TWO

Melody’s POV

My phone won’t stop buzzing.

Right now, I’m supposed to be finalizing the seating chart for tomorrow. My wedding with Rick is tomorrow and it was just great that it was tied to Rick’s work trip in order to save some money. A Vegas chapel with a tasteful cocktail reception at the hotel ballroom isn't such a bad idea although it isn't exactly the wedding of my dreams, but it was practical.

I sit cross-legged on the suite’s overstuffed couch, my laptop balanced on one knee, half-drained mimosa in my hand. The bridal train went down for drinks. I stayed back, claiming a headache, but really, I just needed a minute.

A minute before I became Mrs. Rick Browning and to make sure everything for tomorrow goes well.

I shut my phone off to focus on the tasks I have to do but soon enough I need to check something out on the phone and so I turn it back on and immediately it starts to buzz again.

It starts with one notification then from there it starts to spiral totally. I open my text app and see a text from Cara asking, "Are you seeing this?"

The phone was literally having convulsions from the amount of texts I was getting. Some from close friends and others from the wedding guests and even some colleagues who knew about the wedding.

Whatever is the matter with everyone who was blowing up my phone?

I open another friend's text and there's a video link to a live stream from her. The thumbnail is of a dimly lit hotel room filled with flashing lights. And to my horror, Rick’s face.

My stomach drops immediately. I put the phone down and take in deep breaths. Why was I so scared? I think about not clicking the link. I should delete it without even glancing at what is about but I pick up the phone and I click it.

The screen lits up and sort of blinds me temporarily. My eyes finally focus and I see that Rick is shirtless, glassy-eyed, high as a kite, legs spread open wide on a bed surrounded by strippers who were touching him all over and on a closer look, I see that he is resting his head on one's butt while fumbling with another's breast.

I also see that there’s a line of cocaine on the nightstand. Do he was doing drugs and women a night before his wedding. The video continues to play and hear someone yell, “To Rick! Getting locked down tomorrow!”

Locked down? What the hell was that supposed to mean? They thought marriage was some sort of prison. I heard my heart crack a bit but I try to convince myself that it was just a bachelorette party. Crazy things happened all the time at parties like this but then, as if the universe hadn’t already punched me hard in the face enough, Rick grins straight at the camera, lifts a drink, and says,

“I'm only marrying her for the tax break bro. And to cover the expense of this whole trip. She makes too much money for me to let her walk away like that. That woman is loaded and I'm going to take my share!.”

The room explodes with laughter and I freeze. For a good long minute, I can’t breathe. I feel the heat of the tears coming but I hold it down with everything I have until a different kind of heat starts to crawl all over my body and it was not the sharp sting of tears so I let it stay. I was enraged. Enraged at the audacity of this man that I was about to get married to. No, scratch that because there isn't going to be a wedding. Not after a video like this exposing his true intentions about me and his reasons for wanting to getting married to me.

I watch the rest of the clip because I’m the kind of idiot who needs to see it through in order for me to actually get the scope of the message. And as the video progresses, it gets even worse. Things are said that can’t be unsaid. Stupid jokes about marriage being just a responsibility and deals about my money. Jokes about what a boring wife I’ll be. How Rick will “get his real fun on the road.” It is a lot and I sit down on my bed and listen to it all.

And the thing is I’m not even so surprised because somewhere deep down, I always knew Rick wasn’t the perfect fairytale but I just didn't realize that he was never even a fairytale to begin with.

The video finally ends and I try to steady my shaking hands. If anyone has told me that this was how my wedding night was going to play out, I would have grabbed the person by the hair and pulled them deep into the ocean.

I keep my phone aside and pull two hands down my face. I don’t cry and I don’t scream but I want to. I want to destroy something. Throw something. Break something but I don't cry or cry or throw my phone. Instead, I close my laptop, set my mimosa down, and let the fury settle in my bones and marinate deep down.

I want to kill Rick. Wrap my arms around his neck until it starts to snap. How I'm I going to face my friends, my colleagues at the office. Calling off the wedding with this type of reason that was already all over the Internet was going to be a messy one and I hate being involved in humiliating drama like this and Rick knows that.

It dawns on me then as clear as daylight, he never loved me. He only wants to get married because of the things he can get from me.

I get up from the bed, the anger already full. I was a fool but I am not one starting from now. I stomp my foot and start to walk.