ROSE’S POV
I stared at the scene before me in disbelief, watching my supposed fiancé exchange the marital vows with a woman whose face I couldn’t properly see.Standing by a corner at the extreme end of the hall with a thick black veil over my face, tears rolled down my eyes while I waited patiently for the wedding rituals to be over.I still couldn’t believe my eyes. Jake was my fiancé until three days ago!I had recently returned from France a few days ago and to my ultimate surprise, I heard news of him getting married just three days after he suddenly called off our engagement. Why in the world would he do such a thing to me? I really hope to find out soon.Soon enough, I found my chance to speak with him when he was heading towards the restroom.And for a while, there was an unending silence between us and the air was obviously tensed as well. Something about him had changed. He just stood there staring at me with an emotionless aura, like he wasn’t the love of my life a few days ago. He was completely different and gave off an air of indifference as he turned around to walk away. But my questions came tumbling after him that he had no choice but to turn back at me.“Jake, what’s going on and why?” I asked softly, taking two steps closer.But he scoffed and raked his hands through his hair before responding to my questions. And well, his answer did break my heart, even though it might be false. “Rose, I never for once loved you, you were only a game to me and I got bored of playing. Isn’t that enough to explain this break up?” He asked coldly, arching his eyebrows at me.“You spent five years gaming? Ha!” And despite myself, I couldn’t help but scoff, “you think I would believe this crap? Don’t you dare lie to my face! T-that’s a big lie,” my voice grew softer as tears clouded my vision once again but I stepped even closer to him. “Jake, you are in love with me… you love me,” I reached out my hands to hold his right hand.“It’s over between us,” he blurted out, yanking his hand away from mine. Jake who used to become weak at even a glimpse of tears in my eyes, was suddenly immune to my tears now so much that it doesn’t seem to move him again. But I still couldn’t believe this new reality…“How could you do such a thing to me? First, you called off our engagement and now you got married after three days? You were cheating all along right? Just tell me this is a dream.” I spluttered out through choking hot tears.While I bowed my head and cried, I suddenly heard Jake call out to someone. “Honey!”I raised my teary gaze only to see him walking over to a young woman having long black curls and dressed in a lovely white bridal dress. I stared at the woman with horrified bewilderment.My lips parted open slightly as I tried to say her name, but words seemed to fail me at this point.W-why… why’s Jake holding onto my best friend and calling her honey? Selena, why are you here?The more I stared at her, the more shocked and doubtful I became.“R-Rose,” she started in a cracked, shaky voice. “I…I…” she stuttered nervously. But tears filled my eyes as I silently watched her, my heart breaking to unimaginable pieces as the pain from her betrayal clawed mercilessly at it. Was this really the Selena I know?“I didn’t, I really didn’t…” she was saying when I reached over her side in a fit of blinded rage and interrupted her with a resounding slap that threw her off balance as more tears poured down my eyes.“Rose!” Jake yelled at me in a shocked voice as he tried to help Selena up. “How dare you hit my wife? What the hell is wrong with you? What if someone had seen this?” He thundered and I stared at him with disbelief in my eyes. He was defending her? This was strange and new… and even more infuriating to witness…However, I wiped the tears that rolled off my cheeks and glared at him. “I don’t care. You should have thought about that before you decided to hurt me like this.” I took a few steps forward to Selena, and she stepped backward with tears glistening in her eyes while she held onto her cheek with a hand.In the past, in a different scenario, I would have tried to console her and wipe her tears but not ever again would I do that. She was worse than a scheming bitch to me right now than I would ever have imagined."I am so sorry, Rose. It...It was never my intention." She said through teary eyes and severe blinking of her lashes."Selena, so you could do such a thing to me?!" My voice was bitter and laced with doubt as my cloudy eyes locked against hers."Despite all I've done for you all these years, you betrayed me in the most horrific manner ever? Ha!" Tears of obvious pain ran down my cheeks as I talked but it didn't matter. "When others made fun of you, it was I who stood by you, cared for you, and protected you, more as a sister than even a best friend, but look how you pay me back. When no one wanted to associate with you, I was there with you and supported you through your pain. But... But..." My voice broke down into distraught sobs."Rose," Selena sobbed, trying to take some steps closer to me but Jake held onto her tightly, like his life depended on it. Just how did he suddenly change? "I swear I didn't know," she cried."You didn't know?" I gazed at her through teary eyes that flashed with sudden pain and hatred. "Don't you dare tell me that crap!" I screamed."Rose please, I really didn't know. You have to believe me." Her hands clasped together in desperate plea. But I just couldn't believe her."I can't believe this! This... this is what I get in return after everything? I told you about my man, my life, and my plans. But you went behind me to date and even dared to marry him? Oh, how stupid of me to have ever considered you a friend. You're so evil and I'm never going to forgive you for this."I paused and silently looked at her from head to toe, then I leaned over to whisper behind her left ear. “I’m not giving up on Jake, so think twice before you go into this competition with me and baby, we would see who’s going to end up with the loser tag.” I leaned back and scoffed, dusted her wedding dress shoulder pad before I walked off, not sparing them another glance.So much for being a best-friend, you sly bitch…The moment I took a turn down another hallway, my phone beeped and I glanced at it to see it’s a message from an unknown individual.‘What do you want me to do to him?’I stopped in my strides, scoffing as I stared into space.“Dear best-friend, you’re so done for.” I murmured.SELENA'S POV"Are you okay?" Jake turned to me the moment Rose was gone, and I nodded slightly.How could I be okay? With all that's been going on since today?"Your cheek?" He continued, and I nodded again, feeling too upset to talk to him even though my cheek slightly hurt from the intensity of Rose's slap.How could he get me entangled in such a mess? Now Rose would never understand, and neither would she forgive me.I was momentarily touched when he took my side and yelled at Rose for slapping me, knowing fully well it's all for show. But the more I think of it now, the more upset I got."Men are scum," I blurted out making sure not to make eye contact with Jake but indirectly speaking to him.He sneered before turning to walk away, wanting to ignore me but I won't let him have that.And so I continued. " Why call off your engagement with your fiancé and then fake a relationship...do you think it’s fun to play with people's heart?” The words easily rolled off my tongue.But he sco
SELENA'S POVWhispers?Someone was whispering something close to me."I'm sorry Rose." I begged as she approached me with bloodshot eyes full of vengeance, aiming her gun at me while I screamed."Rose, please forgive me!""Shut your tramp, you piece of shit!" A male's voice cursed, and I woke up with a start, immediately feeling a horrible headache afterward.My eyelids felt heavy, and my head was spinning; it felt like it would split in two any moment from now.However, I slowly recollected the events of my wedding day and eventually, my kidnap.My eyes grew wider as I recalled the terrible dream I just had. Rose had been determined to end my life in that dream.But waking up to reality made me feel somewhat grateful for life. At least, no one was pointing a gun to my head at the moment.Well, I immediately regretted the thoughts when I finally got a clear view of my environment and situation.My hands were tied against a pillar, and I was seated on the bare floor with my back restin
JAKE'S POVI woke up with my head aching terribly. Someone was sobbing quietly beside me. My eyes snapped open, and I sat up instantly, looking around to see I was in a familiar room and was sitting upright on a soft medium-sized bed.I glanced beside me and immediately screamed when I saw the familiar face beside me. The only face I've been able to properly identify after many years of painful sufferings. What in the absolute heck was Selena doing beside me and almost naked?!She looked really rough, and her white dress was torn in several places, with stains of blood on her face, body, and dress. She gazed at me with eyes full of hatred and tears. "H-how could you do this to me?" She sobbed. And I glanced at her in confusion."I don't understand. What did I do?" My gaze traveled over her body and then around the room. I jumped off the bed when I found out this wasn't my room. But it was still a familiar room. Looking down at my body, I noticed I was only in my briefs and my inner ves
Selena's POVI sat still in my chair at the Marino’s family dinner. I should feel relaxed since I was one of them, but I could not. I would never feel relaxed because, one, I was seated beside Jake who began as if I was not there, and at my other side sat Kelvin, Jake’s brother, and in front of me was Nancy, who made it her mission of throwing me dagger looks. So, I was surrounded by enemies. The only thing was that Kelvin was trying to get me involved in their conversation.Apart from that, my whole body still ached. Jake had to force me down here so the family will not worry about my health. Everything was just a show for Jake, and I cannot believe I still loved this guy.“How come she landed in the hospital?” Nancy's voice snapped me back to the present, and I looked across to her. She was already sneering at me like it was my fault she was forced to be seated in front of me.“I told you not to bring the matter up again,” Mrs. Marino said, admonishing her daughter. She gave me a sm
Jake’s POVI still find it hard to believe that Rose could actually come to the house like that, like we were still together, and it hurts me that I had to hurt her always with my actions and words. She must never know the real truth; nobody knows the real truth, not even Selena.I looked at her briefly before concentrating on the road. She was asleep but was muttering words and sweating, so I put on the AC if it would help her. She does not deserve to actually pass through what she had. I could not remember the event that took place.How I saved her like she said or how I ended up in bed with her—I can't even remember having sex with her. I want to believe I would never do such a thing with Selena. This marriage was fake, only on paper till I get what I wanted. I needed Selena right beside me anyways.Was that selfish? That is life. Nothing comes easy in life; I see the world like a battlefield, where only the strongest survive, and I am all set on surviving, not just to survive now
Selena’s POVWhat the hell? I glared at Jake. What rubbish is he talking about? Hillary was a sweet person, a hardworking lady, a caring and loving mother to her son, and a good friend to me.He was rude to Hillary earlier, and knowing Hillary too well, I know she was offended. That was why she said nothing and just left the way she did. Jake had no right to talk down to any of my friends. No right at all.“You are married to a Marino. Don’t you think you need to be careful of who you call a friend?” Jake asked me.I felt like giving him a slap across his handsome face. I clenched my fist to avoid actually acting like I imagined. “Hillary is totally harmless, and Max is a sweet child.”“I wouldn’t say so,” Jake said.I closed my eyes and counted to ten, just as my aunt taught me to do in some uncontrollable situations. When I opened my eyes, I saw Jake looking at me like I have lost my mind. “You have no right to tell me who or not to associate with.” I paused and carried on before he
Jake's POV★FLASHBACK★“What’s going on here?” Mrs. Marino asked, walking into my office unnoticed. I quickly picked up the file from the ground, took my seat, and pretended to go through it, while Jeff just stared at me in disbelief.“Good day, ma’am,” Jeff said, realizing too late how he addressed my mom.“Ma’am? No... no, it’s mom,” Mrs. Marino stressed, correcting him. “Back to business, I came here to make sure you attend your blind dates, and mind you, number seven and nine are out of this country. Jeff, get the private jet ready,” my mom announced, strutting around my office.Sometimes I couldn’t help but forget my mom was once a model, but she always reminded me whenever she did the catwalk thing.“Yes, mom, I’ll get the jet ready, and I’ll tie him and drag him down to his dates if permitted,” Jeff pronounced his undying loyalty.“Permission granted!” Mrs. Marino gladly dished out. Jeff pulled out his tie from his collar, walking over to me, aiming to tie me down.“I’m not kn
Selena's POVI fell forward as I tripped over. I wasn’t expecting Jake to catch me, but he did. My front was pressed into his, and my braless breast felt his strong abs through the thin shirt of my nightdress. What was I thinking wearing such an exposed attire?My whole body was aware of his. I lifted my eyes to meet his, and we stood there, gazing at each other. My traitor of a body still craved his touch. The last time we were together, though I was in pain from the kidnap, I still felt Jake’s single touch on my body as I finally gave in to him.My tongue escaped my mouth and wet my suddenly dry lips, and I watched as Jake’s gaze followed this movement. My stupid heart got excited by this action. I mentally slapped myself to get normal. Instead of pushing away from him, I held on tight to him like he was my lifeline.Jake cleared his throat, which brought us both back to the hard reality of our situation. I can’t comprehend how we can easily go from barking at each other to being nic