Chapter 2: Betrayal

Ariana's POV

"Melody, if this is a joke, it's not funny. It's my big day for crying out loud. People will think it's true," I said, my voice a whisper as I stared at Melody with confusion in my eyes.

There was murmuring among the gathered guests as Melody stood in front of the altar with her back facing the crowd. 

"Ariana, this is not one of my jokes. Tell Jeremy the truth. You are pregnant and you know it," I heard Melody say, staring at me like I had something to hide. 

I could read the confusion, pain and anger Jeremy was doing everything to suppress as he stared at me, looking shocked by what was happening.  This was no longer funny. I decided to defend myself. I was not sure why, Melody, whom I have known for 6 years, would choose to do this to me on my wedding day. I closed the little gap between myself and Jeremy and dropped my flower to the floor. I rested my hand on Jeremy's chest and gazed into his eyes. I could read the pain in his eyes even though he was silent.

"Jeremy, I am not pregnant," I dropped the words out of my mouth and shifted my gaze to Melody. "Melody, what are you doing? Why are you doing this?" I asked her.

I felt Jeremy's hand on mine. I shifted my gaze back to him and he peeled my hands off his chest. He took a step back away from me to my shock.

Does this mean, he believed what Melody said without any proof? I stared in horror at Jeremy and Melody's voice draw my attention to her again. 

"I found this in Ariana's apartment while I was dressing up," Melody said and gave an envelope to Jeremy.

I wondered if she read my mind, above having any proof to support her claim. I wondered what was in the envelope. I watched Jeremy accept the envelope from Melody. I became tense. My heart was already racing in my chest with all that was happening. Surprisingly, the priest stood there holding his book to his chest, watching with no expression on his face. It was like he was waiting to see who would win, and he would just continue with the ceremony or maybe leave. 

The gathered guests were still murmuring. Some had their phones up already taking videos, but that didn't bother me. I was just wondering why Melody was doing this to me. Why would she tell such a lie about me? I had never been with a man. How could I be pregnant? Last I checked, I am not the Virgin Mary. She was the only woman who got pregnant without a man. Everyone else needed a man to be pregnant or at least something from a man to get pregnant.

"Melody, what are you doing?" I asked again as Jeremy tore open the envelope in his hands. "What are you talking about?" I asked, looking agitated, also wondering what was in the envelope Melody as just given to Jeremy.

Melody stood there with a smirk on her face as she stared at me like we were enemies from Adam. I saw Jeremy frown after staring at a piece of paper he had drawn out of the envelope. 

Was that proof that I was pregnant? That was impossible. I thought, staring at Jeremy.

"Ariana, we have never slept together. You told me you wanted to keep yourself for after we are married. Explain this to me," Jeremy's accusing voice cuts through my mind like a hot knife in butter. 

He threw the paper in my face, and it fell before I could catch it. I picked it up and could see a mocking smile on Melody's face, but it quickly turned into a frown when I stood up straight with the paper in hand. 

The content had my name and pregnancy test results which read positive. I looked at the date and it was dated a week ago. I looked at the name of the hospital and recognised it. I visited the hospital two weeks ago, but it was only for a routine medical check-up requested by the restaurant where I worked. I picked up the results a week ago.

"Jeremy, believe me. I am not pregnant. I have not been with any man. I am still a virgin," I said to Jeremy, because it was the truth. "I don't know where Melody got this from, but I promise you. I am not pregnant," I said and tried to hold Jeremy's hand, but he quickly withdrew his hand. 

"So what is this, and why does it have your name on it? And what was it doing in your apartment?" Jeremy asked multiple questions at the same time, staring at me with a look of betrayal registered in his eyes, accompanied by anger.

"Jeremy, believe me. I am not pregnant, and I don't know anything about this. I have never seen this before. I never took any tests. A week ago, I went to this hospital to pick up the routine medical examination report for the restaurant where I worked. Nothing more," I defended even though the details of the paper were glaring at me. "This might be a mistake. I am not pregnant," I insisted, and Jeremy just stared at me.

"Fine, if you are not pregnant like you say, I think you wouldn't mind taking a test then to prove your innocence?" Melody said to my shock, and Jeremy stared at me like he was waiting to see my reaction to Melody's suggestion.

I knew if I said no, he would conclude I was indeed pregnant and trying to hide it. Melody immediately brought out a pregnancy test kit from her bag and offered it to me, to my surprise. She came prepared, and it only makes me wonder what she was trying to achieve by all of this.

"Melody, why are you doing this to me? I thought you were my friend?" I questioned, surprised by Melody's behaviour on my wedding day.

I stared at the pregnancy test kit Melody was holding out to me and shifted my gaze to Melody who looked like she was not backing down. My gaze shifted to Jeremy. He stared at me like he was waiting for me to prove my innocence before he would believe me.

"Ariana, you know me. I can't stand liars, irrespective of my relationship with them," Melody said. "If you are not pregnant, why are you scared to take a test?" she asked, and I frowned.

"I would prove it to you. I am not pregnant," I said angrily and accepted the pregnancy test kit from Melody.

I stepped down from the small stage and headed for the washroom. Melody and Jeremy followed me, leaving the guests to murmur some more among themselves. 

I was very sure I was not pregnant because I was still a virgin. I was going to prove it to them, and if this was some sick joke from Melody, I was going to be mad at her. I enter the washroom, enter one of the empty cubicles and read the instructions on the pregnancy test kit before using it. I stepped out of the cubicle with the cartridge, waiting for the results to show. Melody was already there waiting for me.

"Let's see the results," Melody said to me, and I stared at her angrily but said nothing.

In a couple of seconds, I will understand what all of this was about and I will tell Melody my piece of mind. I placed the cartridge on the sink, waiting for the time allowed to pass. To my surprise, the result read positive. I frowned immediately, and Melody stared at me. I was immediately confused by what I was looking at. I picked up the cartridge and stared at the two red lines with surprise and confusion registered on my face.

"No, this must be wrong. I have not been with any man," I insisted, still staring at the cartridge.

Melody said nothing but snatched the cartridge from me and headed for the door. I followed her calling after her but I got to her a little too late. Melody opened the door and gave the cartridge to Jeremy. He was standing right behind the washroom door.

"See for yourself," I heard Melody say, and I froze in my steps as my gaze fell on Jeremy.

Jeremy shifted his gaze from the cartridge to me and tossed the cartridge aside. He felt betrayed, and he was right to feel that way, but the truth is I don't know how I was pregnant when I had not been with any man.

"I am cancelling the wedding," I heard Jeremy say before the door closed by itself, separating me from Melody and Jeremy. 

I placed both hands on the back of the door and slowly rested my head on the door. I had multiple questions running through my head.

"You don't have to. I am the woman looking out for you. I don't mind taking Ariana's place," I heard Melody say. "Don't let all that money spent go to waste," she added.

"Ariana is your best friend. You exposed her publicly like this, and I know you never liked me. So why are you standing up for me after Ariana cheated on me?" I heard Jeremy ask.

"I am a daughter of a Thompson. My family is well-to-do, and we have good business connections. I can be of great help to you at your new workplace," I heard Melody say. "Besides, I hate liars, and Ariana turns out to be a liar and a cheat," she added.

"Okay," I heard Jeremy say, and my heart shattered into multiple pieces.

I heard their footsteps walking away while I remained inside the washroom with my head on the back of the closed door.

I remained in the washroom, unable to come out. Clearly, Melody took advantage of my situation but I had one question on my mind.

"How is this possible? How did I get pregnant while still a virgin?" I asked, and next, I heard the people cheering, and the party poppers meant for me going off.

It was supposed to be my wedding day. Does it mean Jeremy married Melody in my place? I thought and sank to the floor in my wedding gown. 

I stayed in the washroom till the place was quiet, and I finally came out. I walked to the place of the ceremony and found it empty. Everyone was gone, and the decorations and everything had been removed. I started walking towards home in my gown, my face stained with tears. I had my head lowered as I walked away.