Chapter 2

Today was the D-day and I was not ready at all. Berlin kept calling me for the past few days but I didn’t pick his calls because I had nothing to say to him.

“My dear, you look so beautiful. This dress is amazing!” My mum showered me with compliments as the makeup artist did her work on my face. If it was another time, I would have smiled.

“Thank you, mum. Is Yvonne here?” I asked her.

She nodded, “She’s helping the others in welcoming the guests. Have you seen Berlin? He looks so handsome “ My stomach churned when she brought him up. Did she have to?

I didn’t want her to notice my change in mood, so I brought out my phone and sent a text to Yvonne, letting her know I’ll soon be out.

“I’m going out now. I want to go and greet the guests. Don’t waste too much time,” mum said and patted my shoulder before walking out. She was so joyful that it made my heart hurt.

“You don’t look too happy,” my makeup artist said, making me blink in surprise. How could she tell?

“I’m just overwhelmed. I can’t believe it’s actually happening,” I lied to her and forced out a smile making her chuckle.

“I understand how you feel. Don’t worry, you’ll do just fine,” she said to me and I smiled.

“Thank you.”

When she was done, I didn’t even bother to look in the mirror before making my way out of the dressing room. I walked down the hallway but stopped in my tracks when I saw a door slightly opened.

I don’t know what came across me but I peeked in and I saw Berlin with two of his friends laughing as they sipped whatever they were holding.

“So what are you going to do about Veronica?” one of them I recognized as Dale asked Berlin. Berlin laughed too loudly to be normal.

“She’s going to keep quiet about it. After all, she’s just marrying me for money. I love Kate, not her. I’m going to make her my real wife one day,” he said to his friends and I felt my blood boil.

That bastard!

“You’re really brutal,” the other guy chuckled and patted his back. Was that meant to encourage him or what?

“She hasn’t even answered my calls. She’s a serious bitch, if you ask me. She was a good lay though, I’ll admit,” Berlin boasted and they laughed again.

I felt disgusted. He was a sick man. To think I actually thought he was a mature man at first makes me feel like a fool now.

Angry and hurt, I walk away before I could hear more of what ever they had to say. I’ve heard enough already and it was all I needed to end this nonsense between us.

“You can do this, Vera,” I tried not to let myself cry as I got to the entrance that led to the hall where everybody were. I pursed my lips when I took in the number of people that were present.

My heart nearly fell out of my chest at the realization of things. Was I really going to do it?

Then I remembered what Berlin said and my jaw clenched in anger. There was no way I was going to risk my happiness and sanity because of some stupid business arrangement.

Letting out a sigh, I walked into the hall. Not wanting to draw attention, I passed the side to get to the platform were a love seat was placed. Begrudgingly, I took my seat and crossed my arms, looking across the hallway. My eyes fell at the side of the hall where Berlin and I’s parents were seated. They were happily talking with one another, not knowing what was soon to come.

Someone sat beside me and I turned to see Berlin. He handed me a glass of what I assumed to be wine, “You’ve been hard to reach.”

I looked at the wine and looked up at him. “And I should take this from you because?” I was irritated by the arrogant smirk on his face. He raised a brow and moved closer to me.

I didn’t want the others to notice anything between us, so I let him move near me. He wrapped an arm around my waist and I glared at him, “Get off.”

“You’re acting like you’re on edge. You need to forget what you saw the other day or it won’t do us any good,” he said to me and took a sip from the wine.

“Don’t worry, I will,” I said and he grinned at me.

“That’s my girl,” he winked and moved away from me allowing me to breathe in fresh air.

What felt like hours passed and then the MC called on the both of us to come down and announce our engagement.

“I’m sure you are proud to be engaged to a beautiful woman like Vera,” the MC said to Berlin as the spotlight was shone on us. Berlin chuckled into the microphone.

“Who wouldn’t?” he said and I wanted to scoff.

“What about you, Vera? Aren’t you jealous whenever you see other women glance at your fiancé?” the MC asked me and I raised the microphone to my lips.

Berlin looked at me as if telling me to behave but I wanted to laugh.

“Why will I be jealous over a cheater?” I questioned and the music stopped. There were loud gasps and I saw Berlin’s face redden up. The MC looked as shocked as ever.

Nice.

I cleared my throat and spoke into he microphone. “It’s such a shame that we put so much efforts into making today possible. But this is the farthest we can go. I’m breaking my engagement with Berlin Gates,” I said and took off the engagement ring from my finger.

I have the stunned MC the microphone and threw the ring to the ground before walking down the stairs.

No one said anything as I walked through the middle of the hall and went out through the exit.

I let out a sigh when I stepped outside and I nearly stumbled when I felt my legs get shaky.

“Vera! Veronica!” I heard my mom tell as I approached my car. I turned to face her only to hear a loud smack followed by a stinging sensation in my cheek.

Shocked, I raised my hand to my cheek, “You slapped me?”

“You deserve more than that! How could you disgrace your family like that?” she yelled at the top of her voice. I stared at her as emotions began to rise in my chest.

“Berlin cheated on me, mom,” I told her as I tried not let my voice shake. She glared at me.

“And so what? People cheat on each other everyday. What makes this different?” she snapped and I felt something pierce my heart.

What did she just say?

“Veronica, go in there and apologize to the Gates now,” my father came into the picture with face red with anger.

“I will do no such thing!” I argued back. There was no way I will trample on my dignity.

“You are an ungrateful child! You embarrassed two families and you are proud of this? You will regret this, Veronica!” my mother yelled at me.

I looked last her to see Yvonne far behind looking at me with an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher.

“You are a disgrace to this family!” my father bellowed and I stumbled backwards like I got pushed by a force. I looked at my father and blinked. A traitorous tear escaped my eye.

“Thank you so much, father,” I smiled sweetly and turned around to walk away.

“Vera! Veronica, come back here!”

I turned a deaf ear and got into my car. I turned on the engine and drove away.