TRUTH OR DARE: WHEN A QUEEN TAKES HER CROWN

CHAPTER 1

Scarlett

The days of waiting are finally over now that my wedding is a week away. I don't know if I'll be able to hold back my tears on that day but not even the number of cameras in my face will ever let me pull back my tears if they come.

Nothing is greater than getting married to the love of your life, or should I say, the man you've spent all the days of your life with.

Daniel Cross, my fiancè, is everything every woman in Windhoek would die to have as a husband, but he chose me, and I believed that was luck—until it ran out.

I was at the designer fitting my wedding dress because I couldn't risk anything going wrong on my big day. I mean our big day with my fiancè. But he couldn't make it because of a business meeting, so I asked my bestie Zoe to accompany me instead.

“You look just like the angel you are Scarlett," Zoe commented as I walked out of the fitting room.

“Are you being for real?" I asked my tears about fall down my face but I held them back.

“Yes, just look at how perfect this dress looks on you. Goodness, you must be a Goddess," Zoe smiled.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and could only imagine how amazing it was going to be on the actual big day. I softly rubbed my hand against my stomach that had a life growing inside it.

I've not told anyone because I was going to surprise them after the wedding. My mind just couldn't stop guessing what Daniel's reaction would be like.

The designer took a few measurements again before I went to remove the dress.

I came out of the dressing room, gave the dress to the designer, and then picked up my purse and phone from the table. I made my way to the car with Zoe.

I had burnt my finger so I wasn't able to drive myself. Luckily Zoe had a car and was free from work. We got into the car and Zoe started driving us back to the penthouse.

I looked at the time on my phone and noticed that Daniel would be knocking off in a few hours so I needed to go prepare dinner.

“Do you want us to stop for coffee?" Zoe asked, noticing how my face went pale.

“Yes, I really need that," I smiled.

“As if there was a time you didn't," she joked before the car stopped at our favorite cafe.

We got out of the car and were about to head inside when my eyes landed on something. A black Jeep with Daniel's plate number. My fiancè is at work I told myself before assuming it was his PA driving the car.

I stared at the car and then removed my phone to take a selfie. ‘I can't wait to be your wife’ I captioned it before sending it to Daniel.

I watched the message get delivered but Daniel didn't react. He's status went from online to offline right that very moment

“Excuse me, are you coming?" Zoe waved her hand in my face as I wasn't moving.

“Yeah wait. Isn't that Daniel's car?” I asked when she looked in the direction I was pointing.

"Yes, I think it's the one, but what would he be doing here?” Zoe asked.

“Wait, let me call him,” I said, dialing his number but the call went to voicemail.

"Is everything OK?” Zoe asked, noticing the worry on my face.

"No Daniel isn't—”

Before I could complete the sentence a message popped up on my screen from Daniel.

‘I’m in a meeting. Will get back to you later’

“What is he saying?" Zoe asked before I showed her the message.

“Uhmm I think it's true his PA is driving. Daniel wouldn't lie to me,” I said before we went to get our coffees.

We sat there talking about all the different things we wanted to be included in our reception. I could tell everything was going to be out of this world just by the description.

Our coffee finished, so we headed back to the car. Zoe drove me back home and then went to meet her client who had been calling since we were at the designer.

I walked into our penthouse and then closed the door before the maid came to welcome me.

“Ms. Brown I hope the fitting went well," she said with a smile on her face.

“Yes, it did. I will be preparing dinner tonight. Did you get the spices I placed on the grocery list?" I asked Mrs. Kael— Our maid.

"Yes I did but Mr. Cross called to let me know that he won't be coming home for dinner so I—”

“Daniel did what?" I looked at Mrs. Kael with shock.

"He said he wouldn't be here for dinner,” she repeated.

"When did he call you?”

"Just a few minutes before you walked in,” she replied and I was still surprised he didn't communicate that to me.

I was planning on preparing his favorite dish for him, and he just decided to tell the maid that he wasn't going to make it. I looked at the time and it read ‘17:00’

This was Daniel's knocking off time. Mrs. Kael got her things ready, and I took a seat on the sofa, trying to call Daniel, but all my calls were being rejected.

A part of me was already worried. It wasn't like Daniel to reject my calls or even let them ring more than twice. Could something be going on at the office?

I stood up from the couch and made my way upstairs. I was certain Daniel would be home by the time I finished taking my shower but the room was just the way I left it.

I applied my lotion and then dressed up before heading downstairs to take my food but I just don't know why everything I've been overlooking came into my head.

I placed the plate back into the fridge and then went to take a seat on the sofa, waiting for a knock to sound on the door, but nothing came until the next morning.

I heard a knock on the door and quickly rushed to get it when Mrs. Kael walked in and then greeted me.

I looked at the time, and it was about 7. I don't even know how I managed to spend the night on the sofa. I made my way upstairs and then got into bed since I was still feeling exhausted.

I tried to close my eyes but the thought of Daniel not spending the night at home was just worrying. It wasn't like him not to update me on all the things that had been going on at the company.

I was about to dial his number again when the door opened, and Daniel walked in looking tired. The smell of alcohol engulfed him like it was in some wine bottle.

“Babe," I jumped out of the bed about to hold his arm when he said, “ Don't touch me bitch!"