CHAPTER 2: Rejected At The Altar

***SERENA***

“Dad, I swear to you. I was almost raped, and I'm sure that Shania had something to do with it, she was definitely in on this.”

I was trying to explain, but no one seemed to be listening to me. Tears started streaming down my face when Shania's mum, 'my stepmother’ glared at me with great disgust.

"Stop with all the lies, Serena. We all know how much Shania cares about you,” she muttered, her lips parting slightly. “When are you ever going to get over yourself?”

I stepped back and nodded as the tears flowed freely.

My father seemed to have completely settled in his head that all I was saying was some kind of made-up story.

I wished that was true. Then, I wouldn't be filled with so much hurt and disgust.

"But dad—"

The accusing look in his eyes, followed by his warning, cut me off immediately, and I just stared on with tears in my eyes and my heart aching like I would have heart failure anytime soon.

"No more words from you, Serena."

Then he turned to face Shania who had just entered the room. "Please make sure no one gets a whiff of what happened, especially the media and the Silver family."

"Yes, father."

She smiled mischievously and I wondered if no one else had eyes to see through her glamor. It was written all over her.

“And Stuart's grandfather, he really…”

Before he could finish, my stepmother tugged his shirt slightly.

Silence stretched in the room.

"Dad?"

I called and he raised his eyes to meet mine.

"You were going to talk about how Stuart's grandfather did something but hesitated? Is there —"

"Serena, you ask too many questions!"

My dad banged his hand on the table, and I gasped before taking another step backward.

This man was no longer my father, I think my father died alongside my mum because his whole new attitude seemed too out worldly.

I could tell at that moment that they all knew something, and they were trying their best to keep it from me.

"Alright,” I said simply, shaking my head. “I believe if Mum was alive, you would say exactly this. Or wait, you wouldn't. You would have—"

I felt a burning sensation on my cheeks, and I whimpered as he glared at me like I had said a forbidden word.

Of course, I had. Mentioning my mum was a taboo of its own.

"Don't you ever think of mentioning your mother's name to me?"

The tears rolled down my cheeks, and I nodded as I began taking slow steps out of the room.

✷⁠✷✷⁠✷

A tight knot pulling at my back was what brought me back to reality. It was my wedding day, and I could say that it was also the saddest day of my life.

I let out a sharp gasp as the corset tightened, and the iron buttons pinched my skin.

They tightened it yet again so my stomach and waist looked snatched and perfect for the Silvers.

The perfect bride, that's who they were creating.

I was standing, void of emotions staring at myself in the mirror as I tried to think of what would become of me after this marriage.

The trauma of almost being raped replayed in my head, then a tap on my shoulder disrupted my thoughts.

"A little more smile would be needed on your face, Serena."

I scoffed, swerving to meet the owner of the voice, who was unmistakably my half-sister.

Some of the bridesmaids agreed with what she said, so I nodded, unable to say a thing, when my eyes fell on a red lipstick lying on top of the makeup table, and an idea creeped into my head.

"Of course, a smile is needed."

I removed the cap of the lipstick and drew an arc with it from the right corner of my lips till it got to my cheeks, just above the blush area.

I repeated the same procedure on the right side, and there, a big red smile formed.

"Is it better now?"

They gasped when I turned to face them, and my stepmother freaked out, grabbing a paper tissue.

"You spoiled ungrateful child. You can't even try to behave properly on this day. Do you need me to remind you that you would be disowned from this family if you sabotage anything?"

She wiped off my smile and in the process of wiping it off, she was wiping off the heavy makeup on my face.

I could barely recognize my face as I stared at the mirror a few minutes back, but now that she had wiped it off, my lips curved up in a smile.

A real smile this time, one that was made out of satisfaction.

"Now your makeup is ruined and we have to start all over."

The makeup artist sighed, and I made a mental note to apologize to her after everything was over.

"At least, I didn't wipe it off myself," I mumbled to myself.

"It's a few minutes to the bride's procession, I'm afraid she'll have to go in with her natural face,” the make-up artist advised. “We don't have the time to start the session all over."

I grinned though they didn't notice, and just in that moment, the priest announced the entering of the bride over the speaker, and a bouquet was pushed into my hands.

"Look at the brighter side, girl. You'll be away from your family issues."

Ana, my best friend and chief-bridesmaid, whispered into my ears, and I chuckled lightly.

She was the only one truly on my side in the whole room.

***

Minutes later, I found myself standing in front of my groom, and vows were being exchanged.

With every look he gave me, my heart did a little thump.

He was about to slide the ring onto my finger when his groomsman stepped closer and whispered something into his ear.

He paused like he was in contemplation and pivoted to face the priest.

"I don't think we would be able to go through with the wedding."

My face contorted in surprise, and before I could think, he stepped forward to the microphone.

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for gracing my wedding, but unfortunately, there would be no wedding taking place."

Murmurs and gasps filled the hall and I just stood there, too surprised to say a word.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see my parents in a low argument with his parents, the soft smirk on Shania's face, but the most disturbing one was the pair of familiar grey eyes staring at me with a smile that seemed so maniacal from the congregation. My breath hitched when I caught on—it was the same man that rescued me yesterday.