Chapter 4: Did he do it?

“What’s going on here?” Eric’s voice cut through the tensed air, his tone was mixed with confusion and frustration while scanning the room as if searching for answers. Finally , his gaze settled on me, heavy with accusation. His eyes narrowed, jaw clenched and his face reddened with anger.

“I can explain” I managed to say while staring at him. But Eric looked like a predator ready to pounce,his emotions simmered just below the surface,making me shift uncomfortably.

I looked at the corner of the door, where Veronica stood, a sly smile spread across her face. It was as if she knew a secret know one else did. Her smile grew wider- she seemed to be savoring the moment,enjoying the drama that was unfolding. Just as the tension in the room seemed to reach its boiling point, my parents walked in. My father’s gaze settled on me. “What is he doing here? ,on your wedding day …I thought I made it clear never to see him again …”

“Unbelievable”, my mother whispered,shaking her head. “How could you Olivia”.

My father’s voice was filled with sadness and betrayal. “We thought you were better than this , we thought you had more sense ..after what you did the other day”. Their words cut deep, and I felt a stinging sensation in my eyes as tears began to flow. I wanted to explain ,to defend myself but words were caught in my throat. Without another glance , they turned to leave me in the room. Looking around, I noticed Henry was no longer in the room but Eric’s face was still mixed with disappointment and anger.

“I’m so disappointed in you,” he said, his voice was barely above a whisper. “I thought we were going to work, but I guess not…The marriage is over”.

With that , Eric stood up, his eyes avoiding mine, and walked to the hallway where the guests were gathered. Following him, I watched in horror as he grabbed a microphone and cleared his throat."Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice echoing through the hall. "I'm afraid I have some unfortunate news to share. The wedding is over”.

There was a collective gasp filled the room, followed by murmurs of shock and curiosity."I caught my fiancée in bed with someone else," Eric continued, his words like a dagger to my heart. The room fell silent, with all eyes on me as I walked towards Eric, the crowd parted, their faces filled with pity and condemnation. The whispers grew louder, and I could feel the weight of their disapproval.

Veronica, who had been watching from the sidelines, smiled sweetly before turning to leave. One by one, the guests began to file out, their faces a blur as they whispered condolences to Eric. My parents reappeared, their faces stern, and without a word, they followed the crowd.

I stood alone, surrounded by the silence of the abandoned hall. The once-joyful decorations now seemed mocking. My mind wandered to Henry, wondering what had driven him to crash my wedding, only to vanish into thin air. Thoughts swirled in my head, with a mixture of confusion and guilt. We were supposed to be together, but I had broken his heart, choosing an arranged marriage over our love. The memory stung, and I hesitated, my fingers hovering over my phone to call him.

But what could I say? Sorry for shattering your heart? Sorry for choosing duty over love? I pushed aside the thoughts and lifted the hem of my wedding gown, the delicate fabric now feeling suffocating. I needed to leave this place. Outside, the cool night air engulfed me as I hailed a cab, the neon lights were blurring together as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.

The ride home was a blur, my thoughts consumed by the events of the evening. As I stepped into my family's sitting room, I was met with an unsettling scene. My parents sat alongside Veronica, their faces were stern and worried. My father's eyes flashed with anger, his jaw clenched. My mother's voice trembled as she pleaded with him.

"Please, don't do it, dear. Think of our daughter." I wondered what they were discussing, but was so exhausted and broken to be curious. As I turned to retreat to my room, my father's voice exploded.

"You're no longer welcome in this house!" he thundered, his words like a slap.My heart stuttered- was I getting disowned?

Veronica's smile, once subtle, now gleamed triumphant. Exactly what she had always wanted, me being out of her way.My father's face twisted in anger. "Get out. Now."

The door slammed shut behind me, leaving me alone on the darkened street.I wandered, lost and aimless, as the city lights blurred together. Tears streamed down my face, mingling with the chill of the night air. Deciding to find a place to sleep, a thought came to my head. Maybe, just maybe, my father would come to his senses tomorrow and search for me.

But for now, I was alone, with no home, no family, and no clear future. When fatigue finally got the best of me, I noticed a worn-out bench under a fading streetlight. My tired eyelids slid close as I fell against its wooden slats. Sleep called, a short-lived reprieve from the chaos. The sound of whispering voices cut through the darkness as I fell asleep.

"Go that way," I heard a man say. And an engine began to hum. I jerked to my feet, running for safety. Long shadows stretched across the pavement as the darkness was lighted by car lights. The car stopped in front of me, and I covered my eyes with shaking hands.

From the driver's side appeared a tall, powerful figure. His chiselled features, so much like Eric's, made my heart skip a beat. But it wasn't Eric, I realised as he got closer. This stranger had a muscular frame, broad shoulders, and stood around 6'2". His thick lashes framed his piercing blue eyes, which gleamed in the twilight. Robust face structure with a defined jawline highlighted his rugged attractiveness. His face was framed by finely dishevelled dark hair. A faint smile softened his features as he approached. "Alex," I said as realisation set in. He was the first son of the illustrious Wilson family and Eric's older brother. What on earth was he doing at this hour, in this abandoned section of town?.

“Follow me home," Alex said in a deep, forceful, but peaceful voice. "This area's not safe for you." I nodded without thinking. His statements confirmed my own concerns, but there was something about Alex's composed, authoritative style that made me feel better. Undeserved but unbreakable trust rooted itself in me. Alex reached out to stabilise me as I got up off the bench. I felt a chill go down my spine from his warm touch. I left the lonely bench and my broken past behind as we made our way towards his automobile.