Let Me Go

*Katherine*

I want to answer my Elena's call when Aria snatches the phone from my hand. 

“You are not picking up this call or any call from them today” she snaps “look at you, you are a mess. You need a break, already” 

I stay quiet for a second before letting out a loud sigh. I turn to look at her “Let me just answer the call. If I don't it's probably another problem. Let me answer” I brush my fingers through my blonde hair. 

“No, Kat. I won't let you. She has the nerve to call you after what she did to you.” she shakes her head “I'm turning off this phone in fact. At least for today, stay here with me” 

I want to fight and get the phone that somehow hasn't stopped ringing but I have no strength in me to fight at all. 

Aria leaves for work after some time. She works at a start-up food truck and her grandmother has just been sitting quiet on that wheel chair of hers. She doesn't speak. She hasn't spoken for a whole year now. 

While Aria is away, I read a book on her old brown couch. I'd attempted to leave but I couldn't without my phone and when I searched for my phone, I didn't find it where she dropped it. 

I also spend the night on her uncomfortable couch. When I turn on my phone the next morning, I see so many texts from my dad, Elena and my step mom. 

“I need to leave now” I say to Aria after reading some of the texts. 

“Why? You know you can stay here for as long as you want?” 

I look from her grandmother to the couch and to her. I can't. I know I shouldn't burden her. 

“No. Don't worry. I'll go back to our family house. I'll be fine. It's just for a while. Besides, I still have a job at the company” I say. 

She tries to persuade me otherwise but I persist. I ask her for a change of clothes—we have similar body build. She lends me a grey pair of joggers and a black t-shirt and I head out back home. Today is supposed to be my wedding day. 

I feel nervous but most importantly, I feel very sad and angry. Derek and Elena deserve each other anyway. I think back to the stranger I left in they clubhouse. He had a clean shave. I didn't know that gigolos could look that fine. 

No wonder…I shake my head to erase every thought of him from my head. I'm sure nobody goes around thinking about the guy they paid for a one time sex. 

In the taxi, I get calls from my father, then from Derek. But I don't pick any of them. 

Minutes later, the taxi stops in front of our black gate and I head in after paying him. The moment I walk into the house, I know instantly that something is wrong before anyone says a word.

My father is standing in a corner of the living room. So is Elena, her mother is sitting and even Derek is seated. They are all dressed up. Derek is dressed in a matching tuxedo with my father. My step mother is fully glammed up and in a matching dress with her daughter. 

When I walk in, I open my mouth to speak but before I can speak, my father slaps me so hard across my face. 

The sound cracks through the room.

Pain explodes across my face. My head snaps to the side. My ears ring.

“Where have you been?” he shouts. “Do you have no shame? You cheat on your fiance two days before your wedding then you show up late today of all days and keeping everyone waiting. How stupid can you be?”

I swallow, forcing my voice out. “I didn't do anything. I’m not getting married to him—”

My cuts me “shut up you ungrateful little brat. After all I did for you, is this how you want to repay me? By bringing shame to me and my wife?” 

“I—” I try to speak but Elena matches forward. 

“It's bad enough that you were caught but you are still lying” she says, shoving her phone to my face. I look at it. It's a picture of me entering the room with that stranger. 

I look up at her with so much hatred. I wish I could pull that stupid red hair of hers. I wish I could give her multiple slaps on her face…

“He’s the one who cheated—” I say with a cracked voice, pointing at Derek but another slap cuts me short.

This time, harder.

The room tilts more and I see tiny stars. I press my hand to my face. Tears fall whether I want them to or not. My vision blurs. My throat closes.

“The only thing you’ll eventually inherit is,” she says, “disease. Probably syphilis.”

Something breaks inside my chest.

“Now, you'll go and get ready to be married to Derek, now” my father barks. 

I sniff, drag my eyes to where Derek is. He appears so stiff and nonchalant. Elena has a smirk on her face and my father's angry face is waiting for me to move. 

“I will not marry Derek” I find myself saying. I wipe off my nostrils and try to avoid eye contact. My father doesn't reply immediately nor does anyone else. I take it as a win for a few seconds. 

I should leave immediately before they change their mind. As I turn around to leave, my father grabs my hand and pulls me back. 

“You must be joking, Kathrine. Do you know what the company and our family enjoys if you marry Derek.” my father barks. 

I wince at the pain he's creating on my wrist. “You are hurting me, let me go” I beg but the man doesn't hear my voice. 

“You are getting married to Derek whether you like it or not but first we should get you tested so you don't infest your husband. The guests will wait” my father says, still grabbing my wrist very tightly and he starts pulling out of the house. 

I struggle to go free “let me go, please. Let me go I won't marry him”