna had scoffed, but agreed silently.

But now that that day had come, Dalton is nowhere to be found. It seems that he had abandoned his role at the wedding—not as the flowerboy, but as her groom.

He must have really hated the thought of becoming her husband. So much so that he had expressly opposed his family's orders. Something he'd never done before. He put up so much fight to get their wedding cancelled. He even begged her to spare him.

She had more say in the matter, he had correctly stated. So he tried so hard to get her to stop the madness, as he had called it. He cried in front of her her, saying that they wouldn't be happy if they push through with the wedding.

It would be the greatest mistake of their life, he pleaded. But for all his efforts, Anna stood firm in her decision. She ignored all of Dalton's pleas, pushing through with the wedding.

It was a bit selfish, she admits, but her family is facing bankruptcy. Her father begged her for this connection. Her heart broke when she saw the fear in her father's eyes.

So she decided right then that she can live with herself more being a traitor to her friend, than betraying her own father. The cost for that decision had been great.

She had never imagined Dalton to object to the wedding that much. There had been some moments when she felt like giving in to Dalton's demands, but the reality of their family's situation made her firm.

She quickly wiped her tears when a knock sounded on the door. Her father cautiously opened the door, peeking inside.

"Anna, how are you?" Mr. Delgado took his daughter to sit on the nearby sofa.

"I'm fine, Dad. Don't worry about me." Anna faked a smile. "Have they found Dalton yet?"

Mr. Delgado shook his head. "They're still looking. The guests are starting to become agitated, but we've managed to divert their attention for a while.

"They are being entertained by a performance right now. We attributed the delay on an error of the indicated time on the wedding invites." He continued.

Anna nodded her head. She studied her father. He seemed more distraught about this issue compared when he first told her about the fall of their company.

He had been devastated by then, but he looks more shattered right now. The thought that he was the reason why his daughter is going through this humiliation is probably eating him up more that he was willing to show.

Anna felt her heart break for her father. She imagined how tough this must be for him. He looks now as if he is debating something in his mind, trying to come to a decision.

Mr. Delgado cleared his throat. "Anna, I know I was the one who suggested this marriage. And I know what is on the line here. But my child, I can't bear to see you like this. I shouldn't have put this much burden on you. Forgive me, Anna." He wiped away a tear.

"Dad, I'm willing to take on a lot more for our family. If this is how I can help our family, I am more than willing to do it with all my heart." She squezzed her dad's hands on hers.

"I know that, and I'm really proud and grateful of you. But I can see how much this is affecting you. So, if you want to back out of this wedding, you can. We'll take care of the rest. Just tell me what you want."

Anna stared into her father's earnest eyes. She remembered how Dalton first reacted when their family broke the news to them. He had been livid.

She also remembered the days that followed after the announcement. Dalton begged her to help him change their family's mind.

Then she remembered how Dalton had changed from being her most favorite person to someone she barely recognize. She had thought that Dalton would eventually come around and accept her as his fianceé, but it had only made him resent her.

She imagined what their marriage would look like. Her face crunched at the thought of certain possibilities. The sight did not appeal to her. Although, there is still that nagging sensation screaming the word 'BANKRUPTCY' in her mind.

She focused her eyes on her father, her mind finally made up. "Dad," she started. "I think that—"

The door swung open, revealing a butler out of breath. "Sir, Mr. Guevarra is finally here."