3 || Sleepless Night

After getting done with his shower, Shane sat on the rocking chair, getting a black coffee. His phone was still ringing only to get him irritated.

Why was she so persistently shameless?

How many times did he have to make it clear that he was not interested in her? Well, who could blame her when his dearest grandma was the one behind all it!

Only if his grandma wasn't there involved, he would have showed her her place graciously.

He got out of his trance when the doorbell rang. He answered the door only to find Mathew standing at the door with a file in hand.

Without taking the file, Shane got inside and sat on the couch in the living room and started sipping his coffee.

Closing the door gently behind him, Mathew followed Shane and stood in front of him, confused about what to do.

Shane uttered in a cold tone, "What are you waiting for?" after glancing at the file in his hand.

Getting his indication, Mathew filled him in with the information about both of the wedding parties, he collected.

"Okay. I got it. Leave." Shane thoughtfully nodded and dismissed Mathew.

When he left, Shane got back to his bedroom. He checked his phone once only to find 10 missed calls from the very same person which intensified his irritation.

~••~

Getting back home, Lilian slammed into her bed, feeling exhausted.

She decided to get drunk because she didn't want to think about Simon's betrayal and just to get knocked out and have some sleep. As it was her first time drinking, she didn't know before and to her irritation, she found out that she was a heavy drinker actually and could handle her drink pretty well.

And at 3 am when she still couldn't get some sleep, she got down from her bed and sat near the window and wondered if there was magic. Because all she needed were some fairies to take her pain away and help her sleep.

She tried everything she could think of. But time was playing a dangerous ever lasting commodity while her heart was in pieces.

She took a book to read, a pen and a paper to write, and clung to some music that might just make her fall asleep yet nothing helped. A similar sleepless night after that night from years back when she left her home got haunting her and all she wanted was the dawn to break soon...

Should I leave this town as well?

She considered for a moment until her mind reminded her that she wasn't the little girl anymore to run from her problems.

She didn't do anything wrong. If anyone was wrong here, then it's Simon only. Why would she leave?

When her gaze fell on the painting that was hung on the wall on the top head of her bed, a rage stirred in her. It was a gift from Simon. She had a thing for this painting but now seeing it, she was only shaken with anger.

Without wasting any moment, she gathered all the things starting with that painting, Simon had given to her from the very beginning of their friendship and packed them.

By the time she was done, her little apartment looked out of shape. Not because Simon had gifted many things to her but because she thought of killing some time by going through all her kinds of stuff to make sure nothing from him was left behind there.

Then she arranged her apartment neatly once again and took a shower. With all the things going on, she literally collapsed on her bed and after some time sleep engulfed her at last.

When she woke up it was already noon. As she sat up, a severe headache greeted her. Without bothering, she made her way to the washroom and got freshened up.

Feeling somewhat better, she took an aspirin and a bitter black coffee which reduced her headache.

Looking at the packed stuff and thinking about what to do with them, she got ready. Nodding at her thought, she made her way out, locking the door behind her.

At first, she thought of throwing all these on Simon's face but getting a better idea within her mind, she took a taxi and made her way to the market, to be specific to the pawn shop.

Pawning all the things like dresses, watches, and paintings, she got a thoughtful gift for her money lover ex-boyfriend.

It was already late in the afternoon when she reached her place. She was so sure that Shane wouldn't show up. He just showed some consideration for a crying girl or something.

Shrugging that thought, she changed into a nice, soft, short-sleeved midi dress. The watermelon red dress was not too tight nor too loose on her body but fit perfectly on her. Moving her hands against the fabric to straighten it, she ambled towards the dresser and saw her reflection in the mirror.

She adjusted and tied the same colored belt around her waist and started doing her makeup.

The makeup was too light that he probably won't even notice, but it gave her a fresh and bright face. She brushed her hair, settling her front locks through a few bobby pins. She framed her face through them and tried to make them look as natural as possible.

Once she was done, she looked at herself in the mirror for the final look. She was looking fine, but plain. Something was missing,

Jewelry, yes. She thought.

Lowering down, she pulled open her dresser's drawer and took out a pair of small, dangling earrings. The artificial. Silver solitaire at the end of the pair was twinkling, enhancing their elegance. She wore them along with a dainty bracelet on her wrist. She again saw her reflection through the mirror and smiled a little.

When she saw her eyes brimming with tears, she blinked for few times to fight back them. No way she was shedding tears anymore for him.

No matter how much she tried or whatever expression she tried to pull out on her face, her eyes were filled with grief which only irritated her.

She couldn't fall weak. The promise she had made to herself years back was to be kept once again. And she would do it. Shoving the gift packet in her sling, she got out of her apartment.

Getting a taxi, she made her way to the resort. When she reached the venue, it was exactly 7. As she expected, there was no sign of Shane around. Taking a deep breath, she walked to the entrance, hoping the guards wouldn't stop her. Though they didn't stop her at the entrance of the resort, she got stopped at the entrance of the hall room where the party was going on.

Though Lilian said she knew the groom, without an invitation card, they didn't allow her to enter there.

Simon was smilingly talking to Evana, his bride when his eyes fell on Lilian at the entrance. Before Lilian caught his gaze, he looked away. He was thankful that without a card, she wouldn't be able to enter there and he didn't give her one. He had ended it with Lilian, then why she was here? He got thinking for a moment.

He told her because he thought Lilian would never show up in front of him let alone try to create a scene at his wedding party. He had managed to get the attention of Evana by painting him as innocent and loyal and whatnot with the utmost effort. Now after having succeeded, he couldn't slip it through his fingers.

When he again turned to the entrance, Lilian wasn't there anymore. Thinking she must have left, Simon couldn't be more relieved. He pulled out a huge smile on his face as he turned to Evana....