Chapter 3: Fated Meeting
1009 Words
I was fumbling with the wedding gown, as it restricted my movements and got caught on uneven pavements.
I checked my purse for the scissors I always carry around.
A girl can't be too cautious.
I reached behind myself, holding one hand steady on the chapel train to keep it in place, while my other hand carefully maneuvered the scissors along the fabric.
As I cut, my wrist flexed slightly with each snip, as I shortened the now stained chapel train as well as the tail of the mermaid gown.
Now it looked like a normal white evening dress, disregarding the diamond sweetheart necklace.
The rain hadn’t let up any. I felt like it had a personal vendetta against me.
At least it disguised my tears as rain drops.
Drenched and cold, I dashed into a nearby cathedral. I wasn't much of a believer like my mother and I spite God for not healing her.
But my heart was burned so badly, I dropped onto my knees before the high altar and started to pray.
“You can see behind my eyes, and my heart. I'm on my knees, but I can't hide that I don't believe.
Lord, I do want to try, so I'm here praying to you.”
"I know how foolish this sounds, but Pavlo loves me. I'm certain he’s being manipulated by Livia.
He didn't speak to me since we set the date for our wedding, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong."
"I was caught up in wedding planning, so I never found time to see him and understand why he’d been so distant.
Then, after two weeks, the first words out of his mouth were that he doesn’t want to marry me!"
"I don’t know how Livia did it, but I’m certain this is all my cousin's fault.
She's trapped him somehow, and made him deny me at our wedding.
Livia has resented me ever since we met."
"So I’m here, begging for your help. The wedding was today, and I need you to make them divorce.
Please, I just lost my father, and I know you understand my heartbreak.
Avenge me by making Pavlo regret marrying Livia and divorce her.
Help me get the Sapphire Shores Resort Franchise and our house back.
Send me help now… I beg you.”
"That was a poor attempt at a prayer." The voice, not far away, was punctuated by slow, taunting claps.
I spun around, all the blood draining from my face. I didn’t expect anyone to be here, I thought I was alone.
Clearly, I was wrong.
It was a wickedly handsome man, his face sharp and chiseled, with deep-set green eyes.
He sat on the dais steps, lazily leaning against one of the pillars with his long, lean legs stretched out before him.
He wore a satin black dress shirt that clung to his broad chest and rippling muscles, three buttons were undone with the sleeves rolled to his elbows.
The fitted shirt paired with loose black pants emphasized his strong build.
His thick, tousled ginger-orange hair contrasted with his honey-colored skin.
He tilted his head, his gaze mocking as he said, “I know, it’s a lot to take in.
Want me to turn around, so you can get a better look and admire all of this?”
My face bloomed red. “We’re in a church!”
“What has that got to do with anything?” he said, giving me a wolfish leer.
How crass could he be?
“Watch your words; this is a sacred place, and you’re being disrespectful.”
“And you’re praying to a God you most likely don't believe in. Do you really have reverence for him?"
"I doubt that, considering that pitiful excuse of a prayer you just made," his words echoed with scorn.
I tried to ignore him. I really did.
Rather than marching off as I should have, I imagined dragging him around with a chain on his neck as he begged for mercy.
Then he'd sprawl at my feet like a war prize and plead to be my lover.
Wait, what on earth am I thinking?!
“You're staring pretty hard over there—I admit I am irresistible” he said in an amused tone.
I immediately looked away, turning back to the marble carving of Christ.
“Personally, I think I’m way more handsome,” he said, as he suddenly stood right beside me.
“And I could help you, but for a good bargain.” he said with dark smile.
I gulped as I looked at his heart-shaped lips. They looked perfect for kissing.
He's really making my morals drop faster than the stock market.
"Admiring me again? You could at least try to be subtle," he taunted, his gaze steady and unwavering.
“I'm sorry. I was just appreciating his creation. God must have been showing off when he made you… I mean you look like a masterpiece painting and every masterpiece should be stared at.
Not that you are an object, Riona, really, your mouth!”, I gurgled at myself.
He blinked twice, slowly. Before he commented, “Do you always babble senselessly?”
“I am occasionally wise, your presence is just disarming!” I squeaked in protest.
“You’re intriguing, and I'm bored. So tell me what your story is. If it's tragic enough, I'll answer your prayer.”
“I thought you already said you'd help for a bargain? So would you help without a bargain if I told you?” I asked for curiosity's sake.
“Certainly not, the bargain stands. You were going to tell me your story either way,” His eyes looked certain as he took his seat on the dais watching me.
“Your arrogance is insane” I retorted while walking towards him, dropping on the first pew.
“That's one of my best features” he said.
His face seemed to hold a question mark, prodding me, so I started to speak.
- Writer
