Chapter 12: She Said What?

Growing up, Anna and Nora got along quite well for girls who weren’t related by blood. All their lives, they have supported each other all the time.

Nora had been happy when she first heard about Anna and Dalton’s engagement. She helped plan the wedding preparations and even helped Anna design her wedding dress. So, her rage right now is something that Anna cannot fully comprehend.

“You know,” Nora continued while Anna stared at her in shock. “I never realized how insecure you were with Lara all this time. I always admired you for not caring about what the media said. I always loved how self-assured you were. But who would have known that you were actually just a viper in disguise!”

Anna took a step back, shocked with Nora’s words.

“Nora, how can you say such a thing? You don’t really mean that, do you?”

“Of course I mean it! You tried to trap my brother into this marriage, and now he’s gone because of you!” Nora jabbed a finger at her.

“I didn’t trap him! You know I wasn’t the one who decided on the marriage!” Anna reminded her.

“But you could have refused. You know my brother was suffering, and you did nothing about it!”

Anna stared at the ground. She knows that Dalton and Nora were correct to assume that had she refused, the wedding would have been cancelled. She was sorry for that, but she simply couldn’t afford to refuse the marriage.

“I’m sorry,” tears welled up in Anna’s eyes.

She felt guilty that Nora had to lose her brother in all of this. But as she had said before, she can afford to be a bad friend, but not a bad daughter.

Nora was taken aback when she saw Anna’s tears. This woman that she had admired even since she was a little girl, the one she treated as her older sister, was showing signs of regret.

Her heart started to falter, but she remembered what Lara had told her. Anna might just be trying to manipulate her. Lara told her that she was good at that.

“You really think I would fall for your tears?” she scoffed at her. Lara told me what an awful person you are.”

“You talked to Lara?” Anna asked in shock.

Nora laughed bitterly. “Of course, a week before your wedding, I heard my brother begging for you to cancel the whole event. That was when I realized that he was actually in love with someone else, and you were making things difficult for him. I watched as his heart broke, being forced to let go of Lara.

“I went to talk to Lara to confirm her relationship with my brother. She admitted that they were in love, but because she wasn’t rich like us, they kept it a secret. She told me that you found out about them, so you threatened to ruin her if she didn't break up with my brother.” Nora continued.

“And you believed her?” Anna asked, unbelieving.

“I believe that you drove my brother away!” Nora screamed at her. “And if you think that that’s all I know, well, think again! Because I know that she refused to break up with him. So you went to your daddy to get him to arrange a marriage between you and Dalton. I heard my brother beg for your mercy, I saw what a mess he was because of you!”

Nora pushed her. “And you have the audacity to cry in front of me when you just ruined the lives of two people? All because of what? Because people were finally acknowledging that Lara is better than you? And that she got the most eligible bachelor in the country, instead of you? Props to you Anna, for showing Lara how far your money and influence can take you!

“All hail to the richest and most beautiful lady of Ghersine City, Miss Anna Delgado!

“Oh wait, it's Mrs. Guevarra now!” Nora mockingly clapped her hands. And with that, she left Anna on her own.

***

The next day, Anna decided that staying in the house wasn’t a great idea. With how hostile Nora was towards her last night, she thought it would be best if she allowed her to cool down for a while.

Of course, Nora was right to be mad at Anna for not calling off the wedding, but the rest of the things she accused her of were simply not true.

She wasn’t sure why Lara would tell Nora lies about her. They only talked once before Anna proceeded with the wedding, and the conversation didn’t involve her threatening the girl!

There might be more to Lara than being just a famous, talented girl with a pretty face.

She knows she has to explain things to Nora and set her straight, but she also knows that today isn’t the time to do that.

She swerved her car, and went straight to an exclusive underground parking lot of a high-end mall, stopping in her reserved space.