หาญรัก

I stood on a flight of steps leading to an old settlement as it rained on me. I watched silently as Benjamin Gray, my fiancé, stood before Jennifer Robinson, who wore a wedding gown. Per local custom, he leaned close and passed her a heart-shaped pendant that he was biting.

She shyly caught it with her mouth. Before she could do anything else, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. The friends and family surrounding them cheered and whooped at the sight.

The kiss went on for close to ten minutes. Jennifer almost couldn't stand up when it ended, and Benjamin panted as he pulled away from her.

The fall breeze lifted the chiffon curtains that framed the entrance to the old settlement. Only then did I see that my friends and family were also present.

My brother, Hector Monroe, who I'd once protected with my life, was even the host of the wedding. He wore local traditional robes, and all he could see was Jennifer, who was actually our stepsister.

He'd long since forgotten that Jennifer and her mother, Lisa Stone, had once tried to kill us by sending us to a so-called correctional facility.

"Let us wish Benjamin and Jennifer all the happiness in the world and a wonderful life together!" he cried.

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, the villagers watching the ceremony set off fireworks that had been prepared beforehand.

As the fireworks exploded in the sky, filling it with color, Benjamin lifted Jennifer into his arms bridal-style.

This sight made Hector's excitement peak. He shouted, "The ceremony is complete. Let us watch as the happy couple enter their room to consummate the marriage!"

A suffocating loneliness washed over me as I watched everything play out. It deafened me to the noise and celebrations before me.

I pulled out my phone and called Hector. He'd once swore he would always be on my side, but he rejected my call after glancing at the caller ID.

I didn't stop there. I called Benjamin next. His expression turned frosty when he saw the caller ID. He wanted to reject the call but impatiently answered after Jennifer said something to him.

I asked softly, "Where are you?"

He snorted. Then, as everyone watched, he snarled, "Are you checking up on me again? Can't you settle down now that you're pregnant? Are you that desperate for someone to love you, Samantha? Will you die without a man by your side?

"I've already told you that Jennifer and I are at this old settlement because our museum discovered an ancient tomb! Only a revolting woman with a mind as dirty as yours would constantly mistake our professionalism for us having an affair behind your back!"

His nasty words suffocated me and made me choke up, but I still spoke up due to a lingering remnant of my love for him. "But it's my birthday today…"

Benjamin had once promised me he would celebrate my birthday with me, no matter what happened. That was why I'd made the difficult journey to reach him despite him being thousands of miles from me. I'd taken countless forms of transport and walked miles, suppressing my fear while passing through a forest to get to him.

However, all I'd gotten in return was a local telling me there wasn't any ancient tomb in the vicinity. All there was was a professor by the surname of Gray preparing for a traditional wedding at the old settlement with his lover. The preparations had started half a year ago.