Chapter 5: The Day Sky Fell

The guard stood in the doorway, a bouquet tucked under one arm and a neatly wrapped box balanced in the other.

“Oh… it’s you. I wasn’t expecting you today.” She forced a shaky smile, trying to hide how startled she felt.

He usually worked at the warehouse, supervising in her father’s absence.

He didn’t linger around the clock, but her father often sent him home whenever a family member was alone, as he was one of his most trusted people among all the workers and guards.

This time, he must have been dispatched again.

His expression remained calm and professional. “Hi, ma’am. Boss Evan Grant sent this parcel for you.”

Jenna froze, blinking at the bouquet and the neatly wrapped box, her heart skipping a beat. Curiosity and unease twisted together in her chest, leaving her momentarily speechless.

“Evan?” she whispered, barely audible. Pulling the phone from her ear, she glanced at the screen, only to see it glaring back at her, the call had been cut. Her eyebrow twitched in confusion.

Was he holding the call just to end it himself? Did he really time it, dropping the line right as his gift appeared at my door?

The bouquet’s fragrance rolled through the air, sweet, almost cloying, pulling her into the impossible reality.

“Please… take them inside,” the guard said quietly, shifting his weight slightly, as if sensing her hesitation.

She reached for the bouquet, her fingers trembling. Each petal felt charged, like a warning she didn’t yet understand. “Th… thank you,” she stammered in an uneven voice.

The guard nodded once, handing her the box as well. She carefully took it from him.

Just as he turned to leave, she stopped him.

“Did Dad send you here?” Her tone carried both curiosity and caution, as though she couldn’t decide whether to hope he lingered or wished he would go.

He paused, looking back over his shoulder, his coat swaying slightly. “Yes, ma’am. The gatekeeper’s shift will end in fifteen minutes, and your dad is late, so he sent me to watch over the house.”

His voice was calm and neutral.

She nodded, a small measure of relief settling over her. “It’s okay… Thank you so much again.”

He inclined his head once more, then finally left. The soft click of the door echoed behind him as she shut it.

She set the bouquet and box gently on the bed, her chest tightening with every second, the scent of the flowers filling the room, almost suffocating in its intensity.

The phone was still in her hand, forgotten until her grip tightened around it. Frustration surged through her, her gaze roaming helplessly around the room.

Damn him! He has even started throwing things at me, just like he once hurled himself on me!

The thought burned through her skull as she threw the phone onto the bed, her fingers tangling in her hair.

She clenched her jaw tightly until the muscles in her neck strained. He was only creating problems for her, nothing else, because…

She couldn't let him ever come closer to her, especially after the day she met him in person and the way he treated her with rudeness and threats.

If you ever knew how much I despise you, you wouldn’t waste money on flowers and jewels, you’d send me poison to swallow instead!

The words hissed in her head as she dropped onto the edge of the bed, dragging in a shaky breath.

Her heart thudded painfully, the bouquet’s sweet scent filling the room, almost choking her.

She poured herself a glass of water, then picked up her coffee cup and sipped, trying to steady herself.

Her eyes drifted between the phone and the bed where the bouquet and box waited.

The air felt dense, heavy, pressing against her chest. Her pulse thumped in her temples.

Despite her anger, curiosity clawed at her, pulling her closer to the gifts she didn’t want to confront.

The silence pressed in, broken only by the faint hum of the lamp. Then suddenly, her phone buzzed beside her, the screen flaring to life.

A new message.

She tapped it open, and the words bled across the screen, making her breath stall.

“I never held an engagement for us. This will be it, your engagement gift. Engagements mean nothing to me, kitten; only marriage secures what’s mine. Now open the box and tell me, do you like it?”

A shiver ran down her spine. She set the coffee cup aside and reached for the box, curious to know what kind of “engagement gift” this was.

Her fingers trembled as she lifted the lid. Her breath caught. Inside lay a delicate necklace, its chain gleaming like liquid silver.

At its center, a tiny crown of diamonds sparkled, catching the lamplight and scattering rainbows across the room.

Next to it, nestled in velvet, were matching earrings, a bracelet, and a ring, each adorned with the same miniature crowns, glinting impossibly.

A small engraving on the back of the necklace read “J.E.”

She lifted the pieces carefully, the cold weight of the diamonds pressing into her palm.

The bouquet’s presence seemed to carry his presence. This was more than a gift, it was a proclamation. A claim. Her pulse raced with fear, disbelief, and something she didn’t dare name.

“That’s… so expensive… really breathtaking,” she unknowingly whispered, her fingers hovering over the set, afraid to touch too roughly.

Her eyes sparkled, and without realizing it, a small smile spread across her face, captivated despite herself.

For a moment, she just stared, the phone resting in her lap, completely mesmerized by the glittering treasures before her.

She took the phone in her hand and began to type a message on her screen, her fingers hesitating over the keyboard.

“I don’t know what to say. I hate that it comes from you… but the gifts… they are precious.”

She read it twice, her thumb hovering over send, her chest tightening. Am I really about to let him know that?

She exhaled sharply, deleting a word, retyping, then staring again at the glittering set in her lap. The diamonds caught the light, like they were mocking her, daring her to admit what she felt.

With a frustrated sigh, she added more.

“You make my life hell, Evan, yet you send me something so perfect I can’t stop staring at it. I hate you for that too.”

She bit her lip hard, reading it back. It was too much honesty, too much of herself on the screen, but before she could change her mind, her thumb pressed send.

The message flew off, and instantly her stomach knotted, dread and relief crashing together in her chest.

***********

A month slipped by, each day heavy with the same rhythm, rules to follow, orders to obey. Jenna complied because there was no other choice.

The wedding preparations were finished, every detail checked off. Shopping trips, fittings, endless lists completed one after another.

Most had been done with Evan, but mercy spared her from being left alone with him. His parents were always there.

As their only son, they made it a point to accompany him to special outings. His mother had explained it once, her voice warm as she shared family routines.

If his father couldn’t manage, she said she would go instead. Twice, that had been the case.

Evan’s attachment to his mother was striking; he rarely seemed to want time without her.

That unexpected tenderness unsettled Jenna, leaving her unsure. Maybe that was the only reason he hadn’t cornered her.

But deep down, doubt stirred, like a slow burn in her chest. If he truly meant to torment me, he wouldn’t have brought his parents along.

He would’ve taken me somewhere alone, cornered me, broken me in silence, the way only he could when his pride flared. Or maybe he could still be rude, even in front of them.

That arrogance, that unspoken power, hovered at the edge of her mind, like a shadow she couldn’t shake.

The last sharp exchange with him had been over the gifts, the necklace, the message, and her reply, harsher than she’d intended.

The message was marked as read, but nothing followed. No words. No reaction. As if he had dismissed it entirely. He really didn’t care, did he? Even then, silence was his answer. His control.

Questions churned through her mind, days blurring together, until finally the day arrived.

She was about to become his bride, standing on the edge of a life she hadn’t chosen. The weight pressed down in silence, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

Her mother’s gentle voice cut through, smoothing a fold of her daughter’s dress. “Jenna… it’s time,” she murmured.

Jenna’s fingers trembled as she nodded, drawing in a shaky breath. Today, the vows, the ceremony, everything she dreaded, was here.

Seated on the stool in the salon, dazzling in her gown, Jenna felt her mother’s presence close, unwilling to leave her side. She shut her eyes tightly, and opened them again, holding back the tears threatening to spill.

Her mother offered a fragile smile and pulled her into a careful embrace.

“Your mom loves you so much, Jenna. Keep your heart open for me, dear. Never doubt it.”

Her hand moved slowly over Jenna’s back, as she whispered, voice quivering, “Forgive me for this sacrifice. I had nothing to give, my love… I could do nothing.”

Jenna pulled back, shaking her head, her hands closing gently around her mother’s.

“I have no complaints, Mom. Forgiveness is for the guilty. You’re not at fault. Please… don’t make me feel ashamed.”

Tears shimmered between them, a crooked smile lifted Jenna’s cheek. She let her hands rest in her mother’s, seeking strength.

“I wish… some miracle could rescue me,” she whispered, lips trembling, as her mother’s gentle pats offered faint comfort. The words clearly left a mark.

“Don’t worry, dear. Nothing bad will happen. We’re with you. Keep hope alive, and trust God,” her mother said, cupping her arms.

Jenna met her gaze, eyes heavy with sorrow, but clinging to a thread of faith.

Before she could gather her thoughts, the door swung open, and Jenna blinked, turning to see Alexa stepping in from the other room where she had been getting ready.

“Jenna… is that really you? Wow! You look incredible, like a doll. Almost unreal!”

Alexa gushed, her voice brimming with excitement. Jenna offered a small, fragile smile in return.

Her mother stepped aside, letting Alexa move closer. Alexa lifted the heavy flared gown with careful hands, adjusting the folds and smoothing the layers as she guided Jenna into place.

Alexa and her mother stayed close as she approached the car, their quiet chatter a buffer.

Her father did not speak a word, as if he had none left to offer. He gave a single smile, gently patted her head, and placed a soft kiss on her forehead before she got in.

They arrived at the venue. Alexa stepped out first, holding the door open and steadying Jenna as she slipped carefully onto the pavement.

Escorted into the bridal room, she slipped between the two women like a puppet guided by careful hands.

Once the doors closed behind them, she sank onto the couch, fingers clenched tightly, whispering prayers under her breath.

A sudden swell of noise reached her ears. The crowd had arrived, cheering and moving through the hallway.

Her stomach twisted, and she gripped the edge of her dress, knuckles whitening.

Alexa and her mother reentered, smiling, their eyes betraying admiration for the groom.

Handsome, confident, undeniably commanding, the man awaiting her exuded a presence impossible to ignore.

The Sheikh stepped in with her father, uncles, and Evan’s parents. She kept her eyes lowered, her hands clutching her fancy clutch like a lifeline, the fabric of her gown pressing against her body.

Every movement, every heartbeat felt hollow, as if her pulse had flatlined on a monitor, a faint, terrifying rhythm threading through the room as the ceremony began.