2. Ruined Wedding 1

Brian sat frozen in his father’s office, his fingers digging into the arms of the chair. The weight of his father’s words pressed down on him like a tombstone. Across the desk, Mr. Garfield continued scribbling notes as if his son was not there. Whether silent or invisible, he was drowning in despair.  

Brian’s throat tightened. A tear slipped free from his eyes, then another. Soon, his shoulders shook with silent sobs. Memories of Valerie, her laughter, the way her fingers had once brushed his, and their first night flashed before him, sharp as shattered glass. She had gone. And now, this.  

Each ragged breath from Brian was a needle in Mr. Garfield’s chest. The man prided himself on his steel resolve, but the sight of his once-bold son crumbling was unbearable. With a sigh, he set down his pen.  

"Son," he called out with a heavy heart.

Brian did not answer. The tears came harder now, ugly and unrestrained. His father was waiting for him to calm down before he would continue to placate him.

“Dad," he finally choked out.  

“Yes, Son,” he looked into his sad eyes and answered him.

"I can’t do it," he said with a raw voice. "I’m sorry to disappoint you, but my answer won’t change. Not now. Not ever," he declared without batting.

He braced for an explosion but his father’s temper was legendary. Instead, he only exhaled, "Fine, Son. I’ll give you twenty-four hours to reconsider." 

"There’s no point, Dad."

He wiped his face with his sleeve, "My answer will be the same even after eternity,” he panted. 

"Then get out," he ordered him and he left dejectedly, his footsteps hollow against the polished floor.  

In Mr. Garfield’s Bedroom

"Oh, my God! She sounds perfect!" Charity Garfield gasped, clutching her pearls after her husband informed her about Jane's visit.

He nodded, loosening his tie.

"She is. But Brian refuses to see it. He’s still hung up on that false accusation." 

Charity shot up from the bed, eyes blazing. 

"He’s joking, right? What man lets a woman like that slip away?" 

"I was lost like you, but I gave him twenty-four hours to think it over." 

"Twenty-four hours?" She scoffed, already slipping into her shoes. 

"That’s too long! What if another man snatches her up?" 

Before Mr. Garfield could respond, she stormed out, her husband trailing behind.  

In Brian’s Room

It was too quiet. He had locked himself in his room the moment he got home, ignoring lunch, ignoring the world. His phone buzzed. Leonard was calling him for the third time.  

"He must be busy," he said to himself and continued with his work.

When Brian still did not call him back by evening, unease prickled his skin. Since the disappearance of Valerie, Leonard took it upon himself to ensure that he was not despaired by being alone for too long. When he did not return his calls, he was disturbed and resolved to check on him.

"Where’s your boss?" Leonard’s voice was sharp as he strode past the gate guards.  

"In his room, Young Master," the guard answered him.

“Huh!” he mumbled and took a step.

“Kindly inform him that he had not had his lunch,” the cook pleaded when he got into the parlor, and that gave Leonard more concern.

Leonard did not wait. He marched past the startled cook and threw open Brian’s door without knocking.  

“What the hell?” Leonard screamed when he saw Brian sitting on the floor, eyes red-rimmed, face streaked with tears. His jaw clenched as he yelled, “Again? How long are you going to do this to yourself?”  

Brian’s tears flowed freely, and he didn’t look up. “It’s not what you think,” he managed between sobs.  

Leonard crouched beside him. "Then what is it?"

"It's Jane," he cried out. 

The name came out like poison but he explained, "She lied to my father. Convinced him that we were engaged and wished to marry before we broke up."  

Leonard’s expression darkened. 

"That snake. She’s playing your father like a puppet," he blurted out 

Brian dragged a hand through his hair then pointed out, "And he won’t listen to me." 

Before Leonard could respond, the door burst open and Charity stood there, eyes blazing. 

"Good, you’re here, Leonard," she said without pleasantries. Just fury.   

"Mom," Brian called out.

"Don’t ‘Mom’ me!" Her voice cracked. 

"Why are you doing this to me? Denying me a perfect daughter-in-law and denying yourself happiness?"

Brian flinched, trying to explain, "It’s not like that ..." 

His father walked in and cut him short, "At twenty-five, you should be married. Are you trying to humiliate us?"  

Charity’s next words were a knife to the heart. "If I had another child, I wouldn’t care. But you are my only son. Do you want me to die alone, without grandchildren?"  

Brian’s breath hitched. That old wound, always torn open. 

"Mom, it has not gotten to this."

"No. If you love me at all, you won’t throw this away."

“What do you mean? You don't want her to have a good daughter-in-law and you said it had not gotten to this," Mr. Garfield said.

He grabbed her arm and said, "Let’s go, Charity. Whether he agrees or not, Jane is the only bride we’ll accept." 

“Take it easy, Mr. Garfield. We can talk …," Leonard tried to arbitrate but the door slammed behind them, the sound final as a gunshot.  

Silence ensued. Then Leonard’s voice, low and lethal, came up, "Guy, let's proceed with the wedding plans, but we will fight back."

The hopeless Brian locked eyes with him and asked, "What do you mean?” 

“She had convinced your parents with her lies and they won't believe anything that we will say. I propose that we accept their choice and strike immediately after the wedding.”

Brian's face brightened he asked, "How?" 

Leonard’s smile was chilling. 

"We will give them what they want, the wedding. And then?" 

Brian's eyes widened and Leonard leaned in and whispered, "We will make sure that Jane doesn’t live to see the honeymoon."  

Brian’s blood ran cold, "What are you saying?" He asked him anxiously.

Leonard’s eyes gleamed.

"Poison. Quick and painless death. An eye for an eye," he declared with a strong will to kill.