Chapter Three

LISA

A week after Mona's engagement. Everybody in the house seems to be very happy with how smoothly things are going. I keep sneaking glances at Mona,who smiles brightly enough to fool everybody but me.

"Stop slouching," mama whispers and I straighten. See shakes her head and continues chatting with the Countess,the Earl's wife who they invited for lunch.

"So Lisa,I hope you won't get bored when your sister leaves for her own house,I understand the two of you have been inseparable since birth."

The countess says politely.

"Of course I'll miss her," I smile at her.

"Well,it won't be long until you're in the same situation."

I choke on my food at the words that just left her mouth.

"W-what?" I stutter.

"You'll also have a chosen suitor soon,like the Earl's son. You too seemed to get along quiet well,don't you think so,Mara?" Mama asks the countess.

"Uhm." She clears her throat.

"Is anything wrong, Mara?" Papa asks and silence falls over the table.

"Well you see," she dabs the corner of her mouth with a napkin. "Patrick had a change of mind."

"What? But why?" Mona asks.

When the countess doesn't answer,everyone's eyes land on me, including hers.

"Lisa,what happened?" When I don't answer mama,the Countess speaks.

"It seemed like Lisa said something that seemed to upset my son very much."

She eyes me knowingly but doesn't out me.

"What did you say to him Lisa? Were you rude to the Earl's son?"

My mouth opens and closes three times.

"Maybe he just felt they weren't a good match. Lisa will find another good man because she's not only beautiful,but she's intelligent too," Mona smiles at me.

I silently mouth a, "Thank you."

* *The Wedding Day* *

After the countess left,I was cornered by my family, wanting to know what I said to Patrick,but all I said was, "I told him the truth he so needed to hear."

Of course that didn't please my parents,so they pushed the time of finding the perfect match for me and assured I wouldn't get out of it easily this time around.

That conversation left a sour taste in my mouth until now.

I sigh while looking around the room. Today is Lord Lore and Mona's wedding day. The light of the event herself,seems to be genuinely happy. She's warmed up to the decision of marrying Lord Lore and I don't blame her. He's very kind and handsome,she's lucky to have been picked by a wealthy man with such qualities of a gentleman.

"Miss,we need to do your makeup now," Asah says.

"Can't one of you do it?" Why do I need two people to fix me up anyway?

They both look me me blankly.

"Okay," I sigh and walk over to sit at the make-up desk.

Minutes later,I'm done and stand to twirl in the perfect silky pink dress and high heels.

"You look wonderful miss." Stella,who is Mona's personal maid compliments.

"Thank you Stella," I smile warmly. Now that Mona is leaving,I don't know what will happen to Stella,she'll obviously have to leave.

The doors burst open and Suzana stands there, scanning me from head to toe.

"Perfecto. Now,we have to go before we run late."

She gives me way and I walk out the doors.

The Hall is packed,rich perfume and silence fills the atmosphere as the groom stands at the isle waiting for his bride.

Two minutes,

Three minutes,

Five minutes.

And there's no sign of Mona.

Whispers start as Mama's phone vibrates. Papa's name flashes on the screen and something she reads has her tensing.

I dial Mona's number,it's ringing so I decide to step out.

"Where are you going?" Mama hisses in a whisper.

"To find out what you're hiding from me." I look her in the eyes.

"Don't you dare ruin this Lisa," she grips my wrist in a steel hold,then let's go when she realizes I'm in a standing position and everyone is watching us.

I snort.

"Oh please mama,don't start,I'm not as evil as you try to paint me."

Then I'm walking out of the church doors with everyone watching my every step.

I get to the bride's dressing room and walk in without knocking. Papa stops whatever he was saying to Simone,my uncle. I move closer and see the trickle of sweat on his temple.

"Papa?"

"What are you doing in here Lisa?" Uncle Simone asks.

"People are getting restless out there,the Lord is running out of patience. He's been waiting at the isle for over five minutes.

The doors burst open and Mama walks in with shaky hands.

"Henry,the Lord's family is starting to get angry, they're calling it an insult to keep him standing at the isle waiting for our daughter."

I bring out my phone and dial Mona's number but she doesn't pick up. After three more dials,her phone goes off.

I slide it from my ear and find expectant eyes watching me.

"Anything?" Uncle asks.

I shake my head no.

"Her phone just went off."

Mama lets out a frustrated,shaky breath.

"Did you tell your sister to back out of the wedding?"

I look at her in disbelief.

"Rose,it's not our daughters fault, if Mona chose to run away,then it's her fault and yours because you gave her too much freedom on this important day."

A knock sounds on the door and everyone pauses,uncle Simone clears his throat and says,

"Come in."

Asah walks in with a pale face.

"Asah?" I rush to her. "Your face is draining of color,what is it?"

Uncle hands her a glass of water and she gulps half of it.

"You're shaking,take a seat." She does and looks up with tears in her eyes.

"It's miss Mona."

"What about Mona?" Mama asks.

"She said she couldn't do this and ran away."

"No," mama whispers.

"A motorcycle picked her up and left."

I hear a grunt and then the shuttering of glasses behind me. I turn on time to find uncle catching papa,who almost fell down with a hand placed on the left side of his chest.

"Papa!" I rush to his side with panic gripping my heart tightly.

Uncle seats papa in a chair and hands him water.

"What's wrong with him?"

"He's going to have a heart attack. We need to find Mona."

"You won't." Asah speaks from my side, gaining everyone's attention.

"What do you mean?" Papa stands against everyone's advise.

"She said not to look for her because you won't find her."

Uncle's phone starts ringing and he panics. Papa turns away and places his hand on the left side of his chest again,as for mama,she can't seem to stop crying.

"It's over,we are going to be disgraced. Everything I've worked so hard for is crumbling right in front of my eyes." Papa says with so much emotion that anytime soon,we all expect tears to burst from his eyes.

Seeing my parents in so much pain has me hurting too. I think about how hard papa rose from the ashes his father left,how he proved those who thought the family was going to be nothing,wrong. He might be hard on me most of the time,but he's still my father, I won't let him be dishonored,laughed at and embarrassed until he dies of a heart attack when I can do something about it.

I take a step forward,as everyone focuses on drowning in their own sorrow.

"I can do it papa," I say loud enough for everyone to hear.

They all turn to me with shocked eyes, as if I've grown two extra heads.

"I can marry Lord Lore as Mona."