CHAPTER TWO

Liam's POV

"It's time to throw a bouquet," I heard the cheerful MC call out, "I want every single lady to be here." 

"I want to remind you of the law of bouquet throwing," the MC said playfully, while most young people in the ballroom scream for joy.

 “Tell us,” they shouted, their voices filling the hall. 

“The lady who catches the bouquet is getting married this year,” the MC said and there was a riot of laughter in the ballroom.

 Most of the ladies at the reception, including the bridesmaids, came out to catch the bouquet. 

"With clapping ovations, we welcome our newest bride, today's beautiful bride, to throw the bouquet," he said, and noise and screams filled the air as Asher walked elegantly to the dance floor. 

“Okay ladies,” on the count of three let’s see who catches the bouquet". 

The ladies on the dance floor held out their hands, ready to catch the bouquet. But when the count reached zero, something happened that no one expected, wind entered the ballroom and blew the bouquet in the air through the ballroom. Everyone gasped as the bouquet flowed over their heads, a lady in the congregation was able to catch it.

 "The beautiful lady, the one who caught the Bouquet, come out, let your beautiful face be seen." The MC, like everyone, turns his attention to the congregation to take a look at the lady who catches the Bouquet.

 The bouquet landed in the hand of the person I least expected at my wedding, my first love, Lucy, the one I thought was dead and who made it hard for me to love again. 

“Lucy,” I screamed, almost forgetting about my wedding. 

All attention was on me as I screamed her name, I froze on the spot not knowing what to do.

She gave the bouquet to one of the bride's maids and walked back to her seat, all eyes following her to her seat.

Lucy was a woman I loved so much, she is smart, pretty and intelligent. She relocated with her family and I never heard from her again. Later, I heard that she was dead and that made me not have the desire to fall in love again because my love for her was really strong. Losing her makes me reluctant to let anyone else into my heart.

 I could feel my love for her rekindling. Everything I had for her came rushing back,  she is still as beautiful as before with the slim stature I had always admired in her.

 Then I heard the MC voice "Can we move on to the next show"? 

I jolted out of my daze as I heard the voice of the MC . I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. 

"Yes" I replied quietly as I discovered I had created a scene for my wedding.

I could feel my parents' eyes on me but I couldn't bring myself to look at them.

"Who is she?" Asher asked quietly as she came back to join me where we were seating

“The woman I had loved,” I replied. 

“I don’t think this arranged marriage can work,” I said, and I could see tears welling up in her eyes. 

"Asher, this marriage was just to please our parents, my heart belongs to someone else" I said with so much pain in my voice.

"I heard the only woman you ever love is dead," Asher asked with all seriousness, her eyes fixed on mine.

"Yes," I said softly.

"I thought she was dead too but seeing her alive is like a dream to me".

“Can we just get the wedding over with?” said Asher.

 "We can't disappoint or embarrass our parents, you know," Asher said.

 “Yes,” I mumbled.

“Please let the wedding end and we discuss this later” She said again, and all I did was nod.

I could see the pain in Asher's face as she tried to concentrate on the next program

 "Time for the last dance floor,” announced the MC.

 I reluctantly took Asher's hand to dance, but honestly I couldn't concentrate, and to make matters worse, Lucy came onto the dance floor to spray us dollars.

This was the same Lucy that her family struggled to make ends meet.

I remember my father telling me I can't marry her because she is from a poor background.

"You will never marry that pauper while I'm still breathing" My father would always shout at me whenever he caught me in her company. He made it clear he will never approve our relationship and this always left me frustrated.

"Her family is a gold digger, she will drain you and flee" My mom would say to support my dad.

They later agreed I would marry Lucy when my health started to deteriorate. But not long after, Lucy relocated and I never heard anything about her. I later heard rumors that she was dead, and because of the love I had for her, I find it difficult to open my heart to anyone else, even to the billionaires' daughters my mom urged me to marry.

My marriage was arranged when my parents realized I am hesitant to fall in love.

I rejected the marriage at first but later gave in after so many pleas and tears from my mother who lamented that I never want her to have grandchildren because I was their only child.

Although seeing Lucy now, she doesn't seem to be bothered, my heart is still aching for her. "Is she married?" I wondered as I felt around for a wedding ring on her fingers but I couldn't find and felt peace within me even though being without a ring doesn't mean you are not in a relationship.

This was the lady I thought was dead and here she is. 

I whispered to Lucy. "How? I believed you had passed away. I was sad for you". I could hardly get the words out, and my voice was shaking.

"How could you do this to me?" I said again quietly to avoid being heard by our well wishers.

 Though all I felt was hurt and confusion, I wanted to be furious. 

"I never died," she uttered in a chilly, detached tone. "I simply relocated. I had to leave you behind. 

Asher gave me a look as if to suggest that this isn't the woman you should go back to.