NEVER LET ME GO

Chapter 3

That night I drank two bottles of champagne sitting alone in my rented flat. Upon condition that I rarely drank alcohol, I instantly got drunk and fell asleep sitting on the floor, in wet clothes and next to two empty champagne bottles.

In the morning I woke up with a headache and a terrible hangover. After all, doughnuts with strawberries and chocolate were not the best dinner before drinking alcohol. Looking at myself in the mirror, I was horrified. A swollen pale face, with smudged mascara on my eyes and disheveled dirty hair. I looked like an alcoholic or a homeless person, or even both in one. I reeked of dampness and alcohol.

Thank God, today was Saturday and I had a day off. I hated my job, all the time I spent in the office and messed around with papers that no one needed.Sometimes it seemed to me that everyone around treated me like I was nothing.

Now I clearly realized that even Arthur's parents treated me well, only because my father had his own business.

I wanted to change absolutely everything in my life, but I had to think about how. My parents, Mrs. and Mrs. Blackwood, were very peculiar people. My father was obsessed with money, and my mother was passionate about personal development and played a role of a socialite.

My brother Robert was different from our parents, but we still weren't really close. It was like living with a housemate but never having a heart-to-heart talks. He lived his own life and let no one else interfere. To be honest, I had no idea how much he earned or if he had a girlfriend.

That's why I have thought, what am I really losing? A family that I will soon disgrace, a job that I hate, and a fiance who is cheating on me...

Having washed away the remnants of yesterday, I decided that I needed to leave with music and beautifully swaying my hips. I have decided that after the wedding, or rather after I leave Arthur at the altar, I will leave my country once and for all.

"I will be the most beautiful bride, as I wanted before. He must see who he will lose forever." I thought and smiled.

Despite the fact that I was always afraid of changes in my appearance, I decided to take extreme measures: a complete change in my clothing style and something I hadn't not dared to do before. And while everyone else was preparing for my wedding, I began to prepare everything for my escape.

My family has always been reserved in their choice of clothes. Mom and Dad usually forbade me to wear too revealing or bright clothes. My father said that in such clothes I would look like a stupid cheap slut. Mom was, of course, softer in her statements, but she always agreed with Dad.

So when I opened the door of my wardrobe, I saw clothes that made me feel sick just looking at it. All my clothes were grey, white, black and brown. Even older women dressed much better than me.

I emptied all the things out of the wardrobe and stuffed them into trash bags. Then I left the my apartment - building and threw them into the dumpster.

When I got into my old Nissan, I felt relief and my soul felt good. I started my old car and went to buy new things and to different beauty salons.

It was time to change. Having visited several clothing stores, I bought myself short and very sexy dresses that favorably emphasized my figure, ripped branded jeans and tight blouses with T-shirts. And I replaced my comfortable flat shoes with high heels.

I had a little less money, but I got a lot more pleasure from what was happening. It was even better than going to a psychologist.

I had naturally thick eyebrows, so I asked the girl at the beauty salon to make me a clear eyebrow shape. The manicurist also gave me beautiful long white nails that were shining like mother-of-pearl in the light.

Later I took a makeup lesson and a professional makeup artist taught me how to do makeup properly and take care of my face.

I started to like my reflection in the mirror. In front of me was a pretty, slender girl who deserved true love. I didn't know this beauty, but I clearly liked her.

My phone was ringing off the hook. Firstly, my mother called and asked how I was doing and asked me to come to her and my father's place in the evening for lunch together with Arthur. Then Alice called and asked to meet for coffee, but I declined, saying that I was very busy preparing for the wedding.

When Arthur called, I warned him that we would be visiting my parents that evening, and he gladly accepted their invitation.

I knew that many people would have questions about my appearance, but I didn’t care. I had other plans for my life and I didn’t plan to tell anyone about them yet.

Pretty tired from today's actions, I went into a cafe and ordered a hot dog and coffee. While I was sitting and drinking my coffee, a young guy suddenly came up to me and asked for my phone number or at least a social media account so they could chat.

I was shocked. It was the first time in my life that someone came up to me and asked to meet me, except for Arthur. Perhaps good looks were really important.

Later, I returned to my rented apartment, and wore the most modest dress of what I had bought, I called Arthur and asked him to come pick me up. It was a black, knee-length, off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved, bodycon dress.

When Arthur's car was already downstairs near my building, I went out into the street holding a small black handbag in my hands.

Arthur saw me and his jaw just dropped. His eyes widened and were sparkling brightly.

"Is this really my future wife? Or is it a mirage? Where did such a change come from!?" Arthur asked and came up to me, trying to kiss me on the lips.

"Have I really changed that much?" I asked coquettishly.

"You're always beautiful. But especially today!" the man said and started kissing me.

"Please, not now!" I said and pushed Arthur away a little. "I don't want to ruin my makeup..."

"Are you kidding or you are serious?!" the man asked irritably.

"I'm not kidding. Let's go to my parents as soon as possible! They have already been waiting for us!" I answered and sat down in the passenger seat.

Arthur didn't look very pleased, but at the same time he was drawn to me on a s****l basis. While we were driving, he kept looking at me and trying to touch me the whole time.

It was obvious to me that he was more real now than he had been with me before. He behaved in the same way with Alice, as if a lustful male was trying to inseminate a female.

Apparently, I didn't really know the man I was going to marry. The car drove into a private plot of land where my family's mansion was located.

Arthur, as befited a gentleman, opened the car door for me. My father and mother were standing on the terrace. When they saw my outfit, their indignation knew no bounds.

"Vanessa Blackwood! Damn it! What are you wearing?!" My father raised his voice.

"Good evening, daddy! Don't you like my dress?" I asked my father with an innocent look.

"Your dress looks vulgar! It's so tight on you, it looks like you're going to jump out of it..." My father answered.

"Good evening, Mr. Blackwood. I'm sorry if you don't like Vanessa's dress, I have presented it to her." Arthur suddenly interrupted my father.

"What a lie you are, Arthur!" I thought, but instead of objecting to him, I smiled sweetly and took the man's arm.