Chapter One: Dumped

(Song: Heartbreak Anniversary by Giveon)

BELLE

"Brandon." I murmured my fiance's name and cuddled closer.

"Go back to sleep, my love."

"You're going," I felt him shift away. "Don't go, stay awhile with me." I wrapped my arms around him, holding onto the warmth.

"I have to, baby. Our wedding starts in the next five hours," he kissed my hands, before lifting my arms from his body. "I don't want anyone to know I saw you before the wedding. I hear it's a bad omen." He whispered with a low chuckle, putting on his shirt.

"Five hours is a long time." I held his hand, my lips formed into a pout. "Come on, just an hour more." I said, hoping he would touch my one last time before our wedding.

He leaned a bit, kissing me full on the lips. "I didn't let you sleep enough last night," he said, hinting about our love making session. "After today, we won't be spending just hours, but the rest of our lives together," his hands on my cheeks, "I can't wait for you to become my wife and have our babies."

'I might be carrying one now.' I thought. I wasn't on birth control and he didn't wear a sheath. We made love four glorious times last night, so, there's every possibility.

"I love you."

"Love you too, Mrs King." He said in response as he went to the door.

After I heard the soft clicking sound of the door, I snuggled deeper into the sheets. I was smiling softly thinking about him. I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of the moment linger. Last night was pure magic.

It was just in a matter of hours, and I would officially become Mrs King.

************************

"Wake up, sleepyhead!" That was Samantha's voice. "You're getting married, baby!" She said in a raised voice, as she pushed open the curtains.

"Samantha!" I groaned as I turned my face to the pillow.

We have been friends since my first year at college and since then, she has always been the death of me. Today, she was my maid of honor.

"Get up, girl. It's your big day!" She pulled down the covers and exclaimed when she found me stark naked. "Where are your clothes?" Then she looked to see my nighties tossed carelessly at one end of the room and my lace panties on the night stand. She brought her face to mine, her eyes narrow. "Brandon was here last night, right?"

"I... He... He only came to say hello." I stuttered, biting my lips. I knew I was very terrible at telling lies.

"Hello? And there are tiny bites on your neck, boobs and thighs," she pointed out. "I can also see some in your belly. Hello indeed!" She snorted.

'Lord, this girl's eyes are very sharp.' I sighed.

"What's wrong with you two?" She continued. "Brandon was not meant to see you before the wedding. Not only did he set his eyes on you, he buried himself inside you."

I rolled my eyes. "Samantha, gosh! He's going to be my husband in some hours. There's nothing bad in what we did last night."

"Go have your shower, young woman. Your hair and makeup team will be here soon."

*********************

In no time, I was done with my hair and makeup. As a fashion stylist, Samantha helped me my wedding dress.

"How is my makeup, Sam?" I was looking at myself in the mirror.

"Perfect, baby. The makeup artist did a nice job. You look radiant." Samantha winked at me. "Brandon might eat his tongue when he sees you. I only hope he doesn't tear your clothes and take you on the altar."

I gasped. "Samantha, you're so vile."

"Shh, I'm still mad that Brandon saw you before the wedding. It's a bad omen."

This was the exact same thing Brandon said to me in the early hours of today.

"I don't believe that, Sam. It's not real."

She made me sit on the chair again. "For last touches, let's add some sparkly jewelry and fix your hair a bit. Your brother, Dillon will soon come here to walk you down the aisle. You know how grumpy he can get if we waste his time."

I laughed at what she said. Dillon was my brother and only family member. Our parents died in an autocrash three years ago.

As for my wedding with Brandon, I didn't want something extravagant or lavish. I was grateful that Brandon didn't want any of that as well. We had just twenty guests who were basically business associates and few friends. Samantha was my maid of honor and my only bridesmaid. Brandon had simply one groomsman who was also his best man.

"Voila! We're done. Let's go outside and wait for Dillon." She said, giving me a bouquet of flowers.

We waited for close to an hour and yet Dillon hasn't shown.

"What time is the wedding again?" Samantha asked, her fingers tapping on the table lightly.

"Nine am."

"Oh, wow! This is twenty minutes past ten." Samantha said, looking at her phone screen.

"Are you serious? What could be the problem?" I was getting nervous.

"Stay here. Let me go outside and know what is going on."

As Samantha was about leaving the room, Brandon's best man, Malcom burst in.

"Malcom, what's happening?" Samantha questioned him. Her hands on his shoulder.

"We're looking for Brandon. Is he here?" His eyes were everywhere, balls of sweat on his face.

"I'm sorry, what!" I rose up from my seat immediately. I wanted to be sure that I heard him clearly.

"The priest will cancel the wedding in the next thirty minutes if he fails to show up. Some of the guests have left."

"Have you tried calling him? Have you gone to his room?" I was getting frantic. My heart was pounding so fast.

"Belle, please calm down." Samantha came to my side, holding my hand.

"No, Sam." I shook my head. "I can't be calm." My anxiety was growing. 'Something was seriously wrong.' I thought.

"His line is dead. I don't think I have gone to his room though..."

I hurriedly went to my room. With shaky hands, I picked up my phone and dialed Brandon's number. It wasn't going through. I tried again for the second, third and fourth time and yet, it gave the same response. His line was dead.

"Why is he not answering? Where are you, Brandon?" I muttered to myself.

I went for his second line and it went straight to voicemail. My heart fell. He was deliberately avoiding my calls. Suddenly, I remembered his words as well as Samantha's, about the bad omen stuff. 'Maybe, I shouldn't have let him see me.'

I took a deep breath. I didn't want to think that Brandon would do this to me. Still in doubt, I went to his room. Samantha and Dillon were there already. They were not aware when I entered, because they had left the door open.

"That fucking bastard has the guts to embarrass my sister!" Dillon yelled. "I have always warned Belle about him, but no, she wouldn't listen. Now see." He rubbed his face in frustration, sighing. "The idiot has fled. His car is not outside."

"What do we tell Belle? She's going to be so broken."

I looked around, my gaze on the corners of his room. None of his stuff were anywhere. His room was empty.

My anxiety turned to panic when the realization hit me that Brandon had actually left me on our wedding day. Tears filled my eyes. My heart was slowly shattering into bits.

Suddenly, the room around me began to spin. I tried to reach out to hold onto something, but I couldn't.I felt myself falling and my phone slipped from my fingers. Everything went black. I was vaguely aware of the screams and the sound of my name being called. But it was all distant. I couldn't respond.

I was out cold, my body overwhelmed by the shock and heartbreak of Brandon's betrayal.